Wild Side

“Does love start off as obsession? Because that’s what I am. Obsessed with my wife.”

“Grieving something that never was and never will be is a special sort of hell.”

“Turning my life from black and white to full color.”

“She loves me. It feels like a piece of my puzzle finally slips into place, the satisfaction of completion making me feel more whole than I could have imagined.”

“wouldn’t go to your room with you anyway, Rhys. You’re trying to fuck me over, not fuck me, remember?”

“This is what you do when you love somebody. And I have every intention of loving you just as thoroughly as I know you love me. You just have to let me.”

“She’s got the energy of a storm. Ominous, electric, unpredictable.”

“I’ve spent a lifetime thinking I don’t like talking. It turns out I just needed the right person to talk to.”

“Her name is Tabitha, not that you need to know. Because you? You’re going to keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.”

“Did she hurt people? Or was she wonderful? I’d realized she could be both things at once and that my memories of her didn’t have to be all sunshine and rainbows for me to still love her.”

“You’re going to keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.”

“Poor little Rhys. I’d feel bad for you, except I take comfort in knowing you want something that you can’t have.”

“This is their safe space, and I will not fuck it up by tipping off my more unhinged fans. Not when this place has started to feel like home over the past weeks.”

“The backdrop of a plain concrete wall makes it look like I’m living in a bunker, but that’s fine. It’s unidentifiable, and more than anything, I want to keep Tabitha and Milo clear of any media attention.”

“Poor husband.” She pouts dramatically. “Obsessed with a pussy he’ll never get.”

“Oh, and I sleep with a gun under my pillow, so don’t try anything weird.”

“I wonder the same things I do when Milo watches Paw Patrol. How the hell does a child own and operate an excavator, and where the fuck are his parents?”

“My sister’s urn is at my side. “You know what I’ve learned through this all, sissy?” She doesn’t respond, because why the hell would she?”

“I knew it,” she whispers, tilting her face up to mine. “It must be exhausting walking around my house with a raging hard-on all the time.”

“Then it’s all uphill from here, baby. It’s going to make seeing you at your best so damn special.”

“I definitely have not been thinking about his head between my legs.”

“Yeah, wrestling with the luchadores in Mexico was like an alternate universe.”

“It hurts because I’ll take no pleasure in removing Milo from this place. But it’s what I promised Erika I’d do.”

“Don’t give me that look. She’s my son’s ex-girlfriend. That suggestive eyebrow lift is not necessary.”

“But I’ve spent over a decade respecting this business. Tonight, I respected my marriage instead.”

“Take my mask off, baby.” “What?” “You heard me.” “But, Rhys…” My eyes bounce between his, my heart suddenly lodged in my throat. “You⁠—” “Tabby, I’m tired of hiding. I don’t need to anymore, thanks to you. This is my choice. You and me. Together.”

“What are you doing?” I whisper-shout as he draws close to our ringside seats. But he doesn’t answer. Instead, he just reaches for me. One strong hand grips the back of my neck as he drags me toward him and kisses me soundly for everyone to see. My hands land on his slicked pecs and slide up to his shoulders as whistles and cheers break out around us. I feel the roughness of his stubble against my mouth and the smoothness of his mask against my cheek. He slips his tongue into my mouth in one teasing swipe that has me pressing closer to him, not caring about the setting at all. Only when he draws away does he answer my question. “Kissing my wife, obviously.”

“On your knees, Tabby. I changed my mind. I’ll fuck your face first. Eat your pussy after.”

“Tabitha, wipe that smirk from your mouth, or I’ll fuck it off.”

“In front of thousands of screaming fans… I pat her on the head.”