Landon stared at the damage that stood before him, and he was fucking pissed. He’d been so close, like the tip of his dick inside his wife, about to make her completely his, to show her in no uncertain terms exactly what she did to him, and in that moment, something loud in the distance, the earth shaking just a little, and crashing.

And then he’d had to withdraw his cock from her tight pussy, or at least the tip because that’s as far as he’d gone, and had gotten his clothes on to see what the damage had been.

His workshop.

The house was more than fine, perfectly intact, but his workshop was completely destroyed.

“Are you okay?” Anna asked, coming out to hand him a coffee. He took it from her with a thank you.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You look … kind of angry.”

“I’m not angry with you.” No, he just had a serious case of blue balls. It was like something was working against him, denying him the pleasure of her body, making him wait, making him beg.

Running his hand down her back, he cupped her hip, remembering those few moments when she’d been open beneath him, ready to take his dick. She’d been so slick, like fire in his arms.

The feel of her lips around his cock, pure heaven.

Now he had to deal with this crap.

He’d been in the process of salvaging some stuff. Moving the broken wood to one side, and the other materials in a pile on the yard.

“I’m pissed that I didn’t think to check or cut down the damn tops of the trees. I did it all for the house but not my workshop.”

“Is everything going to be okay?” She nibbled her lip, looking worried.

“Everything for you is paid. You don’t have to worry about your mother.”

“I wasn’t thinking about that, Landon. I was thinking about your work. Your precious work.” She stepped forward and picked up a piece of his work, or at least his shattered work.

“Don’t you worry about this. Some of my work is salvageable, and those that aren’t, I’ll figure something out.”

“I don’t like the thought of you going without like this. It’s not fair.”

“You’re sweet.” He took a sip of his coffee. Handing her the cup, he took the piece of wood she’d picked up and placed it in another pile. “I can figure this out. I promise.”

This wasn’t the first time he’d had to do something like that. Working through the debris, he was careful of the broken glass from the windows and some of his material. He’d already sent out emails notifying people of the damage and that he’d have an update on their order details shortly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Anna took a seat on the steps leading up to their home. She wore one of his thick sweaters, looking every part the wife he’d always wanted. Her hair cascaded all around her, and her face was free of makeup.

“What do you love about working with wood? Constructing things?” she asked.

He glanced up at her to see that she was genuinely interested. “There’s something hard and sure about wood.” He picked up a piece. “Wood is grown. It’s a living organism and it builds each year a layer of strength. You’ve got to respect that. The smell, the feel, the control it has. It’s everything.”

“You’re passionate about it?”

“I like my work. Metal is great. I’ve done some work with metal but it’s cold. It has no life in it. It’s just something and you can bend and mold it.” He didn’t feel anything for metal.

“In a way, you’re an artist.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.” He winked at her. “You like that?”

“Yeah. My sexy, artist husband.” She sighed. “Have you noticed we’ve not been able to … you know.”

“Fuck?” He loved it when her cheeks heated like that and she looked so charming. “I know, baby.”

She chuckled. “It’s giving me a chance to get to know you.”

“And what do you think of what you know so far?” he asked.

“I like you. I like the way you think.” She stared down at his cup.

“Is there anything else you like?” He could tell that she wanted to say something more.

“When we’re in bed. When you hold me. I feel safe with you. Secure.”

“You’ll always be safe with me, Anna. I’ll never do anything to hurt you.”

“I know. You’re a good man, Landon.”

The things he wanted to do to her didn’t make him a good man. It made him a very dirty man. When he finally got her beneath him, no distractions, no damn storms, he was going to take her so hard that she couldn’t walk straight.

“How is your mother?” He’d left her on the phone getting an update.

“She’s doing okay. The new medicine is helping her and she’s been able to do more.”

He saw the yearning in her eyes.

“Would you like to go and visit her?” he asked.

“Me?”

“I’d like to come as well if that’s okay. Meet my woman’s mother. I bet she’s just as beautiful as you are.”

“She’s even more so. You’d do that for me?”

He glanced over at her with a smile. “You need to realize that there is a lot I would willingly do for you. I’m not a monster.”

She placed the mug of coffee on the step and charged toward him. He opened his arms, picking her up, and laughing.

“Thank you. Thank you.”

He spun her around, loving the sound of her laughter. They hadn’t had sex yet but he loved getting to know her, feeling her getting closer to him in more ways than the physical.

Releasing her, he cupped her face, tilting her head back. There was real warmth in her eyes, and he couldn’t contain himself. Pressing his lips to hers, he kissed her.

She moaned, melting against him, her hands tightening on his arms as she did.

“I’ll arrange it. When do you want to go?” she asked.

“Whenever you’re ready, baby.”

She giggled. “Okay then.” He watched her go, picking up the cup on her way past. “I’ll fill this for you and be out to help you in a moment.”

He watched her go, caught by how much he’d come to enjoy having her around. It hadn’t been long but he couldn’t imagine not being with her. She’d made his life complete in her own way.

Staring at his destroyed workshop, he smiled.

When he finally did get to make her his, it was going to be well worth it.

He did wonder when that was going to be.