“Yes! I can’t believe Mrs Thomas wouldn’t… I mean, you’re so sex—” She clapped her hand to her mouth. “Oh my God, sorry!”
Byron’s smirk became a full-blown smile. “I’m so, what?”
“Don’t!” she wailed. “I’m so sorry, Mr Thomas!”
“Byron,” he said, still grinning from ear to ear.
“I’m so sorry, Byron!”
“Don’t be. Nice to hear, actually. Been a while.” He ran his hand through his hair, the image of a man who knew how good-looking he was. His wedding ring flashed in the overhead lights, and Beth almost broke character to tell him how well he was playing this married douchebag thing.
She held onto her performance by a thread. “Oh, well, in that case, I mean it! All my nanny friends were so jealous when they found out I was working for you.”
“Thanks.” Byron flashed her the evilest smile she’d ever seen on her husband’s face. “Does that mean I can see one of your photos?”
“I… You’d want to?”
He looked her over. “You’ve gotta know how pretty you are.”
Beth almost swooned. “I don’t think I’m… I mean, thank you. You really think I’m pretty?”
“You shouldn’t even be asking.” Byron was leaning in close again, still wearing that evil smile. “Maybe you can send me something?”
Beth realised she was pulling at her lower lip like she’d done when she was younger. When she and Byron were first dating, she was always on edge. She let go. “I could… I mean, if you want?”
“I want.”
“I guess just, um, Mrs Thomas?”
He shrugged. “What Mrs Thomas doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Besides, there’s nothing wrong about looking at pictures.” He lowered his voice. “Next time you’re out drinking with your friends, send something. Gimme something to look at next time I’m away.”
“W-When are you next away?”
“Soon. I get a lot of late nights at work. Lots of travel. Gets hard sometimes.”
The intensity of his gaze left Beth in no doubt about what it was that got hard sometimes. Her tongue felt glued to the roof of her mouth, and she drank a little soda to loosen it. She imaginedbeing this version of this girl. Knowing she was wading into hazardous waters, yet unable to stop.
He’s so hot, and he’s right. It’s just pictures. It doesn’t mean anything’s going to happen…
“I can send you something,” she whispered. “I’m…. I’m sorry you have to work so hard, Mr Thomas.”
“Me too. It’s a lot to take on.” His gaze flicked to her nipples, and this time, he allowed himself to stare. “Having you around the house isn’t helping.”
Beth pulled at her lower lip, deliberately this time. “I, um, sorry, I don’t want to be a distraction or anything.”
“But you are one.”
Oh my…
“I, um, what?”
“You don’t think I normally act like this around the nannies, do you?”
Beth was surprised her new outfit didn’t burst into flames. “Um, you don’t really talk to me that much. You mostly seem… tense.”
“I am tense,” Byron said so roughly she barely recognised his voice. “What are we gonna do about that, Bethany?”
Jesus... Beth wanted to talk, to say something, but she felt immobilised, so utterly in synch with her character she might as well have never screwed anyone before. She stared blankly at her husband, and his wicked smile returned.
