Hungry Heart: Part One (Hungry Heart #1)
Page 6
“Oh. We were open from the beginning after Nathan made it clear that’s the type of person he is. I accepted it because I liked him a lot and wanted to get to know him.”
“You were seventeen. That’s pretty open-minded for someone of that age, isn’t it?”
Shrugging, I wrap my arms around his neck and smile up at him. “Yes. I suppose most girls my age wouldn’t’ve been, but I dunno. I guess I never felt like I owned a person; like they had to be mine and only mine for our love to count as real. I’ve never questioned his love for me because he’s never given me a reason to. And for the first three years of our relationship, we actually were only with each other. Didn’t plan it, was just the way it worked out until he met Rissa.”
“It’s a misconception that an open relationship means people sleep around indiscriminately. I never imagined I’d find myself in one, but I’ve never thought badly of the concept itself.”
“Yes, it is. He only sleeps with me and her. And he was my first.”
Bringing his weight down on me, I wrap my legs around his waist as he returns my smile. “I’m your second? Now that I didn’t know.” His eyes practically twinkle as he lifts his body up a bit and slides his hands between my legs. “How’m I doing?”
My response comes in the form of meeting his lips with mine, making it so there’s no more words between us, just touch.
It’s all the answer either of us needs in this moment.
12
I take my last winter final on Thursday morning.
As I’m walking from the campus to my car, a text message from Benedict comes through, bring an instant smile to my face.
“You coming to see me after you’re done?”
I love how he’s so eager to spend time with me. He’s had a bit more time to text and talk this week, but we haven’t seen each other since Saturday. He’s promised to cook me a ‘thank fuck the semester is over’ dinner tonight at his place.
“Yes,” I reply once inside my car and have shut the door. “Starting my car now. I’ll be there soon.”
“Excellent. I’ll still be in a meeting once you arrive, but wait for me in room 2 in the back. I’ll join you asap.”
Not bothering to reply, I toss my phone on the passenger seat and once my cars warmed up a bit, I head to see him. Finding a parking place is easier at this time, especially since it’s more of a bar and grub place until seven at night every day, and Frank smiles from behind the bar when he catches sight of me.
“All done for the semester?”
“Yep.” He’s got a glass of soda waiting for me on the bar before I even reach it and I pick it up while returning his smile. “Thanks. I’m just gonna wait for Benedict in room two like he said.”
“My pleasure.”
Turning away as he starts to wipe off the counter, I walk through the door leading to the private for pay area of the club, and down past the employees break area. I’ve only been back here once when Benedict took me into his office the first night, and while it’s not big enough to get lost in, I’m glad I took everything in that time.
Knowing room two is at the end of the hall, I am about to walk past room one when I hear raised voices.
And I stop cold at realizing the female is Miranda.
I should keep walking. I shouldn’t eavesdrop and I know it. But just as I’m about to continue on down the hall, a male voice says, “We have to tell Benedict.”
And like an idiot begging to get caught, those words have me stepping closer to the door to hear better.
“I know, I know. But it’s hard. I love him.”
“I don’t want to share you anymore baby. This has been going on long enough. You know I love him like a brother, but we both know you two aren’t good for each other like you used to be.”
“Len.” Her voice is wobbly and it sounds to me as if she’s been crying. “He did this for me because he loves me. How can I betray him like…like…you know it’s bad enough we started before he even agreed.”
Son of a bitch. My hand covers my mouth just in time to prevent them from hearing my gasp, and I step back from the door as quietly as I can, feeling sick for Benedict the whole time. I’m still able to hear them though as Len replies and makes everything ten times worse.
“Baby, he doesn’t know that and it doesn’t matter now. But you’re gonna start showing soon and it’s better to tell him before that.” It’s quiet for a moment as my mouth drops open, then as she sobs, he says, “Come here. Don’t cry. It’ll be okay.”
I don’t know why I continue to stand there, but all I can think is what assholes these two are. My relationship with Benedict might be new and we’re more in lust with each other at this point than anything, but I already care about him. Through our talks and the time we’ve spent together, it’s also clear he’s a good man, and to know these two were messing around behind his back has my stomach roiling in anger.
It’s made worse by the fact I now possess information he deserves to have, but I don’t know if I’m the one who should give it to him. And I’m pissed off at myself for having stopped to listen because I’ve put myself in this position.
Shit hits the fan as my phone rings in my pocket and the door to room one flies open in an instant, the male version of Destiny stepping into the door with a glare at me.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Len’s words are angry, but the look on his face makes it clear he knows I heard everything they said.
Miranda walks up next to him, swiping at her eyes before focusing on me, causing her lip to wobble as tears threaten to fall again. “Oh god, Caroline. It’s not—”
“Don’t waste your breath. It’s clear she heard the whole fucking thing,” Len mutters with an angry wave of his hand in the air before pointing at me. “Get out of here and keep your mouth shut.”
My back straightens with indignation at his audacity. “Excuse me?”
He takes a step toward me, and I take one back, but Miranda stops him with a hand on his chest. “Len, calm down. She won’t say anything, right Caroline?” She keeps her eyes on me and waits for me to agree.
I never get the chance to rip into her like I want to.
“What’s going on here?”
At the sound of Benedict’s voice, I watch as Len steps back into the room and takes Miranda with him, shutting the door behind them. The touch of Benedict’s hand on my shoulder causes me to jump and whirl to face him.
“Caroline?” His eyes fill with concern as he steps real close. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
“I am?” A touch of my hand to my cheek shows me, yes, tears are sliding down my cheeks and it’s evident I need to get away from here right now. “I…I gotta go. I’m so sorry.”
Then, before he can stop me, I duck under his arm and dart past him, fleeing the club while hoping a little space will show me what the fuck I’m supposed to do.
And give those two idiots time to come clean before I’m forced to tell Benedict myself.
To Be Continued…
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About The Author
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Violet Haze is a pseudonym of contemporary romance author C.S. Janey who simply desired to keep her erotic romances separate. She is a big fan of romance - writing and reading. The mother of one, she currently spends her days writing, reading, procrastinating, and protecting her son from himself as he pretends he is a superhero.
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