The Tango (3 page)

“I’ll take care of you,” he said, defeated. “I don’t even know who I am anymore.” He took the chair next to mine.

“Wow, a Scooby mystery for us both, but in lieu of Daphne and Wilma, let’s finally talk about Kris and Sandra.”

He paled. I would never understand how I ever loved such a coward, or how I turned into one. I should have walked into his office a year ago demanding an explanation.

“Please, don’t, Vi. Let’s keep this clean. It’s what you wanted.”

“Well seeing as how I was just ambushed by you and that jackass, I could very well get my hands dirty.”

“It’s over now and I knew you would never fall for it,” he said, rubbing his temples. “Vi, while I was in the hospital, I watched you. I saw you get a text from someone and truly smile. I told you I loved you right after, but what I didn’t tell you is that I am sorry for the way I’ve treated you and I want you to be happy. What I did was wrong, but I didn’t know how to explain it to you. If you had your shot at being with someone that made you truly happy, I wouldn’t want to stand in your way. I did love you, just not in the way you deserved, and you will always be a dear friend—”

“What is this?” I said, truly confused. “I wasn’t your fucking friend, I was your wife! You want me to say it’s
okay
that you abandoned me because you decided to have an affair and it made you happier than you were when you were with me? Not one affair, but two!”

“It’s not that simple,” he said, rubbing his palms on his pants. He was clearly terrified and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why.

“Don’t worry, sweetie, just make me an offer I can’t refuse. Your reputation will be safe. I mean, it’s not that big of a scandal.” He buried his head in his hands.

“Vi, you know it is. You know my parents would flip. I would lose my trust. I’ll have Joseph draw it up. I shouldn’t have listened to him.” He looked at me, and for the first time, I could see the red around his eyes.

“What do you want, Alex? I want this over.” I crossed my arms as I glared at him.

“I’ll give you a divorce settlement and you will give me confidentiality. I don’t want a scandal. Irreconcilable differences stated as the reason.”

“Fine, I don’t care. Let’s get this over with.” I stood, watching the perspiration roll down his forehead. Incredulous at his reaction to me, I continued, “Is it really that hard to admit you were a shit husband, that you abandoned me and had an affair?”

“You know my parents,” he snapped.

“Yeah, I know them, but I don’t know a damn thing when it comes to you anymore,” I said, watching him squirm. “Make a better offer and do it soon. I want this done just as much as you.”

“Vi—” he grabbed my arm and I pulled it away quickly, disgusted at his attempt to touch me.

“Don’t touch me, don’t look at me. Stay far the hell away from me. Have your offer sent to me. I really don’t ever want to see you again.”

“Vi, I’m sorry I hurt you, but it’s better for the both of us.” He stood then and met my eyes.

“I have to agree with you on that. You weren’t the man for me.” My confidence was undeniable when I left his office with my head held high. I was finally about to be free of the hell of being Alex Harvell’s wife.

I strode through his floor with no intention of staying a minute longer. I stood waiting for the elevator when I noticed a meeting going on through the glass in the adjacent room.

It was her.

Sandra stood at the head of the table, a commanding presence. She truly was beautiful. She had a lean body and curvy hips. With long dark brown hair, blue eyes and perfect high cheekbones, it was easy to understand an attraction to a woman like her. I couldn’t hear her talking, but I could see she exuded confidence. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. The few times I had met her, she had been formidable but stiff. This was the woman who ruined my marriage. I watched her walk around the room, gesturing with her hands here and there. She smiled at her audience before her eyes drifted over to me. She’d seen me watching her. I stood my ground, hoping my confidence showed in my stance. I wondered if she knew she wasn’t the only one Alex was seeing and then resigned quickly that it didn’t matter; I no longer cared. I was done playing detective. I was done with him.

He’s all yours, honey. Good luck.

Her smirk was unmistakable in its meaning, and I almost didn’t catch it
.
She thought she had won, and in a way she had. I felt sorry for the fool she was; the way you feel sorry for a mouse at play before the snake strikes to swallow it whole.

The elevator dinged, and as the doors closed behind me, I realized I was smiling.

I’d made it a new routine to work out in the mornings with both cardio and lightweights. If I had a chance in hell of keeping up with Rhys, I needed strength, and stamina. I made it a point to start hanging out with a few friends. I’d been out with my old school girlfriend, Molly, a few times for drinks. She was fun and had a mouth like a sailor. I enjoyed my time with her, but still kept my relationship with Rhys a secret. I hadn’t heard from Rhys and knew the text was either coming soon, or wasn’t coming at all. I had dealt with enough shit in the last week between being the man of my house after a busted water pipe, to failing to make a sale, and my confrontation with Alex. I was about to explode. Not to mention the insatiable need in me that made its presence known more often than not. I was on edge. I needed him. I hated him for it. As if he sensed my distress, his text came.

R: The Barracks one hour. RED.

I sat in my car, debating my next move, because I was scheduled to show a house shortly. His texts had never come at a time I couldn’t get to him before. Then again, it was beginning to irritate me that I was at his beck and call. He was in complete control of the when and where. My sex was throbbing already at the thought of him filling me, but I had an obligation, and I had to see it through.

V: I have an appointment in thirty minutes.

