“Oh, okay.” I slammed my laptop shut and stood to stretch. I reached for the ceiling, aware of where that would place the hemline of my short robe.
His gaze dropped to my thighs. He licked his lips. Smiled sinfully. What exactly did he plan to do to me with that sinful mouth?
“But I guess things are different now,” he said. “Give me a few minutes to wrap up here.”
I smiled giddily and tried not to skip to the bedroom. On my way, I imagined how and where he might fuck me tonight. Against the refrigerator? On the bathroom counter? On the balcony? Standing? Sitting? Right side up? Upside down? An excited thrill made its way through me, but it stopped cold when I grabbed my phone from my purse and saw that I had a text from Bill.
Bill:If you don’t come get your shit tomorrow night, it’s going out with the trash.
Bill had a right to be angry, but his words still stung. I could fight back, or I could give him what he wanted, hopefully putting an end to things quickly. I sent my response.
Me:I’ll do it while you’re at work.
Bill:I changed the locks. It’s already in boxes, I’ll be home after 6
I sighed. This would be tricky. David and Bill had already proven they couldn’t be in the same room together. Not that I really wanted to force them on each other anyway. Luckily, the sum total of my things could be moved in one trip, and as much as I admired David’s brawn, I didn’t need it.
I texted Gretchen to ask if she’d help me in exchange for dinner. Bethany had a truck I knew she’d let us borrow, since David’s vehicles wouldn’t fit the boxes. I doubted he’d let me drive his fancy car anyway—my dad never had.
I bit the inside of my cheek to the point of discomfort as I sat on the bed and read Bill’s texts again. He’d changed the locks already. His patience seemed to be dwindling. I reasoned that my things were constant reminders of my absence, and if I were in his position, I’d want them out, too.
“You’re deep in thought,” David said behind me.
My head snapped up. I’d been right—David was a god in yummy gray sweatpants. “It’s nothing,” I said, tossing the phone aside and already envisioning him shirtless.
“Nothing?”
“Bill wants me to clear my stuff out tomorrow night.”
David’s brow furrowed. “That’s fine. We can go after work.”
I folded my knee under my bottom and held my palms open in front of me. “Actually,” I said warily, “I thought I’d just go with Gretchen. We’ve already arranged it.”
He snorted. “That’s not going to happen.”
“Hear me out,” I said. “Bill’s been through enough. Showing up with you to pick up my things would just be pouring salt into the wound.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Did you think I was joking when I said you couldn’t be alone with him?”
“I wouldn’t be alone—”
“Did you?” he barked.
“No,” I snapped back at him, “that’s why I made plans with Gretchen. I respected your request. Now, you have to respect my decision.”
“It’s not a request,” he said, stepping forward. “Having Gretchen there won’t do shit if Bill snaps. My answer is no.”
“I wasn’t asking,” I said immediately.
His face tightened into a steely gaze. “Do not test me, Olivia. I’ll take you if you like, but you’re not going alone.”
“You’re forbidding me from seeing my husband?”
“Yes.”
“You can’t—”
“The hell I can’t!” he roared. “You are not to be alone with him.Ever.”
