Method

“See,” Stella says, turning back to Reid when we get halfway across the deck, “she gets to swim naked.”

“She’s not naked,” Reid mutters dryly.

“Fine, I’ll keep my underwear on.”

“Bra too,” he snaps.

“Fine,” she says, laughing as we make our way to the surf.

We plant our asses on the sand and stare out at the ocean.

&nbs

p; “It’s so beautiful here,” Stella says. “Maybe we should get a place here too.”

“You can just stay here. You know that. Anytime.”

“No offense, babe,” she says, discarding her T-shirt, “but if you can’t tolerate a house party, we really aren’t your style.”

“I can.”

Stella turns to face me her gaze inquisitive.

“You okay?”

“Trying to be.”

“I was sorry to hear about Blake. I wish I would have gotten a chance to know him better. Is Lucas handling it okay?”

I nod over my shoulder toward the party. “I wish I knew.”

She nudges my shoulder. “It’s just a movie. He’ll be back to his charming self in no time.”

“It’s not the party or the movie.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

I can’t hide the hurt in my voice when I reply. “Today’s our sixth wedding anniversary.”

She immediately uncaps the tequila bottle and starts pouring some in the sand in front of us.

“What are you doing?”

“Pouring some out for my homie, Lucas. May he rest in peace.”

Hours later I wake up confused when rough hands grip my hips and pull me toward the edge of our bed. Caught off guard and still mildly buzzed, I look up to see Lucas briefly before I’m flipped on my stomach and lifted on all fours. Any protest on the edge of my tongue comes out as a moan as his teeth sink into my neck. My panties are yanked down to my knees before rough fingers plunge into my sex and find me ready. Moaning, I push back into them and hear how slick I am before I’m left empty. Wet fingers circle my neck, and I’m gripped from behind before I hear the hiss of his zipper. Anticipation pulses in my clit as my breath picks up. Seconds later, it’s stolen when he buries himself in one unforgiving thrust…before he unleashes hell. He fucks me like a savage, taking his pleasure with no thought for mine. Skin slapping skin, he keeps me stationary, his hand tightening around my neck as he builds an animalistic pace.

No words are spoken, no kisses are exchanged. It doesn’t matter, my body recognizes his and my need outweighs all moral thought. Relentless, he drives in, again and again, his stamina jarring as I try my best to balance on shaky arms. I take my own pleasure sliding my hand between my legs and bringing myself to orgasm just before he thrusts one last time and stills, filling me with a grunt. Collapsing on the bed, I turn in time to see him in the half-light of the bathroom before he closes the door. I use his discarded T-shirt to clean myself before curling back into bed with upturned lips. I’d either pushed a button earlier and pissed off my husband when I stripped in front of his friends, or I’d just been fucked by Nikki Rayo. Either way, I loved every minute of it. I’d taken pleasure out of his punishment and was already thirsty for more. Maybe it’s wrong to tempt the devil he’s creating, but it’s the only hand I have.

“Okay, Nikki, let’s play.”

“There are four questions of value in life…What is sacred? Of what is the spirit made? What is worth living for, and what is worth dying for? The answer to each is the same. Only love.”

—Johnny Depp in Don Juan DeMarco

Lord Byron

Mila