Temptation (The Temptation Series)

by K. M. Golland

  “You are not a cheating whore, don’t ever say that.

  “Bryce I am, you have seen me, kissed me, touched me and I have seen you, kissed you and touched you. I’m so disgusted in myself, It’s just I can’t help it when I’m with you.” He pulled me into an embrace and kissed my head.

  “I’m sorry Alexis, I’m sorry I have forced you to break your vows, to question your morals, I never meant to hurt you.” Now I was glaring at him.

  “This is not your fault, you are not married, you are not even in a relationship.”

  “But you are and I wouldn’t leave you alone.” He sounded disappointed.

  “I didn’t want you to and I still don’t, Bryce.”

  “Alexis, I’m hurting you and that’s…” He turned to walk inside.

  “That’s not an option, in your room is a whole set of clothes, have a shower, get changed and go home to your family, Hunny.” He dropped his head and bounded up stairs. My room? Go home?

  He was right, the wardrobe was completely full of clothing, underwear, nighties, jeans, tops, bathing suits and shoes. I stripped down and hopped into the shower, bending down I hugged my knees and cried. Did he just let me go and say goodbye? That’s what it felt like and it hurt, hurt more than the pain I was already feeling. Fuck, what have I gotten myself into? I’m well and truly in a huge whole and I seem to be getting deeper into it. I found a very similar skirt suit to what I’d had on previously, blow dried my hair and made myself up again. When I came down stairs, Bryce was sitting on the lounge, he got up and walked towards me.

  This is it, he’s letting me go. I braced myself, it was the right thing to do, the only thing to do but I couldn’t bear to hear it.

  “Alexis, I don’t want to hurt you anymore, hurting you is the last thing I would ever want to do. I won’t touch you, I won’t kiss you and I won’t put you in any situation that will make you question your integrity. Like you said, if we are meant to be, then we will be.” He took my hand and kissed the back of it, I grabbed his face and kissed him as though it was the last time I ever would. My eyes were flooded when I broke away, I couldn’t let him see the extent of it, so dropped my head and turned for the elevator, I didn’t look back, it was too hard.

  “I’ll see you in the morning, Bryce.” Then I left.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The next two days at work were really dreadful, Bryce was out for the entire day on Thursday, I did notice he had scheduled an appointment with Jessica and hoped it had nothing to do with me but I knew better than that. I was pretty much done for the day and really looking forward to getting away with the girls. I figured I’d leave a sticky note on his bed, I was afraid I had tormented him far too much and I needed to tell him how I felt once and for all.

  Mr Clark

  I have fallen head over heels for you but have not been brave enough to admit it. I can’t be around you and be with you but I can’t be away from you either. I want you but I can’t have you and I’ve made you want me when you can’t have me either.

  I’m sorry I have come into your life and tormented you to the point of avoiding me, you must hate me for this and I truly don’t blame you.

  Alexis

  I left the note on his pillow after picking it up and giving it a sniff, it was a bit stupid of me really, because it smelt like fresh linen. I headed to his private elevator, the doors opened and he came in.

  “Hi, I was just um, leaving you a note.” I looked down at my hands feeling embarrassed.

  “Right. Danny will be at your house at 6pm, if you would still like to use the Limo?”

  “Oh thanks, yes if it’s still alright?”

  He nodded, smiled ever so slightly and moved aside, I stepped into the elevator and the doors closed. Shit, that was beyond awkward, he really does hate me. He’s done with you Alexis, you flirted and dick teased him for far too long, and he’s done.

  Was it really such a surprise that I was in this awful fucked up situation? I had been couped up for 9 years at home with my housework and Bold and the Beautiful and as soon as I faced temptation, I gave in. There was never the intention of taking it any further, because I couldn’t and he has now realised this, probably thanks to Ms Fucking Carrot-Top Jessica. I have fucked up my career and possibly my marriage for that matter, what I have done will eat at me and eventually I will have to confess.

