LILY
After that night with Nero,I think we’ve broken through to a new place in our relationship. And maybe I’m right. There’s a new understanding in his gaze when he looks at me, his voice warmer. He even laughs and makes the occasional joke when we cross paths over breakfast or late at night.
But he’s still keeping me at arm’s length. It’s been days since he fucked me to heaven and back, but he hasn’t touched me since. He’s gone at the office all day, and half the night too, leaving me alone in my bed, aching for him. I should be glad he’s giving me space, but I feel like I’m losing my mind with each passing minute, half-ready to just leap on him the moment he walks through the door.
But something makes me hold back. We have an uneasy peace between us, and I don’t want to mess it up.
Whatever he’s dealing with, I need to handle this right. Because if I throw myself headfirst into this passionate connection, it’ll be game over. Good sense out the window. And I need to figure my own emotions out, too.
Like what I want from him. What my future holds, in all this madness.
But still, I want him bad.
“Sugar?”
“I thought I was ‘baby’,” I tease, over breakfast in the sundrenched kitchen. Nero grins, pouring sugar into my coffee.
“You can have both. Greedy girl.”
Our eyes lock, and my breath hitches, but before I can flirt some more, Nero turns back to his phone.
Dammit.
I watch him, scrolling on his phone, glancing at the newspaper. He’s a million miles away, caught up in work, but all I can think about is him bending me over the kitchen island and screwing me senseless.
My skin flushes hotter. I’m wearing a skirt today, a knee-length, floral thing, so all he’d have to do is hike it up to have full access to me. Hands reaching… Fingers grazing… I clench tightly at the thought. I can feel wetness gathering between my thighs.
What would he say if I showed him?
I blush hotter at the dirty thought. I should be glad he’s being so respectful, not assuming that just because we fucked on the staircase like a pair of animals, I was his to take at will. And yet…
I am. I want to be. And meanwhile, he’s completely oblivious.
My phone dings on the table, and I blink, realizing that I’ve been staring at the island, picturing the scene in my mind.
“Distracted, much?” Nero asks, looking amused.
“Just… Thinking about the painting I’m working on,” I lie, grabbing my phone from my bag.
It’s a message from the lawyer Marissa put me in touch with. He wants to meet.
Fuck.
I freeze, guilt crashing through me. Thinking about divorce when only moments ago I was imagining Nero buried in me all the way to the hilt?
It feels like some kind of betrayal. But I force myself to stay calm.
“Marissa wants to have lunch and a spa session,” I lie.
“Sounds fun,” Nero doesn’t look up, and slowly, my breathing returns to normal.
I text back, confirming our meeting—and then delete the messages.
“I better got get ready,” I exclaim brightly. “Have a great day.”
I get up, and I see something flash in Nero’s eyes as he looks over me. Something like desire. But he just takes another bite of toast. “You too,” he says.
I exit the room, my pulse racing. Sneaking off to meet this lawyer is playing with fire, but I’m trying to be smart.