Slowly placing my hand in his, I stand up. “You know how to dance?” I ask surprised.

“Don’t ever underestimate me, sweetheart.” He leads me to an open area in the living room and whisks me away. We spin and twirl, laugh and sing as this song bleeds into the next. On the fifth or sixth song, he ends it by dipping me back. My head tilts back as I laugh at the sudden movement. When he doesn’t move to pull me back up, I lift my head and see him staring intently at me. He’s looking down on me with longing and I’ve become aware that every inch of my body is pressed firmly against his. The laughter dies on my lips as I take in the seriousness of our situation while one undeniable feeling grows between us.

Desire.

“Alex?” He doesn’t respond, just leans in slowly until our lips connect. The breath is stolen right out of me. The tension I didn’t realize I had been holding in for a month is released from my body as we kiss. All too soon, he breaks the bond, leaving me wanting and completely unsatisfied.

Alex opens his mouth to say something, but the sound of the front door opening causes us to jump away from each other just in time to see Cal enter the room. Holy shit, that was close.

AT THE END of the night, I retreat to my bedroom. Since Cal has been home, I sleep in one of the guest rooms. There’s no sense in pretending that I love him like I used to and Cal is under no illusions that I’m happy with him. He knows I want out, but he also knows I won’t leave. I’m about to climb into bed when there’s a knock on the door. Turning, I expect to see Alex standing in the doorway, but instead I’m met with Cal. He stumbles through the door and I realize that he’s drunk.

Great.

“Why don’t you come to our bed?” he slurs.

“You know why,” I say in a monotone voice.

He stalks toward me as I watch his movements. “Oh, come on. Don’t be like that. You know I’m sorry that we had an altercation.”

“Excuse me?” I’m starting to get mad. Altercation? That’s what he calls it? “That’s not the way I remember it, Cal. I seem to remember you hitting me in the face and giving me a bruise that lasted for over a week. I had to be kept prisoner in my own home because of you.”

“How about we make up? You know what’s a good way to do that?” He pauses waiting for my response, but he won’t get one. Bile slowly creeps up my throat at his suggestion. There’s no way in hell I’m going to be intimate with this bastard. He’s standing directly in front of me now, only a couple of inches separate us. Leaning in toward my ear, he whispers, “Make-up sex.” The smell of brandy rolling off his tongue hits my nose, making me turn my head in disgust.

“Get away from me,” I say, still avoiding him.

He grabs my face roughly and turns it toward him, digging his thumb and middle finger into each side of my face. “You little bitch,” he says between clenched teeth. “You are my wife, and if I want to fuck you, I will. It’s my right as your husband.” He pushes me back onto the bed by my face before climbing on top of me, hovering over me with one knee on each side of my waist. My heart starts beating frantically as my body trembles with fear. “Just pretend I’m Alex,” he says with a sneer.

“W-what?” I ask.

“You think I’m a fool? I see the way you two look at each other. I always knew you were a little slut. Tell me, do you fake it for him, too?” I move to push him off, but he grabs my wrists and pins them above my head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I haven’t slept with Alex.” I struggle against his hold on me. Even drunk, his strength and bodyweight overpower me.

“But you want to, don’t you?” I don’t answer, the internal panic starting to rise as his eyes take on a darker look. “Looks like I’m just going to have to fuck you until you only think of me.” I don’t think. I just act out of desperation. My knee comes up and hits him hard right in the groin. I pull back quickly and knee him again for good measure. His hold instantly releases from my wrists as he rolls over in agony and clutches his balls. “You fucking cunt!” he yells as his face twists in pain.

Scurrying off the bed as quick as possible, I move toward the other side of the room. “Listen closely, because I’m only going to say this once.” My insides are a jumbled mess and my whole body is shaking, but my voice comes out low, calm, and even. “You ever put a hand on me again, you will regret it. I will go to every news publication out there and give them every single juicy detail about the life of Mrs. Callahan Fitzgerald. Everyone will know that you beat your wife and attempted to rape her. Your career will be over.”

“I think you forget something, love.” He pauses while he takes in a few breaths. “Who pays for your mother’s medical bills?”

“Ha, you think I won’t get paid for a story like that?” I drill holes into his face, challenging him to call my bluff. He looks away first and I take a small amount of joy in that little victory. He rolls off the bed and walks toward the door hunched over still holding on to the family jewels.

“Fucking cunt. I should’ve listened to my mother and never married you,” he spits at me before he walks out of the room. I don’t even dignify him with a response and close the door behind him before locking it. Leaning against the door, I listen until I know he’s left and gone back to the master bedroom.

On shaky legs, I walk to the other side of the house and before I know it, I’m standing in front of Alex’s room. Without thinking, I knock, hoping he’s not asleep. After a few seconds, the door opens revealing a sleepy Alex. I launch myself at him and wrap my arms around his neck. He doesn’t ask questions, he just returns the gesture.

“Do you mind if I sleep in here for the night?” I ask in a small voice.

“Of course you can.” He pulls me inside and helps me into the bed before sliding in next to me. Once he’s settled, I move over and lay my head on his chest. I need this connection, this comfort. “You’re shaking. What’s wrong?” he asks after he wraps his arm back over me.

I shake my head knowing that lying to him is useless. “I don’t really want to talk about it, okay?” I whisper. He kisses me on the head and squeezes me tighter.

“You don’t have to. Go to sleep, sweetheart, I’ve got you.” A few minutes later, I’m drifting off into a deep slumber and I know I’m safe right where I’m at.

“Wake up, sweetheart,” is murmured into my ear, which brings me out of my peaceful sleep. I don’t know what it is about Alex, but both times I’ve slept in the same bed as him I’ve been out like a light. It’s the most refreshed I’ve felt in a while despite everything that’s going on. “Wakey, wakey,” he says when I don’t move. A slow smile spreads across my face and then I open my eyes. They squint against the bright light coming through the window. I move off of his chest and sit up, looking around for the clock to see what time it is. I’m afraid what will happen if Cal sees me sleeping here. “Thank God you got up. I was afraid I was gonna have to pry your face off my chest from all the drool cementing you to me.” My head snaps to him and I quickly wipe my face. If I drooled all over him I will be completely mortified.

“I do not drool,” I say, slightly offended. At least I hope I don’t. He starts laughing.

“I’m just messing with you, but you should’ve seen your face. That was priceless.” He laughs some more. “You’re eyes were this big.” He demonstrates by holding his fingers up and making a huge circle.

I nudge him before getting off the bed. “Very funny, Mr. Matthews. Didn’t anyone ever teach you that it’s not nice to tease girls?”

He looks up at the ceiling as if he’s in deep thought. “Nope.”