His Other Wife (Beautiful Lies Book 1)

by M. L. Ray

  Levi actually snorted and Gregory grinned. “I haven’t why?”

  “It’s a psychological condition, wherein the sufferer believes that a loved one has been replaced by an imposter,” Levi said, with a smile at his father, and Gregory shook his head, laughing.

  “Ah.” He looked back at Knox, who was still confused. “Dear Knox… we haven’t seen or spoken to each other in far, far, too long and that’s my fault. A lot has happened since then. A lot. My… outlook on life had been changed and…” He faltered, not looking at any of them, but down at his lap. “Let’s just say, my priorities, my world view, is different. It seems we must get to know each other all over again, Knox.” He picked up his wine glass and held it up. “Would you join me? To new beginnings.”

  Knox chuckled softly, but raised his glass. “New beginnings, Dad.”

  Knox felt almost high as he drove back into the city, after leaving Flynn at her apartment. Levi had loaned Knox his car, telling him he was spending the night at their father’s place, and now Knox wanted to drive out of the city somewhere. He didn’t know where, but just wanted to enjoy the freedom.

  On a whim, he swung by the gallery, to find Anouk arguing on the phone and Tom nowhere to be seen. “Hey, you.”

  Anouk looked up and broke into a smile that made his pulse quicken. She beckoned him as she continued her conversation. “Look, can we discuss this another time? I’m really not… no, Tom isn’t here. I have authority to… you know what, screw it. Tom will call you back in the morning and tell you the same thing I did, and you’ll believe him because he’s a guy, okay?” She hung up and growled, giving the handset the finger.

  Knox grinned. “Talking to the eighteen-hundreds?”

  “You’d think so.” Her scowl cleared and she grinned at him. “Hello, this is a pleasant surprise.”

  “I was passing.”

  “I thought you had that lunch with your dad today.”

  Knox was touched she remembered. “I did.”

  “How’d it go?”

  Knox was distracted by a lock of her dark hair, which was hanging in, what he hoped, was an empty coffee mug. “Huh?”

  Anouk chuckled. “I said how did it go?”

  “Good. Really good, actually. Staggeringly good.” Knox’s eyes met hers and held. “I think… well, I just think both of us had better attitudes today, and it helped.”

  “Interesting.” And she did look genuinely curious. Knox smiled at her.

  “Nook?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Your hair is your coffee.”

  She jerked back and cursed. “Shoot.” She grabbed a tissue from the box on her desk and swiped it on her hair. “Always the professional.”

  Knox laughed. “Nook, you wanna play hooky? Come for a drive out of the city for a while?”

  Anouk contemplated, as she dried her hair, then nodded. “Actually, I do.” She checked her watch. “The gallery closes early today, in about thirty minutes. Can you wait?”

  “Of course. Why don’t I make us some fresh coffee? Without hair?”

  “I’ll dunk you in it,” she mock-scowled at him, then laughed. “But yes, please. I have a couple of calls to make.”

  Knox snagged her cup from the desk and grinned at her, as he made his way to the staff kitchen. There was only a small staff in the building. The intern Ruby high-fived him as he passed her desk, and Tom’s assistant, Dahlia, was gathering her stuff. “Hey, Knox.”

  “Hey, Dahlia. Tom out?”

  “Yup. He and his partner are still finalizing the plans for his sabbatical, and he needed to skip out early. You here for Nook?”

  That was such a complicated question, Knox thought to himself, but he nodded. “Trying to convince her to play hooky.”

  “Good. That girl works way too hard for someone that young.”

  “I hear ya.”

  When he delivered Anouk’s coffee to her, she was stuck on another call, so Knox went down to the main gallery to kill some time.

  There was only one visitor in the gallery, a youngish man in his mid-thirties, his auburn curly hair cropped short. He wore a nondescript outfit of jeans and a plain blue tee, and seemed to be studying each painting with an intensity that Knox appreciated. He sensed Knox’s scrutiny and nodded. “Hey, man.”

  “Hey.”

  “Incredible work, huh?”

  Knox smiled. “I enjoy it, yeah.”

