“If you say it’s just a night one more time, I swear I will walk out right now.”
I press my fingers into my temples. My skin still feels tight where Ethan’s gaze touched it.
“But we need to talk about it, Leo. It’s not gonna just go away,” she says softly, trying to manipulate.
“Didn’t you notice?” I say.
“Notice what?”
“He didn’t want sex, Sarah,” I say slowly. “He wantsme. I’m sure he’s dangerous. This is some psychological bullshit. The guy wants to break me down. Can’t you see how unhinged he is?”
Sarah hesitates just for a second. But the lure of the high life takes over and I realize I’ve lost my wife. That I’m laying here on our bed, arguing with her, trying to defend myself and about to listen to my wife convince me to sell my body to another man for the night.
“So what?” she snaps. “People want things. That doesn’t make them monsters.”
I don’t answer because I can’t be bothered to tell her that she’s wrong. Ethan is a monster who hides it well. Sarah turns away, arms crossed.
“I’m your husband,” I say, thinking it would make any difference.
“I know,” she replies. “I just thought…” She doesn’t finish. The unfinished sentence fills inthe rest. She thought it would be her and she wanted to be the one desired.
I sink into the pillow, suddenly exhausted down to my bones. I don’t know what it means to be wanted like that. To be claimed as a prize, and part of me feels sick.
But there is another part, a hidden secret part that’s quiet and traitorous as I remember how it felt to be the center of someone’s world for the length of a heartbeat. To be sitting at that table knowing I was the only thing he saw.
That scares me more than Ethan ever could.
CHAPTER 13 - ETHAN
“Ireally should build a gym onto the clubhouse,” my old acquaintance Marcus says from beside me as we both gulp down the protein shakes Lilian has made. We’ve known each other since childhood, attended the same private school together, our fathers were best friends. He took a very different path than me, but we intertwine on certain issues.
Marcus comes over from time to time to join me in my home gym, burn some of that frustration and catch up. We don’t see each other as much as we used to, but he’s the closest person to my life who knows everything about me.
I needed to burn off some steam this morning after last night’s dinner. Not that I would say it out loud, but I’m anxious and excited to see if Leo takes me up on the offer. I need to get things moving.
“Was the info I gave you helpful?” he says as he moves to the sofa, stretching his long legs out in front ofhim. If you saw us both together you would wonder what the fuck we have in common. I’m put together and business-like, everything in its place. Whereas Marcus is a beast of muscle, long black hair that rests on his shoulders, tattoos covering every inch of skin and dressed as the typical biker. Leather and denim his go-to clothing. I can admit he is hot, but we have never gone there, and I want to gag at the thought of kissing him.
“It was. I got the ball rolling last night. I’m hoping he comes around to my terms.”
“Dare I ask what it’s all about?”
“I’ve found one.”
“Found what?”
“My person. I had a contract drawn up for him to spend a night with me for a million dollars. I plan to keep him.”
“Wait… you plan to keep him?”
“Yes. It’s in the small print.”
“So, it’s a kidnapping?”
“No, more like coercion with benefits. He will like it.”
“Good for you. Never thought I’d see anyone hold your interest. But bring him to the club when he gets settled.”
“I’m not taking him anywhere near that whorehouse.”
