by K. Street
My hand goes to my mouth. “Oh my God.”
I search for similarities. Try to find traces of Trevor in the blue eyes that stare up at me. I drag the pad of my finger over the tiny button nose and barely there tuft of blond hair. A soul-deep ache rocks through me, cracking my chest open, and I give in to the tears, letting myself grieve for the family that should’ve been mine, ours.
After I spread the photographs across the dark wood surface, I see her holding their little boy, and it’s like a knife straight to the heart. She looks familiar, but I don’t know why, and it takes everything I have not to drop to my knees and curl into a ball. I hate the way she’s smiling at the camera, almost smug, like she knew, someday, I’d find these photos. It’s so fucking unfair, and I hate her. I waver between wanting to confront her and never wanting to lay eyes on the bitch.
I inspect the envelope, searching for something that will give me answers. On the back, I find a phone number with the name Kyndal scrawled next to it in Trevor’s handwriting. I take out my cell and stare at the blank screen for a few minutes.
Before I lose my nerve, I unlock my phone and dial the number.
After two rings, a woman answers, “Hello?”
My mouth is so dry, I can’t speak.
“Hello? Is anybody there?” Her Southern drawl comes through the line.
“He-hello.” I cough and quickly take a sip of coffee. “Hello. Is this Kyndal?”
“It is. And may I ask who’s calling?”
I force my voice to stay even. “Tessa. Tessa Salinger.”
I let that sink in for several seconds, but Kyndal stays completely silent. I know she’s still there because I can hear her breathing.
She starts to speak and then stops and starts again. “Who did you say this is?”
“Trevor’s wife, though I suppose widow is the more accurate term.” I swallow hard, hating how much the word stings. “And you’re his…” I give her a chance to fill in the blank.
“Well…” she says and then stops.
“Maybe I can help. There are a few words that come to mind.” Whore. Slut.
Then, my eyes land on the pictures. Damn it.
I take a deep breath, but I can’t let it go that easily. “How long were you fucking my husband?”
There’s a hiss, like the sound of water spraying, followed by choking, and I stay on the line while she gets herself under control.
“Pardon me?”
I rephrase the question. “How long were you two having an affair?”
“It wasn’t ongoing, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“You knew he was married, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
I’m shocked into silence. She didn’t even try to deny it.
“Tessa, is there a reason for your call, or did you just want to tell me what a horrible person I am?”
“Actually, I am calling about your son.” I pick up one of the pictures and stare at Brandon’s chubby cheeks and toothless grin.
“What does Brandon have to do with anything?”
“Everything. You’re the bitch who fucked my husband. Trevor is the bastard who cheated on me. That little boy is innocent, and he deserves a chance. In the next few weeks, you’ll be getting papers from my attorney. I’m going to set up a trust in Brandon’s name.”
She gasps, and when she says, “I’m not sure what to say,” I hear the shock in her voice.
“You don’t need to say anything. I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing. If you have any questions, contact my lawyer.”
“I’m sure it isn’t worth anything, especially coming from me, but”—she sighs into the phone—“he really loved you.”
“Well, nothing says I love you quite like sticking your dick in another woman, am I right?” The line is quiet for a few beats before I ask her the other question that has been lingering in my mind, “Kyndal, where do you live?”
“Atlanta.”
A single word is the only confirmation I need. I already knew, and I wanted to be wrong. Trevor was full of such regret the night after he returned from the business trip to Atlanta. I wonder if they were only together during the time he was there.
I almost ask Kyndal…
How many times did you fuck my husband? What do you mean, it wasn’t ongoing? Did he knock you up the first time you had sex? Did he have feelings for you, or was it an affair of convenience?
Hatred burns through me. I hang up the phone.
I look around Trevor’s office, pissed and wishing I could give him a giant fuck you.
thirty-four
Dante
I step into my office and close the door behind me. Last night was amazing, but today got off to a shitty start.
Whenever Tessa gets that lost look in her eyes, I know she’s thinking about Trevor. I can’t contend with their shared past. Things are coming to a head; I can feel it. I just hope to hell the two of us are still standing at the end of it.
Since Tessa has an agenda, she’ll be busy for a while. That means, I have time to venture out on a virtual wild goose chase.
I finish my breakfast in three bites and sit down at my desk, firing up my computer. While I wait, I snag a pad of paper from the drawer and start making a list. When I’m done, I look it over. Once the computer boots up, I open the file for Montgomery Industries and then scroll through until I find what I’m looking for. With the number in front of me to reference, I pick up the phone.
“Montgomery Industries,” a woman answers over the line.
“Mr. Montgomery’s office.”
“Hold, please.”
I listen to the beep while I wait for someone to pick up.
“Clive Montgomery’s office. This is Mabel. Can I help you?”
“Hi, Mabel. It’s Dante Salinger.”
Mabel is in her early sixties, a true Southern lady and completely enamored with me. It’s refreshing, considering my brother was the charming one.
“Dante? How are you? Oh my goodness, I was so sorry to hear about Trevor. Did you get those flowers I sent? They were from the company, of course, but you know I handle those things. You poor sweet man. Losing your brother so young. It’s awful, I tell you. Just awful.” Mabel’s long-winded Southern drawl is something I’ve come to appreciate.
