“I’m sorry, Kayla, that I don’t have better news,” her attorney told her on Sunday morning. Since he was an old family friend, he’d graciously agreed to meet her on the weekend. Ethan was out playing golf and didn’t know she’d sneaked out of the house, especially since she’d claimed illness and not slept in their bed the past two nights. “If you try to divorce Ethan, as the majority shareholder, he could cut you and the entire Adams family out of Adams Cosmetics. Your agreement is ironclad.”
Kayla nodded. “Thank you, Alan. I appreciate you taking the time to explain things.” She’d already known what he was going to say, but she guessed she had to hear it out of the horse’s mouth. Then an idea popped in her head. “What if he divorced me?”
“What do you mean?”
“What if I had incriminating information that Ethan would never want leaked?” Kayla suggested.
“Then you might have some leverage to force his hand.”
“Force him to give me back shares in a divorce?” Kayla asked. It would put them on equal footing.
“Smart girl.” Alan nodded. “But I doubt Ethan will give in easily no matter how much leverage you had. He strikes as a man who doesn’t like to lose.”
Kayla rose from her chair. “We’ll be in touch.” She shook his hand on the way out. Now she had to get the proof that Ethan was unfaithful and then the gloves were coming off.
“You look contemplative,” Daniel said after they’d just finished a round of golf with clients at their hotel and were standing outside waiting for the valet to bring Ethan’s car round.
“What was that?” Ethan asked wistfully.
“I asked what you’re thinking about,” Daniel returned. “You’ve been off all day.” Ethan had missed several easy shots, and they’d lost the game, which they never did. Ethan was an excellent golfer.
Ethan blinked several times and came back to the present. “Sorry, Daniel. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Oh, yeah? Is it something I can help with?”
“No, it’s personal.”
“Kayla?”
Ethan shook his head. “Noelle came on to me at the launch party the other night.”
“I told you no good would come of having her back in your orbit.”
“It’s not that,” Ethan said. “I told her I was married, but she said something that shook me to my core…had me thinking.”
“What was it?”
“She asked me if I was in love with Kayla.”
Now that gave Daniel pause and he turned to face Ethan. “Are you?”
Ethan glanced at him sideways. “Why would you ask that?”
“Because I’ve noticed how close you guys have been lately, so it does make me wonder.”
“We’re making the best of the marriage.”
“Yeah, or you’re falling in love with your wife. And if you are, there’s nothing wrong with that,” Daniel responded. “You started this marriage for business purposes, but it can turn into true love.”
“No, it can’t be love.” Ethan shook his head. He’d come to the conclusion the other night that it had to be something else, because he was just too scared to face the prospect that it could be real. “I think it’s just lust, plain and simple.” Lust he understood. Love, he didn’t know anything about love or how to go about showing it. Was Kayla thinking the same? He didn’t want to give her any false hopes.
Daniel shrugged. “If you say so.”
“Wow! I can’t believe I have you all to myself,” Courtney said when Kayla showed up for their game of tennis a week later. They’d decided on neutral territory and played several games at the country club. “I thought Ethan had locked you in that cave he calls an estate never to let you out again.”
Kayla laughed. “It hasn’t been that bad.”
Courtney raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding me? Everyone knows you two are newlyweds because no one ever sees you.”
Kayla thought about that. The past few months, it had been work and home. With home being their bedroom, they’d been voracious for each other, until now. Now that she knew that Ethan was a cold-hearted bastard who was only in the marriage for power to control Adams Cosmetics. He needed the company to perk up his lackluster cosmetics division. When their father had left Graham International, he’d taken his creativity with him and they’d never recovered, which was why Ethan was so determined to have the company. And now that he was bored with sex with Kayla, it was on to Noelle.
“Well, I’m here now,” Kayla said firmly. “And I promise to not let Ethan come between us again. My family means everything to me. You know I love you, don’t you?” Kayla leaned over to give Courtney a hug.
Courtney looked at her strangely. “Are you sure you’re okay?” She stared deep into Kayla’s brown eyes trying to figure out what her sister wasn’t telling her. “You played fiercely today. There was no way I was going to make a couple of those shots you sent my way.”
“It was a good set.”
“No, you killed it!” Courtney laughed. “Did you and Ethan have a fight and you have some inner aggression to unleash?”
