Wild Billionaire Romance - Chapter 92: Chapter 92

MEREDITH
The elegant beachfront mansion was located on the Long Island Sound. It took almost an hour and a half to get there, and Josef’s driver had been moving way past the speed limit.
I was still in a warm daze after chatting most of the trip with my husband. I talked about work mostly, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at first.
But he surprised me. Wonderful man. He was just so understanding.
It was like he knew I needed to do this, and he let me. He didn’t take over. He just offered help. He respected me. And I loved him a little bit more for it.
Once upon a time, the Big Bad Wolf broke my heart, but every day since we met again, he worked hard to put it back together. And I wasn’t really sure how to deal with that.
Watching him move as he walked around the vehicle to open my door had me licking my lips. I was married to a handsome man.
He turned his head, and the sunlight caught his mahogany hair and the twinkle in his whiskey eyes, and damn, my mouth went completely dry.
I mean, I knew Josef was fine as fuck. The way he filled out his suit and everything, but it was that rare glimpse of happiness on his face that made him sublime.
Pride filled me as I thought maybe I was responsible, even if in the smallest way, for bringing him that look of contentment.
Of joy.
Appreciation filled his gaze as he watched me slide out of the high SUV, careful to keep my skirt down.
His possessiveness was something I loved, and honestly, I wasn’t much of an exhibitionist, and I didn’t want anyone to steal a glimpse of the little bitty panties I was wearing. Those were a surprise for Josef’s eyes only.
He had one hand on my hip, the other holding my hand, as he pulled me against him and kissed my temple before stepping back.
“You look fucking perfect in pink,” he said, and I felt the compliment to my toes.
He placed a possessive hand around the back of my neck as we walked up the stone path to the entryway.
It felt so good to be with him like this. In public. Technically, it was still early days for us, but our history made it so I felt like I’d known him forever.
Josef was a part of me. A part of my past, my present, and hopefully, my future.
I didn’t get the impression he was growing tired of me, but I admit I had small doubts sometimes. But that was for me to work on.
Josef had done nothing but make me feel wanted and desired.
If only I knew what was in his heart.
But I was going to take it one day at a time. That was the best advice I’d ever heard in all my travels, and it applied to just about every situation.
One day at a time.
And today was a good day.
I watched as Josef’s face changed before my eyes as we approached the two men standing by the door. He looked hard, unreadable. The man on the left nodded his head.
“Mr. Aziz,” he said.
Josef’s chin dipped down slightly. A small confirmation he’d heard the man as he guided me inside.
They must be part of his security firm, I thought.
The men did not bother stopping us, and for the first time I understood just how powerful my husband was. There were a few more imposing men and two women, dressed all in black with cleverly concealed weapons on their persons.
They stood at three foot intervals, stopping guests from trying to make their way around back as they checked their lists.
Everyone entering the party was expected to announce who they were and show their invitations. Everyone except for us, it seemed.
I’d been nervous as we bypassed the small queue that had formed outside, but Josef didn’t even slow down. He moved with an air of arrogance and complete ease that on anyone else would have been obnoxious.
But on him, it just enhanced the muted strength he carried so well. The hand on my neck lowered to the small of my back and I shivered at the heat coming from his fingertips.
“Are you cold?”
This man.
“No. I’m good,” I said, leaning into his powerful body.
He hummed appreciatively, and his hand flexed against my back. I knew this was a party for one of Josef’s friends’ wives, and I wanted to be there. But I also wanted to be alone with my husband.
Later.
Turning my head away from my husband’s heated stare, so I didn’t melt into a puddle of take me I’m yours goo at his feet, I took a moment to look around. The house was stunning.
I hadn’t expected all this. The ceilings had to be at least sixteen feet high, and everything was done in shades of blue and gray. It was the perfect mix of old and new.
Framed paintings and stained glass lined the walls. Large vases with fresh flowers decorated tables. The floors were highly polished wood, stained a slate gray, but somehow the wood itself added a warmth to the décor I wouldn’t have expected.
The party was taking place in what looked like a large, comfortable sitting parlor whose back wall was made entirely of glass that opened up onto an outdoor terrace.
I saw small glittering lights outside and grinned. It was like a magical fairyland out there between the beautiful wrought iron fence, the lights, and the dozens of potted lemon trees and blooming shrubs.
It was brilliant. Cozy somehow, despite the obvious opulence. Deep blue leather couches and velvet chairs were strategically posed to make the most of the space and offer guests a respite.
