by Liv Morris
I shouldn’t be turned on by it. I shouldn’t want to be treated like a possession of his, but if I was being completely honest; it was the hottest thing that ever happened to me. My chest swelled with pride, and love for my stranger of a husband.
My attention bounced around the fancy restaurant as we walked through the rows of tables. It wasn’t until we came to a stop that my heart stopped beating altogether. The floor fell out from under me, and if Mathis wasn’t holding on tightly to my arm I probably would have collapsed on the floor.
“Jennifer, I would like you to meet my business partner in a new project–”
“Jude Emerson,” I finished for him. My heart jumped into my throat and my grip on Mathis’ hand tightened.
“Jennifer?” Jude asked as his eyes jumped from Mathis to me and back to Mathis repeatedly. He was just as confused as I was. Was that hurt behind his cold stare? I couldn’t make out the emotions, but I knew I wanted to flee.
My fight or flight instinct kicked in and my feet started moving in the direction of the exit when my husband’s hand stopped me.
“What are you doing, Jenny?” his voice was quiet, a whisper in my ear. Clearly trying to mask the oncoming quarrel.
Jude continued to watch across the table, looking like a deer in headlights while Lily, the voluptuous brunette from a few nights ago clung tightly to his side.
“Mathis, I have to go. I can’t do this right now.” I tried to tug my hand from his grip, but it wasn’t working.
“Jenny, speak,” his tone was clipped and harsh. I was pissing him off.
I guess honesty was the best policy in a situation like this, because it was all going to come out soon enough. “I fucked them both. Jude, and his lady of the week. Jude has been my client for years, Mathis. I have to go.”
I could only hope my presence didn’t just ruin whatever business deal my husband had on the table.
Chapter 12
MINE
(Mathis)
Fuck. Me.
This was not happening. Not fucking happening. Right now. Before my eyes. I thought I had it made. Thought tonight would be perfect but as I watched my wife look at Jude Emerson with horror, I caught something else in her gaze. Her eyes heated, slightly, but it was obvious enough that it made my skin crawl. My bones vibrated in my body at the thought of her fucking another man. I knew it happened. Knew I would probably meet one of them someday but for it to be Jude fuckin’ Emerson made me want to dive across the table and break his face.
I wasn’t even upset over the fact that she fucked both him and his girl. It was him. Him. It irritated the shit out of me. He knew what Jennifer liked. Knew the sounds of ecstasy that left her lips. Knew what she fucking looked like when she came. He was a dirt ball. Good business man but that was it. I couldn’t stand the fucker, even more so now since finding out he fucked my wife.
“Mathis. Please, let me go,” Jennifer whispered, interrupting my thoughts.
“Why?” Was she ashamed? Did she have feelings for the asshole? My jaw clenched, sensing that Jude was drilling holes into the back of my head.
“Because…I…” She chewed her bottom lip, her gaze darting behind me.
I pinched her chin. “Look at me.”
She swallowed and tried shoving her head out of my grip, but I wasn’t having any of it. I gripped her jaw and leaned into her face.
Jennifer frowned. “I...”
“Talk,” I snapped. I didn’t mean to have it come out so harsh but my thoughts were fucked up. If this was the Stone Age or if we were animals, I would push her to the ground and fuck her into next week, letting Jude know that she was mine.
My body stirred. Shit! Later. I would show her later.
She licked her lips. “Mathis.”
I shook my head, ridding myself of those thoughts. “Talk to me. Please.”
“I don’t want to ruin your business dinner.”
“If you leave, it will be ruined,” I said, placing a soft kiss on her mouth.
She sighed, relaxing against me. “I know my place. I—”
“You’re place is with me. By my side. I don’t care who you fucked before me.” That was a lie but she didn’t need to know that at the moment. “We both have ex-lovers but that’s what they are, exes. You are mine, Jennifer.”
She nodded.
“Now join me.” I pulled away and entwined our fingers before turning back to Jude and his date.
Jennifer gripped my arm, standing a few feet behind me.
I frowned and pulled her beside me. “I said, by my side, love,” I whispered in her ear.
“Well now I never thought I would see this fucking day. Jenny Sunshine settling down or is he another one of your clients?” Jude teased, leaning back in the seat as he wrapped a hand around his Lily.
My body buzzed. What I wouldn’t do to punch that smug smile off of his too pretty face. “This is a business meeting,” I said, sitting across from him. “You will only address me, not my wife.”
Jude’s eyes widened. “Wife? What the fuck, Jenny? I thought you would be single forever.”
Jennifer bristled as she sat down beside me. She looked away, her cheeks reddening but not before she placed her hand on my knee.
That small touch soothed the racing adrenaline that was soaring through me and I took a breath.
“I can’t—”
“Hey!” I slapped the table, making the glasses bounce.
The women jumped and I could feel eyes on me but I didn’t fucking care. I wasn’t dealing with this guy’s shithead attitude. I didn’t need the business deal that badly.
Jude’s gaze shot to mine, the corners of his lips turning up.
“You want to talk to her? You go through me. Don’t look at her. Don’t even fucking breathe the same air as her or I will break your fucking face. You hear me?” I said, lowering my voice enough that the people around us wouldn’t hear.