  The man smiled politely and moved on, and Knox went back to see if Anouk was free now. She was stuffing her thinks into her bag and grinned when she saw him. “All done. Where are you taking me? Ruby said she’d close up for me.”

  “Great. And why don’t we see where the day takes us?” He held his hand out to her, and was gratified when she took it. It wasn’t the hand-holding of lovers, but rather the casual gesture of a friend, but still…

  When they got downstairs, the visitor had left and the gallery was empty. “I hope you are ready for this place to be packed for your opening,” Anouk said to him, “because we have people clamoring for invites. We’ve actually had to restrict the audience because of fire regulations. I won’t tell you that never happens, but it’s very, very rare.”

  The fact she sounded so proud meant the world to him. “All because of your hard work.”

  “Ha, nope.” They were at his car now and he opened the door for her as she got in. “Everyone is hyped up for Knox Zapata. Everyone.”

  He got into the car beside her and smiled over at her, touching her face. “We’re a team, Nook. Don’t sell yourself short. Now… let’s go play hooky.”

  Shawn watched as Anouk got into the car with the artist, and his gut twisted with jealousy. So, this was who she was fucking now? Some scumbag artist playboy type? His wife…

  Whether or not Anouk still considered herself married to him, she would always be his, always. Back in England, things had not worked out with Martha, simply because Shawn had missed Anouk so much. When she wouldn’t even speak to him, as he tried to contact her through his lawyer, he’d had to resort to tracing her using a detective. He should have known she would come back to Seattle.

  He had just expected her to be depressed, alone. His whole plan had been to win her back, purely based on the fact she had no one. But that damn Iris Chang had given her a home, and now she seemed… happy.

  Shawn watched Anouk drive away with the handsome artist, laughing and joking. Anouk had a home, a job she obviously loved, and now a lover. That didn’t figure into his plan at all.

  Shawn pushed away from the wall and walked slowly downtown. At Pike Place, he merged in with the tourists and the locals shopping for fish, but didn’t take any of it in. He’d rented a place under an assumed name in the city. He didn’t want to be found, to be served with that damn restraining order that Anouk had brought against him.

  He got it. She was hurting. He had hurt her more than anyone ever had, and god, if he could change things, he would. He’d long since tired of Martha, even before he and Anouk had met, but he loved his kids more than anything.

  Anything except Anouk. He would give up everything if she would take him back. But with the restraining order, it would be difficult.

  Shawn started for home. No matter. He would figure this out, and soon enough Anouk would be his again, and they could start to rebuild their marriage. When he got home, he went to the bedroom to change, smiling at the photograph of her that he kept by his bed. “Hey, beautiful. Don’t worry…” he touched the image, stroking a finger down her cheek, “we’ll be together soon. Whatever it takes.”

  Chapter Nine

  Knox drove out to Whidbey Island and they stopped in Langley, walking around town for a while, before finding a restaurant and gorging themselves on Penn Cove mussels. Anouk nursed a glass of white wine, while Knox stuck to water. Afterward, they walked to the beach and wandered along the shore.

  “God, I forgot how much I love this state,” Anouk said, “how much I missed being
surrounded by water and mountains, and that big ass volcano.”

  Knox laughed. “Ever hiked up Rainier?”

  “A few times when I was younger.”

  “Old lady.”

  “Shut up.” She poked his side, giggling, and he caught her hand and held it as they walked. “But in London, as exciting as it could be, the air always felt dirty, the people tense; which is not to say it doesn’t have its charms. And I kind of liked the weather.”

  “You don’t like heat, then?” He grinned at her and she stuck her tongue out.

  “As with everything, context is king.” Anouk smiled. “But you can’t beat Washington for its air, its sense of freedom.”

  “You didn’t feel free in London?”

  Anouk was silent for a long moment then shook her head. “I thought I was. I thought I was in the best position possible. A job I loved, a… certain future. Until it wasn’t certain anymore. Until it was the opposite of that.”

  She said nothing more, and Knox sensed she had opened up more than she had planned. He didn’t want to push it. He loved that she already trusted him enough to tell him that much. He squeezed her hand. “Do you feel free now?”

