Second

by Penelope Sky

  I stared at him for a few seconds before I flicked on the lights.

  He didn’t move.

  I slowly walked toward him, seeing the dead look in his eyes. His hands were together in his lap, and his large mass was completely relaxed. I stopped at the head of the table and stared at him.

  He finally lifted his gaze and looked at me. “Sit.” He didn’t need to raise his voice to issue a command. There was a silent authority to his presence, innate leadership in his voice.

  The only reason I obeyed was because this conversation was necessary. I sat in the chair across from him and crossed my arms over my chest. I’d had a day to cool off and I was much calmer than I was before, but sitting here where we’d screamed at each other reminded me why I was so mad in the first place.

  He continued to stare at me. “Where were you last night?”

  I cocked an eyebrow. “Not a strong way to start an apology.”

  “Why won’t you answer the question?”

  My anger deepened. “Where were you last night?”

  “Here.” His tone was clipped. “Alone.”

  I started to wonder if he knew something I didn’t. “I stayed at the Tuscan Rose.”

  He must have wondered if I went somewhere else, because that answer made him calm a bit.

  “Doubting my fidelity is not the best route to take, Liam. You’re the cheater. Not me.”

  He inhaled a deep breath, and his eyes turned hostile.

  “I could have cheated, and I didn’t. And I’ve had many, many opportunities.” Damien was in my hotel room last night, and we had the perfect chance to screw all night long. Instead, we talked and watched a movie. I loved Damien, but I resisted the urge to take off my clothes and bounce on his dick. Wasn’t that hard, so I didn’t know why Liam faltered in the first place.

  The guilt flushed into his gaze, and his anger faded. “I’m sorry.” His sincerity was obvious in his tone. “I know I fucked up. And I guess I’m afraid I’m gonna push you…and then you’re gonna run off to him.” He dropped his gaze. “Just the idea of you being with someone else kills me inside.” His hand moved to his chest, right over his heart, and made a fist. “Even when we weren’t married, it cut me to the bone.” He dropped his hand. “I knew exactly how you felt when I betrayed you…and it fucking hurts.”

  Liam’s speech went straight to my heart, made me remember why I loved him. “When I married you, I promised to love you, to be committed to you, until death parts us. I’m in this for the long haul. Sometimes I think you don’t feel the same way…”

  “Of course, I do,” he whispered.

  “Then why would you try to go back to death fighting?”

  “My desire to fight has nothing to do with my love for you.”

  “But it hurts me…and if you love me, you shouldn’t want to hurt me.”

  “I don’t want to, Anna. I just…want both.”

  “Not gonna happen. You have to choose.”

  He shook his head slightly. “You know I’ll always choose you. I just wish you would—”

  “No.” I held my ground. “There’s nothing you could ever say to change my mind. I will never allow my husband to risk his life for money. You either accept my decision or walk away. Because this is a condition for this marriage.”

  He stared at me for a long time, clearly disappointed but not combative. “Alright.”

  I released the air in my lungs when I got the answer I wanted. “We should spend our time working on this marriage, Liam. It’s still too delicate for you to make rash decisions like that.”

  “I know…”

  I rested my case and turned quiet. I got what I wanted and finally found peace.

  “You’re the most important thing in my life, Anna. I’m sorry I made you doubt that. But my desire to fight is completely unrelated to my feelings for you. I just want you to know that…in case that wasn’t clear.”

  I gave a slight nod.

  “Because I love you…more than life itself.” Emotion was in his eyes, his heart and soul shining through in complete transparency.

  And it touched my heart, body, and soul. “I know. I love you too.”

  He took a deep breath at my words. “I’m sorry about…what happened.” He couldn’t look me in the eye, as if he was too ashamed to meet my gaze. “It won’t happen again.”

  “I know.” Perhaps I forgave him too quickly, but it was hard to stay angry when he seemed so apologetic.

  “I guess I’m so afraid to lose you again that…I can’t think clearly.”

  I could see the way Liam loved me, even if his desire to return to the ring contradicted it. I could feel it when he looked at me, see it when I looked into his eyes. Our old relationship used to be so passionate and deep, and those memories still influenced us now…even though things were totally different.

  “It was wrong for me to accuse you of anything…and I’m sorry for that too.”

  “I understand.”

  “I guess I’m just jealous. I have you back, but I still feel like I’m sharing you with this other guy. Not physically, but emotionally. I know it’s all my fault because that never would have happened if I hadn’t…fucked up my life. The only reason you’re mine is because he didn’t love you, and I’m afraid he’ll realize his mistake, realize what he lost, and he’ll change his mind…and I’ll lose you again.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that, Liam.” Damien’s feelings were clear, and we’d moved on from our past. Now, we were friends, and that’s all we would ever be. “Even if that did happen, I wouldn’t leave you for him.”

  He lifted his gaze to look at me. “Why?”

  “Because I made a promise to you…and I keep my promises.”

  13

  Damien

  Hades knocked on my open door. “Coming tonight?”

  I stood at my desk and read the portfolio my assistant had placed in front of me. “Wouldn’t miss it.” I closed it and tossed it aside.

