by J. S. Scott
“You’re hopeless,” I said in an amused voice.
“I like to think I’m hopeful.”
I snorted, unable to resist him when he was in a playful mood. The need to be close to him was so strong that I said, “We won’t get out of here early.”
“I can be quick.”
I rolled my eyes. If there was one thing Zeke Conner couldn’t do, it was hurry an orgasm. The man tormented me until I couldn’t take it anymore before he finally pushed me over the edge.
He said he never rushed a good thing.
And I had to agree with him. He never did quickies.
“Now that’s something I might have to see to believe.”
It was hopeless. I couldn’t get enough of him, even if we had spent half the night burning up the sheets.
I slid through the door of the balcony.
Zeke rose and followed me so fast that he grasped my hand on his way, and ended up pulling me toward the master bedroom bath.
Turned out that I was right.
He didn’t rush anything.
But it was certainly worth being late to our planned destinations for the day.
CHAPTER 12
Lia
Zeke had been right about nothing changing much when we arrived back in Seattle.
Really, nothing was different except for the scenery.
We didn’t spend as much time together because we were both back to work, but once we got home, the craziness between us just continued on. Zeke and I had been back home for a week, and we craved each other like we were still in Playa.
“You’re quiet,” Ruby observed as she arranged some of her amazing pastries in the glass case. “Is everything okay?”
My shop was small enough that I closed down for an hour during midday for lunch and restocking. Normally, I’d restock Ruby’s pastries myself, but she’d stopped in to bring some heavenly Korean food for lunch.
We’d wolfed it down before I started getting things ready for the next rush of coffee lovers.
My manager was working out well, but she had the day off. So I was running the shop solo today.
“Stuart is coming by to pick up his ring. He apparently wants to give it to the new woman in his life.”
Ruby slammed the full case closed. “Asshole,” she snapped. “An engagement ring is special. They aren’t made to be recycled.”
I shrugged. “He doesn’t feel the same way. And I have no problem returning it.” The ring was gaudy and ostentatious, expensive, but it had never been my style.
My hand went reflexively to the ring currently on my finger, the gorgeous diamond that I’d recently learned was one of a kind. Because Zeke knew me, it was so perfect, and had quickly become a part of me. A symbol of the relationship I had with Zeke.
I kept replenishing cups and lids as Ruby said, “Are you going to be okay? It’s the first time you’ve seen him in a long time.”
I smiled at her. “I’m good. Stuart doesn’t own me anymore.”
“He never did,” she answered adamantly.
“Maybe not,” I agreed. “But looking back on it, I felt like a prisoner.”
“God, I’m so glad you ended up with Zeke.”
“Me too,” I confided. “Even if it’s only temporary.”
Ruby put a hand on her hip and stared me down. “Why does it have to be? You love him, right?”
I nodded. “I do. But he’s going to get tired of the hot sex eventually.”
“Lia, there’s a lot more to your marriage than sex. You’ve been friends forever. You know each other. You understand each other. If that isn’t a great relationship, I have no idea what is. If you love him, it’s perfect.”
“I think I always have loved him. I was just in denial because the man I really wanted would never be available.”
“I don’t get it. Zeke adores you. And you’re married to him now.”
I startled as I heard someone pounding on the door.
I turned my head to see Stuart waiting impatiently at the locked door. “He’s here,” I said, unable to completely brush off the twinge of fear that zinged through my body as I looked at him.
“We can talk later,” Ruby said. “Are you okay being alone with him? Do you want me to stay?”
“This is something I think I need to do alone,” I replied.
Ruby nodded. “I’ll be around. I’m here if you need me.”
My heart swelled with love for the younger woman. Ruby had been a steadfast friend who never judged. She was just always…there for me.
I moved forward and hugged her tightly before I followed her to the door. “Thank you,” I said in a quiet voice as I unlocked the door.
She shook her head. “Don’t thank me. You’ve done a lot for me, Lia. You gave me purpose when I needed it, and you’ve encouraged me to keep doing what I loved. I’m happier, and I’m healing because of your friendship. You never have to thank me for being your friend.”
Ruby had grown so much over the course of our friendship that she was almost unrecognizable as the timid woman who had offered to help me find better products for my store.
She’d blossomed tremendously because Jett had stood beside her, loved her unconditionally, and encouraged her every step of the way.
My eyes lifted to see Stuart right in front of me as I pulled the key from the lock.
My relationship with my ex had been a far cry from what I had now with Zeke, and what Ruby had with Jett.
I flinched as he pushed on the open door, nearly knocking me on my ass.
Ruby slipped out as Stuart barged in. I locked the door behind him since I had some time until I re-opened.
“I’ll get the ring,” I told him stoically as I headed toward the counter.
“You’re looking elegant as usual,” he said in a sarcastic tone. “My God, Lia. When are you going to learn to present yourself as a woman instead of a sloppy child?”
I reached behind the counter and snatched the box from the place that I’d left it, and then moved back to Stuart again.