“I got pull. I don’t need this business deal just like you don’t need it, Mathis. But if you want future dealings with my father, I suggest playing nice.”
Before I could respond, Jude motioned for the waiter. “Yes, I’d like to order a bottle of your finest red wine. We have something to celebrate.”
Shit.
***
I watched as Jennifer interacted with Jude while I stood from the bathroom hallway. Call it stalker-ish on my part but I needed to see if there was anything that I had to worry about when it came to them. Did they still talk? Did she miss him? Was she in love with him? No, she told you she loved you, asshole.
I huffed and leaned against the wall.
Jennifer had moved into my chair so she was closer to him and when he put his hand on her knee, she stiffened.
My body heated, fury roaring through my belly and the green eyed monster reared its ugly head. I was about to blow my fucking lid when she pushed his hand off her knee.
Jude frowned, momentarily stunned by her reaction. He had to be a repeat client. They had shared something before me. The three of them. Although the brunette that was with Jude didn’t talk at all, that was fucking weird. The way she kept eyeing up my wife clearly indicated that they had a girl-on-girl moment.
My skin tingled. I was surprised at myself that it didn’t turn me on. Having a woman or two at the same time was one of my favorite things, until I met Jennifer. Now she was it. She was enough for me and I hoped that I was enough for her. Did she need more than one lover to be satisfied? Well even if she did, I would make it my fucking life mission to make sure that I satisfied her. That I was enough for her.
Jude’s girl licked her lips, her gaze roaming down my wife’s body. God, she was just as bad as him, if not worse. They both looked like they wanted to eat her for dinner.
Jennifer stiffened and hugged herself, running her hands up and down her pale arms.
I took that as my queue and walked back to the table. “Love, I think it’s time to call it a night,” I said, placing my hand on her shoulder.
&n
bsp; She jumped under my touch. “But—”
“Now.” I looked at Jude and threw a couple hundred dollar bills on the table. “We’ll talk business later, in private.”
Jennifer huffed and rose to her feet before storming past me.
“Hell has definitely frozen over when Jenny Sunshine does what a man tells her to.”
I ignored the jab from Jude and followed my wife, but not before I noticed her shoulders slump a little lower.
Adrenaline pumped through me. I was in for it and hard. Ready for anything Jennifer threw at me. She was pissed. Yeah well, so was I. Call me a sadistic fuck but I was looking forward to the angry sex.
***
“Jenny,” I said softly as we stepped into my penthouse.
“I’m going to take a bath,” she mumbled and headed in the direction of my on-suite bathroom.
We needed to talk but I had no idea how to bring the conversation up. What do I say? That I never wanted her to see her ex-clients again? To forget that she even had them? I couldn’t ask that of her. I wanted to. Fuck, did I ever want to.
The sound of the door shutting in my bedroom, or our bedroom, reigned out through the apartment.
We hadn’t fought until today. As soon as I mentioned the fucking business meeting. It was my fault. All of my fucking fault.
I huffed and pulled at the red satin tie that was around my neck and undid the buttons of my shirt.
My body hummed, craving the touch from a warm, soft body that was now soaking away, probably stewing over how to rip me a new one.
Once reaching the bathroom, I almost went to knock and thought ‘fuck it’. It’s not like I hadn’t seen every inch of her.
Opening the door, I braced myself and found my gaze colliding with Jennifer’s. She was lying in the bath surrounded by bubbles. The scent of lavender flowed into my nostrils, making my body come to life.
Her blue gaze glared daggers, but also heated under my scrutiny.
I chose to ignore her and slowly peeled off my clothing. The sharp intake of breath made my cock stir. “Need something, love?” I asked, turning back to her.
She scoffed.
“Spit it out, Jennifer. I know you’re fucking dying to say something.” I threw my shirt on the floor and unbuttoned my pants.
She rose to her feet and stepped out of the tub, heading towards me.
My gaze travelled over her soaking wet and very naked body.
A satisfied smile spread on her face as her nails trailed down my chest. “I enjoy how one look at me and your cock hardens.”
I grabbed her hand and pushed her up against the wall.
She gasped.
“What happened tonight?”
She frowned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“That’s a fucking lie and you know it,” I said, gripping her jaw.
Jennifer shoved out of my grip and pushed me back. “It’s none of your business.”
“Like hell it isn’t.” My body tensed and I grabbed her shoulders, pinning her against the wall. “I’m your fucking husband.”
She slapped my hands away. “Not by my choice! What happened with Jude, Lily, and me is over.”
“Yeah, well could have fooled me by the way you were looking at him tonight.”
“We have history, yes, but that’s it. I didn’t know he was your business partner. I didn’t know any of this shit,” she cried.
“I don’t want you seeing him or her again.”
“You have no say in that matter.”
“Yes I do. If it’s money you want, I’ll fucking pay you like you so desperately need.” As soon as the words left my lips, I regretted it. My temper was out of control, and now I would pay.
Her lips pressed into a firm line before she slapped me.
The sound of skin meeting skin echoed through the air. My cheek stinging at the impact. A hot shiver ran down my spine. “Do that again,” I growled.