“The flowers were lovely. Thank you.” I have no clue which flowers she sent, but I’m not about to hurt her feelings. “Mabel, I have a few questions, and I was hoping you could help me.”
“Absolutely. You know I’d do anything for you.”
“Is Kyndal still working for her dad?”
“I’m really not supposed to talk about Ms. Kyndal.” She lowers her voice, and I imagine her looking around to see if anyone is within earshot. “You didn’t hear this from me, but she got in the family way.”
Mabel makes it all sound very scandalous. Since Montgomery Industries is the largest distributor of evangelical DVDs in the continental United States, I can see how it might be a conflict of interest for Clive. With guys like him, it’s all about appearances.
“I was really hoping to get in touch with her. Would you happen to have her number?” If Mabel doesn’t have it, I’ll make up an excuse to get Tessa out of here, so I can search Trevor’s office before she does, though I doubt he was stupid enough to leave his mistress’s number lying around.
“Let me get it for you.” I hear drawers open and close and papers rustle. “Sometimes, I watch that sweet baby for her, but Mr. Clive doesn’t know, so let’s keep that between us.”
She rattles off the number, and I write it down on the pad in front of me.
“You’re the best, Mabel.”
“Dante, just don’t go gettin’ mixed up with Kyndal. She’s pretty and all, but she’s trouble. I do love that baby though.”
“She’s trouble? How so?”
“I shouldn’t say anything. Lord forgive me; it’s not very Christian-like to gossip.”
“You can trust me,
Mabel.” I wonder if she can tell I’m smiling through the receiver.
“You remember Mr. Scott?”
“Yes.”
Clive’s business partner, Winston, is the Vice President of Marshall Industries.
“Well, I was working late one night and had to get the conference room ready for a big meetin’ the following morning. When I was gettin’ ready to leave, I thought I heard a noise coming from Mr. Scott’s office, so I crept real close and leaned my ear against the door. That’s when I heard them.”
“Who?”
“Kyndal and Mr. Scott,” she whisper-yells into the phone.
Mabel has my undivided attention.
“What’d you hear?”
“Pete’s sake, youth is wasted on the young,” she huffs. “Use your imagination, Dante.”
“You mean, Kyndal and Winston were…”
I didn’t see that coming. Winston must be at least thirty years older than Kyndal.
Mabel’s voice drops real low. “I mean, Mr. Scott and Kyndal had sexual relations.”
“Are you sure?”
“I didn’t actually see them, but I heard skin slapping, and they were gruntin’ like two horny goats.”
Despite the best effort to hold in my laughter, I fail miserably. After I get myself under control, I ask, “Mabel, do you remember when that was?”
“A little over a year ago, give or take. I haven’t been able to look Mr. Scott in the eye since that very night.”
“Thank you, Mabel. You’ve been a tremendous help.”
“You’re welcome, Dante. You be sure to keep that between us, ya hear? And don’t be a stranger.”
“Yes, ma’am. Take care.” I grab the pen and scrawl on the pad, Order flowers and chocolates for Mabel.
“Bye-bye,” she says and hangs up.
Holy shit. Kyndal was fucking Winston Scott.
I wonder if she was screwing him at the same time she whored around with Trevor. I shift in my chair to lean over the keyboard and begin searching the internet for information on Cloverstem Labcor, the company that handled the paternity test. It’s a legitimate company based in Atlanta.
After my numerous searches don’t turn up much, I decide to pick it up tomorrow and go check on Tessa. When I step out of my office, it’s well past lunch. Katie’s at her desk, and Tessa is nowhere in sight.
“Tessa still here?” I ask.
She gives me a tight smile. “Yeah, she went into Trevor’s office a while ago and hasn’t come out.”
“Why don’t you go ahead and cut out early? We’ll catch up tomorrow and go over the schedule for the next couple of weeks.”
Katie’s eyes flit down the hall, and I know she’s worried about Tessa.
“I’ll tell her I sent you home and have her call you later.”
She stands and gathers her stuff to leave. “Dante, if she needs anything, I’m here.”
“Thanks, Katie. I’ll tell her.”
“Oh, before I forget, Josh should be here tomorrow afternoon with your car.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Once Katie leaves, I head down the hall to Trevor’s office. When I open the door, Tessa is standing, barefoot, in front of the windows with her head mashed to the glass. She turns when she hears me shut the door.
“You finished?” she asks.
“Yes.” I look around and notice Trevor’s desk is clear, except for his computer, and all his personal belongings are in boxes. “Looks like you were busy.” I point to the boxes.
“Most of it is trash.” She turns back to face the window.
I walk up behind her and slip my arms around her. She tilts her head and leans back into me.
“I sent Katie home,” I tell her and then add, “It’s way past lunchtime. Are you hungry?”
“Not for food.” Her grin reflects in the glass.
“Tell me, Tessa, have you ever been fucked seventy-five stories above the city?” I whisper against her flesh.
“No.” She turns her head to look at me.