When Kayla was silent for a moment, Courtney realized she hit the nail on the head. “Is all not smooth in paradise?”
“We’ve hit a bump in the road,” Kayla replied. “And that’s all I’m going to say on the subject. Today is all about us.” She couldn’t afford to let anyone else in on her plan. The element of surprise was crucial. Right when Ethan thought he had her, she’d show her trump card.
“Well, it’s about time,” Courtney said.
They were laughing when a familiar male figure came toward Kayla.
“Kayla Adams!”
“Ayden Turner!” Kayla replied. “Ohmigod, how long has it been?” she said, rising from her chair to give him a hug.
“It’s been a while,” Ayden replied, still holding her hands. “Let me look at you.” He twirled her around with one hand and Kayla posed. “You look amazing.”
“So do you.” Kayla smiled warmly. Ayden had been her college sweetheart. They’d dated during her senior year and even after, when she obtained her MBA, but then a job opportunity led Ayden out of the country, and Kayla was never going to leave Adams Cosmetics and follow him because she was Byron’s successor. Or so she’d told Ayden.
Time had aged Ayden perfectly. His caramel-colored skin had a warm hue and it looked like he’d packed on a few extra muscles in the past eight years because he was ripped in his jersey and tennis shorts.
“What are you doing in town?” Kayla inquired.
“I’ve been relocated back to Atlanta,” Ayden returned.
“You have?” Courtney piped up.
That’s when Ayden turned to acknowledge her as his attention had been solely focused on Kayla. “Courtney?” His voice rose several octaves. “Wow! Girl, you’ve sure have grown up.”
Courtney’s mouth widened into a grin. “Yes, I have.”
“Gimme some.” He came forward, lifting her off her feet into a hug.
“It’s good to see you, Ayden,” Courtney said. “Now put me down.” Once he’d lowered her to her feet, she added, “You and Kayla should get together and catch up.” She winked at her sister.
Kayla didn’t like the hint of devilishness in Courtney’s eye. “I am a married woman now.” Kayla held up her seven-carat ring so Ayden could see.
“So? That doesn’t mean two old friends can’t catch up over a friendly drink.” When Kayla frowned, Ayden said, “Okay, how about lunch tomorrow?”
Kayla smiled. “Lunch sounds good.” Even though Ethan was a cheater, Kayla was a woman of her word and she didn’t intend to betray her vows. They meant something to her.
“Okay, say one o’clock?” Ayden asked.
“Perfect!” They exchanged telephone numbers and Kayla saved his information in her cell phone. “I’ll call you with a place.”
“Okay, see you then.” Ayden leaned down and brushed his lips across her cheek before leaving. “See you, Courtney.”
“Bye, Ayden.” Once he’d gone, Courtney turned to Kayla. “Can you believe that?” she asked. “You and the dictator are having problems and suddenly Ayden drops back into the picture? What are the odds?”
Kayla shook her finger at her sister. “I see your mind turning, and just stop it, okay? Ayden and I were through a long time ago.”
“That may be so, but did you see how he was looking at you? You could still have a chance with a man you actually loved.”
Kayla didn’t comment because little did Courtney know that she was actually already in love, in love with lying, deceitful Ethan, a man who showed little regard for her feelings and who didn’t love her, never had. “That’s why I love you, Courtney, you and your vivid ideas on romance, but my fate has already been sealed.” And soon it would be unsealed.
“Hey, babe.” Ethan rose from the bed where he was reading to kiss Kayla when she walked into the master bedroom later that evening.
“Ethan.” Kayla nodded and walked past him to go into the bathroom to shower. She was removing her tennis clothes when she noticed Ethan standing at the doorway watching her. She stopped and held her bra against her bare breasts. “What are you doing?”
“Just watching my wife undress.”
“Oh.” A lump formed in Kayla’s throat and she turned around and continued taking off her clothes. She’d done her best to avoid sleeping with Ethan for over a week and she’d done a good job up until now. She knew the passionate look in his eyes. He wanted her.
When the last piece of clothing dropped to the floor, Kayla went to head to the shower, but out of nowhere, Ethan was in front of her. His eyes raked boldly over her. “I’ve missed you. I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he said, before gathering her naked body in his arms and lowering his head. His lips brushed hers softly, and then he pushed them apart. He slipped his tongue inside and merged it with hers while his hands roamed her backside.
