-D

FROM: Nina Vanderwal

TO: D. McKinnon

SENT: Jan. 10, 2:05pm

SUBJECT: Cheap

Why do I feel like a prostitute or worse, a booty call?

-Nina

FROM: D. McKinnon

TO: Nina Vanderwal

SENT: Jan. 10, 2:06pm

SUBJECT: Cheap?

Booty call? What the hell is that? Regardless, you know damn well you are so much more than either of those. But I’m not going to sweeten it up for you; I need you, and I’m growing impatient and harder with each minute I don’t have your body all over mine. 4:00!!

-D

I laugh at the realization that he doesn’t pick up on the American slang as I delete the emails from my inbox and then delete out of my trash. Closing the laptop lid, I make my way into the bedroom where Bennett is walking out of the bathroom, covered in only a towel. I smile as I walk over to his suitcase.

“What’s that smirk all about?” he questions as he approaches.

“You.”

“What about me?”

“Walking around here wet, wearing only a towel, is a mean thing to do to your wife,” I tease.

“Why’s that?”

“Because you’re leaving me for a couple of weeks, and this is the lasting vision you’re giving me.”

“And what about what I gave you a couple hours ago?” he says, referring to the long sex session we had earlier.

“That will give me something to think about when I’m lying in bed at night . . . lonely.”

“You better call me when you’re feeling lonely,” he says suggestively, sparking me to laugh.

“Stop that. You need to go get ready before you start running late,” I nag. “I’ll finish packing for you.”

“Whatever you say, boss,” he jokes before kissing me chastely and then walking back into the bathroom.

I gather the rest of his things from his closet and make sure he has everything he needs packed up. Bennett and Baldwin will be in Dubai for the next two weeks, along with Richard. They will be working on hiring a team while the renovations are still underway. I shifted around Clara’s schedule to allow myself more freedom to come and go without her eyes on me.

When Bennett finally comes out of the bathroom about a half hour later, I decide to give him a proper good wife farewell. Maybe it’s my conscience weighing on me, or maybe it’s knowing I want to keep him from getting suspicious of me, but no matter what, I need to do whatever I can to make him think that what we have together is solid. So as I walk towards him, I reach under my arm and start unzipping the side zipper of my dress. He stays put, staring at me as I stroll across the room. When I’m standing in front of him, he slips his hands under the straps on my shoulders and allows the dress to fall to the floor around my feet.

“I just want you,” I tell him, “One more time before you go.”

“However many times you need, I’ll give it to you.”

And he does. Maybe I’m overcompensating, but I feel it’s needed as we lose all track of time. Once I’ve led him to believe that I’m fully sated, we pull ourselves together and regroup. I take a glance at the clock to see it’s already four and that I should be at Declan’s hotel. When Baldwin walks in to help Bennett with his luggage, I grab my coat from the closet and slip it on.

“Where are you headed?” Bennett asks, and I quickly lie, “I told Marcia I would meet her for a coffee when you left. But now you’ve made me late,” I flirt with a wink.

“I believe you made me late, Mrs. Vanderwal.”

“Are you complaining?”

“Not at all, and please feel free to make me even later if it suits you.”

I catch Baldwin smiling as he overhears our conversation and turn to Bennett, accusing, “You’re a perv.”

“Only for you,” he laughs. “I’m going to miss you.”

We say our goodbyes on the elevator down to the lobby. Bennett seems genuinely sad to be leaving me while I’m anxious to get to Declan, knowing I’m running really late. I keep it hidden though as I take my time playing the loving wife who’s already missing her husband who hasn’t even left yet. But when he does, and we exchange our gentle kisses, Bennett walks out to the car where Baldwin is waiting and I head down to the parking garage.

When I arrive at Lotus, I leave my car with the valet before walking in and picking up the keycard Declan left for me at the front desk. As I step out onto the top floor, I use the keycard to let myself in to Declan’s penthouse room.

“Where the fuck have you been?” he immediately shouts when I walk in, and the gravel in his voice startles me.

“I’m sorry.”

“Where have you been for the past hour?”

He stands across the room as he barks his words at me. Wearing a tailored suit and tie, he looks powerful in his firm stance, and his narrowed eyes and clamped jaw are evidence that he’s beyond pissed.

“Declan, I’m sorry,” I say softly. “Bennett was running late and didn’t leave until now. I got here as soon as I could.”

He begins to make his way over to me, hands clenched in fists to his sides, stating, “I don’t like not knowing where you are. You say four o’clock, you better be in front of me at four o’clock.”

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. If I argue, I’m just gonna piss him off even more. His hand comes out to grip me under my chin. With his face hovering over mine, he admits, “I was worried something happened to you.”

“I’m s-sorry,” I breathe.

Dropping his forehead to mine, he closes his eyes for a moment as he takes in a deep intake of air through his nose. My body jumps when his fingers suddenly pierce into my jaw, and I can feel every bit of tension in his body as he opens his eyes and takes a small step back with my face still in his grip. His eyes are venomous, causing my heart to pound as a small whimper sounds from my throat.

“His smell is all over you,” he seethes in disgust.

“I-I . . .”

“Did you fuck him before you came here?” his voice grinds out from his clenched jaw, but I don’t lie when I whisper on a shaky breath, “Yes.”

His hand falls from my chin as he looks at me in pure anger.

“On the bed,” he barks. “And take that fucking dress off, I don’t want to smell him when I’m fucking you.”

“Declan, please.”

“Get on the fucking bed! NOW!”

The bite to his words has me in a panic, worrying about what he’s going to do, but I don’t hesitate when I start moving across the room and into the bedroom. Quickly removing my dress, I sit on the edge of the bed and wait in the darkness for Declan. It takes him a while, but eventually he appears in the doorway. His shirt is now off, and his slacks hang on his hips with his belt clutched in one hand. The sour taste of bile burns the back of my throat, and I close my eyes, begging, “Declan, please.”

“Don’t talk, Nina.”

I keep my eyes closed out of fear and urge on the disconnect, willing the fire of revenge to consume me so Declan won’t have this power over me. I know he’s right in front of me; I can feel the heat of him soaking into my skin.

“I’m not stupid to think you wouldn’t have sex with that man, but I expect you to come to me clean, do you understand?”

With a quick nod of my head, he snaps, “Answer me!”

“Yes.”

“Open your eyes, and answer me.”

When I open my eyes, I notice the strained muscles in his arms and shoulders as I murmur, “Yes.”

“Were you trying to make me jealous?”

“No,” I quickly blurt out in defense. “I didn’t . . . I didn’t think, Declan. I’m sorry.”