Sin and Redemption

by Cora Reilly

Sara didn’t get pregnant yet again. We didn’t talk about what that meant. I was half tempted to insist on a visit to the fertility center.

I didn’t want a repeat performance. I didn’t want to keep feeling like I did that first horrible time. I was fucking done.

“We can’t go on like this,” I told Sara the morning after her pregnancy test when I entered the kitchen.

I knew she would simply continue living a separate life until her next fertile window rolled around and then have me mount her like a breeding bull, but I was done with this shit.

I came home with a bucket of chicken wings, and Sara had prepared mac ’n’ cheese to go with it.

“No, it’s really good. But I won’t turn into a history buff, sorry. I’m not that kind of guy.”

“Was Paolo interested in history?”

From what I heard, he had already married a young woman from Baltimore.

“I don’t know. I never spent time with him. And I don’t expect you to like the same things I do. Or do you expect me to enjoy guns and knives, and…”

“That’s part of my job. It’s not all there is to me.”

“My family, our dogs, the woods. I love the outdoors and the sense of freedom it gives me. Nature’s rules are simple; humans are complicated.”

“To be honest, before you, I thought pottery was something nuns or grandmas did.”

Sara’s eyes lit up with indignation.

“That’s so not true. The pottery art scene is so lively and creative. It’s not boring or old-fash...

She leaned forward and pressed a brief kiss to my lips, then retreated quickly. I was stunned.

“What was that?” I murmured.

“I just wanted to test something.”

My phone lit up with an email that the potter’s wheel I’d ordered would arrive tomorrow. Finally. Who would have thought it was such a hot commodity?

I would have never thought a sentence could cause me so much dread.

Her curves had become more prominent again, even if I rarely allowed myself to admire them.

“We should try every night for the next few days.”

Three or four times of painful sex—for Sara on a physical level and me ...

“I’d prefer to eat you, but as that’s not on the menu tonight, I’d love a hearty soup.”

“You’re my wife, and I won’t ever badmouth you, but since you were the one who called you hypocritical…”

“You deserve so much more than what we have right now, Sara.”

“I think I’m attracted to you,” I said. In the past, I would have never uttered something rash like this. Maybe it was Isa’s influence on me. Maximus’s eyebrows climbed his forehead as he gave me an amused look. “You think?” I laughed. “It’s complicated.” “I know,” he murmured. “You know what’s not complicated?” His gaze burned into me in a way it had never done before. “No,” I whispered. “There’s nothing complicated about how I feel about you, Sara. I’m definitely one hundred percent, no doubt about it attracted to you.”

I didn’t want the taste of soap in my mouth. This would be hard enough;

I didn’t need any additional factors that would make this a sterile experience.

She wanted to get this over with, and I wanted to salvage this marriage

even if it was doomed from the start.

Remembering her words, I tugged my shirt over my head, then moved toward her. She tensed but didn’t move away. “Can we turn off the lights?” she asked.

liked passionate sex, but Sara and I both needed to take it slow tonight. I touched her shoulder.

“I’m scared.”

“I told you I want to make this good for you. I know I hurt you the last times, but today, I’ll do everything I can to make sure it won’t hurt, and if it does, that it’ll be good soon after.”

“I’m good at this. Don’t think, just allow yourself to fall.”

wanted fingernails raking over my back and hands ripping at the sheets.

I could smell her pussy, a subtle muskiness that spoke to a primal part of me.

Sara’s lust turned me on, and it was all I needed to get it up.

One day, she’d be able to look into my eyes when we had sex and not see our past.

“Is this good for you?”

“And we definitely don’t want to have to do it again, right?”

His sarcasm hit me unprepared. I swallowed. I wasn’t sure where his anger came from.

“We do whatever you want, Sara. If you want me on top, then that’s what we’ll do.”

“Are you alright?” His deep rumble made my core clench. He hissed and tensed on top of me. I felt him shift, and the lights came on dimly.

“Grab my ass. That way, you can show me if you want more.”

“Come for me.” “You too,” I breathed out. “Your orgasm will milk my cock, honey, don’t worry.”

“Our chances are higher if you stay in me for a few more minutes.”

“I’m heading to bed now,” Maximus said, then paused.

wanted to make more of an effort not just with Maximus but also with his parents.

I had rarely seen them since our wedding, and I felt guilty for it. They probably thought I didn’t like them, which wasn’t true.