It wasn’t the first time I’d heard his criticism about the way I dressed for work. My place was a casual one and I was wearing a pair of jeans, a pretty jade sweater, and a pair of sneakers that didn’t kill my feet by the end of a twelve-hour day.
One of his biggest complaints had always been the ponytail that I always sported to keep my hair out of my way while I was running around the store.
“Luckily, the way I look or act isn’t really your concern anymore.” I held out the boxed ring, anxious to get rid of it…and Stuart.
He snatched the offering, popped open the lid to make sure the ring was there, and then dropped it into his pocket. “You can’t blame me for looking for something better,” he said in the critical voice I hated. “Look at you. You have very little higher education, and you spend your entire day as nothing more than a barista.”
My temper started to flare, and that was something that had never happened before when Stuart was berating me. I’d kept it buried to avoid an escalation of his humiliation.
I was afraid of him. I was always scared. I sensed that things could get physical if we argued.
The sudden realization of my true fears slammed into me with a force that rocked my body, and I tensed up more.
Stuart was an abuser. Maybe he’d never done anything except shove me around occasionally. But I was starting to understand how much the verbal abuse had scarred me, even though he’d never really hurt me physically.
“I’d rather be a barista than a common bully,” I shot back at him.
“I thought maybe you preferred to be a slut since you married another man within a few days of our wedding,” he said angrily. “Not that you really have any skills at satisfying a man. That’s one of the reasons I wanted another woman.”
Every single mean word he’d ever said to me rose up to the surface, as my hand flew through the air, landing with a satisfying smack as it connected with his face.
Fueled by fury, the slap ha
d snapped his head to one side, and I felt nothing but gratification as I watched his face turn red with wrath.
“You think you found a better woman?” I asked angrily. “Well, I found a way better man, too. I’m glad I didn’t marry you, and I feel sorry for the next bride you have lined up.”
“You ungrateful bitch,” he hissed. “I made you. You were nothing before I took pity on you.”
“I wasn’t nothing,” I informed him as I strode to the door. “I was something. And you tried to beat me down until I thought I was the one with the problems. But it didn’t work.”
Maybe Stuart had bent me, but he had never broken me. It had just taken the affection of a better man to remind me that I had been okay just the way I had been. And his nasty comments about how cold I was couldn’t even break the surface anymore. I knew better.
I shoved the key into the door. “Get out. We’re done here,” I said briskly.
“You fucking hit me!” His voice boomed around the small space.
“It’s nothing compared to what you deserve. You’re a bully, you’re abusive, and you’re a twisted prick. I want nothing except your absence.”
I’d be damned if I’d show him even a twinge of fear. I was done with that.
“You’ll be lucky if I don’t sue you,” he snarled.
I shrugged. “Feel free. I have the best defense attorney in the country as a husband.”
I opened the door and waited for him to exit. I wasn’t about to flinch, even though my heart was racing with fear that he might try to physically hurt me.
Stuart was not a guy who let anything he perceived as an insult go unpunished, but he’d definitely made me pay enough for the last few years.
My body was tense as I watched the indecision on his furious face.
I could tell he wanted to get his revenge, but because I wasn’t willing to back down, he was hesitating.
“Get. Out,” I said firmly.
“Someday, you’ll get what you deserve,” he rasped as he left the store.
“I already did,” I said softly as I quickly locked the door behind him.
I had Zeke, and maybe he was more than I deserved, but I never felt inferior to him. He didn’t hurt me. He didn’t try to make me into something I was not.
Tears of relief started to trickle down my cheeks, with the realization that I made a pretty lucky escape.
I leaned against the door and swiped away the tears, determined that once I’d let go of my anger with a good cry, Stuart would never be allowed to take up space in my brain ever again.
CHAPTER 13
Lia
I felt so much lighter the next day as I pulled into the parking garage of Zeke’s penthouse, surprised to see that his Range Rover was already in his parking spot.
I’d knocked off early since my manager was on duty, and I picked up some groceries so I could make Zeke chicken parmesan with pasta, his favorite.
Cooking for him was never a chore since he went out of his way to let me know how much he appreciated it.
Other than the fact that I was afraid that our relationship would eventually end, I was happy.
After my encounter with Stuart, I was moving on. He no longer had any power over me, and I was done being afraid. Maybe I’d have some lingering self-doubt for a while, but I knew it would fade away.
I shut off the engine of my car, and gathered up the grocery bags.
But I hesitated to leave my vehicle as I spotted a familiar figure making her way to her own vehicle.
Angelique.
Here. At Zeke’s apartment building.
My heart squeezed in my chest as I connected her presence with the fact that she was parked in the garage of Zeke’s building.
We’d only met a few times in passing, but she was a woman very few people would forget.
She was always immaculately groomed, and she reminded me of a woman who spent a lot of time on her appearance. Her long, dark hair was always perfect, and she had to be an ethnic mix because she had an exotic look that most men probably found irresistible.
I let go of a shaky breath as she left, but I couldn’t let go of the jealousy that had come to life with a vengeance.
She was here.
She’d obviously been with Zeke.
Was he seeing her again?
