Authors: Opal Carew
“I’m sure that won’t happen. Don’t worry.”
The anxiety about her line failing despite Kane’s help had been building in her. A growing unease that was eating away at her. But Will’s warm smile and the encouragement in his knowing hazel eyes soothed her agitation. Maybe she had been blowing things out of proportion.
She drew in a deep breath. “I know. I’ll just do the best I can. That’s all I can expect of myself. It’s just, it’s been my dream, you know?”
He nodded. “I do. I didn’t come from money like Kane did. When I met him at college and he was impressed by my ideas then said he wanted to start a business together, I knew my dream had come true.”
She gazed at him, realizing for the first time how much they had in common.
“I think it’s amazing that you two paired up and have become such a phenomenal success. Your company is practically a household name.”
“I was definitely lucky. Kane is a fabulous friend and business partner.” He smiled. “And I know he’ll be a fabulous husband.”
Of course he was right. Kane would be everything a husband should be. Strong, protective, understanding. A good provider. He would meet her every need.
Except one.
He would never love her.
“So now that you’ve had your dream become a reality, do you have other dreams?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t need any more money. And that’s never been important to me anyway. I’ve always just wanted to be able to bring my ideas to life. But … I guess the big thing I want in life is to find that special person. You know, someone who puts me above all else. Who loves me.”
Her heart ached. She wanted that, too, but now she was in a marriage of convenience, so she would never have it.
But she smiled. “You’re a romantic.”
He nodded. “I guess I am. And I want the whole white picket fence thing. I want to get a house like you and Kane have and fill it with kids.”
“I’m sure you’ll have all of that,” she said softly. “It’ll just take a little time to find that special someone.”
He stared at the wineglass in his hand. “I thought I had, but it didn’t work out.”
At the sadness she saw in his eyes, her heart ached for him.
She rested her hand on his. “I’m sorry, Will. It must hurt.”
He shrugged. “Life moves on.”
* * *
The feel of River’s soft hand on his threw Will totally off balance. She seemed to sense his discomfort and drew her hand away, then sipped her wine.
What the hell was he doing moaning about his own life when he was here to cheer River up?
She set her glass on the table and leaned back against the couch. She looked so morose. Well, why wouldn’t she? She’d been uprooted from her life and thrown into a totally new situation.
She’d been fired from her job, married a man she didn’t love, and then moved out of her apartment into this new place. It was luxurious, but that didn’t make it home. Not yet.
She was starting a new company, which was in a great position because of Kane’s backing, but she had the same worries as every new business owner. That her product wouldn’t be well received and her dream would all fall apart around her.
With Kane out of town for a week, she didn’t even have her husband to talk through her anxiety with.
Kane had asked Will to check on her while he was gone. Will had a key card that allowed him access to the penthouse, but he wouldn’t just walk in on Kane’s new bride.
Except that he’d started to get worried when she hadn’t answered his repeated calls today.
Then to find her naked in the hot tub …
Fuck! He would never make a move on a woman Kane was interested in, let alone his new wife, but seeing her all sexy and soft-looking in the water had made him hard and needy. With his own sex life a nonevent right now, it had been hard to ignore the soft swell of her breasts being caressed by the bubbling water. And knowing that only the thin veil of water and air had been hiding the rest of her assets.
When the bubbles had turned off, exposing all of her … Fuck! He shifted uncomfortably in the chair, the mere memory of it making him hard again. She’d moved her arm over her breasts and slid a hand over her lower region, but not before he’d gotten an eyeful.
If he was smart, he’d hightail it out of here right now … but she so clearly needed someone to talk to.
“You’ve known Kane a long time,” she said. “You must be really close friends.”
“That’s right. I’d do anything for Kane.”
“How much do you know about why he married me?”
“I don’t really want to talk about that. It’s really between the two of you.”
She nodded. “I just wondered if you thought it was strange.”