I was thoroughly impressed. The home was positively beautiful.
“Josef!” a female someone called out to my husband with a familiarity that, at first, sent jealousy spiking through me.
I frowned as I watched a pretty woman with beautiful dark curls wearing a stunning sapphire jumpsuit approached us.
“Thank God you’re here,” she said, clapping her hands together. “Will you please find my husband and tell him there is nothing wrong with allowing guests to wander around the ground floor?”
Josef chuckled beside me as he looked at the woman with an indulgent expression on his face. He obviously knew her and cared about her. But who the fuck was she?
“I would love to do that, Destiny, but Marat’s not wrong,” Josef said apologetically.
“Ugh, you’re just like them! I’m sorry to interrupt. Hi, I’m Destiny,” she said, offering me her hand.
Destiny. Marat. Oh shit.
It all came together, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“I’m Meredith,” I replied with as best a smile as I could manage, considering I’d just been plotting ways to get her away from my man.
Oopsies.
I was a little more possessive about my husband than I thought. But Destiny didn’t seem to notice. She was open and friendly, and welcoming.
“Destiny, allow me to formally introduce you to my wife. Meredith,” Josef told her, and the way he said my wife sent shivers racing through me.
“Little Red, this is Destiny, Marat’s wife,” Josef explained.
“It is so nice to meet you. Thank you for inviting us to your beautiful home,” I exclaimed.
“Of course and thank you. We only moved in full time a month ago, and it’s been crazy trying to get everything ready, especially with Lucy teething. Plus, my overbearing husband is giving me fits. Josef, please go talk to him,” she begged.
“Will you be alright?” my husband asked me, and I smiled and nodded.
“Oh my God, I’m not going to bite her. Get outta here. We have womanly things to discuss, and we don’t need any more Alpha male overprotective nonsense right now. So shoo!”
Destiny made a moving motion with her hands.
I couldn’t help it.
I laughed out loud.
Like really loud.
Then I snorted.
Oops.
Josef raised one perfect eyebrow at me as I covered my mouth. But the giggling wouldn’t stop.
The woman was a riot.
“Alright, I’ll be right back. Behave yourself, Little Red,” he murmured, brushing his lips against the corner of my mouth.
“Shoo, go away already,” Destiny mumbled, grabbing me by the arm.
“I thought he was never going to let go of you. Come on, Sofia’s in the breastfeeding suite, but she is dying to meet you.”
“A breastfeeding suite?” I asked.
What a marvelous idea!
“Oh, yeah, it was Marat’s idea, actually. He’s ridiculously protective and always trying to make my life easier, which is probably why I am so dang in love with him,” she said, shaking her head.
“That jerk,” I joked.
“Right? I mean, bad enough my husband looks like Lucifer, but he has to be good to me, too. Total loser,” she teased.
“Anyway, the suite was his idea to make feedings easier on me when we have guests. In fact, Lucy, my daughter, is probably throwing a fit right now. Sof is entertaining her for me. I was going to run interference with security and a couple of guests who tried to go into one of the other smaller parlors for a bit of quiet, but I decided to just argue with my husband instead. I swear, Josef’s security teams can deadeye you like no one’s business. I mean, you’d think we invited total strangers to this thing the way he’s behaving.”
She wasn’t wrong. From what I knew of Josef, I had no doubt Sigma International employees were the best of the best at what they did. Even when he was my bodyguard all those years ago, Josef’s professionalism stood out.
Pride filled me. I looked around at what had to be over a hundred guests. There were a lot of people. I didn’t know how she knew so many, but people did.
There was a fairly even mix of men and women. Everyone was dressed for the occasion. So I didn’t feel out of place at all. The clothes Josef had picked for me were all beautiful, and this dress, well, I’d been super excited for him to see me in it.
I followed behind her. People were smiling and milling about, drinking wine, and eating cleverly plated tapas passed around by servers dressed in white.
“Are all of these people close friends?” I asked, increasing my pace to keep up with the surprisingly spry woman.
She was wearing the cutest little ballet flats that matched her blue jumpsuit. It was sparkly and clung to her lovely frame. The sapphire blue pant legs were wide and swirled about her legs as she walked.
The front was low, and I noticed the discreet clips on each shoulder, realizing that must be for easy access to nurse her baby. How clever! The bodice cinched beneath her breasts, and the overall effect was really something.
She looked like some sort of marine goddess. The fact she was curvy, like me, had me making a mental note to ask where she got it.