The Illicit Affairs

by Marí, Brittani

  “I think your duty as his wife is just to relax. Whatever he has going on, he will handle it. If you push him to talk and he doesn’t want to, it will only push him further away. I warned you about him, remember?” she replied, giving me a soft look.

  “I guess you’re right. He was quick to end the conversation when I tried to discuss it.” I took another sip of my wine, leaning back in my chair.

  She grabbed a serving of the goat cheese. “My point exactly. I know my brother, and the best advice I can give you is to sit back and wait until it all blows over. I can assure you, it will. He’s a very determined person when it comes to finding answers,” she groaned. “Besides, you’re not the only person with a new babysitter these days. Yours just happens to be a hell of a lot hotter than mine.”

  “Their job isn’t to be attractive, Avery. It’s to protect us.” I laughed, reaching for a serving of our appetizer.

  I paused when her facial expression suddenly changed. It was one of pure shock. “You won’t believe who just pulled up, Mia,” she said quietly.

  We were at a corner of the deck area that gave us a direct view to the front of the restaurant. She leaned forward in her chair.

  “I think our day just got a lot more interesting. This will surely take your mind away from my brother being targeted,” Avery practically exclaimed.

  I was scared to turn around because I knew there was only one person who could detour my mind away from my husband. I prayed I was wrong, but when I turned in my seat, Wesley was there, looking just as delicious as the night we had slept together. He was just wearing a different tailored suit, a pair of stylish aviator shades covering his eyes, but I knew it was him. I let out the breath I’d been holding when a stunning brunette stepped out of the passenger’s side. I was relieved he would be occupied.

  “I guess I knew I would run into him eventually. We do live in the same city.” I spoke the words, but my heart was racing a mile a minute and I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking. I quickly finished off my wine, continuing. “Maybe they’ll take a seat inside. Not too many people enjoy sitting out here.”

  Avery laughed, apparently amused about the situation. “That’s a possibility, but you don’t have to be coy with me, Mia. You’re a freaking nervous wreck.”

  “No, I’m not. I’m perfectly fine. This isn’t a big deal.” I glared at her, adjusting my dress.

  Hey eyes widened. “Oh, my god. You have feelings for him, don’t you? This is insane.”

  I shook my head. “You’re reading this all wrong, Avery. It just makes me slightly uncomfortable seeing him after everything that’s happened between us.”

  She finished off her wine, signaling the waiter for another round. After he came and went, she gave me a warning look.

  “Well, if you do happen to have even the slightest amount of feelings for this man, you’d better make them go away because if my brother finds out about the two of you, he’s going to make both of your lives miserable. If Alek feels betrayed, he’ll make sure you feel his wrath. Believe me, Mia. You don’t want to be one of his targets.”

  I struggled to get my feelings in order. The reassurance I offered her seemed foreign to me. I didn’t know if I even believed it myself.

  “Well then, I won’t be feeling his wrath anytime soon because there are no feelings involved. It was a stupid mistake, and I would like to forget about it.” I lied to not only her, but myself.

  In the midst of our conversation, the waiter brought two glasses of water, placing them on the table. He didn’t bother to interrupt us with pleasantries.

  “Enough about me, A. Let’s talk about you. If my memory serves me well, you had a visitor the other night. One you claimed you were done with.”

  “It’s complicated. However, a woman has needs, and he just so happens to be providing those for me right now.” She diverted her eyes, trying to look everywhere but at me.

  I considered her response. “I remember you mentioning he’s a bit possessive. Is that still the case?”

  “Yes, along with arrogant and needy. He shows the signs of everything I told myself I didn’t want in a man, but I still choose to see him every time he’s in town.” She looked over at me. “He’s hinted that he wants to be my date at the 1920s Party this year. He wants to meet everyone. I just don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

  “Only invite him if you’re comfortable with it. He’s a grown man. If he doesn’t understand the reason for you being indecisive, you need to explain it to him. Maybe talking about it will make things better.”