  Oh Shit, the note, Fuck. I need to get it back, Alexis you’re a fool. He’s obviously fed up with my indecision and doesn’t want me anymore and I have basically poured my heart out to him on a stupid freakin sticky note.Ok options are, go back up and hope he hasn’t gone to his room yet, he probably went straight to his office. I could sneak in and get it before he has even seen it, or hop in the Porsche and high tail the fuck out of here and deal with it Monday in the hope he has forgotten all about it and providing I even have a job by that stage, shit! The elevator stopped abruptly, I was ready to get out thinking I was in the basement when it started to go back up. What the? I pressed the basement 4 button again but it wouldn’t light up. Oh Shit, Crap, Balls, he’s found it! The elevator came to a stop, if there was ever a moment I wanted super powers, it was now; invisibility, or Spiderman super-suction so I could hide against the roof. The doors opened and he was standing there holding my sticky note. Get in first, Alexis.

  “Before you say anything, I’m sorry. I’m fucking fucked in the head and I’m a dick tease and I’m pathetic and I understand.”

  I gave him the keys to the Porsche and walked past him, I kept babbling shit about not being ready to go back to work because my legs were just like a can opener and turning to goo when I was faced with the hottest man on earth, I kept walking and babbling till I reached my desk and started grabbing my personal things, he just stood there and watched. I had been in my own little bubble of confusion and humiliation, that I had not noticed the massive smirk on his face.

  “So, I just want to apologise for arousing and tormenting and……..” Why the fuck is he smirking at me? I have just completely confessed to falling for him, teasing him and fucking him around and he is smirking.

  “I love you Alexis.”

  What? Is he insane? I stood speechless and frowed at him from utter shock.

  “I love you Alexis and you love me.” He walked over and scooped me up in his arms, he took me back into his apartment and into the private elevator, he elbowed basement 4 and we began to descend.

  “You don’t love me, you can’t love me after what I’ve put you through, I’m teasing you, you can’t love me.”

  “Alexis Hunny, I’m not confused about my feelings for you at all, they are set in stone and will not change. You love Rick but you love me too and you can’t admit that until we can openly share time together. Go on your Girls Weekend, have a great time and when you get back I will have made the impossible, possible.”

  He put me down next to the Porsche and opened the door; I took back the keys and got in. I was stunned and couldn’t say anything, the confused frown I had upstairs was still plastered on my face and remained that way until I pulled out of the basement car park.

  Danny pulled up in the Limo, not too long after I got home. I was still thinking about what Bryce had said. Why is it he understands the way I am and feel better than I do? Make the impossible, possible? What did he mean by that? Alexis, wipe it from your head, no more Bryce, no more Rick, weekend with girls, weekend with girls. I kept repeating weekend with girls in my head in the hope it would work and take my mind off the alternative.

  “Danny, would you mind taking Nate and Charli for a ride around the block for 5 minutes, I’m not quite ready.”

  “Certainly Ms Summers.” He opened the door and Nate and Charli jumped in.

  “Right, no mucking around or Danny will lock you in and bring you straight home, won’t you Danny?” He nodded and smiled in my direction, I waved goodbye as he pulled away. Rick was in the kitchen cooking pasta; he was so sweet and really was a wonderful husband and father. I walked up, kissed him o
n the shoulder and wrapped my arms around him. Glancing around, the house was spotless, the rubbish was out, the dishes were put away, the washing was folded and he had even picked up our dry cleaning, and here I was leaving for the weekend to drink alcohol and let my hair down with my friends. Rick had been so good to me, even the changes he had to make to allow me to go back to work had not been a problem for him in the slightest.

  “Thank you.” I said as I squeezed him tight.

  “What for?” He kept stirring the sauce.

  “For being you, for being wonderful and for letting me get away for a breather.”

  “You deserve it, you’ve been a wonderful Mum and Wife and deserve a bit of you time.” He put the spoon down and turned to face me in my arms. He was a very good looking man, short dark brown hair neatly cut and sexy brown eyes to match, he pretty much always had a 5 o’clock shadow which I thought suited him. He was slightly shorter than Bryce by about 2 or 3 inches and not as muscularly built but still strong enough to pick me up and carry me to the bedroom whenever he saw fit.