Kayla needed to pull away, otherwise her body would betray what her mind knew to be right, which was he couldn’t be trusted. “Ethan.” She pushed him away. “I need to shower. I’m all hot and sweaty from tennis.”
“Well, that’s how we both can be, if you give it a chance.” He went to lower his head again, but Kayla pulled away and reached inside the shower to turn on the taps.
“Not now.” And before Ethan could say another word, she’d hopped into the shower.
When she emerged, Ethan was sitting at her vanity table. She wrapped the towel around her bosom and casually walked over to the sink counter to lotion her skin and add moisturizer to her face.
After several long, excruciating moments, Ethan finally asked, “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?” He’d been watching her body language and she was tense, which meant she was on edge about something.
“Wrong?” Kayla asked, rubbing the lotion into her skin.
“Don’t play dumb, Kayla. It doesn’t suit you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She dropped her towel to the floor, reached for her robe on a nearby hook, wrapped it around her and tied the knot.
“I’m talking about the fact that we haven’t made love in well over a week,” Ethan responded with a hint of sarcasm.
“Oh, that.” Kayla laughed. “Why are you making a big deal about it? I was feeling poorly. And married couples have lulls.” Or so she’d heard. It sounded reasonable to her.
“We don’t.”
Kayla didn’t have a smart comeback because he was right. Since their wedding and the week they’d been mad at each over about Hypnotic’s new spokesmodel, they had made love every night or every other night. Ethan was staring at her from the vanity to her left, but Kayla refused to look at him, staring straight in the mirror and reaching for her hairbrush.
When she didn’t respond, Ethan acquiesced and said, “If I’ve done something that you’re upset about, just let me know and we can talk about it.”
“So you can win?” Kayla asked calmly.
“No!” Ethan rose and came to stand behind her in the mirror. “Because I hate this distance between us, don’t you?” He rubbed her shoulders, but she recoiled from his touch.
“Ethan, I’m really tired.” Kayla brushed her hair. “And I am not in the mood to argue because you’re horny and I’m not.”
“That’s not it at all, and you know it!” Ethan replied. His temperature was steadily rising, but Kayla appeared calm, and it infuriated him further. “Stop acting like I’m some horndog after your body. You like sex as much as I do.”
“And I’m not in the mood, okay?” Kayla said, turning to face him.
“Don’t dismiss me. I’m your husband.”
Fury boiled inside Kayla. He had some nerve to talk about his rights as a husband. All he cared about was getting her into bed, not what was in her mind, in her heart. He was callous and unfeeling. “I’m well aware of that. And before you remind me of our agreement, I know my wifely duties, so go take a cold shower.”
She stormed out of the bathroom and went into the closet to find a nightie. When she came out, Ethan was thankfully gone.
Kayla breathed a sigh of relief. If he’d pressured her or turned on the seduction, she wasn’t sure she would have been strong enough to resist him. He had a way with his mouth and tongue that brought her to her knees, but apparently he wasn’t interested in coercing a response from her.
Seconds later, she heard the roar of an engine in the distance. Ethan had left without a word.
Ethan made his way to one of his old stomping grounds to blow off some steam—the gentleman’s club he and Daniel frequented before he’d gotten married.
It was somewhere he could let down his hair without being judged, and he desperately needed that right now. Kayla had worked his last nerve. She’d outright refused to sleep with him, and he was mad as hell because he didn’t know why she was upset.
A strong drink was what he needed, and maybe a few more after that. Perhaps he could get over the sting of his wife’s rejection.
Kayla woke up the next morning before daylight and Ethan’s side of the bed was untouched, which meant he’d stayed out the entire night and never come home. Was he out with that harlot? How could he talk about her neglecting her wifely duties, when he was having an affair?
She dressed for work and made her way to the office. She was happy to get off the estate and to a place where she belonged, where she understood what was expected and could meet those expectations. Not a fake marriage, in which she felt used and useless.
As she was pulling her Porsche into her parking space, Shane was pulling in next to her at the same time. He jumped out of his car first and opened the driver’s door for her. “A bit early for you sis, ain’t it?” he asked, looking at his watch. It read 7:30 a.m.