  We were practically done with our food and drinks when the patio door opened. Wesley and his brunette companion followed the waiter to a nearby table. His eyes landed on me the moment he stepped through the doors, as if he already knew I was there. I quickly turned away. Avery didn’t miss a beat. The situation got her out of the hot seat.

  “I guess they enjoy the outdoors like we do,” she quipped.

  I cut my eyes to her, unamused. “As I said before, we live in the same city.” Then excused myself from the table. “I’ll be right back. I need to use the ladies’ room before we head out.”

  I made my way through the restaurant and into the restroom. Avery had been right. My nerves were rattled, and the idea of him being so close made them even worse. I didn’t know how long I could handle being around him. I was relieved that we were about to leave.

  I was washing my hands when I heard a light knock on the door. I figured it was Avery telling me to hurry up, so I opened the door without hesitation.

  “I’m almost done just give me a—” I stopped mid-sentence. “Wesley, what are you—”

  He pushed his way into the bathroom. I was the only person occupying it at the time, which made the situation even worse. I knew if he locked the door, no one would be able to walk inside unless he chose to let them in.

  “You can’t just come in here with me. People will see…” I began, but he ignored my reluctance, closing us inside. He stood in front of the door, blocking me from exiting.

  “I quickly came to the conclusion you left your table because of me. Are you trying to avoid me, Mia?” Wesley questioned.

  I leaned against the sink, trying to keep my distance. His eyes displayed a hunger I wasn’t prepared for. He was baiting me, hoping I would resist. It made his hunt all the more enticing. He was aware he was one of my weaknesses.

  “What do you want from me, Wesley? I’m about to leave. My driver is expecting me shortly.”

  He stalked toward me. The comment didn’t detour him in the least.

  “Your driver or bodyguard can wait, my shy girl, along with your friend. Who, by the way, I’ve come to realize is your husband’s sister, Avery. You failed to mention that part when I had my driver drop you off at her apartment the other night. I had to pull a few strings to make sure it didn’t get out.”

  I swallowed. I didn’t know what he was getting at. How did he know about Logan being my bodyguard? How did he find out who Avery was? What did he want from me? His intentions became evident when he moved closer. His hands teased the end of my dress.

  “Wesley, I can’t… It isn’t right. I’m married,” I said in a whisper.

  He carefully rolled up my dress, until it revealed my lace panties. His breath was hot in my ear as he leaned forward.

  “I can add these to my collection, beautiful.”

  I placed my hands on his chest, but instead of pushing him away, they traveled around his neck in an embrace.

  “You know, I haven’t been able to get you off my mind, Mia. I’ve envisioned all the ways I’ve wanted to take you. The sounds you would make. The volume of your voice when you scream my name.”

  I leaned my forehead against his, closing my eyes as I listened to the seductive sound of his voice as he continued speaking.

  “I know you’ve thought of me, too. I could tell the moment our eyes met today, shy girl. The way you had to force yourself to look away. I knew why.”

  “It’s
too dangerous Wesley. Regardless of what either of us feels, it doesn’t change the fact I’m married. My husband would never allow it. If he finds out about this, I don’t know what he will do, which is exactly why this can’t happen again. We need to just pretend it never happened. It’s for the best.” I lifted my head, studying the unique features of his face.

  He lifted me onto the edge of the sink. His eyes were determined and heavy. “How about we worry about that issue when the time comes, shy girl. Right now, I want to make up for the time I’ve missed.”

  He didn’t waste any time, sliding my panties down my legs. When one got hooked on my heel, he carefully untangled it, leaving feather light kisses on my ankle. I wasn’t surprised when he stuffed them into his pocket. It was clear I wasn’t getting back either pair of my panties. He quickly slid me to the side so I wouldn’t be directly in front of the faucet.

  “Brace your hands on the counter, Mia. I’m going to need your help for just a minute.” The command in his voice was small, but I quickly obeyed.