  “Bringing your lady friend?”

  “No.” Charlotte had texted me a few times when I was with Annabella, and I didn’t lie about my whereabouts. I told her I was comforting a friend, but I never said that friend was a woman…or someone I’d already slept with. I didn’t feel like I needed to explain anything to her, even if she was sleeping in my bed and woke up to discover my absence. She seemed to grow suspicious about the incident, but her response wasn’t to question me. Instead, she was more affectionate with me, slipping into my bed every night so I wouldn’t have time to be with someone else. She was digging her claws into me deep so I couldn’t get away.

  “Because you can bring her if you want. You’ve been seeing her awhile.”

  “I’m not seeing her.”

  “Whatever,” he said. “Offer is on the table.”

  “Thanks.” When he didn’t walk away, I lifted my gaze to meet his again. “Yeah?”

  “What happened with Anna the other night?”

  I never told him, and when he didn’t ask, I assumed he forgot. Turned out, he was waiting for me to make the first move. He was probably pushing Charlotte so I would forget about Annabella for good. “We watched Scarface.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “You watched our favorite movie with someone else?”

  “It was on TV, so I just left it on. Don’t get jealous.”

  “I’m not jealous,” he said defensively. “Just surprised you’d watch that with her.”

  “Well, she slept through half of it, so she didn’t watch much.” I’d teased her about it, but in reality, I knew exactly when she fell asleep…and had decided to watch her instead of the film. “And then I left.”

  “That’s it?” he asked, not easily convinced.

  “You think I went over there and fucked her, then took off?” I asked incredulously. “We’re just friends now. If you and Sofia had a fight and you were an ass to her, I’d do the same thing with her. I watched like twenty movies with her when I was in bedridden.”

  His s
uspicion disappeared. “Alright. Anna will be there too.”

  Did that mean I’d have to see Liam’s stupid fucking face?

  He answered my question. “I don’t think he’s coming.”

  “Good.”

  “So, what happened between Liam and Anna? Did you successfully sabotage our business plan?” His voice dripped with annoyance.

  I was glad Liam took my advice and asked her, because even though she was pissed at him, it would have been a million times worse if he’d done it behind her back. That would hurt her so much more. Liam didn’t handle greed well, and when he had an opportunity to be the biggest and baddest fighter in the game, he lost sight of the prize he already had. His wife. I knew he loved her… I had to steer him in the right direction. When I saw the way he ignored every woman in the room at the bar, even though there was no way for Annabella to know about it, I knew he wasn’t the jerk I thought he was. “She was upset Liam wanted to return to death fighting. But I’m sure they worked it out.”

  “And we lost a great revenue stream,” he said bitterly. “Good job.”

  I grew frustrated with his resentment. “Asshole, Anna is friends with Sofia. She works for your company. She’s important to your best friend. Instead of seeing her as some insignificant victim, you should see her for what she is—a friend. You should be loyal to her too.”

  His anger flared. “I’m loyal to very few people, Damien. You know that better than anyone. I didn’t ask for this woman to be in my life. The only reason she’s here is because you asked Sofia to give her a job—”

  “Sofia offered. I never asked. And what does it matter? She’s in our lives now. Who cares how she got there?”

  He sighed and turned away slightly. “Liam was my client long before she was our friend. I’m not turning my back on our mutual self-interest just because you got involved with his wife. You need to be impartial too, because the details of their relationship are none of our business. To top it off, Liam has absolutely no idea of your relationship, and he would feel much differently about Anna spending time with you if he knew. You’re lucky I keep my mouth shut.” He turned to walk out. “Just keep that in mind.”

  I pulled through the private gate of his property and parked. Just when I shut off the engine, my phone rang.

  It was Charlotte.

  I sighed when I spotted her name on the screen. Sleeping with the sexiest model in the country, and arguably the world, wasn’t something to complain about. She wore her heart on her sleeve and wanted me fiercely, so it was a great compliment, but it was also exhausting. I should just ignore her, but then she’d probably text me all night. I answered. “Hey, Char.”

  “Babe, what are you doing tonight?” She had a deep and seductive voice, like she could be a voice actor if she didn’t want to wear a thong on a runway for a living. She was possessive right from the get-go.

  “I just pulled up to Hades’s place. He’s having a birthday party for his son.”

  “Oh, that’s cute.” She went quiet, as if she wanted me to extend her an invite. “Need company?”

  “No. It’s just a few people.”

  “Oh…” Her disappointment was loud. “I’d really like to spend time with your friends.”

  I knew Anna was a bit uncomfortable about Charlotte, based on the kind of questions she’d asked me. I didn’t want the two women in the same room together if I could help it…just the way I didn’t want to see Liam kiss her in front of me. “Char, this isn’t a relationship. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression—”

  “I know what it is, Damien. You’ve made yourself clear. But I don’t accept that. I want more…and I’m going to get it.”

  Her ambition was pretty hot. The sexiest model in Barsetti Lingerie was determined to have me. “Char—”

  “You’re going to repeat yourself, and I’m going to do the same. So, let’s not.” She was used to getting what she wanted, judging by the confidence in her voice. A man had never turned her down—and I wouldn’t be the first. “Text me when you get home. I’m coming over.” She hung up without waiting for me to agree.