Her answer surprises me, but then again, she didn’t visit the office much.
“Well, we’re going to rectify that.”
Last night, I made love to her. Today, I’m going to fuck her.
I rub my nose along her skin, inhaling her scent.
She lets out a small moan. One of my hands drifts to the base of her throat, and slowly, I kiss my way up her neck to her jaw and across her cheek. I turn her in my arms, giving me access to her mouth, and I delve my tongue inside, seeking purchase.
“Dante,” she whimpers.
I swallow the sound as she fists my shirt.
She feels so good in my arms.
“Need you,” I confess. “Here or my office?”
“Here.”
“Fuck yes.”
Tessa’s hands make quick work, undoing the buttons of my shirt and shoving it off before moving on to my belt. I want her naked right the fuck now. I nip her bottom lip before breaking away, and I ball her black dress in my hands. Lifting it off her head, I toss it to the floor.
I turn her to face the window, and her body tenses.
“Relax, baby, you can see out, but they can’t see in,” I speak against the shell of her ear.
My hands glide over her body to unclasp her bra and strip her out of her thong. I pinch a pebbled nipple between my index finger and thumb.
She arches her back, sinking into my touch. “Dante,” she whimpers. “Please.”
My fingers wander to her pussy. “You like this, don’t you?”
“Yes. God, yes.”
“So fucking wet for me.” I push a finger inside her heat.
“Ah,” she moans.
And I love the sound. Knowing it’s my touch that draws it out of her.
I add another finger and plunge deeper, making her buck against me.
“Dante, oh God.”
I slide a leg between hers and gently tap her inner thigh with my knee. “Spread wider for me, baby.”
“Dante, please. Please hurry.”
“I love it when you beg,” I tell her and pull my dick out.
She makes me so fucking hard. I’ve thought of taking her like this so many times. I rub the swollen head of my cock against her opening. Once and then twice. I reach into my wallet, take out a condom, and cover my cock.
“Don’t let go of the glass.”
She doesn’t respond.
“Tessa, answer me,” I demand and give her hips a squeeze.
“Don’t let go of the glass,” she repeats. “Dante,” she keens.
I ease inside her, loving the way she feels around me. Warm and so ready. I drag my length against her walls with painstaking deliberation.
“Hold on, baby.” I slam into her.
“Ah.” Tessa’s sounds echo through the space.
“Fuck, baby.”
I drive into her again and again, seeing her reflection in the glass as I take her from behind. She’s beautiful. Erotic. I love the way her perfect tits swing each time I pound into her.
“You’re killing me, Tess.” One arm goes around her waist while I use the thumb of my other hand to rub circles over her clit.
“Oh God. Oh God. Oh God,” she cries.
“Tessa.” My balls tighten. I feel her start to contract around me.
“More. Harder,” she begs, breathless.
My hands hold onto her, and I thrust into her, hard and deep. Her need spurs me on, and I set a punishing pace.
“Dante, I’m coming.”
It’s a heady feeling, watching her image as she comes apart. Her inner walls clench my dick, and I follow right behind her, grunting my release. I stay buried inside her, listening to our heavy breaths for several minutes.
She’s so damn sexy. The way her bare skin glistens in the late afternoon light makes me want to take her again. Unable to resist the temptation, my tongue darts out, licking a trail over her skin. I kiss my way down her spine and hold on to her hips while I pul
l out.
My hands glide from her hips to her shoulders. She stands to her full height, and I begin to rub her shoulders while she looks to the city below.
“You okay?”
Tessa tilts her head, leaning into my touch. “It’s never been like that.”
“For me either.” It’s the truth.
Sure, I’ve fucked other women. But I’ve never been in love with any woman I fucked. Until now. I want to tell her how I feel about her. It’s right there, on the tip of my tongue, but I bite back the words. Not ready to risk her reaction.
Goose bumps rise across Tessa’s flesh.
I pick up her dress, and slip it over her head. “Are you good while I go clean up?”
“Yes,” she says, bending down to pick up her panties.
Before her fingers brush the material, I scoop them up and put them in my pocket.
“What are you doing with those?”
I pick my shirt up and put it on but leave it unbuttoned. “I like knowing you’re bare for me. That I can slip your dress up and sink a finger into your wet pussy.”
Tessa’s face flushes crimson. She bites her bottom lip, and my dick stirs to life again. My thumb grazes over her pouty mouth before my lips move against hers. Teasing and tasting, knowing I’ll never get my fill. We need to get out of here soon before I’m buried inside her again.
“Dante, we’ll be in public. It’s so—”
“Fucking sexy,” I finish for her. “I’ll meet you back here in a few minutes, and then we’ll go grab an early dinner.”
I walk out the door and go to the bathroom to toss the condom and wash my hands, already wanting to be inside Tessa again.
thirty-five
Tessa
A little over a week has passed since Dante fucked me in Trevor’s office. There’s no denying I have feelings for Dante, but it’s so damn complicated, and he’s the last person I want to hurt. I need to figure out where my heart is. I can’t do that if I’m in his bed. That is why I’ve spent the last few nights at home, alone.