A Silken Thread

by Brenda Jackson

  Rita swallowed, suddenly feeling as if her panties were too tight. Hell, that wasn’t the crux of her problem. The problem had started last night when she’d taken them off…or had let someone else take them off.

  “Well?”

  She took a quick sip of her drink and met Lori’s gaze. “I had an affair with a man.”

  Lori stared at her for a second and then a slow smile spread across her lips. “About time. Did he have to use pliers to snip away at the fasteners?”

  “Lori!”

  “Well, hell, what do you want me to say? It had been how long? Fifteen years? Even Patrick would not have wanted you to go that long without getting laid. I never understood why you locked your stuff up and threw away the key. I would have gone pure crazy by now.”

  Rita drew in a deep breath. “You haven’t heard everything, Lori.”

  Lori raised a brow when she heard the tremble in Rita’s voice. “Hell, what did he do? Handcuff you to the bed? Blind fold you? Share you with a friend? What? What could have been so bad to put a downer on your face instead of a smile after fifteen years?”

  “He’s married.” She hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that but once she had, she couldn’t take it back.

  “Oh.” The surprised look on Lori’s face would have been priceless if the situation wasn’t so awful. Tears she couldn’t hold back sprang into her eyes.

  Lori was out of her chair in a second and leaned over and hugged her tight. “Hey, it’s not so bad. Don’t cry.”

  Rita pulled away. “You haven’t heard the worst of it.”

  Lori reached out and grabbed hold of her hand. “Okay, so you slept with a married man. The bastard probably didn’t tell you the truth and you found out and—”

  “No, no,” Rita interrupted, shaking her head while trying to wipe her eyes. “That’s what’s so awful. I knew all along he was married, but I slept with him anyway.”

  Lori lifted a brow. “Were you drunk?”

  “I don’t think so. I’d had more wine than I needed to have, I will admit that, but I won’t lie and say I was drunk. I was attracted to him and my hormones got the best of me.”

  “Well, was the toss between the sheets worth all this misery you’re going through?”

  Rita thought of everything she’d done with Wilson last night, every single thing. Even now she could feel his hands on her, touching her all over. And his mouth performing oral sex on her that had her practically blushing. But nothing could compare to the way he’d made love to her. It had been a long time for her, but he’d been gentle, sensual and thorough. She hadn’t thought making love to a man could leave a woman breathless, panting for more and wishing the night would never end.

  “Well? Was it good?”

  Rita drew in a deep breath and said as if still in awe, “Yes, it was good. Very good. I felt things I’d never felt before. It was totally awesome.”

  Lori smiled and threw up her hands and looked heaven-ward. “Thank you, Jesus.” She then returned her gaze to Rita. “Now you see what you’ve been missing. Forget about the fact he was a married man.”

  “I wish I could.”

  “I don’t see why you can’t, Rita. Chances are you’ll never see him again and he’ll never tell his wife what—”

  “You don’t understand, Lori. I know the guy.”

  Lori looked stunned. “You know him?”

  “Yes.”

  Rita knew how Lori’s mind worked and knew her best friend was trying to grasp all she was saying; trying to put it together, shove it all into that brilliant brain of hers. “And you also know his wife?”

  “Yes.”

  Lori grabbed her head and pretended to pull out her hair. “Please. Please tell me it wasn’t Fred.”

  Rita fought to keep from laughing. Fred McConnell and his wife were Lori’s neighbors and he tried hitting on them behind his wife’s back every chance he got. “No, it wasn’t Fred.”

  “Thank God.” She paused a moment and then asked, “So who is he? What’s the name of this married man that you know?”

  Rita met Lori’s gaze and fought back more tears from her eyes when she thought of what she’d done and the ramifications of the mess she’d gotten herself into. She drew in a deep breath. “Wilson. Wilson Sanders.”

  Rita knew when Lori remembered where she’d heard the name before. A stunned look appeared on her face. “Wilson Sanders? Hey, isn’t that…?”

