Just a Couple Exs Blindsided By S.

Anders
This book is a work of fiction. Na es characters! places and incidents are a product of the authors i a"ination or are used fictitiously. Any rese blance to any persons! li#in" or dead! business establish ents! e#ents or locales! is entirely coincidental. No part of this book aybe be reproduced! scanned! or printed in any printed or electronic for without per ission fro the author. $lease do not participate or encoura"e piracy of copyri"hted aterials in #iolation of authors ri"hts. $urchase only authori%ed editions. Copyri"ht & '()' by S. Anders. All ri"hts reser#ed. Also published throu"h S ashwords. The author acknowled"es the copyri"hted or trade arked status and trade ark owners of the followin" word arks entioned in this work of fiction. Son" title Ave Maria* +ercedes* ,oadster* S-.. Just a Couple Exs Series: Just a Couple Exs Blindsided Just a Couple Exs Exposed Just a Couple Exs Cau"ht Signup & receive a Deal and an email when Just a Couple Exs Caught is available Chapter !ne /i# 0awsons "a%e was drawn to the red +ercedes roadster like to the cherry on top of a sundae. 1er husbands expensi#e car stood out in their s all town! so she could hardly dri#e by Sa##is ,ental 2ear without noticin" the cri son3colored roadster parked alon" the side of the buildin". 4t was toward the back! and there wasn5t a business nearby the sports car could be parked at to access besides the rental business. 6Andrew wouldn5t be cau"ht wearin" rental clothes!7 /i# used! tu""in" on a strand of her hair as she dro#e with one hand. +aybe there was so ethin" wron"! like his luxury car had broken down. /i# turned her ore ser#iceable S-. at the next ri"ht. She was curious enou"h to "o back! because she was surprised her husband was in town. 1ed been "one o#er two days this ti e. 4n#est ents a"ain! hed said. 1e was "oin" to 1ouston ore e#ery onth. She wondered why! worryin" o#er it. $erhaps that was the reason shed turned back toward his car. Bein" practical! she pulled into the parkin" lot in front of Sa##is. Shed ne#er been in the store! but surely her husband was inside. Andrew wasnt the type of an to be out back. 1e ca e fro one of the richest fa ilies in town. 8ld bankin" oney! and shed been so in lo#e with hi when theyd arried shed e#en si"ned a prenuptial. Theyd been youn"9shed been youn"er by two years! and they were in lo#e. That wasnt the reason theyd arried so youn" and i petuously. No! it had been a pre"nancy scare. A baby! in the end! she hadn5t carried to ter . Shed lo#ed hi besides the baby! not carin" back then about the oney. /i# thou"ht Andrew didn5t either! and it was his "rand other whod insisted on the prenuptial. But in the years since! shed disco#ered Andrew didnt share 6his7 oney! so she "uessed the prenuptial had been partially his idea too. She wondered why she would think about such thin"s so lon" past. Theyd been arried se#en years and she had her own oney fro a rose far shed inherited fro her "rand other. She had worked hard to keep it a #iable business! and it had thri#ed since shed owned it. /i# turned the S-.s key off. Shed been "oin" to order the sprin" fertili%er when shed spotted Andrews sports car. Bypassin" her cell phone on the console! she reached o#er and "rabbed her linen

satchel purse. Tellin" herself it was silly to call Andrew when she could pop in the store and surprise hi ! so she "rabbed her purse and cell. She started con:urin" a plan that would push her ornin" errands aside so she could su""est they "o to breakfast! once she found hi . A s ile lifted her lips as she stepped out of her car. She closed the car door and looked down at her outfit. 0arn. She was dressed for work and not for breakfast! she thou"ht! s oothin" down her :eans! and then fiddlin" with the pink shell sweater she was wearin". Andrew was picky about such thin"s. 1e would co plain that she wasn5t dressed well enou"h to ha#e breakfast at his club on an exclusi#e "olf course! which was the only place Andrew wanted to eat out at any ore. 1er s ile faded. +aybe she could persuade hi to o#erlook his social conditions :ust this once. /i# looked up at the display windows of Sa##is. The displays were ;uite in"enious! showin" the anne;uins dressed in luxurious en5s clothin"! fro suits to tuxedos! while they posed at different depicted e#ents. There was a beautiful table set by one statues;ue! bron%e anne;uin wearin" an inky3 black tailored suit. Then another i#ory3colored ale anne;uin wore a tux! surrounded by a colorful weddin" party. /i# thou"ht the people who owned Sa##is needed all the help they could "et tryin" to dri#e traffic to their store. 4t wasnt near anythin"! except a ;uestionable bikers bar across the street. The epicenter of the town was still two iles down the ain hi"hway. She pressed her hand to the front door! pushin" it open to enter the shop! and was "reeted with a Chopin aria playin" ;uietly in the back"round. 1er eyes naturally swept the store lookin" for Andrews hi"hli"hted brown hair. 1e was tall and she should ha#e been able to catch si"ht of hi ri"ht away. A o ent later! a frown pulled her lips! then her "a%e settled on an attracti#e black an arran"in" papers behind a sleek onochro e counter. The structure was arched in a half3circle and she took it for the cash re"ister area as she walked toward it. Andrew wasnt in the store that she could see. 0ark brown eyes! the color of rich cappuccino! turned toward her. /i# had to catch her breath! surreptitiously tryin" to hide the unexpected effect the an had on her. 1e was #ery ale and very attracti#e. She couldn5t re e ber the last ti e any an in their s all town had cau"ht her fe inine appreciation < because wo en looked too. 2hat she would ha#e liked ha#in" were lon" inutes to really look at hi ! without hi knowin" it! but an e barrassin" blush heated her cheeks! flusterin" her. Tryin" to co#er it! she s iled! and then blurted! 