Secret Obsession

by Kimberla Lawson Roby

  Pierce drank the last few drops of his first cocktail and said, “You’d be amazed at what pain and disappointment will cause a person to start doing.”

  Paige wasn’t sure how to respond and thought it was best to say nothing. They did eventually chat about politics and the economy, and when the waiter brought out their meals, they dug in. Although, after eating a few bites of his steak and a couple of forkfuls of potatoes, Pierce ordered a third drink and then a fourth. At the moment, he seemed extremely relaxed and ready for just about anything.

  “You know,” he said, sipping more of his latest drink, the one he’d requested double vodka in. “You really look beautiful tonight.”

  “So do you.”

  “Actually, I’ve always thought that about you.”

  “Really? Well, you’ve never said it.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s not like a married man can just go around saying something like that to another woman. Especially in front of his wife.”

  “No, I guess not.”

  “You’re a good sister-in-law, Paige, and I’m glad you’re here.”

  Paige noticed the same glaze in Pierce’s eyes that she’d seen last week in Owen’s, and she knew he was pretty tipsy and borderline drunk.

  “This was great,” she said, glancing at her watch. “But I think I’m gonna head up to my suite to do a little work. What about you? Do you have to be up pretty early?”

  “The conference starts at nine.”

  “Then you’d better get to bed.”

  “I know.”

  Pierce charged the bill to his room, but only after pulling out his key card envelope to see what suite he was staying in. He’d had so much to drink, he couldn’t fully remember.

  When they left the restaurant and turned the corner, Pierce stopped and said, “Whoa, I think I had a little too much.”

  Paige chuckled. “I know you did, which is why I’d better make sure you get to your room without problems.”

  Pierce smiled, placed his arm around her shoulders, trying to steady himself, and they went on their way. When they walked in front of his double-door suite, however, Pierce fumbled with the key, so Paige took it and inserted it properly. Once inside, she turned on the entryway light and then helped him into the bedroom. It was just as she’d thought: Pierce had reserved a Sienna suite, which was larger than some apartments she’d been in.

  Paige slid off his suit jacket, and without warning, Pierce burst into tears. He cried like a baby and hugged her for dear life.

  “This hurts so, so much,” he said. “I wish it didn’t, and I wish I could just get past it, but I can’t. I can’t stop thinking about the way Camille betrayed me, and all I want is for this pain to end. Do you understand that, Paige?” he said, gazing into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how hard this is?”

  Paige knew her opportunity had finally come, and she took it. “I think I do,” she said, hugging him close again. They stood cheek to cheek, but Paige slowly moved her face just enough so their lips met. She kissed him softly and said, “I’m so sorry, Pierce, but I’m here for you from now on. You hear me?”

  Pierce stroked her hair back with both his hands and kissed her zealously and forcefully. He acted as though he’d been waiting for a chance to be with her for years and like he hadn’t been with any woman in months.

  They kissed and moaned, and Pierce unzipped Paige’s dress. Paige unbuttoned his shirt, removed his cuff links, and slid his shirt down his arms. They were drenched with raging passion, and Paige’s body flamed with desire.

  She pushed him onto the bed, slid off his pants and underwear, and then slipped out of her own. She could immediately see how ready he was for her, so she gave him what he wanted. She would do other things too—anything that would satisfy him and make him forget about her sister.

  Chapter 23

  Paige opened her eyes, gazed at the ceiling, and saw Pierce sitting on the side of the bed. He was wearing a complimentary plush white Palazzo robe, and she hoped he would shed it anytime now.

  Paige smiled and stretched her body. “Good morning.”

  “Morning,” he said but didn’t turn and look at her.

  She glanced at the clock and saw that it was six o’clock. “So, how long have you been awake?”

  “A while.”

  Paige sat up, got on her knees, and slithered across the bed behind him. Then she rested her hands on his shoulders, preparing to give him a massage. But Pierce moved away from her, stood up, and held both sides of his forehead.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, confused.

  “Everything.”

  “I know, baby, but now that you and I are together, Camille won’t ever be able to hurt you again. Things are going to be very different.”

  Pierce finally locked eyes with her. “Look, Paige. What happened last night was a huge mistake, and I’ll never be able to forgive myself. I never should have let something like this happen.”

  Paige’s heart plummeted. “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do, and I’m so ashamed.”

  “But if this wasn’t supposed to happen, it never would have. Right?”

  “I allowed it to happen, and now I’ll have to live with that decision for the rest of my life. I got drunk, but I knew what I was doing, and I knew why.”

  “What do you mean?” Paige asked, panicking.

  “I wanted revenge. I wanted to hurt Camille the same way she hurt me.”

  “I don’t believe that.”

  “I did, Paige, and I’m so sorry this thing happened between you and me, because I know how much you love your sister.”

  “Thing?”

  “Yes, this whole unfortunate thing that we both now regret.”

  Paige’s heart raced. “Pierce, baby, please don’t feel that way,” she said, leaving the bed and walking over to him with nothing on. Pierce passed her a robe just like the one he was wearing and Paige reluctantly took it and wrapped it around herself.