  Lori’s words trailed off and she figured her best friend was probably too shocked to finish what she was about to say, so Rita finished for her. “Yes, Wilson Sanders is Erica’s father.”

  Rita glanced down at her hands as she rubbed them nervously together. Her body began trembling in despair and gloom. “I slept with the man who in a few months will become my son’s father-in-law.”

  Chapter Ten

  “Is everything all right, Brian?” Erica asked, watching him hang up the phone with a concerned look on his face.

  He glanced over at her and shrugged. “That was Mom. She can’t meet us for lunch and doubts she can reschedule for dinner. She sounded pretty awful.”

  “Really, what’s wrong?”

  “I guess she’s just tired from the delay in Sweden. She’ll probably sleep the rest of the day. Get over all that jet lag.”

  “I talked to my mom a while ago and she said Dad’s flight got delayed somewhere in Europe as well, all because of that volcanic ash in the air. I have to agree with the airlines in delaying flights instead of trying to fly through it.”

  “Same here,” he agreed. “I’d rather have a tired mom than no mom.”

  She heard the love for his mother in his voice and couldn’t help but admire him for it.

  “So I guess it’s just me and you for lunch, kid.”

  She met Brian’s gaze and smiled. “I don’t have a problem with that.”

  She crossed the kitchen to where he was standing and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”

  He raised a brow. “For what?”

  “For knowing I needed reassuring and taking the time to do it. For taking me upstairs and making me feel like I am loved deeply and that I am the most important woman in your life and that I am your life.”

  “You are.”

  Erica stared up at him. She believed him because he always went out of his way to make her believe. Their love was what storybook romances were made of. From day one their attraction had been magical.

  Memories of the summer she’d met Brian flooded her mind. She’d needed to get away that summer because of her mother. Every day she’d concoct a reason to shove Griffin down her throat.

  Things had been just as bad at Griffin’s house. So the two had come up with a plan to deliberately go their separate ways for summer. Griffin had escaped to Paris and she had decided to take April up on her offer to spend the summer at her beach house in South Carolina. And the rest, as they say, was history.

  She stood on tiptoes and brushed a kiss across Brian’s lips. He hadn’t shaved yet and the shadow on his jaw made him look sexy. She couldn’t help but think of the sweetest chocolate as she looked into his brown eyes, and everyone knew that chocolate was a weakness of hers.

  Brian looked down at her. “Hey, I think you can do better than that.”

  She met his gaze and could tell by the teasing glint in his eyes and the smile on his lips that he was ribbing her. “Yes, I can do better than that.”

  Erica stood on tiptoes again and pressed her mouth to his and, when she felt his arms wrap around her and his hand gently squeeze her backside, she parted her lips on a breathless sigh, giving him the opening he evidently needed.

  His tongue delved into her mouth but she refused to let it take control. She was determined to show him just what she could do and how she could do it better than ever before. Passion began filling her bones, but she doubted it had left from the time he’d kissed her when she’d arrived at the airport.

  She deepened the kiss and could immediately feel his er
ection pressed hard against her middle. The man was doomed and she intended for him to stay that way for a while. She always enjoyed assaulting his mouth this way, letting him know she enjoyed his taste and every aspect of their relationship, especially this.

  When he pulled her closer, it seemed he had gotten even harder. Shivers raced through her when the hands resting on her backside pressed her even closer to him, letting her feel every hard inch of him.

  She finally pulled back, breaking off the kiss and smiling when he gave her wet lips one last intimate swipe. “Was that better?” she asked, keeping a smile on her lips while leaning in closer.

  “Yes, and you know what I think?”

  “No, what do you think, sweetheart?” she asked.

  “I need to go out and get some more condoms.”

  She tossed back her head, laughing. She had gone off the Pill last month when they’d both agreed to start a family right after the wedding, since they both wanted kids. It wouldn’t bother her in the least if she were to get pregnant on her wedding night.