  Anouk stopped and stared out at the water. After a moment, she nodded. “I do. I do, actually.”

  The sun was going down, and the light cast a golden glow over everything. Knox couldn’t take his eyes off of Anouk. Her dusky skin was glowing, her dark hair pulled back into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. The alcohol had given her cheeks a flush of pink.

  She caught him staring, and grinned. “Gotcha.”

  Knox smiled, but then leaned over and pressed his lips to hers, without saying a word. He felt her respond, her gentle fingers on his face, her tongue responding as it met his. God, kissing her was a rush, sweet sensations as the kiss became more intense. Finally, breaking away for air, Anouk gave a breathless chuckle. “Wow. Well, that was…”

  “Inevitable?” He grinned at her, then leaned his forehead against hers. She nodded.

  “Inevitable.” They kissed again, not caring that other people on the beach were watching them.

  His lips were at her ear. “Nook?”

  She drew back and looked at him, then nodded, seeming to know the question he was asking. “Yes, Knox. Yes.”

  He drove them to a small bed-and-breakfast and soon they were in the cutest little room, all bleached white driftwood furniture and mosquito netting over the bed, but neither paid much attention. Both were trembling as Knox took her in his arms. “Are you sure, Nook? Because nothing needs to happen if…”

  “Ssh.” She interrupted him, looking up from beneath the thick dark eyelashes that rimmed those beautiful eyes. She pressed her lips to his, then took his hand and led him to the small bathroom. “Share a shower with me?”

  His fingers shook as they slid under the straps of her dress, and gently drew them down her shoulders. Knox pressed his lips to her bare shoulder as she unbuttoned his shirt, lightly running her palms over the hard planes of his chest.

  When he unclasped her bra, her firm, full breasts fell into his hands and he groaned, dipping his head to take each nipple into his mouth, sucking, teasing until each nub was hard as rock, and he could hear Anouk’s small gasps of pleasure. Her dress was on the floor and as he drew her panties down her long legs, Knox marveled at the perfection of her body, the slim waist and flat belly, the soft curve of her hips.

  Anouk’s hands were at the fly of his jeans and he stepped out of them. His cock, already rock-hard, sprang from his underwear, and Anouk stroked it against her belly. Knox reached in and cranked the hot water of the shower on and they stepped in, Knox pulling her close to him as his mouth sought hers. His fingers slid down the length of her spine, cupping her small, rounded buttocks as her hands splayed across his back.

  “Nook,” he murmured against her lips, and he felt her mouth curve up in a smile, “you have no idea the nights I’ve dreamed of this.”

  He lifted her from the shower after a couple of minutes, and carried her into the bedroom, laying her down on the bed. She smiled up at him, her face adorably flushed from the heat of the shower. “Don’t wait,” she said, breathless, “I want you inside me.”

  Knox grinned, reaching over to retrieve a condom from his jeans. Anouk helped him roll it down his straining cock and then, gently hitching her legs around his waist, Knox slowly entered her, savoring every inch of her velvety sex enveloping him. “God, Nook…”

  Anouk wrapped her arms around his neck, and although he saw a little nervousness in her eyes, as he began to move in and out of her, he also saw desire, a fire igniting in them.

  She moaned gently as he increased his pace, her thighs tight around him. His hands pinned hers above her head and his mouth was rough on hers, wanting to kiss her until her head spun.

  As his thrusts became harder, deeper, her fingernails dug into his buttocks, and as she came, her back arched up, her head went back, and she cried out his name again and again.

  Knox came, hard, burying his face in her neck, groaning. “Jesus… Nook…”

  As they caught their breath, they grinned at each other. “Well, that was… incredible,” she said, and laughed as Knox nibbled on her jawline.

  “Understatement. Christ, you’re so beautiful… every inch of you.” He slowly stroked his palm down her body. “I’ve been dreaming about this body.”

  Anouk smiled, flushing at the compliment, “Then you should aim higher,” she pretended to scold him, “dirty boy.”