64 think y husband ust be in the fittin" roo s. 4 can see his car parked on the side of your store.7 She tore her anxious "a%e away! not ;uite issin" the handso e clerks pu%%led look as she scanned the store a"ain. 64 /i# 0awson. 4 didn5t really reali%e Andrew would be here today!7 she uttered. Axel tried to dra" his ind around what the pretty lady was sayin" as he strai"htened fro his paperwork. She thou"ht her husband was in his shop= That was ob#ious. >et no one was there except for hi . Ah. 1e turned! "lancin" at the entryway into the backroo . 1is wife ?iki had been there earlier. ?iki had wanted to look at a deli#ery of pro dresses shed ordered o#er his ob:ections. 4t wasnt that he didnt belie#e youn" "irls around the area wouldnt rent the dresses9it was ?ikis taste in the dresses shed bou"ht that irritated hi . 1e wanted to frown! but instead he s iled. 64 Axel Sa##i! the owner! +rs. 0awson! and no ones been in the front of the store this ornin". But let e check out back! because y wife was here earlier.7 /i# 0awsons clear "ray eyes centered on hi . 1ed not issed her blush fro earlier or the ;uick "lance shed o#ed across his chest. 1e knew fe inine appreciation when he saw it! and he couldnt say that wasnt part of the reason he kept physically fit. 1e was an ex3 arine! but he could ha#e let that build "o in the four years since hed been out of the ilitary. 6Thanks!7 she said. 1er cool! ele"ant features showin" so e pu%%le ent and worry. >eah! he wondered too. 1e didnt know ?iki knew an Andrew 0awson. A weird feelin" ;uirked throu"h hi . 64ll be ri"ht back.7 Axel pushed throu"h the doors to the backroo . 1ed been back there ten inutes a"o and he was certain ?iki was "one. But there were places he could ha#e issed her* it was a lar"e space and half the ti e ?iki didnt bother to say "oodbye to hi when she left.

1e looked by the pro dresses! :ust shakin" his head at a strapless one. 4t was #i#id li e "reen! with a d@colleta"e so low the others around town would be dra""in" their little "irls to the preacher! to be sa#ed! if they e#er saw the in it. But not ?iki. 2hen he o#ed farther into the backroo ! he started to beco e ore aware of what not findin" her eant. Then he cussed! hittin" the side door of the buildin" with an o#erthrown slap of his fist as he leaned out and he saw a sleek red roadster. 8b#iously! it was /i# 0awsons husbands car! and #ery expensi#e. 1e turned his "a%e to look at the only place out back that his wifes +ustan" con#ertible should be parked! beside his car. But it was "one. 6She wouldnt!7 he uttered. 6Not ri"ht in front of e like this.7 Cheating. The word swa ped his brain. 1is wife was any thin"s! with any of the bein" not pleasant! yet hed ne#er felt that he had to worry about infidelity. 2hat bothered hi nearly as uch was that if /i# 0awson hadnt stopped in the store hed ne#er ha#e disco#ered what i"ht be so ob#iously "oin" on ri"ht in front of hi . 1e could console hi self with the fact he was i ersed in keepin" his business afloat! for his wifes co fort! but really9how cuckolded did this ake hi look= 6+an! please tell e /i# 0awsons husband sells anything ?iki would want to buy! and this is all :ust e :u pin" to conclusions.7 The proble was he had a hard ti e thinkin" what else it i"ht be. ?iki and Andrew 0awson had to be out in ?ikis car to"ether! didnt they= 2hat other explanation could there be= /i# expected to see Andrew e er"in" fro the backroo of the store! howe#er! when she saw the #ery uscular +r. Sa##i instead! her heartbeat did a stran"e flip. She looked past +r. Sa##i! expectin" his wife! and then she looked back at hi . 64 dont understand<7 she started to say. 6>our husband ust sell so ethin" that y wife ?iki wants to buy!7 he be"an! with their words in"lin". /i# turned away fro hi ! feelin" her ner#es start to sin" as she clutched her purse. Andrew didnt sell anythin". 1ed ne#er sell anythin". Not like +r. Sa##i eant. But she could see on the s ooth brown features of +r. Sa##is stron" face that he was thinkin" the sa e thin" that had :ust sla ed into her brain. A horrible thou"ht that ade her "asp. She felt a stron" hand on her elbow. 60ont faint on e.7 1is #oice was a deep bass! and it was worried. 6They ust know each other!7 she whispered! wantin" to lean into hi ! but keepin" her body ri"id. 6School=7 she tried. 6+y wifes not fro here. Shes fro +ia i and shes been a housewife for four years now.7 /i# nearly cru bled hearin" his wife was not fro there! because all of Andrews schoolin" had been in Texas at pri#ate schools and colle"es! of course. 1e couldnt be cheatin". Could he= 62here a3are they=7 she sta ered. 61is car is here.7 6>ou need to sit down! youre shakin"!7 Axel Sa##i ad#ised her. Then he pulled her toward the counter with a "entle but fir hand. She was so close she could s ell his subtle colo"ne. 4t was a outhwaterin" scent and it distracted her onco in" panic attack by seconds. 6Theyd ha#e to be in ?ikis +ustan"!7 he finished! with his #oice war in" her ear as he pulled out a chair and he bent forward! "uidin" her into it. Then he strai"htened and her "a%e tra#eled up o#er his dark blue sweater that was ti"ht a"ainst his broad chest! past his s;uare :aw! and into his downturned and concerned "a%e. That close! she could see a ber spikes in his brown eyes. 64ll be all ri"ht!7 she assured hi as their "a%es tan"led. The facts they were both tryin" to discredit passed between the and she reali%ed he was holdin" his an"er under control. That an"er ade her reali%ed he belie#ed their spouses were ha#in" an affair to"ether. 2hat did that ake the < hi and her= Cheated in3laws= 6There ust be a reasonable explanation.7 Axel Sa##i rubbed his wide hand o#er his skull3cropped :et3black hair. 1er eyes followed the o#e ent! as she tried! then failed to breathe deeper. Damn. Damn. She couldnt ha#e a stupid panic attack ri"ht in front of hi . 6>es!7 she tried to s;ueak past her closed throat.

