Page 7

damian

“Fucking hell,” I muttered, shoving the shower door open the rest of the way.

Soap still covered my body and hair, but I didn’t have time to rinse it off.

I grabbed the towel from the hook, wrapping it around my waist as I raced out of the bathroom.

She knew the only chance of her leaving again would be tonight—before we had lunch with the families tomorrow.

Once she saw her father, there was no way she could talk her way out of this.

She’d be here to stay. Something she was clearly desperate to avoid.

Water splashed on the hardwood floor when I left the bathroom, and I saw her sliding the deadbolt.

“Natalia. Stop,” I hissed, crossing the room while securing the towel around my waist.

Her body tensed, but she didn’t stop what she was doing. When the lock disengaged, she reached for the doorknob, twisting it open as I lunged at her. A spew of curses left my mouth when I slipped on the hardwood, crashing into her instead of grabbing her like I’d planned.

“Oh my God,” she screeched, flailing around. She was smooshed between me and the door. “Get off me, Damian. You’re getting me all wet.”

“Give it to me,” I demanded, reaching for her purse, knowing she wouldn’t leave without it.

She had it tucked tightly under her arm, refusing to let it go. Her back was against my chest when she suddenly dropped, her body catching the towel as she fell. I tried grabbing for it, but she landed on top of the towel, leaving me completely naked.

“Shit,” I grumbled, bending over. My fingers grazed the white fabric before she shifted, keeping her ass on the towel. She raised her gaze, her eyes widening when she stared at my dick. Her shock lasted for only a second before she swung her legs toward me.

“Fuck, Talie,” I grated out when she kicked at me. I backed up a couple steps, not having any protection against her thick heels.

“You’re ruining your floor,” she taunted as she jumped to her feet, grabbing the towel as she stood up. “The water spots will look terrible once it stains.”

I reached for her, but she threw the towel, hitting me right in the face.

I moved to tear it off when her palm slapped on my wet chest as she shoved me back as hard as she could with one hand.

The towel fell, and I didn’t even try to grab it again as I stumbled back.

With the floor still wet, I lost my footing for a couple seconds before righting myself.

She already had the door open and was halfway in the hall when I lunged forward to grab her wrist. But she wasn’t giving up easily and yanked against me. Since I still had soap on my hands, she slipped out of my grip. Again.

Not giving a shit about being naked, I strode into the hall, wrapping my arms around her before pushing her into the wall opposite of my door.

She shrieked when I pressed my body against hers until we were chest to chest before I moved one of my arms, getting a hold of her purse while keeping her pinned.

“Asshole,” she breathed out as I tore it from her grip, tossing it behind me, back into my apartment. “My phone is in there.”

“I have soap running down my face,” I tossed back. “Get your ass back inside.”

“No.” She squirmed against me, her body tensing when she felt my hardening cock pressing against her stomach. “Fuck, Damian. Get off me.”

“Is this bothering you?” I taunted, pushing into her even more. “Your naked husband all over you?”

Before she could answer, a new voice rang out from down the hall. I swore under my breath, knowing my bare ass was on full display. Talie’s eyes danced with amusement before she turned to see who it was. I already knew, recognizing the woman’s voice.

“Damian?” my neighbor, Paula, asked hesitantly.

Forcing a smile on my face, I pulled Talie off the wall, situating her in front of me to keep my body covered.

When she purposefully tried wriggling away to expose me, I locked my arms around her, letting my chin rest on her shoulder as I looked at Paula.

Shock and confusion were on her face as she stood outside her apartment in a small robe with her blonde hair pulled up.

She was at least ten years older than me, but it never stopped her from trying to flirt with me.

“I heard a commotion…” Paula drifted off, her gaze going to Talie. “Is everything okay?”

“We’re fine,” I chuckled, nuzzling my face into the crook of her neck. “My wife has a kink for primal play. She decided she wanted to play while I was in the shower. Who am I to disappoint her?”

Talie made a choking noise but didn’t say a word as Paula stared at us with her mouth hanging open.

“Your wife?” Paula finally asked after clearing her throat. “I wasn’t aware you were married.”

Paula hadn’t been shy about wanting me, but I never played into her advances. She didn’t have any connection to mine or Talie’s family, so I wasn’t worried about this getting back to Connecticut. She was an up-and-coming real estate agent who loved her newfound money.

I grinned at Paula. “I’m sorry we bothered you. We’re celebrating her coming home. I promise to be quieter.”

“That might be hard, baby ,” Talie spoke up, her voice full of vengeance. “Especially since you love it when I put on a strap-on and?—”

I slapped my hand over her mouth, not letting her finish. “Have a good night, Paula.”

Talie writhed against me as I backed up, pulling her back into the apartment with me as Paula stared at us. I kicked the door shut, pushing her against it, removing my hand from her mouth.

“I can’t believe you said that,” she hissed. “Now, your neighbor is going to think?—”

“What? That we have a great sex life? It plays into our healthy marriage, don’t you think?”

She sighed in defeat when I quickly locked the door, then stepped back to grab her purse off the floor.

“Let me call Char,” she demanded, following me as I strode toward my dresser.

“You can use my phone once I’m out of the shower,” I said as I pulled open the top drawer, lifting my small safe out. “You aren’t getting yours until after lunch tomorrow.”

The safe had a thumbprint lock, and after I opened it, dropping her small purse inside, I glanced at Talie to see her staring at it intently.

“Can’t break into this one as easily,” I told her, locking it back up again. “And in case you try, I keep my money elsewhere now. I don’t need my wife to steal everything I have for a second time.”