  She squealed as he pinched her sensitive clit between his thumb and forefinger. “God, warn a girl.”

  But Knox just grinned and kept caressing her, until she shivered through a mellow orgasm, laughing as he gloated. “Demon boy… jeez, give a girl the chance to recover.”

  “You really want that?”

  She stroked her finger down his face. “I want you. I’ve wanted you since we met.”

  “Really? ‘Cause you gave the impression you thought I was a douchebag; probably because I was.”

  Anouk chuckled. “Oh, you were… but…” She kissed him again, and Knox slid his hands into her hair and kissed her. As his tongue caressed hers, he started to laugh as her hand snaked down to his groin, and he grabbed it, pinning it above her head. She protested loudly.

  “Dang, Knox…”

  “I know you, trying to get revenge on me for the pinch, but guess what, Anouk Devi?”

  “What?”

  He grinned, a wicked devil smile. “You’re all mine tonight.”

  For Anouk, the night was a revelation. She had always thought her sex life with Shawn had been good, but it was nothing compared to this. The connection between her and Knox was electric. He left no part of her body untouched, the way he swept his hands over her, stroking her calves, her thighs, the curve of her hips. The way he looked at her… god, it took her breath away.

  They made love long into the night, until they were both exhausted and sated, and then Knox wrapped her in his arms. He was asleep long before Anouk was, his gentle breath on her temple, and Anouk couldn’t help but feel so… safe. Loved. Yes, this might well be a one-night stand. Who knew? But in her heart, she didn’t think so.

  Even if it was, even if Knox didn’t want a relationship, then that was okay, too. Because this night, this day with this man had been perfect. She hadn’t had to pretend at all; that she was okay, that she wasn’t still so damaged from Shawn’s betrayal.

  And all because she could be herself with this man. She felt she could show her vulnerable side and Knox would accept her. Anouk realized now that with Shawn, however happy she thought they had been, it had all been a lie, and that she had always kept something back from him. Her soft underbelly, maybe.

  She chuckled softly to herself, turning onto her side and pressing her body against Knox’s. He murmured in his sleep, whispering her name and smiling, and Anouk felt her heart pound with happiness.

  She fin
ally fell asleep as dawn began to creep into the room. At first, her dreams were sweet, happy, distorted; but then as her sleep deepened, the nightmare began.

  She was walking along the beach, the same beach she and Knox had walked hand-in-hand on a few hours previously, but this time she was alone. There was pain she couldn’t understand, and when she looked back, a trail of blood followed behind her, as if, instead of walking, her bloody corpse had been dragged along the sand.

  Anouk frowned and looked down at herself. The white cotton dress she wore was soaked with blood from a thousand knife cuts all over her body. She wanted to scream, but instead she drifted further along the beach toward a dark figure.

  He had no face, or form even, just a dark shimmer on the horizon, but she knew who he was, or rather, who he wanted her to think he was… Shawn, then Knox, then Shawn again.

  The malevolence flowed from him as he reached for her, and Anouk finally heard him speak, a whispery, inhuman voice that told her what she already knew.

  You will never be safe…

  Chapter Ten

  At breakfast, Knox noticed Anouk was quiet, and wondered if she was regretting coming here with him, sleeping with him when he was still her client. “Hey, little one,” he said, putting his hand on hers, “this can be our little secret. No one needs to know.”

  Anouk swallowed hard and nodded. “If that’s what you want.”

  Knox was dismayed. “No, I didn’t mean it like that. You think I don’t want people to know I’m crazy about you?”

  He saw her shoulders relax a little, and she smiled. “Sorry. Feeling a little… mixed up. Not from coming here,” she added quickly, “or being with you. Sorry, bad dream. It’s crazy how your subconscious can mess you up.”

  Knox touched her face. “I get it. What was the dream about?”

  She shook her head. “Stupid stuff, really. Nothing to do with us.”

  She wouldn’t tell him any more than that, and soon, as they paid their bill and thanked the manager of the bed & breakfast, they were driving back into the city. “Will I be in trouble with Iris for keeping you out all night?”