6$ut your head down!7 Axel ordered abruptly! not likin" the whee%e or paleness co in" o#er /i# 0awsons delicate features. 1ed been a edic for half his ilitary career. 2ith brisk efficiency he "rasped the back of /i#s slender neck. 1e pushed "ently. The "esture enforcin" she follow his ad#ice. 6>ou5re hyper#entilatin". $ut your head between your le"s and try to breathe as deep as you can.7 1e crouched next to her! feelin" the silken strands of her hair slidin" o#er his hand. 1e bet the soft! tawny tresses had ne#er seen a per anent or hair colorin"! they were so rich and natural. 6Co e on! /i#! breathe deep with e!7 he ur"ed! pullin" her purse fro the press between her torso and knees as he assa"ed her neck. 6Bi" breath in.7 1e waited. 6Now! bi" breath out.7 6$anic attack!7 her #oice s;ueaked at hi . Now that was a different ani al! but he still thou"ht the deep breathin" would help. 6Those are pesky.7 1e used a con#ersational tone to hopefully ease her tension as he let up holdin" her neck down and she slowly rose. 6+y aunt use to "et the when she was youn"er! until she started yo"a and editation.7 6She did=7 /i# 0awson asked hi ! with her eyes so close! where he crouched! that he could see how clear and deep "ray they were. Andrew 0awson had a lo#ely wife. She wore little akeup and did not need uch. The an was a fool if he was pickin" ?iki o#er /i#. That thou"ht shocked Axel so badly he fro%e. Then he ;uickly hauled back his thinkin" to the ore sane idea that there had to be another explanation. 1e reali%ed his hand was still caressin" the back of /i# 0awsons neck! and he ;uickly re o#ed it. 6>es! aa ! 4#e also heard exercise helps.7 6Nothin" 4#e done e#er helps!7 she said. 64 sorry to ha#e this happen here.7 64ts all ri"ht!7 he replied with an auto atic response. 62ould you like so e water=7 She nodded! strai"htenin" ore in the chair! while he rose slowly. 1e thou"ht her color looked a bit better. She looked as if she spent so e ti e in the sun and her skin had a li"ht "olden "low. 64ll be ri"ht back with so e!7 he said. Maam. Axels use of the word war ed /i#. +en :ust werent #ery polite any ore! and /i# found it another attracti#e ;uality. 4f Axels wife were half as co pellin" as he was! /i# could easily see Andrew beco in" infatuated. She tried to "et her heartbeat to flip back to nor al! fro its rapid beatin"! by doin" so e deep breathin". Aod! her skin was crawlin". She wanted so badly to run away! to try to outrun the effects! as they flooded o#er her. She was certain she would pass out. 61ey its okay.7 She heard Axels ;uiet #oice assurin" her and she opened her eyes! feelin" his hand "ently stroke her ar . 1is pal was so war ! and she concentrated on that as he crouched before her. 61ere! try to drink so e of this.7 1e helped her with the water! holdin" her shakin" hand to the "lass as she sipped. Suddenly! her heartbeat flipped back to nor al < and she wanted to cry she was so relie#ed that it hadnt worked itself into a full3blown panic attack. She hated bein" so weak! but shed had the attacks since she was in her early twenties. /uckily! now they only happened rarely! and her doctor had assured her they had nothin" to do with extre e e#ents in life. Such as a husband possibly cheating. She knew enou"h about the attacks that they could happen as uch when she was relaxed and ;uiet* howe#er! it felt #ery suspicious this ti e. 64 "ettin" better!7 she ur ured! refusin" to dwell on how silly the attack ade her look. Axel had said he was a edic at one ti e! and that eant he ust ha#e co passion. The way hed treated her so far showed concern and anners. The handso e +r. Sa##i see ed to understand she needed a few inutes to co pose herself! and he took the "lass of water and stood. 64 "oin" out back for a few inutes!7 he said. 6$lease dont lea#e before 4 "et back.7 /i# nodded without lookin" up at hi ! and the inute she was certain hed left the front part of the store! she bent to "rab her purse. The thou"ht of fleein" was on her ind* howe#er! when she reached inside her purse for her keys! her hand closed around her cell phone instead. Chapter "wo