I fought the doubts that were creeping in, but as I rode the elevator to the penthouse, I knew I wasn’t totally successful at brushing them aside.
“Lia,” Zeke said hoarsely as he wandered out of the bedroom with only a pair of pajama pants riding low on his hips.
I put the groceries on the counter before he could reach for them.
Zeke didn’t usually hang out in pajama pants unless he’d just gotten out of bed, and the thought of anybody being in his bed except me made me feel defeated.
He was never really mine. I knew that.
But the fact that our relationship was only temporary did soften the blow that Zeke was apparently sleeping with Angelique again.
“I saw Angelique,” I said in a resigned tone. “You could have just told me that you wanted out of this marriage before you found somebody else to screw.”
I started putting the groceries away, but I wanted to just sink onto the floor and weep.
“I don’t know what you’re saying,” he said in a harsh voice.
I turned to face him. “I’m saying that I saw Angelique leaving the building. Are you sleeping with her?”
“No.” His answer was simple.
“Then why was she here?” A glimmer of hope sparked in my soul, but I was too defensive to let it turn into anything else.
I was surprised when he pushed me against the refrigerator, forcing it to close before he pinned me with his body.
“Are you seriously trying to say that you think I was screwing another woman?” he asked harshly.
I looked up at him. “I don’t know what to think. She was here. And you’re dressed…like that. I didn’t even think you’d be home yet.”
He slammed a fist against the stainless-steel fridge above my head. “Jesus, Lia! After the last few weeks, you still don’t fucking believe that I fucking love you. There is no other goddamn woman for me. I know I wasn’t the greatest of friend to you while you were with Stuart, but I’ve tried every fucking thing I know how to do to let you know how damn sorry I was. I know I let you down, but I don’t know how in the hell to convince you that I’m not going anywhere, and I’ll never touch another woman. I can’t. I love you too damn much.”
I lost track of how many curse words he’d managed to put into one declaration, but it didn’t really matter. I was way too focused on three little words he’d never said before.
He’d been staring into my eyes as he’d told me that he loved me, and I felt the truth in what he said deep into my soul.
Zeke never lied to me. And I didn’t think he was capable of it when he was looking into my eyes while he spoke.
“I don’t understand,” I stammered. “She was here, and you’re here with hardly any clothes on.”
“You’re pretty hot when you’re jealous,” he commented softly.
I felt like a little green monster had temporarily taken up residence in my body as I said, “I wonder why Angelique was here.”
“She works here occasionally at the front desk. I saw her when I came in. That’s how we initially met.”
I felt my muscles relax. I was still pinned against the refrigerator by Zeke’s warm body, but I wasn’t trying to get away.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I blurted out. I felt terrible for even thinking that Zeke would betray me. If he’d wanted all this over with, I knew he would have just told me. But I’d gone with a knee-jerk reaction because I loved him so much it hurt.
“It’s okay,” he said he moved back. “I get a little crazy sometimes when it comes to you.”
I finally got a good look at Zeke when he moved away, and I was dismayed when I saw that he was as pale as a ghost. “Are you okay?” I as
ked as I stepped up to him and put a hand to his face.
He was burning up.
“You have a fever,” I said, worried as I looked him over steadily.
He nodded. “I knew I was coming down with a cold yesterday, but I went to the doc today because I was having a hard time swallowing. He gave me a shot in the ass and sent me home with antibiotics. I have strep.”
“Oh, no,” I said, feeling anxious because I’d made a sick man stand here and justify why he wasn’t cheating on me.
Zeke didn’t get sick. In fact, I didn’t think I’d ever seen him anything but healthy.
I put my arm around him as I demanded, “Back to bed.”
“Don’t get too close,” he ordered. “I’m contagious.”
I rolled my eyes. “Move,” I insisted, and I stayed beside him until he finally flopped back into bed. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me right away.”
“I hadn’t planned on even getting close to you,” he admitted glumly. “I don’t want you sick, too.”
My heart skittered as I realized that Zeke’s every thought seemed to revolve around me. I sat down on the bed and stroked his wayward hair back from his forehead. “Get used to me being very close until you’re feeling better.”
He looked like hell, and it scared me. I wasn’t used to seeing him anything but healthy.
He scowled at me. “And if I don’t want you close?”
“Then I’ll call your mom,” I warned. “It’s me or her. And it will pretty much be both of us since I don’t plan on going away.”
I knew the last thing Zeke probably wanted was his mother when he was ill.
“That’s just cruel,” he muttered as he put his arm over his head. “Did you even hear me when I said that I love you?”
“I heard you,” I answered. “And you have no idea how happy that makes me because I love you, too, Zeke. But right now, I just want to get you better.”
“Say it again,” he demanded grumpily.
“I love you,” I said obligingly.
He tried to crack a small smile. “I’m better.”
I shook my head, but a small grin formed on my lips. “You’re not getting out of bed. I’m going to see if I can talk your assistant into bringing me some things I can use to make some soup, and if you’re a good boy, you can have ice cream,” I teased.