  I shoved the phone into my pocket and stared out the windshield for a moment. I would have ditched her weeks ago if she didn’t impress me. After Annabella, I was in a dark place, and I just wanted someone to share my long nights. It didn’t matter if it was the same person over and over. It was better than being alone, imagining her sleeping next to that jackass.

  I headed inside and greeted Helena in the entryway before I approached the dining room. Hades had a big place, but he hardly used the other living spaces besides his bedroom. But tonight, he occupied the main dining room, where his mother-in-law joined them.

  The first person I saw was Annabella.

  She sat at the table and held Andrew under his arms so he could stand on her thighs. She supported him and smiled down at him, her eyes so affectionate, it seemed like they might burst. “Andrew, you’re so cute.” When she helped him walk up and down her legs, she made him laugh. “You like that, huh?” She continued to play with him.

  I stared from the entryway, transfixed by that gorgeous smile. Whenever she was happy, her joy reached every corner of the room, erasing the shadows. Her long hair was pulled over one shoulder, large curls everywhere. She wore a long-sleeved pink sweater, her eyelashes thick and her cheeks rosy. I was bedding the most desirable woman in the country, but she never made me halt like this.

  I felt a pair of eyes on me, and I shifted my gaze to Hades.

  Who was staring at me like he really was the god of the underworld.

  I brushed it off and announced my presence. “Happy Birthday.”

  Sofia was the first one to jump to her feet. She held her large stomach as she waddled to me, having that same pregnant glow as she did with Andrew. She turned her stomach so she could hug me. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  I kissed her on the cheek. “Me too.” I’d thought Sofia was sexy when I first met her, but our friendship turned into something deeper, as if she was another sister to me. But it was deeper than what I had with Catalina because we chose to be close. We didn’t have to be. “Thank you for including me.”

  She patted me on the shoulder. “Wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  Maria came next, who looked very similar to her daughter. “It’s been so long since I last saw you. How are you?” She hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.

  “Great. What about you?”

  “I have another grandchild on the way—so I’m really great.” She rubbed my arm and walked away.

  Annabella continued to hold Andrew, but she lifted her gaze to look at me, her eyes showing a level of bliss that didn’t match anyone else’s. She picked up Andrew as she got to her feet, carrying him as she walked to me.

  I should look at my nephew, but all I could do was stare at her. Shining brighter than the sun, smiling like it was the happiest day of her life, giving off so much heat it felt like summer…she was hypnotizing. When I’d gone to her hotel, she was in a somber mood, so she wasn’t so irresistible, but seeing her happy, that was my weakness.

  She held Andrew out to me, oblivious to the hard way I stared at her. “He’s such a big boy. Hold him.”

  When my hands touched his skin, I finally focused on the little person about to rest in my arms. Both of my arms circled him, and I held him upright, noting his density, how much he’d grown since the last time I saw him. I finally looked into his face, seeing a perfect blend of both his parents. “Happy Birthday, Andrew.”

  He smiled up and me and reached out to touch my nose.

  I let him do whatever the hell he wanted.

  Annabella smiled as she watched us both, like she thought the two of us were the cutest thing she’d ever seen. Then her eyes filled with a slight look of sadness as dark thoughts weighed on her mind. She grabbed his sock-covered foot and gave it a little squeeze.

  No one else noticed, but I did. “It’ll happen for you someday… I know it will.”
>
  She lifted her gaze, slightly surprised I could read her so well.

  I held Andrew with one arm and circled her waist to hug her slightly, to give her comfort.

  Her smile came back, and she gave a tiny nod. “How do you do that?”

  I had no fucking clue. “I don’t know…” My fingers brushed against the soft fabric of her sweater before I pulled my hand back, not wanting my touch to linger until it became inappropriate.

  But I did know. All those nights together, touching, kissing, moving together wordlessly…I understood her emotions, could read her thoughts as they danced across her eyes. It wasn’t just passion, but something deeper. I could feel her…it was the only way I could explain it.

  Hades walked up to us, like he was purposely interrupting the moment. “You didn’t bring a gift?” He took Andrew from my arms and held him with one arm, taking his son like he’d done it a million times.

  I shut my eyes. “Fuck…”

  “Watch the language, asshole,” Hades countered.

  Annabella chuckled at his hypocrisy before she walked away to talk to Sofia.

  Hades bounced Andrew up and down a bit because he liked it, and whenever he glanced at his son, he looked like a proud father who thought his son was the most amazing kid in the world. But when his eyes turned back to me, he was the same cold man I’d always known. There were only two people who received different looks from him—his wife and his kid.

  “I’ll make it up to him.”

  “Better be good.” He glanced at Annabella before he turned back to me, as if he was telling me to tread carefully. We’d known each other so long, we could have entire conversations without saying a word.

  I lowered my voice. “She lost her baby, so it’s just hard for her. Trying to make her feel better.”

  Hades dropped his suspicion. “You wanna eat?”