“Kane does things in his own way. And he always gets what he wants. I’ve learned not to question his methods.”
“He cares so much about what people think. I assume he wants the appearance of propriety being married gives him.”
“You don’t think he married you out of love?”
She glanced at him. “I thought Kane said you knew. I…” Then she bit her lip as if she’d done something wrong.
He knew that she wasn’t supposed to tell anyone about the reason they got married, so she must be afraid she’d violated that stipulation.
“I know you married him because of a business deal.”
He didn’t want to say more. He knew Kane wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone before and when she’d refused to give their relationship a second chance, Kane had used the deal to pressure her into marrying him. He also knew Kane was a little confused about his own feelings, especially since they were all tied up with the guilt he felt about what had happened in college. But he also knew Kane didn’t need love to be part of marriage. He was very practical and had told Will—many times—how good the sex was between him and River. That, and the fact his desire for her had never diminished after all these years, was enough for him.
But Will wasn’t confused. He knew that Kane loved her, even if Kane hadn’t figured it out himself.
“I can’t help wondering what you think of me,” River said.
He smiled. “I think you’re a very practical young woman who makes my friend very happy.”
The pizza arrived. He brought out plates and served her a slice, then sat down beside her.
She took a bite. “It’s really good.”
They both sipped wine and ate their dinner. When they were done, he told himself he should leave. Now.
But she still looked so sad.
Her eyes seemed to shimmer. “Thank you for staying with me. I feel a bit overwhelmed with being here alone, and all the changes.”
“I get it. It’s a lot to process.”
She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I feel so alone. I don’t feel like I belong here. Everything has changed and I…” Her voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes.
He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her against his side. She rested her head on his shoulder and settled against him. God, it just felt too … good.
He picked up the remote control. “Want to watch a movie now?”
“Sure. Anything you like.”
He turned something on—one of the latest on The Movie Channel—and barely noticed what was happening on the screen. He was too aware of River snuggled close beside him.
But he was loath to let her go, since she was obviously still hurting.
* * *
River couldn’t believe she was snuggled up to Kane’s best friend. Not that anything would happen between them. Of course it wouldn’t. But it felt so good being next to him, his protective arm around her.
And she was so tired. She’d barely slept at all last night and she was sleepy.
The movie droned on and she found her eyelids closing. She snuggled closer and soon fell fast asleep.
When she woke up, it was dark and a blanket was tossed over her. She lifted her head and glanced around. Will was nowhere to be seen.
Then she saw the note on the coffee table.
Call me anytime.
Then his phone number below.
She sighed and glanced at the clock. It was two a.m. And she was alone again.
She pushed herself up from the couch and wandered to the bedroom, then climbed into the bed. But instead of falling asleep, she tossed and turned for hours. Finally, she got up and went into the den and sat at the desk in front of Kane’s desktop computer.
She’d tried to connect to the Internet on her laptop earlier in the day, but she didn’t know the WiFi password, and she didn’t think Kane would mind if she used his computer to read her e-mail. She clicked on the mail icon and scanned the few e-mails there. Mostly notifications of new posts on nail polish blogs she followed. She opened a video tutorial by her favorite blogger and watched a new water-marbling technique. The woman used several shades of a new metallic collection and the result was shiny swirls of perfection. River closed her e-mail, but wasn’t ready to go back to bed yet, so she decided to watch a movie.
She found a movie viewer in his list of apps and opened it. Maybe he had a selection.
She opened the last one viewed and was immediately taken aback. What she saw on the screen was Kane, sitting back in … she glanced around … yes, in this chair and he was obviously getting a blow job. The top of a woman’s head was barely visible as it bobbed in and out of view, but the camera was focused on Kane’s broad, naked chest and face. His head was back and sheer pleasure glowed from him.
River watched in awe, her insides heating at the sight of her husband being pleasured by another woman. She felt a bit jealous, but knew that was crazy. This video had been taken before they were married. She knew she should turn it off, but she was mesmerized. Seeing the delight on his face … imagining his cock was buried in her own mouth as she gave him such joy … sent hormones surging through her.
