by Q. B. Tyler
I smile and I move to get off the bed toward him, but he puts a hand up. “Stay on the bed.”
I bow my head submissively. “Yes, sir,” I say before shooting him a wink.
“Don’t try and fuck your way out of this, Charlotte.”
“What do you think is going to happen? She’ll convince me to take him back? To get back together? Do you think I’m that easily swayed? Will, I’m fairly certain you’re the only person that could convince me to take him back,” I say honestly.
It’s an irony not lost on me.
Before I realize what’s happening, he’s on the bed, I’m on my back, and I feel his dick sliding inside of me, feeling harder than it looked twenty seconds ago. “Those words turned me on far more than they should.”
“I trust that you know what’s best for me, Will. I’ve trusted you since the second we started this,” I whisper. “But there is nothing to worry about with Marian.” I feel him moving gently in and out of me. “I love you. Only you.”
“Only me,” he whispers, and I nod.
“Kiss me.”
We kiss, our limbs intertwined well past midnight, and around three in the morning, I feel the last of my energy pulled from me as I fall asleep safely in the comfort of Will Montgomery’s arms.
* * *
“YOU LOOK HOT, PIERCE,” LAUREN tells me as we prepare for a night out. My best friend believed that there was only one true way to celebrate your day of birth: tequila shots. So, here I was, in a black bondage skirt that looked as if it were painted onto me and a white top that showed a bit more cleavage than I normally do. I’m wearing my favorite Christian Louboutin heels and the black leather jacket that I scored at a Barneys sample sale. I’ve pulled my hair into a ponytail on the top of my head, knowing that the club Lauren chose will be hotter than actual hell and I want my hair off my neck.
I’d sent Will a picture, and he’d called me immediately after swearing that I was trying to kill him. He also expressed that he wasn’t pleased that I was going to be out in that without him around to keep men away from me. Something told me I might be seeing him tonight despite the fact that being out in public together was risky.
“What did Hot Doc say?” Lauren asks as she applies a thick coat of red lipstick. “I’m surprised he didn’t show up and rip my door off its hinges to get to you.”
I chuckle at her exaggeration. “He was…pleased.” I purse my lips. I can almost feel his words moving through me.
Every man in that club is going to be staring at you. Wanting you. It pisses me off because you are mine, Charlotte. But you look sexy as fuck, baby.
“And not so pleased,” I add.
She shakes her head. “So, will he be showing up then?” she asks, a twinkle in her eye.
“Don’t encourage his recklessness, Lo. He shouldn’t show up, but I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“I’ve only had two interactions with him and just from those brief encounters I can tell that he is one of those overprotective, don’t even look at my woman, type of men.”
“He does have a bit of a caveman streak, but I think my response to it fuels it.” The goose bumps pop up all over my skin as I think about how possessive he can be and how much I love it.
Friday nights in an Atlanta club are notoriously crowded. Like “line down the block and around the corner” crowded. Not to mention, the covers to get in are usually outrageous, especially if you have a penis. This is why it helps to know people, and luckily for us, Lauren knows the right kind of people, which is how we’re ushered to the front of the line of Bar Twelve and are currently following the manager down the long hallway toward the main area of the club. The sound of the bass resounds off the walls.
“When are you going to let me put a ring on it, Lauren?” The manager is a tall blond guy who is built like a linebacker. A linebacker in an Armani suit and loafers that I know ran him at least a few thousand.
I giggle. “I’m ready when you are, babe,” she flirts back.
He puts a hand over his heart. “Jet is ready to take us to Vegas.”
“Private jet, huh? You’re really pulling out all the stops tonight, but I think your girlfriend would probably have a problem with our little trip.”
“Girlfriend! What girlfriend?” His eyes widen as if he has no idea what she’s talking about.
“Oh, Josh, you wound me. I could teach a class on social media stalking, ya know?”