“Not today, Shane.” Kayla frowned.
“Care for a cup of coffee?” Shane inquired. “We could talk.”
“Okay, I guess.” Kayla leaned over to grab her briefcase and followed Shane inside the Adams Cosmetics building. Kayla greeted the security guard at the front desk and pressed the elevator call button.
“A bit anxious today?” Shane inquired.
“I didn’t sleep very well,” Kayla replied. Truth was she’d barely slept at all, tossing and turning because she’d been waiting for Ethan to return, and when he hadn’t, around 3:00 a.m. she’d finally drifted off to sleep.
“Then a large coffee is definitely in order.”
They stopped in the cafeteria first and Kayla grabbed a large coffee and blueberry muffin. Shane motioned for Kayla to join him at a nearby table where she began scarfing down the muffin.
“One, slow down,” Shane said. “That muffin isn’t going anywhere, and two, spill it. Whatever is going on with you, that is. You only eat like this when you’re stressed. Matter of fact, since when do you like blueberries?”
Kayla glanced down at the remainder of the muffin on the plate. She picked another piece off the side. “Hmm…I don’t know. It’s a craving, I guess.”
“So what’s going on? And don’t lie to me, you’re obviously very unhappy and it breaks my heart.”
Her head bowed and her body slumped over in despair, she couldn’t talk about it. She’d made a horrible mess of things.
“Okay, since you won’t talk, I will.” Shane placed his hand over hers. “You’re miserable in this marriage and you know what? I should never have let you go through with it.”
Kayla shrugged in mock resignation. “Don’t blame yourself. It was my decision. No one forced me.”
“Didn’t he? Ethan knew how much AC meant to you, he played into your savior complex.”
“And I bought it, hook, line and sinker.” She plopped the rest of the muffin in her mouth.
“And now you want out?” Shane asked.
Kayla swallowed and took a sip of coffee. “That’s not possible.”
“Anything’s possible. We just have to figure it out.”
Kayla rose. “I’ve said too much. I should go.”
Shane quickly stood up and grabbed her shoulders. “If you ask me, you haven’t said enough. You’ve kept it all bottled up and that’s not good. You should talk it about. It might make you feel better.”
“I should go.” Kayla made a move to leave, but Shane had a grip on her.
“You don’t always have to be the strong one, Kayla. You can lean on us. We won’t let you fall.”
Kayla stroked his cheek. “I know that, Shane. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that I have the best family in the world.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll be all right. See you soon.”
“This is not good.” Ethan said aloud, looking at the morning’s paper. His assistant was kind enough to put the paper on his desk with the entertainment section open. There was a picture of Ethan at the gentleman’s club the night before. Kayla was going to be livid. Not only had he not come home last night, but he’d been caught on camera at the club.
It wasn’t like he’d done anything wrong. He’d played some pool and had one drink too many and had slept over in one of the private rooms, but that didn’t matter, Kayla was going to have him for breakfast. He immediately called her office but was told she was in meetings for most of the morning. He would have to make a preemptive strike and tell her first.
After their argument, this was the last thing he needed. Otherwise, he’d be taking cold showers for a long time to come.
Kayla was happy to get out of the office for lunch. Everyone in the office was gossiping about the paper. Her mother and Piper had left a message for her and she’d been doing her best to avoid Shane and Courtney. Ethan had been caught in a gentleman’s club! Kayla knew what happened in places like those and the sort of women that congregated there. No wonder he hadn’t come home last night. She’d called her attorney to see if they could use the fact that Ethan had visited a gentleman’s club as grounds for a divorce. Alan had agreed that it would certainly raise doubt about whether Ethan was unfaithful. When Kayla hung up, she had some hope that the tide would change in her favor.
She was happy to be having lunch with Ayden that afternoon and have a few hours of normalcy. Right now, her life was a hot mess. Not only did Ethan not love or respect her, he was humiliating her in public. Who knew what other secrets she could unearth and use to her advantage to get out of this marriage and spare her already-bruised heart?
Ayden greeted her with a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. “Kay, thanks for coming,” he said as he helped her into a seat.
“It’s absolutely my pleasure,” Kayla replied. “I’m looking forward to catching up.”