I got no response. I called the potential buyers who assured me they were on their way. Thankfully they were not impressed with the home I showcased, and fifteen minutes after I opened the door, they were gone. I flew down the highway, furious with the situation. My heart pounded at the thought of what was to come. Why couldn’t we go to his club? I hated The Barracks. I parked and noticed I was ten minutes late. I was irritated and strung out, and really needed to get off. When I walked into the bar and saw he wasn’t there, I made my way down the stairs to the same room we had used and twisted the knob. His hand grabbed mine and I was brought in quickly and pushed against the wall.

“You’re late!” he yelled, smacking his palm against the wall next to my head.

“I have a job!” I said, facing him head on.

His eyes glittered. This is what he wanted. We both stood, chests heaving, glaring at each other. I could feel the tension in him, as he could mine. We were both desperate for relief.

He ripped my blouse open, exposing my breasts, and grabbed one roughly.

“When I tell you to get your pussy here, I don’t give a fuck what you are doing, you get it here!”

“Says the man with the nine to five that texts me after six!” I screamed a little louder than I should have. He pinched my nipple hard and I cried out and arched my back as he captured it with his mouth. He sucked greedily and I moaned at the contact. I felt his hard dick brush my leg. He released my nipple and began circling it with his tongue as I watched him. He grabbed the other breast and I felt the warmth spread quickly between my thighs as he licked and sucked my nipple. Damning the consequences, I threaded my fingers through his hair and pulled hard.

“Cranky little pussy, aren’t we? What’s the matter, Mrs. Harvell, you need to come?” His smile was full of menace and I looked away, disgusted.

“EYES ON MINE! You don’t get to look away from me. You get to
see
me and what I do to you.”

My blouse ruined, he removed it from my shoulders.

His lips curved into a wicked grin. “Get naked.”

“Sir,” I hissed in response. I quickly got to the task and pulled down my slacks and kicked off my shoes.

I was furious and out of my mind with need. Nearing a month since my last orgasm, I was about to lose my mind. The room went completely dark and I panicked. I couldn’t see anything. I reached out in front of me and felt nothing. As I waited, my breathing escalated with my fear. This was Rhys, damn it; I had nothing to be afraid of. But I was. I was also intrigued. I listened closely but heard nothing, so I called out to him, feeling ridiculous for saying the word.

“Sir?” I could swear I heard a chuckle, but the second I thought that, I felt a brush across my breast. Gasping, I reached out, but he was gone.

“Please, I don’t like the dark. I need to know where you are,” I begged, the desperation in my voice apparent. Reaching behind me, I put my hand on the knob for a quick retreat. Naked or not, I was ready to flee. My body now facing the direction of my escape, I froze when I felt his breath on my neck. I immediately relaxed.

I felt the bite on my shoulder and melted into his mouth as he soothed it with his tongue. He spread my legs then swiped his finger down my sex and felt me wet with need. I whimpered as I continued to feel his breath on my skin, not an ounce of light in the room.

“What can I do for you, Mrs. Harvell?” His tone was viscous. I jumped at the sound of it.

“Fuck me, please,” I said in a plea.

“Please, what?”

“Pleaser, sir.”

“Why should I give
you
my cock?” I heard the bite in his question.

“Rhys, please forgive me—”

“I told you not to call me by my name.” His voice was calm, even. It scared me more than his angry words. I stood there, shaking and unsure of what to do next. Seconds later, his hand was circling my sex. I cried out, so close to coming, and my forehead fell to the door. He jerked me away from the door and turned me around. I reached out for him and felt his chest rising and falling. I slid my hand down his chest, desperate to touch him, to feel more.

“Don’t you dare. You don’t get to touch me.” I whimpered again. As soon as I took my hands away, he brought my leg up, nudging my entrance with his thick head then slammed his cock into me. I screamed, clawing at his shoulders. He held my leg underneath my knee and when he pushed up, my back hit the door with each thrust. His cock was unbelievably hard and I could feel his desire for me more than ever. This was how he truly liked it. I knew it then.

I thrashed my body against his, giving him what he loved, and heard a moan escape him. There was a light and dark side to Rhys, and it seemed my villainous lie had released the dark. I was both devastated and elated by it. He filled me with his fucking, hard and hungry. His lips brushed my neck and I couldn’t stop the word from escaping my lips.

“Rhys,” I breathed.

He went still. His lips were close, his breathing matching my own. I could feel his need to connect, because it mirrored mine. I licked my lips in anticipation. One breath away from his kiss was enough to make my eyes water. I leaned in and he moved away, lowering my leg to the ground before pulling out of me.

Curling my fingers in frustration, I dug my nails into my hands. I was losing my pleasure because I couldn’t do one simple thing: shut the fuck up. I wanted to be intimate with him, but right now, I wanted release more.

I stood, my thighs shaking, now alone in the dark again, until I heard the strike of a match. The flare from the phosphorus lit his face and I saw nothing but lust as he eyed me briefly. I began to shake as he ignited a large red candle and set it down on the floor next to a red leather chair beside him. He pumped his cock a few times, showing me what I craved most and patted the chair, ordering me to sit.

I walked over slowly and was about to sit when he turned me around quickly, lifting my knees onto the seat of the chair. I gripped the head of the chair, my body tilted down and out, leaving me exposed.

“Tell me, Mrs. Harvell, did your husband ever bother to pay attention to this perfect ass?” He circled my clit and I lost the ability to answer. The pull was there; I was close.

“Answer me!” His hand blistered the inside of my thigh and I screamed out, “NO!”

I saw the light flicker as he picked the candle up and jumped when I felt its contents trail down my back. HOLY FUCKING SHIT.