He runs a hand down his jaw, stroking his beard. “I’m breaking up with her,” he admits, realizing that he’d been caught. I roll my eyes. Tale as old as time. Not that I had to worry about Lauren getting caught up in that. She spoke fluent fuckboy and handled situations like this brilliantly—with sass and class.
“In the meantime, though, can I borrow your jet?”
Going out with Lauren is something out of your typical debaucherous movie. The night consists of shots, cheering every time a song comes on, and more than likely watching as she ends up making out with someone before the night’s over. She is a bona fide party girl, and while I retired from the game long ago, I still let my hair down every once in a while. I’m watching her politely decline a drink when I notice something in my periphery.
I look up to see a man that can be no older than twenty-one giving me a boyish grin. “You come here often?”
“I think that line is older than you are.” I force a smile and shake my head.
“It got you to smile though. I’m Chris.”
“Nice to meet you, but I’m married.”
Well, that tasted weird coming out. I guess technically I am married still but…not for much longer.
“No ring though?” He points at my naked ring finger and I immediately rub it as I always do when I notice the empty space. The ring had rarely left my hand in the last five years, and now it’s gone; a permanent reminder of how my life is changing. “I—” I start, not knowing what to say without being either caught in a lie or giving him the opening by telling him I’m getting divorced.
Or you can say you have a boyfriend.
“It’s being sized,” I tell him, not wanting to tell this ex-frat guy my business.
“Really?” He raises an eyebrow indicating that he doesn’t believe me.
“You don’t want to just save face and buy the lie? Obviously, she’s not interested and she’s trying to preserve your feelings. Let her.” I hear Lauren’s voice right next to me as she slides an arm over my shoulder. “But for the record, she is married.” She gives him a smug grin and he turns away in a huff.
“It’s being sized? What kind of lie is that?” Lauren snorts.
“It slipped out that I was married, and then what was I supposed to say? Oh, I’m actually getting divorced, but I have a boyfriend, no, thanks?”
“Sounds perfect. Makes you sound real complicated, and God knows men run from that.” She takes a dramatic sip of her vodka soda before scanning the crowd.
I take a peek at my phone, surprised that I haven’t heard from Will when I hear my name being shouted from next to me. I turn to see who it is and I inwardly groan, wishing that Lauren hadn’t chosen this moment to get us more drinks, and that I could use her as a buffer.
Fuck. Does this mean Matt is here somewhere? I wonder as I see his best friend, Nathan, walking toward me.
“Birthday raging?”
I smile at Nathan’s consideration. Even he remembers my birthday. Also, had Matt not told him what was going on? “You could say that.”
“Or celebrating something else…” He raises an eyebrow at me. So, that’s a yes.
“Nate, can we not do this now?” I’m not in the mood to talk about this at all, let alone in the middle of a crowded club while I’ve had one too many gin and tonics.
“That man is crazy about you.”
I snort. “First of all, you don’t even believe that anymore, and that’s not the point. I asked if we could not discuss this now. Can you just respect that?”
He huffs and shakes his head.
“You here by yourself?”
“No, I’m here with Lo.”
He nods in understanding when I catch the eyes of someone moving toward us, quickly. My eyes widen as I see the storm headed my way. Hurricane Will is moving toward us, and it is going to be disastrous. Before I have a chance to signal to him to stop I hear his words flying out of his mouth.
“Back the fuck off,” he growls.
Nathan’s eyebrows almost shoot off his face and he looks around to ensure that Will is talking to him. “Excuse me?”
I take a moment to take him in, having not seen him for a few days. God, he looks good. He’s wearing a white button-down shirt, rolled up to his forearms, and black pants as if he just came from work, but without his jacket and tie.
“You heard me, back off.” I take a break from ogling the man that I love, so I can try and do damage control.
“Will.” His eyes find mine and I’m doing my best to start an unspoken conversation with him but he must be too riled up.
“Baby,” he breathes out and before I can reply, his hands are on my face, his lips descending on mine. “I couldn’t stay away.” He smiles just before his lips touch mine.