He moaned and his features tightened. River felt her own ache building, and her fingers glided inside her pajamas and found her slickness. She stroked herself as the woman’s head moved faster. She flicked over her clit as Kane’s fingers glided over the woman’s short hair and guided her head forward and back.
Oh, God, this was so sexy watching him. She arched against her hand as he groaned, clearly coming. She flicked faster, feeling her own release near at hand. She pushed her fingers inside her wet opening and pumped, then stroked her clit again.
Just as she found her release, the person on her knees stood up and …
Oh, God, it wasn’t a woman at all.
It was Will.
River woke up to the sound of her cell phone ring tone. She grabbed it from the nightstand.
“Hello?” Her voice was hoarse and she cleared her throat.
“Hi. It’s Kane. Everything okay?”
She pushed herself up. “Yeah, of course. Why?”
He couldn’t have known she’d seen the video.
“Will called me yesterday and left a message saying he couldn’t get ahold of you all day. I was tied up until late last night and didn’t check my messages until just now.”
She pushed her hair back from her face. “I just wasn’t picking up the landline. I figured the calls would be for you and they’d leave a message. Stupid, I know. Will did come over though. He stayed for pizza and we watched a movie.”
“Good. He’s my best friend, so I’m glad to know you’re getting a chance to bond.”
“Yeah, I can tell you two are really close.” Oh, God, why had she said that?
But she knew exactly why she’d said it. Because she was resentful that he’d withheld the truth from her, and a little worried that Kane was having sex with Will while they were married.
That maybe that’s why Kane had
really
married her. To hide his relationship with Will. Kane cared too much about what other people thought to be comfortable with anyone knowing he was in love with another man.
“Are you sure everything’s okay? You sound a bit off.”
“No, I’m fine. It’s just a little strange being here on my own. I’m not used to it yet.”
“I’m sorry. I hated leaving you so soon, but it couldn’t be helped. I’ll be back in a few days. And you know…” there was a definite smile in his voice, “if you’re feeling lonely, we could talk for a while now. You’re in bed, right?”
“Yes, of course.” It was seven in the morning.
“So am I,” he said seductively.
Oh, God. He wanted to have phone sex. And since sex was part of their agreement, if that’s what he wanted …
“I … uh … yeah. I’m naked and … uh … I’m wanting you.” The words sounded so stiff, but she couldn’t help it.
He laughed. “Okay, I get it. You’re not in the mood.”
“No, I just … I mean, I’ve never…”
“It’s all right. I can wait until I get back and we see each other in person. I look forward to stripping off all your clothes … piece by piece … revealing your naked, sexy body and kissing you everywhere. Especially your hot, wet pussy. Licking it and stroking until you’re panting for air. Then making you come until you scream out my name.”
Oh, God, she was in the mood now.
“That would be”—she gulped—“nice.” She ran her hand over her breast. “Maybe we could try again now.”
He chuckled. “Sorry. Too late now,” he said in a teasing voice.
“But—”
“I’ll call you later.” Then he ended the call.
* * *
River finally fell back asleep for a while, and then got up around eight-thirty. She pulled up her spreadsheet and reviewed the cost of the supplies she’d ordered and checked the cost per bottle against the various price points she’d been considering. She’d done this all before, but until she actually received the supplies, there was little she could do to make progress.
She finally decided to go out for a swim in the pool—this time in a bra and panties covered with a T-shirt. Just in case.
She ate some cereal for breakfast, since she hadn’t gotten the groceries from Will yet. She showered and dressed, then called Will.
“Hi. It’s River. I was hoping I could come by and pick up the groceries,” she said when he answered.
“I can bring them over right now, if you like,” he said. “I’ve also got your nail polish supplies. They were delivered yesterday, too.”
“I don’t want to take you away from work,” she said.