  “I can’t. Please stop, Wes…,” I mumbled.

  I leaned back as he kneeled on the floor, his tongue knowing exactly what to do after it reached my pussy. I thrashed my head back and forth while he dived his tongue deep inside me, showing me no mercy.

  “I don’t want this… Oh, my god… I need you to stop this right now… Yes… I’m going to—”

  He looked up at me, licking his lips.

  “We can’t have that, Mia.” He stood up, carefully undoing his pants. “Stay right there, beautiful. This isn’t over just yet.”

  I leaned against the mirror in anticipation. I hadn’t had sex since the last time we were together. I was craving every inch of him. He pulled his cock out of his pants, stroking it.

  “Now, I’m going to need you to hold on and keep it down. You don’t want anyone to hear us, do you, Mia?”

  I moaned as he aligned his cock with my entrance. “No, they can’t—”

  My comment was cut short when he slid perfectly inside me without warning. My mouth quickly opened, but no sound came out. I enjoyed every stroke and thrust he gave me, my fingers gripping the counter for support.

  “That’s right, my shy girl. Don’t make a sound. Now, you need to place your hands around my neck.”

  I did as I was told, making sure to get a decent grip. The instant my arms were placed securely around his neck, he lifted me off the counter, his hands firmly gripping my buttocks. I could feel his fingers dig into my ass each time he lifted me up and I slid back down his cock.

  “I don’t recall us exchanging information, Mia. In case I need to get in touch with you, that is.”

  I couldn’t respond because I was distracted by the feel of him inside me. Instead, I quickly took his mouth. The kiss we shared was full of unanswered questions. The pace was delicate and sweet, one I had never shared with my husband. It felt natural. I leaned into his neck when he increased the pace, latching on to his ear. It felt like I might fall, but each time he lifted me higher, his hands caught me when I slid back down onto him.

  “You’re not going to answer my question, are you?”

  His breath was strangely normal. It appeared keeping me lifted wasn’t a difficult task for him. Each movement he made was done with ease.

  “I’m not a fan of the silent treatment, Mia.”

  I kept my face buried in his neck, holding on for dear life as he thrust inside me over and over. I couldn’t help but look into his eyes when I felt I was going to combust. The scream I almost released was quickly silenced by his mouth. My grip on him loosened almost completely.

  “You can let go.”

  I realized I had let go long before he told me to. I felt the cold surface of the bathroom counter touch my skin. I leaned against the mirror, gasping for air. I slowly looked up at him, realizing I’d made an enormous mistake—again. I tried to slide off the counter, but his large frame blocked me.

  “Always so quick to leave me afterward, I’ve noticed. If I’m truthful, it kind of hurts my feelings.”

  I looked at him carefully as I spoke my next words. “Do you consider this a game? If so, it isn’t. If someone were to find out about this, it could ruin my husband’s reputation. It could ruin the reputation I’ve built—my image. I’m sure it’s no surprise that women don’t get a pat on the back when they cheat. Instead, they’re crucially judged for it.”

  He didn’t like where the conversation was going and quickly started to dress. “There are several things you should be concerned about, Mia, but I can assure you, this isn’t one of them.” His comment left me speechless.

  I gently pushed him out of my way, sliding off the counter. I looked in the mirror, trying to make myself presentable again. I tensed when he came up behind me, his hands circling my waist. The image of us in the mirror was perfect. It just could never be.

  “If anything gets out about us, I’ll take care of it. I promise you,” he whispered.

  The reflection in the mirror displayed he was genuine.

  I smiled, somewhat relieved, but quickly remembered his comment about what I should be concerned about.

  “What did you mean by—”

  A knock on the door interrupted us. “Excuse me. I’ve been receiving complaints that the door is locked. Is everything all right in there? If so, could you please unlock the door,” a woman said.