  Pierce moved closer to the window overlooking the Strip. “God, what in the world was I thinking?”

  “You were thinking that you wanted to finally be happy. You did what your heart told you to do, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “Yeah, but I did it for the wrong reasons. I acted irrationally, and for the first time since I married Camille, I was unfaithful to her. Fifteen years of marriage, and in one night, I did the worst thing imaginable.”

  “But only because she’s been doing the same thing to you for months.”

  “Still, as the saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right, and you and I both know that.”

  Paige stood next to him. “True. I’ll give you that. But now it’s time you and I move on. I do love my sister, and I feel terrible about what I’ve done to her, but Pierce…I don’t regret what happened. Last night was amazing. I mean, we actually made love, and it felt so, so good. It was absolutely incredible.”

  Pierce left her standing at the window. “Paige, what you and I did was have sex. We both lost control, and it can never happen again.”

  Paige swallowed hard. “You just need time. You need time to end things with Camille and find closure. Then you and I can work on our new life together.”

  Pierce frowned. “You’re not serious?”

  “Of course I am.”

  “No, you couldn’t be.”

  Paige took a seat on the side of the bed again. “Okay, Pierce, I guess I need to be honest with you. So can you please come sit next to me for a few minutes?”

  At first he hesitated, but then he did what she asked.

  Paige exhaled nervously, hoping her words came out the way she needed them to. “The truth is, Pierce, I’ve been attracted to you since the first day I met you, and now I’m in love with you.”

  Pierce raised his eyebrows, seemingly not comprehending.

  “I am,” she continued. “I’ve loved you for years, but after making love to you last night, well, now I don’t ever want to be without you. Plus, baby, yo
u can’t deny there has always been a certain chemistry between us.”

  Pierce shook his head. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

  “Baby, I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

  He stared at her and then got up. “This is crazy.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s wonderful.”

  “No, Paige, it’s horrible, because you and I can never be anything more than in-laws.”

  “Honey, please don’t say that. Please just give what we have a chance, because deep down, I know you love me.”

  “No. I don’t. I mean, I love you the way friends love each other, but that’s where it ends.”

  “Like I said, you just need some time, and once you get used to the idea, you’ll be fine.”

  “How on earth can you be in love with your sister’s husband?”

  “Because I just am. I love you, and I can’t help it.”

  “Well, if that’s really true, then now I’m even sorrier about sleeping with you.”

  “Please don’t apologize, baby,” she said, walking over and hugging him.

  But Pierce pushed her away. “Paige, no. And I think it’s time you got dressed.”

  “Pierce, please don’t do this. Don’t give up on our destiny.”

  “I need to take a shower and get ready, so I really need you to leave.”

  “But Pierce—”

  “Paige, please go.”

  She gaped at him with sad eyes but quickly decided Pierce didn’t mean any of what he was saying. He simply felt guilty about what he’d done to Camille—especially with him being the decent man he was—but by this evening, he’d feel a lot differently. He’d spend today reminiscing about the passionate love they’d made, and then he’d think about Camille and her affair with William. A thousand thoughts would circulate his mind, and in a few hours he’d realize Paige was right. He would know she’d been correct in her assessment of them and that he was in love with her, and that he wanted nothing else to do with his wife. By this evening, he’d be begging Paige to rock his world again—he would beg her to do so from now on.

  Chapter 24

  It was seven o’clock in the evening, and Paige had waited as long as she could. She’d waited all day, and it was time—that she headed up to Pierce’s suite, that is. So she took a final look at her flawless makeup and loosely curled hair and then stepped out of the bathroom and stood in front of the full-length mirror. The bright fuchsia negligee fit perfectly and showed more cleavage than most women would want it to, and Paige knew she was ready.

  She slipped on her all-weather coat, tied the belt, slipped into her black stilettos, picked up her wallet, and left her room. She couldn’t wait to see Pierce again, now that he’d had ample time to reflect on the last twenty-four hours. She couldn’t wait to hear how he now agreed that last night hadn’t been a mistake at all, and instead had been a blessing for both of them.

  Paige was so tickled, she could hardly make it to the elevator fast enough—but her spirit was broken when she saw Camille calling. “What do you want?” she yelled out loud, and the man and woman passing by looked as though they were afraid of her and like she was a nutcase.

  “Hey?” Paige answered with no enthusiasm.

  “Hey, how’s it goin’? I hadn’t heard from you yet today, so I figured I’d give you a call.”

  You haven’t heard from me because I don’t wanna talk to you. “I’ve been very busy with my client.”

  “That’s what I kinda thought.”

  Then why are you calling me, Camille?

  “Is everything okay?” Camille asked. “You seem quiet.”

  “I told you, I’m busy,” Paige said loudly.

  “Are you sure nothing’s wrong? Because you don’t sound right.”

  “I’m fine. My client had a lot of media interviews, more than I’d planned on, and I’m pretty exhausted.”

  “Well, it’s not like I really wanted anything…well, actually there is one thing I wanted to share with you.”

  “What?”