  “Go on hurry up and finish getting ready, or you’ll be late.” I went up on my tippy toes and gave him a kiss.

  Danny did the rounds and picked up Tash, Lil, Jade and Steph, they were all buzzing with excitement not only about the weekend we were about to smash but the fact I had picked them up in a Limo, Tash was the exception being she had been witness to Bryce’s request, or should I say demand that we take it for the weekend. They were all smiling at me, and waiting for me to explain this emergency getaway.

  “What? Stop smiling at me.” Tash stood up, her way of distraction I think, God I love her.

  “Fuck it, I’ve always wanted to do this, how do you open this friggin sun roof?” I laughed, I knew exactly what she had in mind, so did Steph, because she was on the button like a flash, Tash stood up and peeped her head out.

  “Shit.” She gradually got higher until her arms were resting on the roof, Steph joined her and they were both squealing and laughing hysterically.

  “You might want to keep your mouths shut girls, unless you don’t mind the odd bug between your teeth.” Jade was ever so cautious and anal.

  “Come on Jade, get up here.”

  “No, you’re both fucking lunatics.” She laughed.

  “Hey, watch this,” I motioned to Jade and Lil. Tash had on a pair of black shiny leggings and a shimmery tunic. I grabbed the top of her waistband and yanked them down, she screamed and fell down on to Jade and I, collecting Steph along with her.

  “You bitch, like my new ruffle butts?” Tash and her ruffle butts, I swear she lived in the bloody things. All four of us were giggling like a bunch of school girls.

  “Oh I need this; I’ve missed you crazy bitches.” Apart from our night out, I had barely seen Steph since going back to work, she was still home full time with her youngest Holly who was 3, Lil and Tash worked part time and Jade worked full time like me. I had seen her some mornings at the before-school care drop off but it was nowhere near enough, I missed my friends and were thankful they had dropped everything to be with me this weekend. Lil started to explore the Limo.

  “Ooooh, there is a mini fridge here, I hope there’s wine.” Of course there was wine, there was also a bottle of gin and cans of lemon squash, strawberries dipped in Chocolate and a very expensive bottle of Dom Perignon 1966 and stuck to it was a sticky note.

  Alexis,

  Whatever you and your girlfriends need for the weekend is on me.

  Enjoy your time away.

  Bryce

  I looked further into the fridge and there was a credit card. You sneaky shit! Steph grabbed the bottle.

  “Fuck, Dom Perignon 66, that’s over a grand a bottle, crack this shit open!” Tash and Steph poured everyone a drink and we clinked glasses.

  “Cheers girls and cheers to Lexi and her love triangle!” Nice Jade, real nice. She squeezed my leg, I knew she was kidding. My wonderful friends were just what I needed, we knew how to make each other laugh and when to bring out a box or two of tissues. We finally got to Peninsula Country Club just after 9pm, we were all pretty stuffed and went to bed early.

  Saturday was spent relaxing at the hot springs in the Spa Dreaming Centre, it was pure bliss. We found ‘our barrel’ and soaked up the relaxing and rejuvenating setting.

  “Can we stay here and never leave?” Steph was chilled and quite adamant we were not going anywhere.

  “Yeah right, what about Chris and the kids?”

  “Ah screw em, they can cook, clean and fend for themselves.” If only, we all giggled, the notion was nice though.

  “So dinner and drinks out tonight? There is this great Karaoke bar in Rye.” Jade loved a good sing-off.

  “You and me Lex, Hold On by Willson Phillips, it’s on like Donkey Kong.” I smiled at her challenge. Tash then chimed in with her best Gloria Gaynor impersonation.

  “At first I was afraid I was petrified, kept thinking I could never live without you by my side.”

  It wasn’t long before we were all belting out ‘I Will Survive’ in the middle of what was supposed to be a tranquil Day Spa. An elderly couple walked past in their robes and gave us a dirty look, Tash stood up in the middle of the barrel and did a shimmy for them, their dirty look increased and they picked up their pace.

