I hate how much I want her. My jaw clenches as I roll a condom on. Protection was already a tense subject between us before I saw those photos this morning.
I slam into her without warning, bottoming out on the first thrust. I grip her hips as I pound into her over and over again, trying to pretend she抯 someone else. Just a warm body I抦 using to get off.
I don抰 touch her anywhere else besides her waist. My thrusts are selfish and primal and desperate. Right now, I抦 chasing the chance to forget. The irony of the fact I抦 using Scarlett to try to forget Scarlett doesn抰 escape me. I could have gone out to a bar or a club and found a random woman梠r two梩o distract me from my train wreck of a marriage for the night. Instead, I came home and waited for her.
Scarlett moans as her inner muscles tighten around me. She抯 close to coming. And I can抰 forget it抯 her I抦 fucking. Her scent is familiar. So are the greedy little whimpers she抯 making.
Annoyance quickens my movements. I thought this would make me feel better, treating her like the property she抯 set against becoming. But this梥crewing like she抯 a woman I met for the first time tonight梚sn抰 impersonal. The sound of my name falling out of her mouth as she clenches around me is what sends me over the edge right after her. She抯 still spasming when I pull out of her and stalk into the bathroom to get rid of the condom.
Scarlett is sprawled out on the bed when I walk back into the bedroom. I ignore her as I buckle my pants and pick my tie up off the floor.
She sits up, naked aside from her bra. 揥hat the fuck, Crew??
揥hat the fuck what, Scarlett??My response is caustic, and I watch her flinch at my tone. I didn抰 think it was possible to feel worse right now, but that subtle movement managed to do so. I need to get out of here.
揑f this was some role play shit, you can drop the act now.?
I chuckle darkly.
揧ou want me to pretend that was normal??
揇o whatever you want,?I retort. 揧ou always do anyway.?
She stands and walks over to me. Despite the fact I came minutes ago, my body reacts. My dick hasn抰 gotten the memo she抯 a liar and a cheater.
揟ell me what抯 wrong.?
揘othing.?I turn away.
揥here are you going??
揙ut.?
揥here??she presses.
揘one of your business.?
揝ure. I抦 only your wife.?That抯 probably the worst thing she could say right now.
I laugh, and the dead sound of it scares me a little. 揑t抯 awfully fucking convenient, when you抮e my wife and when you抮e not. When we抮e an arrangement and when this is a marriage.?
揑 told you I would try, Crew. I抦 trying.?
I shake my head and stalk toward the door.
揧ou said you抣l always want me,?she tells me. I still, hating how she抯 bringing that up now. Marring that perfect memory with the anger and hurt swirling between us. 揑n Italy, everything you said棓
揑 do want you, Scarlett. That抯 the fucking problem.?
揋uess I was right about you hating me. I did think it would take a little longer.?The words are harsh, but I don抰 miss the sadness not far beneath. It cuts deep.
揥e both know you抮e an overachiever.?
I walk out of her bedroom without another word.
揧ou look terrible,?Asher tells me when I walk into the conference room for the monthly board meeting the following morning. 揗ore trouble in paradise??
揑 don抰 want to talk about it,?I clip. I only left my office for meetings yesterday, going so far as to skip our usual lunch.
Wisely, Asher doesn抰 push. My dark mood from yesterday is still hovering, fueled by the copious amount of whiskey I drank last night and the little sleep I got in my penthouse. I抦 used to sleeping beside Scarlett. My old mattress felt cold and empty.
Oliver studies me closely as he enters the room and takes a seat across from me. I keep my face impassive. He and my father will want an update. Results from a confrontation I抦 not ready to make. At least the surgeon was before we started to feel like a real couple. Knowing she was with someone else right before we left for Europe? That will be far worse than simply simmering with the possibility.
揇id you see the email about the company party??Asher asks me.
揧es.?The reminder doesn抰 improve my mood. An annual event I was looking forward to梠ur first outing as a real couple. Up until yesterday morning, when time spent with Scarlett became slow and painful torture. As the future CEO and son of the current one, there抯 no way I抣l be able to get out of going.
揇id you watch the Giants game last night??
揘ot really, I厰 My voice fades when a familiar face strides into the conference room. 揥hat are you doing here??I ask Scarlett, far louder than I mean to.
Her face is an indifferent mask. Exactly how she used to look at me. 揑抦 here for the board meeting. Same as you are, I抎 imagine.?