Axel be"an takin" the tasteless pro dresses and throwin" the none too "ently into the boxes they ca e in. 8ne part of hi kept de andin" an explanation! while the other part :ust kept callin" hi a fool for not seein" what was ri"ht in front of hi . +aybe if his arria"e were on solider "round! hed not be :u pin" to the infidelity conclusion. But he couldnt disa"ree that ?iki and he were at odds. She wanted 1ouston and he wanted this little town. 1e wanted to "i#e back to the aunt that had sa#ed hi off the streets fro his dru""ed3out parents at the a"e of six. /ord! he owed her. And e#erythin" his aunt had tau"ht hi in the years shed raised hi de anded he look after her! now she was in a nursin" ho e. ?iki resented that. 1e knew she felt it was holdin" her back. 1ed tried to lo#e her out of it9that had been their si"nature fix3it for e#erythin"B hot sex. 60a n it!7 he cussed! tossin" a chartreuse3colored "own into a box. That had been the one thin" they were "ood at to"ether. -p until about a year a"o! when ?iki started a#oidin" sex. Axel stopped ra pa"in" throu"h the dresses in id3throw. 6No!7 he uttered! ore like a snarl. She couldnt ha#e been ha#in" an affair for a year. 6No da n wayC7 But he knew there was a da n 6way.7 1e threw down the dress and sho#ed a hand into his pocket! lookin" for his cell phone. 1ed call her and fix these essy suspicions he had. A few inutes later! he entered the front of the store with his cell phone in his hand. -seless! because ?iki wasnt pickin" up. 1is eyes roa ed the store! searchin" for /i# 0awson5s tawny head! and he saw she was no lon"er in the chair hed brou"ht out for her. 1is "a%e finally found a bit of coppery "old fro her hair and he walked forward! seein" her leanin" a"ainst the floor3to3ceilin" window that wasnt taken up by displays. She had her cell phone han"in" uselessly in her hand and he was struck by how isolated she looked. 1e wanted to cuss at 0awson for causin" his pretty wife e#en a o ent of anxiety. 64#e tried to call Andrew on y cell! but <7 Axel finished for her. 6No answer.7 She turned her "ray eyes! shot with sil#er! toward hi . 64ts not so unusual for hi to not answer.7 Axel wondered what that eant about the ! because < 64t isnt unusual for y wife either. And shes not pickin" up.7 8nce a"ain! the unspoken passed between the . She strai"htened fro the window! liftin" her cell phone toward her purse. 62ell! 4 better stop botherin" you!7 she ur ured. 6Thank you for your help.7 1e stuffed his cell phone into his pocket! feelin" the an"er that had been si erin" inside hi spike a"ain! but he didnt let it show as he nodded to her. 2hat ore could they say to each other= 64 sure its all been a istake!7 /i# uttered! then she stepped to the door and pushed it open. 64 really like your display windows. Theyre #ery creati#e.7 She s iled at hi . 6Thanks!7 he answered stiffly. 1e couldnt s ile back. Then she was "one! the door swishin" shut! while his eyes trailed her walkin" to a black S-.. 2as there an explanation= /i# walked to her car! slowly. 1er ind was workin" anxiously on all the explanations there could be for her husbands car to be parked where it was. She shook her head* she ust ha#e s all3town soap3opera syndro e. 62hat if hes :ust broken down and hes "otten a ride with so eone=7 she uttered! lookin" across the hi"hway. There was a bar o#er there. 8ne shed ne#er paid uch attention to before. 1er eyes s;uinted a"ainst the ornin" sunli"ht. 2as the place e#en open this ti e of day= She couldnt tell by :ust lookin" at the buildin"! but two otorcycles were parked out front. She "ot into her car! nearly as if she was reluctant! while lookin" at Axels store! wishin" he had the answers to all the ;uestions tauntin" her. Throwin" her purse on the seat beside her! she reached and cau"ht the door! sla in" it shut. Then she attacked the i"nition with her key! utterin". 60a n you! Andrew! for akin" e e#en think this.7 But shed been i"norin" other si"ns as well. Andrews constant trips to 1ouston < and bein" out of touch for days at a ti e. 62hat husband acts like that=7 she de anded to know fro the steerin" wheel as she turned on the i"nition. 2hen she pulled out of the parkin" lot of Sa##is ,ental! she was torn. So torn! she only ade it a short distance down the hi"hway before she turned her car around. She didnt want to belie#e it! but she :ust had to find out. The only way she could find answers was to wait for Andrew to return to the scene of the cri e < his red roadster.