  Wesley walked over and cracked the door. His face displayed agitation. The minute the women saw his face, she started to apologize.

  “Oh, Mr. Black. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize it was you, sir.”

  He cleared his throat. “It’s fine. I’m sorry for the inconvenience to the other customers. We were just about to leave.”

  He turned to me before stepping outside. “I guess we’ll have to finish this later, Mrs. Johnson.”

  The women excused herself. I chose that moment to set the record straight.

  “No, we won’t. This was a mistake. Did you listen to anything I said about my reputation, Wesley?”

  “I guess only time will tell then. However, I did receive an invitation in the mail the other day that piqued my interest.” He gave me a mischievous smile, ignoring my question.

  “What are you getting at? I don’t have time for any more games,” I gasped.

  He leaned forward, whispering into my ear. “The invitation to the 1920s Party at your home, I believe. I’ve heard you and your husband throw marvelous parties, Mia.”

  I was about to respond, but the sound of the door closing made it impossible. He was gone.

  I waited a few minutes before walking back to our table. I didn’t bother looking at the time. Avery would see right through my bullshit if I tried to lie. She was topping off another glass of wine when I took my seat.

  “I see you’ve been keeping yourself occupied,” I said to her.

  She shrugged, grabbing a serving of cheese and grapes. It appeared she ordered more food while I was gone. She took a few bites before responding.

  “Well, when I tried to pay for our ticket, I was informed it had already been covered. Along with anything else we decided to try.”

  “Who covered it?” I swallowed, knowing the answer before I asked the question.

  Her gaze traveled to the table Wesley and his companion was seated at.

  “Apparently, Mr. Black took care of everything. He wanted us to know how grateful he was for our visit to his restaurant. I can only imagine why he would be so grateful.”

  “It is quite strange. Are you ready to go? I should pick up my dress before the boutique closes. Their hours are crazy.” I turned back to face her. It was time to leave.

  She placed her empty glass on the table, eyeing me suspiciously. “You know, I’m not trying to tell you what to do or what’s right and wrong. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, but I wouldn’t be a true friend if I didn’t warn you. Whatever the two of you have going on is dangerous.” She stood, looking in Wesley’s direction. “I know you think you know my
brother, but there are many things he’s failed to share—things that would make you think twice about what you’re doing.”

  We walked toward the front of the restaurant together. Logan was waiting in the front, the car idling directly by the door. Before I started toward the car, Avery pulled me to the side. Her expression was filled with worry. The drinks hadn’t been strong enough to cloud her mind.

  “I’ll always have your back, Mia. You know you never have to worry about that. Just keep in mind that my brother has his ways of accidentally figuring things out, even when he’s not looking for them. He has people watching you who you don’t even know are there. Your bodyguard over there is only one of many.”

  She kissed me on the cheek, before walking toward her red sports car. I realized she drove herself. I was the only person who had an around-the-clock babysitter.

  “Text me, Mia. I enjoyed catching up,” she shouted on the way to her car.

  I watched her walk across the small parking lot to her convertible. Once she was safely inside, I got inside the car. I didn’t have to turn my head in order to see Wesley watching me from the deck area. Logan slowly shut the door once I was inside. I enjoyed the few seconds of deafening silence before he opened the driver’s door. I leaned my head back against the headrest, replaying everything I had done, every mistake I had repeated, unsure if I truly regretted those mistakes.

  “Where to, Mrs. Johnson?”

  I stared at him through the rear-view mirror. “I think I’m ready to go home, Logan. I’ll just have the owner of the boutique come to our house.”

  He nodded, pulling out of the parking lot.

  I reached for my phone to make an appointment with my psychiatrist. The good thing about her was everything I chose to share with her was kept confidential. I strolled through the alerts on my screen before unlocking it. My heart stopped when I recognized a number. It wasn’t a phone call, but another text. I held my breath as I read it.

  “Alyssa, I think it’s time we shared a few words, in person.”