“When this is all over, what would it take for you to agree to a divorce?”
She blinks rapidly and steps back out of my personal bubble. She swallows and plasters a smile back on her face quickly, acting like I didn’t just wound her.
I hate hurting the mother of my children, but I have to be honest with her. I don’t want to divorce her so I can be with Liesel, but I’m not sure our arrangement makes sense anymore. I don’t want our kids growing up thinking that we are in love, thinking our relationship is what a marriage is supposed to be. I’ll never have Liesel, but I don’t want to keep leading Phoenix on, giving her hope that someday I’ll fall for her. I’ll never fall for anyone.
“More than you’re willing to give,” Phoenix says.
“Money? I’ll give you everything I own. Everything that the kids don’t need to survive.”
She shakes her head.
I set my cup of coffee down and encroach on her space. She’s used to me manhandling her, trying to control the situation. I take her cup from her hand and set it on the counter behind her. Then I take her hands in mine. I need her to hear my words. I need her to understand that she’s never going to get what she wants from me.
“I’m not a good man, Dunn.” She winces when I call her Dunn. She prefers I use my last name as hers, but that’s exactly why I call her Dunn. Even though we’re married, she’s not really mine. Using her maiden name reminds us both of our relationship.
“I take everything and give nothing back. I kill without a thought to the sanctity of life. And I’ll never love you, Dunn. All I’ll end up doing is ruining you.”
She swallows hard, like she might be having doubts about what she’s doing with me. “Then ruin me.”
Her lips crash onto mine in a desperate attempt to remind me of how good we are together in bed. She’s good because she lets me have my way with her. She lets me have control. But after finally having Liesel, there is nothing that will get my dick hard again except her. Fucking Liesel was everything I thought I could never have, and I won’t go back.
I pull away gently, trying not to hurt her, but needing to make it clear that I won’t be kissing her, fucking her, touching her again.
My eyes flick to the door, already knowing what I’m going to find.
Liesel.
Her eyes are dark, watery, and filled with pain.
Dammit.
Phoenix smirks.
I run my hand through my hair and step back. Jesus, I’m going to destroy them both.
Liesel opens the sliding glass door.
My heart pounds.
Phoenix turns with an angry glare, telling Liesel she’s not welcome in her house.
Liesel doesn’t look at me as she walks into the house, risking Atlas or Rose coming down and her being forced to meet them. All of her attention is on Phoenix, as if I’m not even in the room.
She walks over to us like she’s on a mission, full of determination. Whatever she is feeling, it’s intense and filling her entire body.
She stops and finally glances at me, but only to indicate for me to move the fuck out of her way.
I do, but I’m afraid she’s going to slap Phoenix, so I stay close. Phoenix may have been playing with Liesel’s emotions, but she doesn’t deserve to be slapped.
I hold my breath as Liesel faces Phoenix. The two women who have twisted their way into my life deeper than I’ve ever allowed anyone face off. I should stop it, but maybe if they fight and get it out of their systems, they will be able to work together.
Liesel takes another step closer toward Phoenix, who tries to slink back against the counter. Then Liesel wraps her arms around Phoenix.
“Thank you,” she whispers through wet eyes.
Phoenix exhales and wraps her arms around her. “You’re welcome.”
The two hold each other like they are long lost friends. I was wrong. They won’t fight over me or stake a claim. They are better than that. All they care about is their shared love for their children.