64f 4 dont do this now!7 /i# uttered! pullin" her car into the parkin" lot of the ;uestionable bar across the street fro Sa##is! 64ll ne#er ha#e another chance like this to catch hi .7 +aybe she was lookin" for the worst! but this was her best chance! on her own! to either exonerate Andrew or catch hi in the act. Because her husband was the type of an who would try to ake her look cra%y for thinkin" he could be foolin" around. 1e was that "ood at twistin" thin"s like that. Actually! shed feel e powered if it was true and she could catch hi so concretely he couldnt deny it. /i# pulled her car behind the bar. She didnt want there to be any chance of Andrew noticin" her S-. across the street. The only place left she could really watch for hi was inside the bar. After she parked! she used her cell phone to put off her appoint ents and work for the day. 1er crew at the rose far ! Carlos and Dran! could easily handle the days chores without her. The full3 blown rose season wasnt on the yet. That ti e of year! fro June to 8ctober! was cra%y busy. /i# "rabbed her purse and "ot out of her car! feelin" ner#ous about "oin" into the bar alone. 2hen she walked around the side of the buildin"! she entally prepared herself to walk into the bar. 2hile she wasnt a prude! she was a arried wo an who hadnt walked into a bar alone in years. 64ll :ust order a "lass of wine.7 Aod! it was only ten3thirty in the ornin". But whate#er. 64ll :ust order the wine! and "et a seat by the window to watch.7 >es! nothin" could be si pler! she assured herself! lookin" o#er the assi#e otorcycles as she walked by the toward the front door of the bar. Shed ha#e to re ain aloof inside so none of the otorcycle "uys "ot any ideas. But she was probably bein" o#erly cra%y and they wouldnt e#en pay attention to her. 62ho has a bar open this early=7 she uttered! pushin" the door open past any hesitations she felt. A sin"le thou"ht did pass throu"h her ind. She wished Axel Sa##i was with her. Aoin" fro li"ht to dark blinded /i# for a second! and she blinked while steppin" inside the bar. She heard the door swin"in" shut behind her :ust as a ans #oice boo ed in a asculine tenor. 68h! mama, look who :ust ca e in. $ink is y new fa#orite color.7 /i# felt a blush creepin" up her cheeks as her "a%e focused on a lar"e an walkin" toward her. 1e had a red bandanna tied across his forehead and a lon" beard that ri#aled his bi" belly! which was co#ered in a ratty blue tee shirt. There were chains han"in" fro the pockets of so e type of leather pants he wore! and ore alar in"ly! there was another an :ust like hi standin" at the bar. 6Co e on! babe! well buy you a drink.7 She was startled and a ;uick co eback did not flip to her lips fast enou"h. 6Are you lookin" for a walk on the wild side! baby=7 he roared at her. The ans beer breath washed o#er her as he entered her space and tried to "rab her behind. She did s;ueal then9da n it! like a "irl9and she hated the sound as she twisted away fro his beefy hand! noticin" the other biker was lea#in" the bar and lu berin" toward the . 6>ou cannot :ust accost people like that!7 she hissed at hi ! "larin" as hard as she could. 64 not interested!7 she stated flatly. That should put hi in his place! she thou"ht! tryin" to walk around hi . 6Aw! co e on! babe! how about a dance. Aet to know each other.7 /i#s eyes widened. The an was filthy drunk and not payin" any attention to a word she said. 61ey! lady! dance with e instead. 1es too drunk! hell s ash your pretty toes!7 his partner said! o#erly loud! as he drew nearer. 64 dont want to dance!7 /i# stated! a bit loud herself. Then she sidestepped the both! o#in" around a table! lookin" for the bartender. So eone needed to "et these en in line. Then she added! for "ood easure! in an e#en louder #oice! 6+y husband will be here any inute.7 She stayed on the other side of the table! not "oin" toward the bar or lea#in"! because the two burly bikers could catch her either way she went fro where they stood. 8ne was scratchin" his belly and the other was drinkin" fro a bottle of beer! while they peered at her throu"h their red eyes. 62ell! babe! we better dance fast if your old ans co in". 4ll war you up for hi .7 The drunkest an started around the table! which backed her toward the wall. 4t was ridiculous! and she was beco in" concerned. And what if Andrew showed up while all this was "oin" on and she issed hi = 6/i#=7 /i# "lanced up at her na e! shieldin" her eyes fro the ornin" li"ht "larin" off the windows into the darkened bar. She saw a lar"e asculine silhouette! but she couldnt ake out any features. By #oice reco"nition alone! she whispered! 6Axel=7

