Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“Do you plan to offer me a drink?” she asks, raising a brow.
“Of course. Margarita?” I reply as I wave the waitress down. Cora nods, and I order her two so she doesn’t have to wait. “Did you miss me this morning?” I ask, my hand finding her bare thigh.
“Well, I was expecting to wake up to you between my legs,” she replies, none too quietly.
Someone coughs, and I can’t help but smirk.
“We can arrange that for next time,” I tell her.
“Isn’t that Delaney’s boyfriend?” She points at James.
“It is.”
“So, you’re the woman who’s been keeping Arlo here busy,” I hear Rupert say. He’s a good psychologist, and I’ve enjoyed working with him over the years.
“Unless he’s seeing someone else, yes,” she answers, then turns back to me.
I squeeze her leg, letting her know that no one can compete with her, as I tell her, “No other women.”
And she smiles before she leans in and kisses me.
Perhaps lust isn’t the correct definition.
THIRTY-FIVE
CORA
While I drink my two margaritas, I sit on his lap. He holds me there, even when I try to move to sit next to him. He doesn’t care that everyone is watching us. He’s sinfully sexy, dangerous, intelligent, and powerful, yet when he looks at me like he is right now, I’ve never felt more desired, wanted, or claimed. I’ve also never felt so swept up with any man before.
“Are you ready to leave?” he asks just before he bites my earlobe.
“Yes.” I go to stand, and he lets me this time.
A waitress comes over and whispers something to him about an incident that needs his attention, and I tell him I’ll wait out front.
“Stay inside, I won’t be long.”
I agree, then wait by the front door as requested until I notice someone I know standing outside, smoking a cigarette.
James.
When I push the door open, my intention is to say hello to him. But then I step out and notice a car pulling up to the curb next to him. He finishes his cigarette as I call his name, but he doesn’t turn around or give any indication he heard me. I walk a little closer as he drops the cigarette and stomps on it with his boot.
“James,” I say it louder this time, and he finally turns toward me. I can tell he’s been drinking.
“What do you want?” he asks, and then there is a flare of recognition across his face.
“Rylas,” a woman calls out from the car.
When he turns back to the car, something on his left hand catches the glow from the streetlight. It’s a wedding ring. Disgust creeps its way into me. How could he do this? What a sad human to do this to a woman like Delaney.
Leaning down, I smile at the woman. She appears to be in her mid-thirties, hair tied up loosely on top of her head, and dressed in sweats.
“Hi, I’m Cora.” I offer her a small wave.
“I’m Monica, Rylas’s wife.” She nods to James.
I focus my gaze back on him and narrow my eyes. “Wife?” I ask him. She is meant to be dead. His jaw is clenched hard as I look back at his wife.
“I didn’t know he was married. So nice to meet you.” I smile at her. “How long have you been married?” She looks past me to where her lying scumbag of a husband is.
“Ten years,” she says proudly.
Just as I go to say something else, James, or should I say Rylas, pushes me out of the way and grumbles, “Ignore her. She’s one of Arlo’s whores.”
“Ohhh,” Monica says as he climbs into the car.
“How fucking dare—” I go to say, but Rylas drives off before I can finish.
I immediately call Delaney, but she doesn’t answer. She usually sleeps with her phone on silent.
“I told you to wait inside,” Arlo says from behind me.
Noticing a cab approaching, I raise my hand to flag it down. “I have a ride for us,” he says, and I step out of his way before he can reach me, looking back over my shoulder at him.
“You knew he was married,” I accuse.
He lifts his hand and scrubs it over his face. “Rylas was out here?” he guesses.
“Yes, your friend, James,” I hiss as I get into the cab. He goes to follow, but I hold up a finger. “If you dare, I’ll kick you so hard in the dick, you won’t be able to use it for a month.” His dark gaze fixes on me, his mouth in a tight, thin line.
I give the cabbie Delaney’s address.
How can a night go from so good to shit in a matter of minutes?
Arlo watches as I drive off, and I try calling Delaney again, but she doesn’t answer. Arlo tries to call several times, and I ignore each one. He knew James was lying to us. He could have told me. He had plenty of chances to do so. But he chose not to.