  “I’ve decided that I’m not going down without a fight.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I’m not gonna sit back the way I have over the last few days, feeling defeated and hoping the truth comes out. What I’m gonna do is hire a better computer expert and do everything else I can to prove my innocence.”

  Paige didn’t like what she was hearing but said, “Good for you.”

  “I won’t lose Pierce over some crazy misunderstanding. I just won’t.”

  “I don’t blame you,” Paige said, trying to sound supportive.

  “Okay, then,” Camille said. “I’d better let you get some rest.”

  “I’ll try to call you tomorrow.”

  “I love you.”

  “Talk to you later,” Paige said, ending the call and tossing her phone inside her coat pocket.

  When she turned the corner, she walked halfway down the corridor and knocked on Pierce’s door.

  “Who is it?” he asked.

  “Me.”

  “Paige?”

  “Yes.”

  There was silence, but then Pierce let her in. “What is it that you want?”

  “To talk to you.”

  “There’s really nothing to say.”

  Paige closed the door behind her and took a seat on the brown velvet sectional in the living room area. Pierce leaned against the wall in front of her and next to the large television. “So, have you thought more about what I told you this morning?” she asked.

  “As far as you and me?”

  “Yes.”

  “If you want to know the truth, I’ve thought about nothing else.”

  Paige beamed with relief. “I knew you’d finally realize that our being together wasn’t a mistake. You and I having business in the same city at the same time is no coincidence, Pierce. It was God’s plan for us.”

  “Okay, let me stop you right there. God has absolutely nothing to do with the terrible thing you and I did. We both chose to have sex, and I selfishly chose to commit adultery on my wife. Period.”

  Paige couldn’t believe he was still talking this way, and she was deeply tired of hearing about Camille. Poor, pitiful, pathetic Camille. That witch.

  “Okay,” she said. “I understand your remorse, but what matters now is that things are over between you and Camille, and I’m the one who genuinely loves you. I’m the one who will always be faithful to you and will take care of you no matter what. Your happiness is my only priority, and I’ll do anything you want. I would even give my life for you, Pierce, if it became necessary.”

  Pierce seemed dumbfounded, but she knew it was because no woman, not even Camille, had ever vowed to love him so intensely and devotedly. He was shocked to learn that after wasting fifteen long, miserable years with her, he’d finally found the woman of his dreams—the woman he’d fantasized about and secretly loved, even if he wouldn’t admit it.

  “Why are you looking at me so strangely?” she asked, smiling, when he still didn’t speak.

  “Because I’m trying my best to figure out where all this is coming from. I mean, Paige, it’s as if I don’t even know you anymore.”

  “This is who I’ve been all along, but until now I was never able to express how I feel about you.”

  “Then I really hate to hear that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the feeling isn’t mutual. I’m in love with Camille, and that’s never going to change.”

  Paige didn’t understand him. “Not even after how stupid she made you look? You still love her even after she slept around on you behind your back and then lied about it?”

  “She’s my wife, and yes, I love her.”

  Paige heard him loudly and clearly and knew she had to do something. So she stood up, opened her coat, and let it drop to the ground.

  “Paige, please,” he said, but before he could barely get his words out, she was toe to toe with him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing him.
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  Pierce pushed her with much force, and she stumbled backward and onto the couch. “Baby, what’s wrong with you?” she asked, trying to steady herself.

  “Paige, I want you out of here.”

  “But baby, I don’t understand. Sweetheart, Camille doesn’t even want you. She was just saying today how glad she was that you’d moved out and how she couldn’t wait to file for a divorce.”

  Sorrow filled Pierce’s eyes, and Paige knew she’d finally gotten to him. He would never go begging and pleading back to Camille now.

  “Did you hear me, baby?” she asked.

  “Stop calling me that! Don’t you ever call me that again. And for the record, I don’t care what Camille told you. I love my wife, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to work things out with her. Now get out of here,” he said, snatching her coat and forcing it into her chest.

  Paige broke into tears. “So, you don’t want me?”

  “My God, woman, how many other ways do I need to say it?”

  “Pierce, I’m begging you…please don’t do this.”

  “I’m asking you nicely to please leave.”

  Paige rushed toward him, trying to clasp her arms around his neck, but this time Pierce snapped.

  “Didn’t I tell you to get out of here?” he shouted, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her toward the door.

  “I just wanna be with you,” she said, groveling. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted. Can’t you understand that?” Pierce opened the door and led her across the threshold, but she stepped back inside. “Can I at least get my wallet and put my coat on?”

  Pierce stormed over to the sofa, grabbed the wallet, and gave it to her. Paige looked at him with pleading eyes but saw only fury in his. He seemed so perturbed and disgusted by her presence, and none of what was happening made sense. Had he used her and was now simply dismissing her? Had he slept with her and then dumped her like she was no one special? Like she wasn’t good enough? Like she couldn’t hold a candle to his precious Camille? Was he rejecting her and treating her just as coldly as her parents? Had Pierce been fooling her all these years—making her think they were soul mates and that they would one day be together? Could he really be that cruel, now knowing just how much she loved him? Would he really make hot, passionate love to her and then pretend it never happened?