Fuck, this is bad. Very bad. Well, you’re already fucked, you might as well let him kiss you.
“Baby?” I hear behind me as Nathan pulls me out of his grasp. “Charlotte, what the fuck is going on?”
“What part of this aren’t you getting? She doesn’t want you, asshole. So, move on.” Don’t do it, Will. “She’s spoken for.”
I don’t even know what to say at this point.
Do I say that Will is lying?
No. Not that.
“Will, stop,” I tell him, pulling on his arm gently. God, where the fuck is Lo? She would know what to do. Because I am certainly not helping. I set my drink on the table behind me, knowing that the alcohol is prohibiting me from thinking rationally.
“Oh, I’m aware that she’s spoken for. She’s married to my best friend,” he says looking at Will before shooting me a furious glare. “So again, I ask what the fuck is going on?”
Shit. The intensity of the situation coupled with the alcohol has my eyes welling up with tears.
I don’t have a chance to answer before Lauren returns. “Sorry it took me so long, the line was longer than—” she starts when her eyes widen to the size of saucers at the sight of Will. They go even wider when she sees Nathan. She focuses on me and I think she’s confused as to who knows what. But I know that she can sense my worry.
HELP!
“What’s going on here?” Lauren asks.
“That’s what I fucking want to know. Charlotte. Answers,” Nathan growls at me.
I sigh. “Will…this is Nathan Cunningham.” A moment of realization crosses Will’s face followed by a look of remorse.
“And who the hell is this?” Nathan asks. Will is silent as he assumes I should probably do the talking. “Not so tough now, are you?” he sneers at Will.
“Nathan, stop.” The last thing I need is for this to turn into a pissing contest.
“Don’t tell me to fucking stop, when you’ve got some man with his hands on you while you’re still fucking married.” He shakes his head and a look of judgment crosses his face. “So, Matt was right, you’ve been cheating on him this whole fucking time? And you have the nerve to do what you’re doing to him?” he yells.
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Will barks at him. Not helping, Will.
He puts his hand up. “I know you are not talking right now. Who the fuck are you? I’ve known her almost a decade. I was her husband’s best man in their wedding, so you can shut the fuck up.” He turns back to me. “Call this joker off, we need to talk, Charley.”
I can feel the tension radiating off of Will in waves and, right now, as I watch my life go up in flames, all I care about in this moment is knowing that no matter the outcome, Will and I would be together. “Nathan, I’ll be right back. I’ll…explain when I get back.” I grab Will’s hand and move through the crowd. I vaguely hear a what the fuck? But I ignore it, moving out of the main bar and into a more secluded hallway.
“Fuck. Baby, I’m sorry. Guys were coming up to you left and right and—”
I stop him, pressing my hand to his chest and planting my lips to his. Our tongues tangle for a moment, and I moan, my body reacting to the taste of whiskey and mint. “I’ve missed you,” I whisper.
“You have no idea.” He lets his forehead rest against mine. “It’s been a long fucking week.” He rubs his nose against mine. “I was becoming unhinged.”
“I see that. Nathan, of all people?!”
“I didn’t fucking know, Charley! That night at the restaurant…I didn’t get a good look at him. I’m sorry.” He rubs my arms in an attempt to calm me, but it’s not working. I’m worked up and wound so tight, I might snap any second.
I am going to feel like shit the second I open my eyes tomorrow. The emotional hangover coupled with a physical one. Just kill me now.
“That’s Matt’s best friend that just watched you all but pee on me in there, Will! And now I have to tell him. He’s going to tell Matt.” I put a hand over my eyes, feeling a headache beginning to form behind them.
“Tell me fucking what, Charley?” I hear Nathan say to the left of us and I sigh. There’s no denying what’s happening between Will and me right now as I’m pressed against him, his arms wrapped around me.
I take a step back, untangling myself from Will. “Nathan…” I take a deep breath, “this is…”
“Your boyfriend? Yeah, that much is obvious. What I want to know is how long?”