She scowled but didn’t say a word as I put the safe back in the drawer before heading back into the bathroom where the shower was still running.

The steam was thick from the hot water running for so long, and I didn’t bother shutting the bathroom door this time before I stepped back under the water.

I turned it even hotter, running my hands through my hair to rinse off the drying soap.

I jerked in surprise when the shower door was ripped open. Talie stepped inside, not even glancing at me as she turned on the other shower head.

Oh my fuck.

She was goddamn stunning with clothes on.

But naked? I couldn’t tear my eyes off her if I wanted.

Her back was facing me, and my gaze dropped to the curve of her ass.

Her skin was smooth, and I spotted a tiny tattoo on her left ass cheek.

Before I could study it more, she spun around as I fought to keep my expression blank.

Though there was nothing I could do about my raging hard-on that sprang to life the second she came into the shower.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her eyes widening with feigned innocence. “Don’t married couples shower together?”

I cleared my throat, forcing to keep my eyes on hers. “What are you doing, Talie?”

She raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t about to stay in wet clothes until you finished.”

I still wasn’t over my shock that she actually got into the shower with me. We’d grown up together, and while we teased the line between friendship and something more in our teens, we’d never even kissed until our wedding day. Seeing her naked was throwing me through a fucking loop.

But my thoughts turned purely dirty when she squeezed some of my body wash into her hand to wash herself.

She trailed her hands over her shoulders before going lower.

My eyes tracked her hands as she palmed her breasts, slowly rubbing herself.

I bit my tongue, trying my fucking hardest not to react to her teasing.

By the wicked gleam in her eyes, she knew exactly what she was doing.

“What now, Damian?” she asked. “I stay here and act as your obedient wife in public while you do whatever you want?”

I couldn’t focus on her words when she pinched and tugged at her nipples, falling back against the granite wall.

“Talie,” I ground out, my voice gruff. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Showering,” she answered, her hands roaming over her wet body. “Something wrong?”

“You’re starting a game you’re not going to win,” I murmured when her fingers dropped between her thighs.

“What game?” Her eyes were closed as she touched her pussy, her back arching. “The shower is my favorite place to get off.”

Fuck me. “Is that so?”

“Mm,” she hummed out in agreement, keeping her eyes closed. “Since my husband is an asshole, I’m abstaining from sex. With you, at least. I need to relax somehow.”

“With just me?” I growled, annoyance flaring from her taunting. “You won’t be having sex with anyone else, Natalia. You are my wife.”

Her eyes flew open, full of pure venom. “In name only. We didn’t marry for love. It was business. We’ve been married for the last five years. Did you not have sex the entire time?”

“This is different,” I snapped. “You’re here now. I told you earlier—you won’t be having sex with anyone other than me.”

“No,” she said simply. “I’m keeping this a business transaction like it started. I’ll play the part in public if I’m stuck here, but you have no say on who I’m with behind closed doors.”

I couldn’t tell if she was actively trying to piss me off or if she really had plans to find men to sleep with, but either way, my blood was boiling. That wouldn’t be fucking happening.

“Don’t worry, you’re free to fuck whoever you want too,” she said, her hand still touching her pussy. “Just make sure it stays quiet.”

I flexed my fingers, taking a deep breath to stay in control. I wasn’t arguing about this right now, but once we were fully clothed and I had a clear head, we’d be revisiting this conversation.

I watched as she fingered herself while bringing her free hand up to tease her nipples.

Her eyes stayed on mine, as if daring me to stop her.

For a bit anyway. Soon, she lost focus when her growing pleasure outweighed the show she was putting on for me.

Her eyelids fluttered closed as she rubbed her clit faster.

I crept closer, studying her body as she climbed to the edge.

Her chest heaved, her hand falling away from her breasts to grab the wall for more support. She threw her head back, and right when I noticed her body going rigid, I lashed my arm out, snatching her wrist, pulling it away from her pussy.

“Damian,” she hissed, her voice higher than usual. “What the fuck?”

“There are only two ways you’ll get an orgasm in front of me,” I murmured, crowding her against the wall. “The first is I give it to you.”

“Not happening,” she snapped.

“The second way,” I continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “is to ask me.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re more than welcome to touch yourself. Work yourself up until you crash over the edge.” I pinned her wrists to the wall when she tried pushing me away. “But not without my permission. Ask me if you can come, Talie.”

“I don’t need to ask you,” she snarled, struggling against my hold.

I chuckled. “Then no orgasm for you. This is a studio apartment, which means we will be living in close quarters. Trying to tease me with sex? Go for it. But before you try this again, remember the club I own. I have endless ideas on how to tease you right back.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I won’t have sex with you.”

“I can have you screaming and begging without me even touching you.” I released her wrists, stepping back. “Touch yourself without asking again, you’ll find out what I mean.”

When she glared daggers at me, I could see her internal fight about what to do. She wanted to defy me, but my warning was making her hesitant, not knowing how far I’d go. If she wanted to play this game, I was more than willing.

“Dick,” she finally muttered while moving to rinse off the rest of the soap. “You won’t be with me every second. Remember that.”

I didn’t respond, stepping back under my own showerhead.

From her calculated stare, this was far from over.

But instead of the annoyance I was expecting, my body was buzzing with excitement.

I didn’t trust her for anything after what she did to me.

But I wasn’t hating having her here. I just needed to remember how she’d screwed me over once, and if given the chance, she’d do it again.

It still didn’t stop my thoughts from running rampant about how she’d sound screaming my name.