So e shufflin" o#e ents sounded and she saw the burly biker in front of her stu blin" backward. 61ey! an! your wifey was :ust lookin" for a an to dance with.7 64 was not!7 /i# exclai ed. At the sa e ti e! Axel! who she could see better! o#ed next to her and "rasped her around the back of her waist. 6Buy these en a drink on e.7 Axel nodded toward the bartender! then he looked at the en. 6See you around.7 Axels stron" ar o#ed her toward a window seat as the bikers "ru bled! but e#entually sta""ered back to the bar. 64 "uess we had the sa e idea!7 Axels said next to her ear in a low #oice. /i# felt a blush heatin" her cheeks. 4t was a little e barrassin". Then he reached forward to pull out a chair fro a s all two3person table in front of the window. As she sat! she could see the #iew was perfect to see the roadster. Axel "uided her chair in! and then he leaned down. The s ell of his colo"ne tu""ed her closer to hi . 64 "oin" to "o pay for their drinks and 4 better "et us so ethin".7 1e hesitated! and she could see the a ber shots in his irises. She leaned closer and ur ured in his ear. 6Just white wine. 4ts so early and 4 cant think of anythin" else to order.7 1is eyes see ed to look o#er each of her features slowly! and she couldnt "uess what he was thinkin"! then he said! 64ll be ri"ht back.7 She watched hi strai"hten and walk toward the bar! and she reali%ed he had chan"ed his clothes. She should be keepin" a #i"ilant eye on Andrews sports car! but she didnt. 4nstead! she watched Axel. 1is broad shoulders bunched as he leaned on the bar to speak to the bartender! while his butt looked asculinely ti"ht in the :eans he was wearin". She si"hed. 1e had on a blue collared shirt with a black #est! and his shirtslee#es were rolled up his well3de#eloped brown forear s. The bikers were eyein" hi ! but they stayed on their half of the bar. 1e :ust looked powerful! like a an that could take care of hi self in any situation. 1er darn eyes "ot isty and she turned her "a%e away fro hi . 4t should be her husband shooin" away en that were "i#in" her unwanted attention! and it should be hi up there buyin" her drink and lookin" after her. And it should be her husband akin" her heartbeat flutter and her "a%e drink up his asculine body. 6/i#! are you all ri"ht=7 /i# blinked back the telltale oisture in her eyes! lookin" up at Axel as he set a stea in" u" in front of her. 64 fine!7 she replied auto atically. 1e nodded! pullin" the chair out opposite her! and she saw he had a u" too. 64 took the liberty of "ettin" you coffee with so e Baileys in it.7 4t s elled so "ood. 1er eyes lit with thanks and that brou"ht a wicked s ile to Axels full lips. 4nside her! a s all "asp sounded. 4t had been years since shed sat with a an she barely knew in such an inti ate situation. She couldnt help feelin" a little excited. Axel watched /i# sip the drink hed brou"ht her. She ob#iously en:oyed it! and her pretty eyes and cur#ed lips showed her pleasure. The difference between /i# and ?iki was so plain! he couldnt i"nore it. +aybe bein" arried for four years had da pened ?ikis kindness toward hi . ?iki would ne#er be so sweetly pleased at any drink hed brou"ht her9in fact! shed likely co plain about so ethin". No straw! no napkin! too hot! and didnt he re e ber she drank only or"anic coffee now= But he pushed those thou"hts aside to en:oy a lo#ely wo ans attention. 1e couldnt re e ber the last ti e hed been alone with a wo an like this that wasnt his wife. 6>ou should ha#e told e you were co in" o#er here! /i#. 4ts no place for a wo an alone.7 1e kept his tone low and non3accusin". 64 didnt know it when 4 left your store.7 She looked out the window as she said! 64 :ust couldnt lea#e without knowin".7 The hurt in her #oice propelled his hand to touch hers sittin" on the table. 1er hand was cool and he co#ered it with his lar"er! war er hand. 64 couldnt either.7 4t was the best co fort he could "i#e! and he reali%ed he wanted to co fort her. +aybe it was their shared hurt that drew hi closer! because he so inti ately understood it. 1is "a%e followed hers to the red sports car. 6This is the best spot to ha#e eyes on the tar"et!7 he said.

1er "a%e turned back to hi ! not o#in" her hand. 64s that ilitary=7 The ;uestion pu%%led hi for a o ent! and then he reali%ed what hed said* how hed said it. 6>es! old habit.7 1e shru""ed. She s iled a"ain and he had to ad it he basked in it a bit. 64 sure your expertise is "oin" to help us.7 64 would ha#e y binoculars in here! and y scope on its tripod! if 4 thou"ht 4 could "et away with it.7 1e s;uee%ed her hand and "rabbed his u" with the other hand. 1er s ile "rew. 62hat about your store=7 she asked. 1e nodded out the window and she looked across the street. 6Thats y arine buddy! Jax! pullin" in. 1es "oin" to back e up. /ook after the store.7 /i# saw a tall! well3built an in khakis and a slee#eless tee shirt "et out of a Jeep and walk up to the store. 1e had lon" brown hair in a ponytail and he looked partially Asian. 60id you tell hi =7 she asked! and she heard the concern in her #oice. 4f they told other people! that would ake it real. 6No!7 Axel answered ;uickly! and she si"hed in relief. 68n a need3to3know basis. And he wont ask.7 Axels hand o#ed fro the top of hers! and she re"retted its absence. Then she silently ad onished herself. She was a arried wo an. 2hose husband was likely cheatin". 64ts such a s all town!7 she ur ured! lookin" at Axels profile as he looked out the window. 1e didnt turn to her as he studied the opposite side of the ain street. 