The waiter came by to take their drink order and Kayla ordered a ginger ale. Her stomach had been upset after that blueberry muffin and seeing Ethan in the paper.
“Tough morning?” Ayden asked when Kayla remained quiet at the table.
“Something like that.” Kayla didn’t want to get into her marital troubles, least of all with her ex-boyfriend. “So, tell me what have you been up to all these years?”
Ayden told her about his heading up a new office in London for his company and how his leadership caused sales to jump nearly fifty percent.
“That’s wonderful, Ayden.”
“And you,” Ayden commented, “have been very busy. I’ve read the papers. You and Ethan Graham? How did that happen?”
“It’s a long story,” Kayla said.
“Try.” He propped his chin on his hands and leaned in to listen.
“The truth?”
“That would be a start.”
“Adams Cosmetics was in trouble and Ethan came sniffing around. He pursued me, pretty relentlessly I might add.”
“He wanted you,” Ayden surmised.
Kayla nodded. “And I gave in.”
“I guess I’m not surprised,” Ayden said. “You always did have a thing for Ethan.”
“I did not,” Kayla replied, but Ayden raised his eyebrow skeptically. “Okay, maybe when I was younger, but I got over him. I mean, look how long we were together.” She sipped on her ginger ale.
“Yeah, we were together a long time, but I always knew there was something holding you back,” Ayden said thoughtfully.
“What do you mean?”
“I always felt like there was piece of your heart you weren’t completely giving me, that you were holding back a part of yourself. And now I know why. It was Ethan Graham. I guess I always suspected, which is why I suppose I gave you that ultimatum to come with me to London. And when you didn’t…” Ayden shrugged. “Knowing for sure now helps, helps me have closure.”
“I’m sorry, Ayden.” Kayla reached across the table and touched his hand. “I never meant to hurt you. I guess I didn’t know myself.”
“And now?”
“Knowing sure hasn’t helped me much,” Kayla replied. “There’s so much unsaid between Ethan and me.”
“You can change that,” Ayden returned. “Ethan was and is the love of your life, and you have to fight for what you want.”
“Love shouldn’t be this hard.”
Ayden smiled. “C’mon, you know the best things in life are those that we fight the hardest for. So go get ’em, slugger.” He lightly punched her jaw.
From across the room, Daniel noticed Kayla having lunch with an attractive gentleman and obviously someone she knew quite well as he greeted her with a hug and a kiss. It could be purely innocent, but given the headlines that morning, was Mrs. Graham making a statement by having lunch with another man? And how was Ethan going to interpret it?
Apparently not too well, because Ethan had a cow when Daniel informed him of Kayla’s lunch plans later that afternoon. It was well after three when he’d finally had the chance to make it to Ethan’s office.
“Are you sure, Daniel?” Ethan asked.
“Of course. I would never bring this to your attention otherwise.”
“So who was it?”
Daniel smiled. He knew Ethan would ask and had tipped the host to tell him who Kayla’s lunch partner was. “Ayden Turner.”
“Her ex-boyfriend?” Ethan nodded as fury boiled inside him. “You realize she’s doing this to get back at me.” He paced his office. “She saw this morning’s paper and decided she’d get me back by having lunch with her ex.”
Daniel jumped to Kayla’s defense. “It could be purely innocent, Ethan. There doesn’t have to be a nefarious motive here. She could have had this lunch planned weeks ago and the timing is purely coincidental.”
Ethan shook his head. “I don’t think so. Kayla has been at odds with me for a while. Matter of fact, ever since the night of the launch party, I’ve noticed her reacting coolly toward me.”
“Did something happen that night?” Daniel inquired.
Ethan had racked his mind wondering the same thing and couldn’t come up with a single thing he’d done wrong. “No. I made a point of making sure we honored the Adams family tradition by attending Hypnotic’s launch together and I stayed by her side the entire night. I don’t know what’s got Kayla bent out of shape, but I won’t have her disrespecting me.”
Daniel laughed. “Well, she could say the same thing about you after seeing this morning’s paper. A gentleman’s club, Ethan? We haven’t been there since you got married. You should know better.”
“Don’t harass me, Daniel,” Ethan replied. He was already exasperated. “Last night I was irritable because Kayla was keeping me at bay and I just went there to have a drink and blow off some steam.”
