Page 84 of The Husband Contract

There’s the fire that intrigues me so much. I’m not appreciative of the flirtatious glance she seems to be sending his way though. In fact, it burns something inside of me. And I’m not happy.

“Oh,” Jack says, amused. “Honest.”

“I do like to think I’m honest. Sure, I’ve told a couple of lies in my life, but who hasn’t told a couple of white lies?” She glances at me. “I don’t tell big lies, though. And I don’t use people.”

I grit my teeth together to keep from arguing her words. “Jack and I were just talking about how I’m about lose my company.” I cross my arms across my chest and issue her achallenging stare. “All because of Sergio spiraling. Because of his broken heart.”

The heartyoubroke, Willow.

“That sucks,” she says, closing her book, unfazed by my words. “Is there something I can do to help? Oh, wait, even if there was, I wouldn’t.” She glares at me. “When am I going to leave here? I don’t even understand what I’m doing. What’s the point of this marriage?” She stands up and heads to the window. Her hair hangs loose, her shirt clings to her body and it’s obvious she doesn’t have on a bra. Her shorts emphasize her ass and long legs and I frown as I see Jack staring at her. Also admiring her beauty. “And how many times do I have to ask you the same question?”

You’ll have to keep asking until I figure out the answer.

“You’re here because I love you so, dear wife,” I say with a wolfish grin, laying it on thick.

She laughs bitterly at my words and turns to me. “Well, I don’t love you.”

Her words are barbs and they cut deeper each time she speaks them.

I sneer at her. “So those were lies as well.”

“Ididlove you when I thought you were a good man. But you’re not.”

She looks over at Jack. “I suppose you know all about what’s going on since you’re his best friend.”

Jack nods slowly.

“And you think it’s right?” she demands. “What he’s doing to me?”

Jack bounces his eyes back and forth between us. “I actually don’t know what to think.”

Willow’s eyes narrow. “Right. Well, if that’s all, I’d like to go back to reading my book.”

Dismissed. It’s cute how she thinks she can make us runalong with a wriggle of her fingers. Has she not learned anything about me yet?

“What are you reading?” I ask.

She holds up the book. A photo of a hot man without a shirt fills the cover.

“What is that?” I demand with a frown.

“It’s a steamy romance,” she says, grinning. “A very hot, filthy romance. I think I’m going to stick to fictional characters because they’re a lot better than real men.”

I press my lips together. “Is that meant to be an insult?”

“If you take it as one.”

“You do realize arealman can do things that a fictional man can’t, my dear?”

“Like what?”

Burning heat coils in my gut and electricity buzzes through my veins. I want her so badly. I want to slam her to the bed, but I need to remember that Jack is here, witnessing our conversation.

“He can kiss you and touch you and actually bring you to a real orgasm.” I drag my tongue over my bottom lip, taunting her. “Remember those? Remember when you were screaming out my name and?—”

“Stop,” she hisses, blushing as she glances at Jack. “That’s really inappropriate.”

“What would be inappropriate is if I pushed you down on the bed and told you to ride me in front of my friend.”