64 lo#e it here. ?ind of unexpected* 4 wasnt sure 4 would a"ain.7 1is aple3colored eyes turned back to her. 6+y aunts here at .idas 1o e9its what brou"ht us here to li#e.7 /i# took a sip of her drink! watchin" hi o#er the ri ! then she said! 64 know .idas. +y "rand other spent her final years there! and they were wonderful with her.7 1e nodded! briefly rubbin" his hand o#er the short! inky black hair on his head! then his hand settled on the table between the . 6Theyre #ery "ood with the di"nity thin". 4 see her se#eral ti es a week! but so eti es <7 1e halted on a si"h. /i# leaned forward! tryin" to encoura"e hi to finish. 64ts :ust <7 1e looked hurt for a second. 6?iki. 4 think she feels trapped to be here. 1er thin" is the bi" city! shoppin"! and social "i"s.7 /i# nodded! suddenly feelin" co onness with hi . 6Andrew really lo#es 1ouston. 1e spends days on end there.7 Then she reali%ed what shed said and she stiffened a bit with a blush heatin" her cheeks. Euickly! she looked out the window! tryin" to hide it as she cleared her throat. 62e ou"ht to take turns.7 She didnt look at hi ! but nodded toward the street. 6/ookin" and akin" sure we dont iss the .7 6/i#! its okay.7 1is fin"ers brushed the top of her hand but didnt lin"er. She looked at hi ! thinkin" her face ust be an open book. 64#e thou"ht so ethin" i"ht be wron"!7 she said slowly! seein" understandin" in his eyes. 64 :ust kept i"norin" it! hopin" 4 was wron".7 Axel ti"htened his fin"ers into a fist on the tabletop. 2hy did he feel like wrin"in" ?ikis neck for hurtin" the attracti#e wo an sittin" across fro hi = 4nstead! he should want to take her husband out into the woods and deal hi so e ilitary :ustice. But 0awson was faceless and practically na eless to hi ! while ?iki wasnt. 1e knew how spiteful ?iki could "et. She was "reat if you were followin" her a"enda! but if not < watch out. 1e used to think it "a#e her spunk! ade her see #ibrant! but it had turned ore bitin" as shed "otten older. 64 hate to ad it it!7 he said! pinnin" /i# with his "a%e. 64 wouldnt ad it it if it wasnt you. 4f this wasnt happenin"! but 4 ha#e wondered a few ti es <7 1is eyes turned down to his fist as his #oice fell away. 1e couldn5t co e out and say it. 6Axel.7 1er hand was on his fist! and her #oice was co passionate. 64 "et it. 0etails dont atter. Both of us were a#oidin" <7 She paused as thou"h searchin" for the ri"ht words! and then she said! 6$roble s in our arria"es.7 1er soft hand s;uee%ed his bi""er hand and he loosened his fist! studyin" the contrast of her pale skin to his li"ht brown. 6All ri"ht! 4ll ad it proble s. E#ery arria"e "oes throu"h the ! but it doesnt ake this ri"ht.7 1is head inclined toward the roadster. 6If she was that unhappy! she should ha#e left e! not cheated.7

After hed put into words what theyd both been thinkin" since /i# walked into his shop that ornin"! they fell silent. +aybe he shouldn5t ha#e said the word 6cheat7 out loud like he had. 4t ade it real < as if it could really be happenin". 0a n! he should ha#e kept his outh shut. /i# looked crushed. She took her hand away fro his fist! which he re"retted. Just such a si ple touch! but it held co fort. 1e wished he could wipe away the creases between her brow and the haunted look in her "ray eyes. 1elplessness! which he wasnt used to feelin"! left hi feelin" ed"y and e pty as he looked outside! watchin" that da n roadster. 1e was be"innin" to hate that sports car. 1e saw her car first. 8f course he would9it was his wifes car. 2ith an instinct born of bein" a husband! he could probably pick it out a ile away. This ti e he cau"ht it co in" down the ain hi"hway fro the east! and it instantly had hi wonderin" what was in that direction. 2here could ?iki ha#e been= They li#ed west < e#erythin" they did was west. Shoppin"! "roceries! and "as < 1e hated sayin" the words e#en before they were out of his outh. 64ts co in".7 /i#s "a%e locked on hi and her cur#y lips pulled ti"ht. 4t was if they co unicated so e unspoken resol#e between the . Then they slowly turned to watch. Chapter "hree /i# felt as if she were in shock. Not the cold and ind3nu bin" kind! but a searin"3hot! ind3 explodin" kind. 8ne that i"nited as she watched her husband kissin" Axels wife! and bendin" her o#er the hood of his cherry3red roadster to do it. Axel ade a disbelie#in" hiss across fro her! but she dared not look that way. No! her eyes stayed "lued on the horrible display of infidelity as her breath cau"ht. 4t felt as thou"h she split inside! and she forcibly had to hold back her oan of despair. 1er hand clutched her chest abo#e her heart as she watched Andrew liberally roa his hands o#er ?iki Sa##is body! dressed in a fashionably short sundress. 4t was a porno"raphic display across the hood of Andrews car. 6ChristC7 Axels fist hit the table in front of /i#! startlin" her. 1e was obli#ious that hed done it! with his "a%e ri#eted to the scene across the street. Andrew was cheating on her. The words screa ed throu"h /i#s ind and she whi pered! pushin" away fro the table to flee. 6/i#.7 Axels hand cau"ht her fist! his tortured "a%e pinned hers! and then his features turned co passionate. 4t was nearly ore than she could stand! and she :erked her fist fro beneath his hand! standin". She wasnt "oin" to watch any ore. Axel see ed unable to stop! and his "a%e :erked back. Aod! she wouldn5t want to be either one of the ! she thou"ht! after seein" the raw fury on Axels face. Then she turned and headed blindly toward the bar. 1ad she been that bad a wife= That bad a lo#er= Tears threatened to spill free! and it ade her so an"ry. She would not cry o#er that bastard. 