The Lone Wolf (Wolf 3)

“I have a dinner party tomorrow. I’d like it if you came with me.”

Her eyes flicked back to me, a little less tired than before. “You’re the most social person I know.”

“Not by choice.”

“You always have a choice.”

“It’s good business practice.” I stayed in touch with lots of wealthy people and kept my brand fresh in their minds. It added respect to my product, and people associated it in their minds with luxury. Bringing my beautiful wife only made me more appealing. Ever since she’d started to come around, my profits had nearly doubled. “Will you come?”

“I have a choice?”

I echoed her own words back to her. “You always have a choice.”

“I’m not that interested in going to a dinner party…not after the last one. But I have to uphold my end of the bargain, right?”

She could do anything she wanted, and I would never kick her out. If she were smarter, she would have figured that out. I’d given her the freedom to do whatever she wanted the moment she became my wife. She had powers no one else would ever possess, but she was oblivious to it. “Right.”

“Then I’ll go. But I’m not performing a song—no matter how much they ask.”

I’d have to talk to the host about it beforehand. Otherwise, the request would be made anyway. “I’ll take care of it.”

She turned her gaze back to the fire, her eyes growing heavy once more.

I’d been sleeping alone ever since I could remember, but now I struggled to get to sleep without her beside me. It’d been over a month since we were last together, but my mind still hadn’t gotten used to the solitude. The bed felt too big now. “I’ll let you get some sleep.” I rose to my feet and walked to the door, knowing I would retreat to my cave and sleep alone. It was the longest I’d gone without getting laid, so my mind was in the gutter most of the time. There was nothing I wanted more than to peel off her leggings and push her knees to her chest so I could fuck her into the mattress. When we were together without a condom, I realized just how good sex could be. It had made my threesome even more anticlimactic. I traded in perfect sex with the perfect woman for something mediocre… It was my biggest regret.

She didn’t turn around. “Good night.”

I walked to her bedroom door and tapped my knuckles against the wood. “Ready to go?”

“I just need a minute.”

I backed away and moved to the armchair in the hallway. This dinner party was more laid-back than the others, so I wore a casual suit and tie and had selected a cocktail dress for Arwen. My elbows hit the armrests, and my hands came together to rest. My fingers naturally moved closer together until they gripped the band of my ring. Absentmindedly, I fidgeted with the piece of jewelry. It quickly had turned into a habit, and anytime I found myself pondering anything, that was exactly what I did. The ring was still new to me and took time to get used to. The moment I put it on, I never took it off because that was how serious I was about this marriage. I wasn’t just making it work for show anymore. I actually wanted to be married.

She opened the door and stepped out in a backless dress and ridiculous heels. Her hair was pulled up to show off her beautiful spine and the small muscles that flanked it on either side. Her pale skin was brighter in contrast to the gray fabric of the dress, making her fair skin look kissable.

I missed kissing her.

I rose to my feet and buttoned the front of my jacket, my eyes following her as she walked past me. My eyes took in the sight of her gorgeous figure and her perfect ass, and my cock ballooned to full mast in less than five seconds.

Damn.

She didn’t look at me with the same lust. I’d shaved and worn a jacket that fit my strong shoulders well. Any other woman would at least give me a few seconds of her time. But Arwen acted like I wasn’t there at all.

I caught up with her before she reached the stairs. “Here.” I pulled her wedding ring out of my pocket and handed it to her.

She gripped the banister at the top of the stairs and looked down into my open palm. My jeweler had cleaned it and gave it an extra shine so she would be tempted to take it. A small hesitation came over her face, like she’d missed that ring for her own personal reasons. Then she turned away and headed down the stairs. “I’m not ready…”

There were about fifty people at the house, and I knew most of them. I hated sparking conversation with new people, but it was necessary for networking. Talking to people I already knew could also be boring. I lost either way.