Page 14

Her moans echoed in my head, and her face—contorted in pleasure—flashed in my mind as I sat in my office, reclined in my chair.

It had been a few days since we’d had that incredible sex, and I still hadn't been able to get her out of my mind. My wife, Tessa, was all that I could think of all day, every day, since that fateful night.

A self-satisfied smirk twitched on the corners of my lips as I replayed that event over and over in my head. The taste of her juice still lingered on my tongue; her scent had enveloped the bedroom and literally every room in the mansion.

I smelled her wherever I went in the house, and everything seemed to remind me of her.

My cock was hard in my pants, thoughts of the amazing woman distracting me from work. The harder I tried to stay focused, the more these illicit images of time together invaded my mind.

I was helpless against this memory, but deep down, I didn't want to stop—I loved thinking about her. I enjoyed delving into every aspect of what had happened that night, and I couldn't wait to have her again.

Tessa was different from the other women I'd slept with over the years. I wasn't entirely sure how or why, but there was something about her that had me drawn in. I hadn’t fucked her that night; I’d made love to her, and it felt incredibly good.

Usually, I wasn't the type to take my time when pleasing my women. I liked it rough, hard, and fast-paced, a stark contrast to what I did with Tessa the other night. A good number of the women I'd laid with, if not all of them, loved it that way: harsh, hard, and in bondage.

However, with her, my wife, I was a completely different man. Perhaps the fact that she was a virgin had rung the “gentle” bell in my head. But was it really about her virginity? Or was it something else, something a little deeper than that?

I couldn't imagine myself treating Tessa the same way that I fucked those other women. I simply couldn't. She wasn't like them, and she'd managed to unlock something in me, something emotional.

Tessa and I shared a connection, one that transcended beyond the physical. When I’d come in her, it was a whole new feeling like none I'd ever felt before. Of course, I'd come countless times in my life, but not like this. This one was different; it was like a piece of me had gone into her, and she accepted every drop of my essence.

That was, perhaps, the first time that I ever really came in a woman—it was the only logical explanation as to why I felt the way that I did. It seemed like the part of me that had been empty for so long had met its match. It was as though I'd found my better half, and I'd never been more alive, more fulfilled.

Our union might have been arranged to benefit both our families, but I couldn't overlook the possibility that this could be destiny. Despite our differences, I was beginning to believe that she might just be the one for me. Perhaps this wasn't just another typical arranged marriage that would either lead to divorce or a life of misery.

But she and I had agreed to go our separate ways after two years of being together. The thought of losing her after the stipulated time period made my face slightly contort into a frown. I wasn't ready to do that; I didn't think I'd ever want to do that.

However, two years was a long time. A lot could happen, and perhaps she’d change her mind.

If this was truly destiny—and I had a feeling that it was—then it would all work out in the end. I just needed to play my cards right and ensure she was a happy wife.

My heart was gladdened by the idea of being the man who would bring a smile to her face, peace to her life, and reality to her dream business. My plan was to be the perfect husband so that she would choose to stay with me even when she had the chance to leave.

For that to happen, she would have to trust and fall in love with me. Was that possible? Yes. It might take a while, but eventually, it would happen.

I swiped a palm across my face and got a grip of myself again, ready to delve back into the files flickering on my laptop screen. I adjusted in my chair, fingers hovering over the keyboard, and that was when I heard it: a knock on my door.

Now what? I thought, irritated by the sudden intrusion. As if I hadn't had enough distractions for one day.

“Hey, Erik!” a feminine voice, low and seductive, came at me.

My brows narrowed, forming faint creases as I set my eyes on her, lingering by the doorway. “Jennifer,” I called quietly, my voice low and even, laced with irritation.

“The one, the only,” she replied, wiggling her brows at me as she struck a seductive pose, one hand on the doorframe, the other on her hip.

She stood poised at the entrance, her stiletto heels elevating her statuesque frame. Her makeup was flawless as usual, with bold eyeliner and crimson lips that seemed to gleam in the lights.

Her raven hair cascaded down her shoulders in luscious waves that framed her face. Her green gown complemented the color of her eyes, hugging her like a second skin. The stunning dress accentuated her curves, its fabric shimmering like moonlight as she waltzed into my office like she owned the place.

Jennifer was an ex-lover of mine. We used to fuck all the time—no feelings attached, no emotions, just two people having a good time. Nothing serious. I hadn't seen her in a while, and now I couldn't help but wonder why she was here.

I hated that I'd have to leave my work to attend to this unexpected guest, and it made my blood boil.

