Lust & Lies Box Set-Sexual Awakenings, Excess, Predator & Prey

Next time?

I prayed for sleep to take me. Then I prayed harder that Devin was in some strange universe, sad about the end of us, though I knew better. Was I that insignificant? My husband shed me so easily. Then a man who I’d been screwing for the better part of a year didn’t care enough about me to say one word to keep our fucked up arrangement going.

I let the tears finally fall, exhausting myself. That was what I had to do to finally get some sleep.

§§

Wow, it had been a while since I’d been hungover. I sure as shit could not get away with drinking so much anymore. I cursed as my doorbell rang then answered it in my soft suit of sweats.

“Wow,” Taylor said, quickly pushing past me with two coffees and a paper bag in hand.

“Taylor, I told you I was fine,” I said, turning to look at her after shutting the door.

“Why don’t you have a butler or something?” she asked as she rounded my kitchen counter and pulled up a stool.

“I like my privacy,” I said, taking the cup she offered as I approached her. I had a service come once a week, but my choice to have a house this size without a staff was out of pure paranoia. Devin and I were very indiscreet sexually, and often we would meet in my home. I was too afraid we would have an audience.

Don’t have to worry about that now. And now my house is tainted.

“Well, I figured when we got off the phone you would hit the bottle hard.” She chuckled as she slathered cream cheese on a bagel before taking a bite. She pushed the bag toward me and I cringed.

“No thanks,” I said, taking a large sip of my tasteless, non-fat latte.

“You know the saying to get over one man you need to get under another?” Taylor said, absently sipping her latte as she eyed my reaction.

I smiled and shook my head in astonishment. “Is that what works for you?” I asked, curious.

“There is absolutely nothing a man can do for me but get me off, and even then he has to contend with me on quality, because I can do that for myself as well.” She winked. I stood there open mouthed as she laughed before taking another sip of her coffee.

“Wow, you’ve never been attached?” I asked, completely awestruck.

“I’ve never met my equal, but I look for him,” she said in a tone, as if to dismiss the conversation. “Now, I would love to tell you that I will leave you in your misery, but besides the obvious suicide watch, I am here on business.” She opened a large folder and pulled out a stack of papers requiring my signature, eliciting a frustrated groan from me.

We spent the better part of the day pouring over them. I never signed a damn thing I didn’t fully understand.

After Taylor left, I lay in bed the rest of the day, telling myself that it wasn’t a pity party, that I was simply recovering from a horrific hangover.

I no longer had lunch at the Anchor Club on Thursdays. I no longer had Fridays at the Preservation Society. There would be no charity functions to collaborate on. And though I had dreaded most of those events, I now had a completely clear social calendar and nothing to look forward to.

Well, maybe one thing.

Aiden: See you tomorrow. Any requests?

Aiden.

I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

§§

The next morning, I awoke feeling refreshed and renewed. I spent an hour in my own personal hell—the gym—working off the prior evening’s indulgence. I had worked incredibly hard on my body the last three years, losing twenty pounds and toning it into a figure I was proud of. It was one habit I refused to part with, and though I hated every minute, I loved the results.

Around nightfall, I slipped into a sexy, light blue, slinky dress and matching heeled sandals after spending a large amount of time lathering my skin in clean smelling moisturizer. I left my hair down in soft waves, dusted my eyes with a smoky, dark brown shadow, and finished with a simple, clear gloss.

Walking into the bar, I was a complete and utter bundle of nerves as soon as I heard Aiden’s voice. He was singing Eric Clapton’s “Layla”. I made it a point not to look at him as I walked in, taking the closest seat to the entrance and glancing up to see Dave.

“Decide to stay a little longer?” Dave asked with a smile, though his eyes raked me with inappropriate appreciation.

I did wear this dress.