  “That might not be such a bad idea.” She leaned in for another quick kiss.

  His dazzling smile reached his chocolate eyes. “I can’t wait to introduce you to Minor and Talbert Saturday night. Once they meet you they will know what a lucky guy I am.”

  “So, you’re back.”

  Wilson turned around and met Karen’s gaze. She stood in the doorway of their bedroom. At least it used to be their bedroom. She had suggested once Erica had moved out that he find somewhere else in the house to sleep. He hadn’t wanted to pull rank and remind her that technically the house and everything in it was his and had been in his family for years. Instead, he’d taken up residence in one of the guest bedrooms. However, for appearances’ sake, and to not give their housekeeper anything to gossip about, he still kept his clothes in their combined closet. He had news for Karen—the housekeeper was smarter than she thought and had figured out long ago that they were living separate lives.

  “Yes, I’m back.” His response was deliberately as dry as her greeting had been. She hadn’t been home when he’d arrived and now he could see why. She was wearing the outfit she usually played tennis in. “Who won the match?” he asked since he really had nothing else to say to her. Just like he knew she truly had nothing else to say to him. How could he have thought he could live this way?

  “I won, of course.”

  He chuckled. “Of course.” With all their niceties out of the way, he turned back around to resume unpacking. A part of him truly regretted that he did not feel one iota of guilt about cheating on her. If anything, he felt guilty for not feeling guilty. But in no way did he feel Karen got what she deserved. Regardless of what kind of wife he thought she was, as his wife she had deserved his faithfulness, and for that he knew what he’d done last night with Rita was wrong. But he refused to wish it hadn’t happened or regret it. If that made him a bastard then so be it.

  He drew in a deep breath when he heard her walk away. He didn’t love Karen and she didn’t love him. What he should have done years ago was ask for a divorce, but he had thought it would be too complicated. Besides, he felt since he’d put up with things for this long, he might as well continue to put up with them.

  But then last night had happened.

  He eased down on the bed beside his luggage and stared into space, remembering a night he knew he would never forget. Rita had done more than show him what he’d been missing. She had touched him in a way he hadn’t been touched—ever. And the really sad thing about it was that he and Karen hadn’t grown apart. They’d always been apart. Even on their wedding night. She’d told him then she would do her duty, give him a child, preferably a son, and that was it.

  She had been disappointed that Erica was born a girl because she’d figured he would demand a son, which meant she would have to continue to have sex with him “until the deed was done,” as she’d said. He had wanted other children, but listening to her bitch and moan each time they’d shared a bed hadn’t been worth it. He could still remember the expression of happiness that shone on her face when he’d finally told her she would not have to be subjected to his lovemaking any longer, because he was satisfied with Erica being their only child.

  Wilson moved from the bed and walked over to the window and looked out. He wondered what Rita was doing, what she was thinking. She had no idea what last night had meant to him. It had been an involvement, true enough, but for him it had also been something else. An awakening.

  He wished he could call her and tell her not to feel any guilt because his marriage wasn’t what she might think it was. Not to feel any guilt because he couldn’t make himself feel any. And if given the chance he would do it again.

  He sucked in a deep, trembling breath at that realization. In a way he was pretty damn surprised at how incredibly easy it was to reach such a conclusion with a clear head and not an ounce of scotch in his system. He wanted Rita again but knew her frame of mind wouldn’t allow it. If truth be told, he had begun developing feelings for her since the engagement party. He hadn’t meant for it to happen, but it had. He needed to talk to her. He needed to see her.

  He also needed to finally end his marriage to Karen. Forget about the guilt he didn’t feel—he needed to think of the fairness. And to be fair to her, he needed to go his way and let her go hers. He had no problems in providing a generous divorce settlement. Hell, she could have it all.

  All he wanted now was his freedom.

  “I feel like I’m a part of a soap opera,” Rita said softly, glancing out the kitchen window.