At least he doesn’t seem to know exactly who Will is.
“A few weeks?” I tell him weakly and even I don’t buy the lie.
Come on, Charley, sell it better than that.
“And you’re already that familiar with him? Fuck off, Charley. I’m not stupid.”
“You have one more time, talking to her like that,” Will growls at him, taking a step toward him.
“Stop, it’s okay,” I tell him. “Nathan, we didn’t…” I sigh. “What do you want me to tell you?”
“Let’s go with the truth.”
“Oh, like you all told me the truth about Matt and Bree?”
He freezes. “You know about that?”
“Matt got drunk and told me…that night the four of us went out last month. Right before I filed.” I wince, recalling that Will was there that night, and drawing Nathan’s attention back to that night may jar a subconscious memory of seeing him.
“Then you know he didn’t cheat on you. Matt and Bree betrayed me, not you, Charley. And one has nothing to do with the other. If you cheated on Matt—”
“I didn’t,” I tell him, preparing myself for this blatant lie. “We realized that we had feelings for each other before I filed but…we haven’t…”
“You haven’t slept with him? Yeah, okay, Charley. He looked like he was about ready to murder me when he saw me touch you.” He snorts and I wince at his reference to Will’s possessive behavior. “How long, Charley. Be straight with me.”
“To be honest, it’s none of your business,” Will interjects. I close my eyes, the effects of the alcohol catching up with me.
“Nathan, can we not do this now?”
He shakes his head, ignoring my pleas, and Will’s comment. “So, he was right. You were cheating on him.”
“No,” I start, wondering how I could spin this but I come up empty. “Nate, it’s so much more complicated than you can imagine. But this really isn’t the time or place.”
“Christ, Charley,” he says running a hand through his hair. “I don’t even know who you are right now. This isn’t you. You don’t hurt people…I thought you and I were alike in that regard. Loyal, good people. You think you know a person.” He shakes his head.
“I am a good person. The world isn’t so black and white. There is so much gray everywhere.”
“You’re really defending your a
ctions, right now? You cheated on my best friend, Charlotte.”
“I didn’t say that!” Nate has no proof, and I certainly wasn’t about to just openly admit anything. “And don’t you dare try and act like you have any fucking idea what goes on in my marriage, Nate. You have zero clue.” My fists clench as I feel the anger coursing through me. What had Matt been telling him?
I can tell Will wants to add in his two cents, but I think it would be a huge tip-off, if he started rattling off some counselor-type wisdom. No talking, Will. He must read my look, because he doesn’t say anything.
“And while we are on the subject, he asked if I was cheating on him with you.”
“Son of a—” he yells. “I told him multiple times that I wouldn’t go there.” He shakes his head. “He keeps thinking I’m going to retaliate because of Bree.” He shakes his head and rubs his jaw. “Them doing that to me…a part of me has never gotten over it. But I would never do that to Matt.”
“You’re a good person, Nate. Better than me or Matt or Bree. We’ve all done bad things and we’ve hurt people. I can’t speak for them. Only myself. But…things change, Nate. And for me, they happened in a way that I didn’t realize until it was too late. Until I was already in it. My heart decided my fate long before my brain even realized what was happening.”
He looks around the hallway, and for the first time I spot Lauren at the end of the hallway, staring down at her phone to ensure she was close in case I needed backup. I smile inwardly, at her protectiveness. “Look, Charley, you need to tell him, whatever it is that’s going on here. Tell him, or I will.”
* * *
I TRIED TO HEED NATE’S warning but, per usual, it was impossible to get in touch with Matt; I’d called him, texted him, left word with his assistant four times and he’d yet to contact me. He’d even been absent for a meeting with our lawyers. My infidelity was something I wanted to discuss in person, and he was making it absolutely impossible. Unless he was avoiding me. I wasn’t sure if Nate had already told him his hypothesis and I was getting more anxious by the day.