“Then you should show her the same latitude. Perhaps I shouldn’t have told you about this lunch, because you’re blowing this way out of proportion.”
“I am not,” Ethan said, “but I am going to have a little chat with my wife.” He headed to the door and slammed it behind him.
Daniel sighed. He’d never seen Ethan jealous. If Ethan was jealous that Kayla was out with another man, his feelings for her must run deeper than he had wanted to admit. Kayla was in for a battle.
When Ethan made it to Kayla’s office it was nearly five. “Mr. Graham.” Myra smiled when she saw him. “Mrs. Graham is in her office.”
“Thank you, Myra,” Ethan said. “And you are dismissed for the rest of the evening.”
“But Kayla wanted me to complete a report before I left.”
“That won’t be necessary. You can go.” He wanted absolute privacy when he spoke with Kayla.
Myra looked up at Ethan and realized he meant business and instantly logged off her computer and started packing up her belongings. She didn’t know what was about to go down, but it wasn’t going to be good if the thunderous expression on Mr. Graham’s face was any indication. “Have a good night,” she said, and made a quick exit.
Seconds later, Ethan burst through the door to Kayla’s office and she glanced up. “Ethan.” She sighed. He was the last person she wanted to see. She wasn’t prepared to do battle with him. “What do you want?”
Ethan slammed the door behind him and strode toward her desk. He leaned down until he was eye-to-eye with Kayla. “I want to know why you’re having lunch with other men.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” he said through clenched teeth.
Kayla couldn’t believe her ears and pushed back her chair. “So you’re having me followed? Are you really that paranoid?” What other way was there to explain why he knew she’d had lunch with Ayden?
“Of course not. Daniel was having lunch and saw you.”
“And he ran right back to tell you. Great!” Kayla threw down the pen she’d been writing with. “So, you want to get into this right here?”
“By all means,” Ethan said, staring down at her icily.
“Fine!” Kayla rose from her chair. “Why don’t you explain why you didn’t come home last night and were caught in a gentleman’s club? How about we start with that?”
“So is that why you went out with Ayden?”
“Don’t deflect and try to turn this back on me.” Kayla pointed her finger at him. “You started this.”
“And you were going to finish it, right?” Ethan returned. He was staring daggers at her. “Why else would you go out with your ex?”
“What does it matter to you?” Kayla replied. “Hell, we have your ex spread out on billboards across this city with the Adams Cosmetics logo, and do you hear me whining?”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Ethan fumed. “Are you still in love with your ex?”
“I don’t have to tell you a thing. My personal feelings are my own.”
“You’re my wife!”
“Ha!” Kayla laughed and faced him like a tiger ready to pounce. “You may have bought me, but I am not your slave, Ethan.”
“Kayla, I’m warning you!”
“Warning me?” Kayla seethed with rage and humiliation at his audacity given everything he’d done. “You’re not the boss of me. I can have lunch with whomever I please. Matter of fact, I’m done with this conversation. Get out of my office!”
Kayla went to turn her back on him and Ethan swept her in his arms and imprisoned her against his body. “Like hell, you will!” Ethan roared. He bent down and kissed her long and hard.
His kiss both angered and aroused Kayla. “Let me go!” She struggled against him, but Ethan’s hold was like a vise. She hated that his mouth was masterful and he used it to give her a hot, yearning kiss that made heat pool in the lower half of her body, especially when she felt him hard against her.
Before Kayla knew what was happening, he was pushing her backside against her desk. He pushed all the papers on her desk aside and they went tumbling to the floor. Then Ethan ripped open the blouse she was wearing with both hands and buttons went flying in every direction. He clumsily worked the silky straps of her bra down her shoulders, exposing her bare breasts to his searing gaze. And then his mouth came down on her, drawing one breast into his mouth. He began sucking on her nipple until it turned into a tight crest.
Kayla didn’t know how she moved from anger to lust in five minutes flat. It didn’t make any sense what they were doing and where they were doing it. All she knew was that she wanted him naked and inside her. She worked his suit jacket off and tossed it across the room. She tugged his shirt from the waistband of his trousers and pulled it free while he hiked her skirt up to her waist and began fumbling with the scrap of fabric that was her panties.