Her chest rose and fell and she pushed me, punching her hands against my chest. “You want me to hit you? I’ll fucking hit you, asshole! You don’t own me. You don’t control me. You—”
I wrapped my fingers around her throat and crashed my lips to hers.
She moaned, opening to me, sucking and pulling at my tongue.
My hands ran down her naked body, lifting her to the bathroom counter. The adrenaline that had pumped through me earlier now turned into an onslaught of lust and desire. The anger and jealousy I had felt over finding out about Jennifer’s relationship with my business partner, crashed into me as I devoured her mouth.
“You piss me off,” she said against my mouth.
“Yeah, well I’m fucking in love with you and it’s driving me insane,” I husked and ripped open my fly. “Spread your legs,” I demanded.
“You’re so fucking bossy,” she said, scratching her nails into my back.
A flush of heat washed over my skin. “You love it and you know it.” Before she could argue I thrust into her waiting heat.
She whimpered, leaning back against the mirror. “Oh God.”
Not giving her body a chance to get used to my size, I picked up speed, needing the snug feeling of her body wrapped around me. Needing to come inside of her and stay there. Forever.
Chapter 13
I Want to Hate You
(Jennifer)
As his thick cock pumped in and out of me, I wondered why I was letting this happen. I wanted to feel him deep inside me and I wanted to rip his balls off all at the same time. I was finding my mind and body in a constant battle, solely fueled by Mathis.
I waited until he closed his eyes, enjoying his own pleasure and I took both of my arms and shoved him as hard as I could.
He was completely taken off guard and stumbled backwards, crashing against the glass shower doors.
“What the fuck?” he barked at me as I jumped off the counter and made my way back to the bath tub.
It was taking everything in me to walk away. I was so close to my own release, but it wouldn’t be the first time I was let down. I needed to make a statement. Show him everything wasn’t about him and what he wanted all the damn time!
My hips swayed from side-to-side as I cross the room, carefully stepping up the stone steps, and back into the hot water of my bath.
His breathing heaved in the background and I knew he was even more pissed than when I slapped him.
“I’m fuckin’ talking to you, Jennifer!” his voice rang through the nearly empty bathroom.
I wanted to ignore him, but I also wanted to make a damn point.
“And I am not answering you right now.” I never turned to see his reaction, but I don’t need to. I heard something slam against the counter. I could only assume it was his hand.
“You’re impossible!” he was still yelling and I was trying to ignore him, but I knew he was close. I could feel his presence surrounding my body. He didn’t even need to be close and I knew when he was coming for me. It was completely uncanny to have that type of sense for another human, which was another reason I wanted to run screaming from this man.
“What do you want from me? You want to act like a fucking child and then think it is okay to stick your dick in me? I am not yours, Mathis. Nobody owns me. Not even you. Keep your money...” In between my screams, I moved out of the water and grabbed at the robe hanging from the towel rack. “Keep your bathtub and penthouse. Keep your fucking expensive rings,” I removed the wedding band and engagement ring set and threw them both at him as hard as I could. “I don’t want any of it, Mathis! I don’t want you, or this bullshit sham of a marriage.”
Like that I walked out of the bathroom and started rummaging through my drawers in the bedroom for something to wear, just until I got back to the safety of my own tiny ass apartment. Far away from his luxury and possessiveness.
“Where do you think you are going?” His hand wrapped around my arm.
I turned to face him. My chest was heaving as I am still struggling to catch my breath.
“I am going home. To my home. As far away from you as I can get!” I pulled a pair of jeans and a t-shirt out of the drawer and stripped out of the robe, throwing it onto the bed. I lost my balance when his hands pulled at me from behind.
“You aren’t going anywhere. We are going to talk about this, stop being fucking rash, Jennifer.”
His voice sent a chill through my body. I loved it and I hated it all at once. My body was such a bitch for betraying me, because I knew he could feel that.
“I need you to just let me go, Mathis.” I felt defeated when the words leave my mouth. I wanted to crumple onto the floor and curl into a ball. Maybe have a good cry.
His hands let me go, but before I could make a run for it, he was spinning me around to face him.
The second I got my bearings, I haul off and slapped him again. God, it felt so damn good when my palm comes in contact with his face.
His hand forcefully grabs my wrist. “That is the last time you are going to do that. I let it slide, twice. Not again.”
“Then just let me go! Can’t you see I am fucking up your world, Mathis? Tonight was just the tip of the iceberg! It isn’t going to end. They are going to look down on you just as they have looked down on me all these years. The only difference is I never cared until now. I hate how they judge you. You deserve better. You deserve so much better than a cheap hooker for a wife!” Everything I had been feeling purges from my body as I continued to yell and fight him.
“If it isn’t Jude, it is going to be someone else. All ages. All races. Men, women, frat boys, old men with dicks that never even worked. MATHIS! This is what you married!” The tears began to fall as he wrapped his arms around me once again.
“Please don’t. Please just let me go, Mathis. You can walk away with all your money. I don’t want anything. Just let me go.”
His grip tightened and I was sure that I would have bruises in the morning, imprints of his fingers all over my body.