  When she’d showered and crawled between the covers to take a nap after calling Brian, Lori was there. And when she had awakened three hours later, her friend was still there.

  Unfortunately Rita hadn’t slept off the guilt. It was still there staring her in the face, right along with an aftermath of luscious sensations that just wouldn’t leave her alone. Her breasts were still tender from where Wilson’s mouth had been, and the area between her thighs…well, there wasn’t much she could say about it. His mouth had been there and also the most hard and thick erection she’d ever seen. When he’d entered her, the invasion had been priceless, right along with the passion they’d fueled and the desire they’d stirred in each other.

  “Is that why you cancelled your lunch with Brian and Erica?”

  Rita rubbed her hand down her face. “For crying out loud, Lori. How could I look in Erica’s face knowing what I’ve done? What was I supposed to say? Oh, by the way, I ran into your father in Sweden and we had drinks and screwed our brains out.”

  “Is that how it was?”

  Rita threw her head back. “Practically, although what I said almost painted a picture of the two of us being drunk, we were in our right minds, trust me.”

  “Then why do you think you did it?”

  Rita glanced over at Lori. Her friend could ask the damnedest questions at times. It had to be the attorney in her. “Lust, pure and simple.”

  “So, you weren’t operating under the illusion that you’ve fallen in love?”

  “No, although Wilson is a man I think any woman could love. Karen would be a fool if she didn’t love him. He’s kind, gentle, charismatic, handsome, well built, an extraordinary lover.” She paused. “Need I go on?”

  “Not unless you want to. You’ve drawn a pretty damn good picture for me. Now I’m sorry I had that business trip and missed the engagement party and checking out Wilson Sanders for myself.”

  She knew Lori meant it, although she also knew Wilson would have been much too old for Lori’s taste. Her motto these days was “Go young and have much more fun.”

  “And I would have checked out Karen Sanders,” Lori added. “Most men, you know, cheat because of something they’re missing at home. I would have been able to tell within seconds if she’s putting out.”

  “It really doesn’t matter if she can stand at the head of the line as the Wicked Witch of the West, no woman deserves to be
cheated on, Lori. I think you of all people would believe that.”

  Lori should have believed that. Her ex-husband, Deon, a pilot for one of the major airlines, had cheated on her. Lori had returned to town early from a business trip to find him in their bed with the woman—one of his flight attendants.

  “I do, but to be totally honest, Deon and I had begun drifting apart a year before he pulled that stunt. He wasn’t getting any from me and with his horny ass, I figured he was probably getting it from somewhere. What pissed me off was the fact that I caught them in our bed. He had money. They could have gotten a hotel room someplace.”

  Of course Rita knew the entire story. Lori had grabbed the pistol she usually kept in her nightstand and begun shooting. Of course she’d been smart enough to raise the revolver toward the ceiling, but according to Lori it had given her great satisfaction to see her husband and the other woman run butt-naked from the house into the streets. That had given the neighbors, the postman, the garbageman and a UPS man making deliveries in the area something to talk about.

  And someone, Lori still didn’t know who, had captured the fiasco of the naked couple trying to hide behind bushes—probably on a cell phone—and had mailed the video to her. She had used the pics as leverage to get everything she wanted in the divorce settlement.

  Rita had always suspected Deon of being up to no good. On the other hand, she believed Wilson when he’d told her he had never cheated on his wife before. She suspected he was somewhere feeling as bad about what had happened between them as she was. She couldn’t help wondering how he would react when he saw her again. How would she react to him?

  “So what do you plan to do, Rita? You can’t hide from your future daughter-in-law for the rest of your life. Nor from your future in-laws.”

  Rita began nibbling on her bottom lip. She loved Erica as the daughter she’d never had, but now she had a secret that if ever revealed would destroy that relationship forever. She could just imagine what Erica would think of her. It then flashed through her mind what Brian would think of her. She rubbed her hand down her face when she felt tears threatening to fall.