  “You are a bad girl Tash.” I shook my head at her.

  “You can talk?” She bit her lip.

  “Maybe, maybe not.” I gave her a cheeky grin.

  “Let’s go for a walk, up the hill. There’s a nice pool and you can see the ocean.” We all hopped out and put on our white terry-towelling robes and flip flops.

  “Shit its cold.” It was, the pool water’s average temperature was between 39 and 43 degrees, so when you stepped out the cool air really hit you. We all shuffled along and must’ve resembled a colony of penguins.

  “What the Fuck?” Tash was leading us up the hill and stopped in her tracks, we all nearly bumped each other like a set of dominos.

  “Check this dude out, he is lying in a foot pool.” There was one lone man lying flat on his stomach in a pool that was very shallow and shallow because it was meant for your feet only. Tash continued on and we all followed, trying to stifle our impending laughs, as I walked past muffling my mouth with my hand, I pointed to the ‘Foot Bath’ sign. Let’s just say the guy, got out of there very quickly.

  We had a blast Saturday night at the Karaoke Bar, lots of songs were killed including, Holding Out For a Hero, Love Shack and Battlefield, the Schnappies kept coming and Danny made sure we all got back to the Country Club safe and sound. I never once used Bryce’s credit card, this weekend was about me and my girls and I was more than happy to splurge. Steph had passed out on the sofa and Jade had put herself to bed. Tash, Lil and I sat out in the Al Fresco area and opened another bottle of Dom, apparently there was an entire case in the Limo.

  “So Lexi, all this extravagance, lust and knight in shining armour shit aside, what are your feelings for Mr Clark? Have you and Rick been having some problems?” Trust Lil, to come right out with it.

  “No, no problems really, well I don’t think so? As for Bryce, you want the honest truth? She raised her eyebrows and nodded.

  “I think I’m in love with him.” Tash and Lil turned and the atmosphere had really become quite serious.

  “Lex, are you sure? What about Rick?” Tash looked devastated.

  “Is it possible to love two people? I don’t know that’s what it feels like?” I began to tear up, but fought the salty menaces away.

  “Have you slept with him yet?” Lil was all Dr Phil.

  “No Hun, I haven’t and I won’t behind Rick’s back but we have had a few passionate kisses, and when I say passionate I mean fucking passionate. I feel incredible when we are together, this might sound stupid or wrong or even naïve but I think we were meant to be.”

  “But didn’t you feel that way about Rick before Bryce came along?” Tash was still dubious.

  “Yes
and that’s just it I have never had a comparison, you guys forget I have only ever been with Rick.” Both of them shrugged their shoulders.

  “Ok Lex, take away the billions, the cars, the hotel and strip Bryce down to the core. Do you still think you’re in love with him now?” I thought about stripping Bryce down to the core and a greedy smile crept across my face.

  “Yes, I honestly think I do. It’s not the money or power that attracts me to him, it’s him and the way he feels about me, money can’t buy that.” Lil lit up a cigarette.

  “Give me one of those.” I put my hand out.

  “You don’t smoke.” Lil threw me the packet.

  “I do today.” She leant over and flicked on the lighter, I could see her sweet concerned face in the flame light.

  “I heard a quote once, by memory it was by Mr Johnny Depp, it might pertain to you - If you are in love with two people, choose the second one; because if you really loved the first one, you wouldn't have fallen for the second." She flicked off the lighter and sat back in her seat.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Rick was watching the Grand Prix when he heard a knock at the door, annoyed he got up and answered it.

  “Better not be a friggin telemarketer.” He opened the door, it definitely was not a telemarketer, instead the illustrious Bryce Clark was standing on his door step. Fuck, what does he want?

  “G’day Bryce, you do remember Alexis is not here, yeah?”

  “I’m not here to see Alexis, have you got a moment alone to discuss something?” Bryce looked around in the hope Nate and Charlotte were nowhere to be seen.