Claimed Series

Claimed

This morning left no doubt that my already failing marriage was ending. Serena hasn’t been home in months, and I don’t even remember the last time I spoke to her. It was one of the reasons I had the damn sleeping medication.

My anxiety about wherever or whatever my wife was up to plagued my thoughts constantly. Not because I cared for Serena, that ship had sailed years ago, but because she had a nasty mouth on her. She was one comment away from never coming home if she said it to the wrong person.

At the suggestion of my therapist, I started to take the pills, which were life-changing. The only downside was sometimes I went into episodes, and I didn’t remember anything; the last time, I ordered an entire entertainment system for my house. I never thought I could have sex with someone while I was technically asleep.

I hear a knocking as I finish the eggs and put the bacon into the pan before moving to the door.

“Got it,” Emma’s soft voice says behind me, and I watch as she starts toward it instead, confused about how long she’s been there. I was lost in my thoughts for longer than I realized as I went through the motions of cooking.

Her parents mutter to themselves as they follow her back into the kitchen, and Emma slides onto a stool at the counter. Her mother watches her displeasingly and stands closer to her husband.

“Jamie! It’s been a while,” Rupert grins at me, coming to shake my hand and pat my back. I smile back and nod at Anne, who stands awkwardly.

“Serena doesn’t enjoy traveling much,” I tell them both, sneaking a peek at Emma. She’s fidgeting with her phone, her bare legs crossed from what I can see under the dress she had put on.

“Where is my sister?” Anne asks, looking around.

I turn back to the food, “Should be arriving soon. I was just making Emma and me breakfast as thanks for letting me crash here. I woke her up pretty late last night. Should I make some more?”

Anne’s face twists, “Emma and I have the wedding brunch later. We shouldn’t be eating beforehand.”

Her father comes to lean against the counter near me, “I'll take a plate. It will be a long day while we hit the greens.”

“A few pieces of bacon and eggs isn’t going to ruin my appetite, mother,” Emma sighs, her voice gliding over me, setting my nerves on fire. Could they feel the tension in the room? The way her sigh was so similar to the way she gasped when I pounded–

“So brunch? That’s more relaxing than golf,” I say, hiding my erection in front of the stove.

“Not a golfer?” Rupert laughs, and I smile weakly at him. No, I wasn’t at all. Spending half the day in the sun, pushing a small ball around with a stick while all the men brag about who they are cheating on their wives with, wasn’t my idea of fun. I clench my jaw when I realize I can now brag about the same accomplishment. Even if Serena didn’t respect me, I was never one to stray.

“It’s a horse and pony show,” Emma snorts, “Nothing relaxing about a bunch of women making catty remarks and judging each other’s appearance.”

“Exactly,” Anne agrees, finally stepping closer, “which is why we don’t have time for you to eat. We need to get you to Crystal so she can do your hair and makeup. Maybe I can get Robby to come and let out some of the seams of your sister’s clothes, and you can bring a more suitable outfit.”

I look over my shoulder as Emma glances down at herself, biting her lip. I think she looked beautiful; the white dress made her skin appear more bronzed, like summer and darkened her hair. The yellow sunflowers scattered through the fabric, brightening her blue eyes.

“Anne,” Rupert warns, looking between them. I have a flicker of appreciation for the man. I knew both treated their children like trophies to show off to their friends, but I could sense some of the love when he cautioned his wife for criticizing their daughter.

“Camilia Wentworth will be there,” Anne hisses, “Her son Douglas is returning from his first Navy Tour and will attend the wedding. We both think it would be a good opportunity for them to meet. If she looks like a heathen at the brunch, Camilia might reconsider.”

There’s a deafening silence as we all absorb her words. I’m sure Emma is shocked by the matchmaking happening before her, but I can’t control the burn of jealousy that courses through me. My hand tightens on the tongs, and I aggressively pull off the bacon and slam them onto the plate, my jaw aching from how hard I’m grinding my teeth.

“I thought that all stopped with his death,” I whisper to Rupert, who shifts uncomfortably.

“It did. She can always decline,” He says, “Anne, darling, if a simple white dress deters Camilia Wentworth from our daughter, then I would say that’s for the best.”

“Is it,darling? For the best?” Her tone is dripping with venom, and I roll my eyes, reminded of Serena using the same voice on me.

“Mom, can’t you just let it be for now? Ophelia is getting married. Let’s settle into that first before moving onto me,” Emma leans over the counter, grabbing a piece of bacon and sliding off from the seat to stand with a small smile, “Let me grab some shoes, and we can leave, okay?” She directs her last words at her mother as she turns around.

I watch her walk back to her room for a few seconds, the dress swaying around her hips, and I desperately want to see if they’re littered with finger-shaped bruises. I snap my head forward, thankful her parents have been distracted with bickering with each other instead of where my attention had fallen.

I clear my throat, “So, which course are we playing today?”

Rupert beams, excited to move on from his daughter’s affairs and today’s activities for the men. He doesn’t even stop when his wife and daughter give him a kiss on the cheek before leaving themselves. I feel a soft brush of fingers along my lower back, and my dick twitches at her touch.

I want to grab and kiss her goodbye, but my attention doesn’t stray from her father’s. I’ve stopped listening, instead thinking about the next time I would have a chance to get her alone. Thinking about how I shouldn’t want that, but there was no point in fighting this. I had already slept with her, what would it matter if I continued. And if I couldn’t, it would be a long weekend.