Ethan lowered them down her legs until he came to the soft tuft of her hair at the center of her thighs. He slid his fingers inside and found her wet and warm and ready. As was he. He could feel his rock-hard erection straining in his briefs. He was happy when Kayla unfastened his trousers and pushed them and his briefs down his legs in one quick movement.
He quickly settled himself between her thighs, gripped her buttocks and thrust inside her, filling her completely and making them one. He secured a handful of her hair in his fist and lowered his mouth again on hers.
Kayla skimmed her fingernails down his back as he gripped her waist and dove inside her. Ethan was exultant that this woman was his and thrust inside her again and again while Kayla chanted his name like a prayer or ritual. Their coupling was fierce as Ethan frantically brought them to fulfillment. When it was over, they gradually slid off the desk and collapsed in a limp heap on the floor, spent.
As she looked up at the ceiling, Kayla was overcome with what had just happened. Not only had she been mindless to where she was and made love in her office, where anyone could have heard or seen them, but they’d just made love without protection.
“That was pretty crazy, huh?” Ethan said finally, but Kayla didn’t speak, so he turned to face her and stroked her cheek. “Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
Kayla turned away so he couldn’t see tears welling in her eyes. What had she done? How had she let the situation get so out of control? She always made a habit out of making sure he had on a condom, but just now, she’d let lust get the best of her and what if… She was afraid to even think of the possibility.
“Kayla.” Ethan leaned over and grasped her chin to face him and found her skin wet. “Are you crying?”
“No.” Kayla struggled to sit up. She glanced around for something to put on, but her current outfit was in shreds on the floor.
“You’re a bad liar.” Ethan smiled, sitting up along with her. “Here, take my shirt.” He slid it off his shoulders since he was still partially wearing it.
“Thanks.” Kayla slid her arms inside the garment and curled her legs underneath her. A million ideas were swimming through her head, many of which had a dancing baby, but she couldn’t let Ethan know them. If he thought about it and thought there could be any chance of a baby, he would never let her go.
“When I came in here, I didn’t intend for that to happen,” Ethan stated, turning to her. “I came in here to throttle you because I was so upset and to explain about last night.”
“Don’t bother,” Kayla said, rising to her feet and heading to the closet near her private shower. She kept a spare suit in her office in case of an emergency and could change into that. No one would ever know that they’d just had sex in her office.
“Kayla, don’t you think we should talk about this?”
“Talking is what got us into this,” Kayla said. She tossed his shirt back at him as she walked into her private bathroom.
She emerged fifteen minutes later, freshly showered and with her hair brushed back into a ponytail. Ethan had redressed and looked as polished as when he had first stepped in.
Being in the shower had given Kayla time to think. She needed to figure out what she was going to do if she were pregnant. She needed an exit strategy and for that she needed to be alone, away from Ethan.
Ethan smiled. “Good thing you have an extra set of clothes.” He’d disposed of the outfit he’d destroyed.
“Good thing.” Kayla half smiled as she walked toward him.
“So you ready for that talk now?” Ethan inquired. He couldn’t read her face. It was expressionless, which wasn’t the Kayla he knew. She usually wore her heart on her sleeve and he could read her pretty easily, but this time her emotions were masked. It made his mind reel. Had he gone too far?
“Ethan, I need a break from this marriage.”
He hadn’t expected that statement and it angered him immediately. “If you think I’m going to give you a divorce, you’re dead wrong, Kayla. We made a deal.” He knew he sounded harsh; he just wasn’t prepared to lose her. She meant too much to him.
“I’m not saying I want a divorce,” Kayla snapped. She didn’t appreciate his tone. “I just need to think, so I’m going to my parents’ home for a while.”
Ethan thought about what she wasn’t saying. “Time to think, you mean you want time away from me?”
“Yes.” Kayla forced herself to look at the man she loved, the man whose child she could be carrying. “And I’m hoping you will respect me enough to give me that time.”
“Frankly, I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be apart right now. I think we need to figure out what’s going on between us, but I respect you enough to give you your space.” Perhaps some time and distance would be good for the both of them. So when they came back together, they could finally decide what kind of marriage they were going to have once and for all.
“Thank you,” Kayla responded, and walked over to her desk to grab her purse out of her drawer. “We’ll talk soon.”
And with those words she was out the door, leaving Ethan to wonder about the state of their marriage.