Page 43 of Deceit
I scoffed. “Yeah, right.”
“No, seriously. You might not see it, but I have. Rememberthatnight at youruncle’s party, when I was mad at him?”I nodded, not needing the reminder of how he couldn’t get away from me quickly enough after our dance had finished.“All night, he was watching you, and it was like hewaspiningfor you. I’m telling you, he’s attracted to you, but he won’t do anything because he’s too loyal to Theo.”
I shook my head. I loved Riley, but she was talking shit. There was no wayon this planetthatMiles was attracted to me.
“I love your optimism, Riley, but you couldn’t be more wrong,”I repliedsullenly.“He hates me, and nothing will changethat.”
Sadness rolled through me. It was almost as if admittingthatout loud madeit real.
Riley was thoughtful for a few beats before she asked a questionthatmademy mouth turn dry.“How do you feel about Miles?”
My first instinct was to lie, but at the mention of his name, my bodyreminded me of my reaction anytime he was near. The way my pulse raced whenever I inhaled his scent. The way my core clenched whenever I thought about him onthatstage.Evenwhen he was being a bossy asshole, there was a little part of methatenjoyed it because he was giving me his attention.
“I want to hate him,”I admitted.
“But you don’t?”
“No.”
The two of us fell quiet, with the exception of the occasional slurp of ourdrinks. While I’d admittedthatI didn’t hate Miles,thatwasnowherenear the truth of how I felt about him. How I’d felt about him since the minute I laid eyes on him four years ago. If it was a feelingthathadn’t changed in the years since we first met, I doubted it would ever change. Meaning, I got to spend the rest of my life wanting a man who couldn’t stand to be around me.
“Oh, Sofe,”Riley said, squeezing my arm again.“Miles is an idiot if hecan’t see what’s right in front of him. I get his loyalty to Theo, but hereallyis a moron if he is going to miss an opportunity for happiness.”
I didn’t reply. What could I say? Clearly, Riley and I had differing opinionson Miles’ feelings.
We walked a little further when suddenly, Riley brought me to a stop outsidea store.“You know what you need?”
“What?”I asked hesitantly, not liking the calculating look on her face.Her gaze moved to the store window where a mannequin displayed averysexy, butveryrevealing, sparkly blue dress, the color matching my eyes.“You need a night out! We should go to Kai’s club tonight.”
I snorted.“I absolutely do not need a night out, especially at a club. Did younotjusthear about the last time I went out?”
She bounced on the spot like an excitable puppy, and I’d be lying if I said itdidn’t rub off on me.“Thatwas different! Come on, it’ll be fun.Justme and you. We’llevenhave an area to ourselves so we can drink and dance without worrying about anyone bothering us.”
Temptation zapped through me. I hadn’t had a night to enjoy myself inforever. Seeing my resolve weakening, Riley grabbed my hand and dragged me into the store.
“Miles won’t let me,”I protested.
What could I say? Old habits died hard.
“Fuck Miles! He’s not the boss of you,”Riley replied, her lips pulled into asly smirk.
She was right. Fuck Miles. Wasn’tthatthe motto I’d adopted since thewedding?
With little persuasion, I bought the blue dress,evenagreeing with RileythatI looked hot in it. NotthatI wanted to attract unwanted attention, but for once, I felt good about myself.
Confirming our plans for later, Connor and Rob took me home, myexcitement swirling in the pit of my stomach at having something to look forward to. I threw a quick dinner together, making sure to line my stomachbefore I started drinking, andthenheaded upstairs to my bedroom to start getting ready.
I had to admitthatMiles had done a good job of choosing my bedroom forme. While it was a fraction smaller than my old bedroom, it was exactly the kind of room I would have picked for myself if I’d been given the choice.
It still had a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite, but the bed wasn’t a pompous four-poster, and the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows over the city was spectacular, particularly at sunrise and sunset.
Not bothering to lock my bathroom door—what was the point? No one washome—I ran the shower and stripped off. When steam billowed from the hot water, I climbed in and allowed the stream to wash over me. Anticipation thrummed through my veins as I rubbed soap over my bodyand pictured myself dancing at the club later. Before long, I was singing along to an upbeat song, softly at first, but the more my excitement grew, the louder my voice got.
Losing myself in the song, the music playing in my head, I imagined anaudience watching me as I sang, reminding myself of the exhilaration I felt whenever I was on the stage at Bar Forty-Four. Before long, I was moving my hips in time with the notes leaving my mouth.
I grabbed the shower head and pulled it off the hook, closing my eyes as Iused it as a microphone, and smiling to myself. I would have looked ridiculous if anyone saw me, but I didn’t care. Papa had barred me from singing at home, but I wasn’t barred here, and I was damn well enjoying myself.
Lost in the music, I moved the shower head over my body, washing the sudsoff, before lowering it between my legs. My singing was instantly cut off when an‘oh!’left me at the feel of the powerful water hittingmy clit.