As an eligible bachelor, I’d found Jennifer ridiculously attractive, even though I knew I could never have anything serious with her. She didn't mind being the girl I called only when I had an itch to scratch. It was a mutual understanding, and we got by just fine for years.

However, things were different now. I no longer found her as attractive or interesting as I used to. These days, I only had eyes for one woman: my wife.

“What're you doing here unannounced?” I asked, my voice cold and bitter.

“I heard you got married,” she said, her heels clicking against the floor as she approached my desk.

“I did,” I replied, my tone dismissive.

“Interesting.” She halted in front of my desk, a faint grin playing on her lips. Clearly, she was unfazed by my attitude. “Never thought I'd live long enough to see that happen.” Jennifer dropped her bag on the mahogany table and slowly walked over to me.

I leaned back in my chair, my eyes roaming her body as she sashayed her way toward me. She must have an ulterior motive for dressing so sexy, but unfortunately for her, I wasn't interested. I knew that for sure because nothing about her enticed me anymore.

“Erik, the menace…a married man?” She halted in front of me, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. “How wonderful.” She leaned her ass against the edge of my table, her crimson lips curling into a smile.

“What're you doing here, Jennifer?” I asked, my expression stern.

“Temper, temper,” she said softly, her smile broadening. “Can't a woman just stop by to say hello to an old friend?” She batted her eyelashes at me, her teeth grazing over her lower lip. “I'm sure you remember what fun times we had together.” Her voice dropped to a low whisper, her manicured fingers brushing over the fabric of my suit as her green eyes locked onto mine.

I grasped her wrist as she dared to venture down my groin. “If this is why you're here, then you need to leave,” I said, my tone dripping with a mild warning.

She pulled away, her brows arching in disbelief. “Wow, she's that good?” Jennifer asked, shocked that I’d turned her down.

“Better than good,” I said, regardless of how harsh I might sound. Anything to get her out of my sight would suffice. “She's the best.”

A glint of jealousy flickered in Jennifer's gaze, and a momentary scowl flashed across her face. However, she was quick to mask it with a plastic grin, pretending to be unaffected by my words.

She walked round to my back, her hands caressing my broad torso as she leaned forward to whisper in my ear. “Does your precious wife please you the way that I did?”

As I was about to pluck her hands off me and retort, my attention drifted to the door where someone had just knocked.

My heart skipped a beat.

It was Tessa.

She stood there in silence, her eyes shifting across Jennifer and me with an unreadable expression. Jennifer's hands splayed across my chest, painted a compromising picture even though it wasn't what it seemed.

I sprang to my feet, flinging that witch's hands off my body. “Tessa,” I called, speechless, my brain abandoning me for a moment.

She tightened her grip on the door handle and said in a crisp voice that concealed her true emotions, “I didn't realize you had company.”

“She was just leaving,” I replied, shooting a deadly glare at Jennifer.

“No need,” Tessa said, maintaining her blank expression. “Carry on.”

“Tessa,” I called softly, feeling the weight of this situation.

She turned around and left without another word or a promise to hear me out.

“Oops! Guess someone's jealous.” Jennifer let out a light, triumphant laugh, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction.

My hand snapped to grab her jaw, and she flinched at my sudden move, her eyes widening in fear. I held her gaze like I was basking in her terror. “If I ever see you around me again, I'll feed you to my hounds.” I leaned closer, my voice dripping with venom. “They will rip you apart, limb from limb….”

Jennifer's eyes brimmed with tears as I spat the soul-crushing words that put the fear of God in her. Her face paled beneath my grasp, and she trembled, her jaw shuddering in my hand.

I edged closer, my breath brushing against her skin as I whispered in her ear. “You'll be nothing but a mangled mess…a feast for my dogs.” I pulled back to revel in her fear. “Do you understand?”

She swallowed hard and tried to nod, but my grip on her jaw held her in place. However, I was certain that she got the message, so I let her go.

She wrenched free and stumbled backward, her chest heaving with heavy breaths. Jennifer's heels clicked wildly as she grabbed her bag and ran out of my office.

As she disappeared out the door, I was left alone amidst the echoes of my own irritated thoughts. My jaw tightened as I sat in my chair, rubbing my eyes. Tessa's reaction was more unsettling than I thought, and now I had to figure out a way to fix this mess.

Jennifer was mistaken. It wasn't jealousy that flickered in Tessa's eyes. No—it was something much deeper. It was the pain of betrayal.

Shit.