Page 84 of Dirty Husband

Shep: You've been friends with Nick for a long time.

Jasmine: He's not a fashionista, last time I checked.

Shep: Just Lizzy. I don't want you seeing him alone.

So he does believe something happened. Or he's jealous.

I want to tell him to fuck off. To insist I'll see who I want.

But that's not what I agreed to. I'm not to appear unfaithful. Dinner with my fiancé's brother—

That will be a headache to explain.

Not that I have a choice.

I'm still Shep's to bend, pose, break.

But I'm not letting it get to me today. Today, I'm going to enjoy the spoils. To soak up every drop of freedom.

Even if there are only a few sips.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Shepard

My phone buzzes against my thigh.

Jasmine. Everything else goes through my assistant.

No doubt something else about my brother. To tempt me. Tease me. Drive me insane.

If he touched her…

I look to the woman sitting across from me. She's talking about her startup. Some medical technology that will save the world. It's a brilliant idea, but it's going to take a lot of money.

Even then, it's a long shot.

Still worth the risk. I make an offer.

She stares back at me, mouth agape, eyes filled with surprise. She's new to this world. Everything is still thrilling. Everything is still second to the mission.

"Of course, Mr. Marlowe. Just get the paperwork to our lawyer." She smiles, excited but careful.

I like her. If things were different, I'd invite her to dinner. Or to skip dinner and go straight to sex. I used to play a lot, yes. But I enjoyed normal sex too. Whatever normal means.

So long as women understand my terms—that I'm always the one who moves things along—I enjoy a lot.

Now…

She's intelligent, articulate, beautiful. A lithe brunette with trendy clothes and defined features. If she wasn't a medical student, she could be a model. I'm sure she turns every head that passes her. I'm sure most men picture her in their bed.

But I don't. I only see Jasmine. Already, my head is filling with thoughts of her soft groan. Her tan thighs. Her red lips.

I need that again.

I need her tied to my bed.

I need her writhing with pleasure. So much she's begging me to stop.