6>ou need another Baileys and coffee=7 The #oice startled /i#! and she reali%ed she was leanin" a"ainst the bar near the cash re"ister. 6/ater! Sa C7 /i# :erked at the boo in" #oice and she saw the bikers lea#in". 6/ater!7 the bartender called behind her. 6So what can 4 "et you! lady=7 /i# dropped her purse on the bar! dra""in" her "a%e back to hi ! and she heard her harsh #oice sayin"! 6Te;uila.7 Then! once shed said it! she thou"ht it sounded like a cure. 6A shot!7 she added. 6No! two of the !7 she added as Sa the bartender turned to pour her two shots. 1er hand shook as she tossed backed the first shot! not botherin" with salt or li e. 4t burned the back of her throat! and she had to internali%e the snort wantin" to break free. She wasnt a drinker! but the bitin" burn atched her feelin"s. She tossed her credit card onto the bar. 6,un a tab on this!7 she ordered! her eyes waterin" a bit. Sa nodded while lookin" bored! then he "rabbed the credit card and wandered off. /i# tried to s irk like an arro"ant an! as her husband i"ht do. That was one of Andrews credit cards. 1e kept the in his na e9not both their na es! and that always bothered her. 8ne day shed found that one in

the pocket of his suit before shed taken it to the dry cleaners. Dor so e reason shed for"otten to return it to hi . 4t i"ht ha#e been spite! she thou"ht as the te;uila failed to burn away the i a"es of Andrew kissin" ?iki so passionately. She "ripped the shot "lass! curlin" her fin"ers around it as if she wished that she could crush it. +aybe she did. +aybe she wished she could throw it < crash it a"ainst the wall. 6How could you!7 she uttered beneath her breath! sla in" the e pty shot "lass down on the bar top! and then reachin" for the next full one. Axel felt as if hed been punched in the face by an iron fist as his "a%e stayed ri#eted to his unfaithful wife. 1is eyes burned as he watched her bein" "roped and stretched out o#er the hood of 0awsons expensi#e sports car. The bastard had his hands roa in" all o#er ?ikis body. And ?iki wasnt protestin". Not one bit. 1e knew what she was like when she was that hot < rubbin" back a"ainst the hard erection hu pin" her. 6ChristC7 1e spat the curse like a pistol shot abruptly cut off. 1e couldnt belie#e what they were doin" out in public. Cars dro#e by < so e people couldnt help but notice. 4f hed been inside his rental shop hed ha#e been co pletely clueless while this went on :ust outside. 6Christ!7 he hissed a"ain. 4t was one thin" to be cheated on! but another to be so blatantly cuckolded like this. 1ow any ti es had this happened while he was :ust on the other side of the rental buildin"s wall= 1e watched with orbid fatalis ! but he wanted the i a"es burned into his retinas so he would ne#er wa#er after that o ent. The thin" that had been his arria"e was bein" torn and ripped to shreds inside hi with each o ent he watched his wife akin" out. 1e scraped his hand o#er his :aw! and then du" his fin"ers into his scalp until it hurt. All ri"ht! their arria"e was o#er! but this< This 0idnt he deser#e the respect of her sayin"! 64ts o#er.7 1e watched /i#s husband finish deep3throatin" ?iki then pull her up off the hood. ?iki s iled up at 0awson! "i""lin" and flirtin"! tiltin" her head to the side like she did when she was bein" pro#ocati#e. Axels "ut hurt! his head ached! and his eyes felt so da n dry. Then the thou"ht hit hi like a baseball bat sla ed o#er his headB +aybe she didnt want to lea#e hi . +aybe she :ust wanted to fool around. A tiny bit of hope sparked in the "lass for in" around his heart. 1ed heard of wo en :ust needin" that extra spark of excite ent9that reassurance they were still attracti#e. +aybe< 1e s;uinted! lookin" at the adulterous couple. ?iki was turnin" away fro 0awson with a pretty lau"h as if she were lea#in". Then 0awsons hand lifted and cupped her ass throu"h her sundress. That asculine hand patted her playfully. Sendin" her on her way to her chu p husband inside. That little bit of hope hed been e asculatin" hi self with shri#eled! ti"htened! and turned into dust as he stared at the place where Andrew 0awson had :ust patted his wifes ass. !i"e it was his. Axel watched the bastard s ile as he opened the door to his expensi#e sports car. >eah! he had it all! didnt he= No strin"s attached and a hot piece of willin" ass. Axel sho#ed away fro the table! :erkin" to stand as he watched the roadster pull out and turn back west. 1ad to be away fro where he li#ed with /i#. Axel was certain they li#ed east. Axel started to lea#e! intendin" to bolt fro the bar and char"e across the street to confront his wife. But suddenly usic sounded! dra""in" his "a%e to its source. !iv. She was at a :ukebox on the far side of a s all dance floor! next to the pool tables. 1e turned toward her instead of lea#in". She looked as lost as he felt. The usic shed played was hauntin"! with an exactin" beat that thru ed with bass. 2hat could he say to her= 1e didnt know! but he kept walkin" toward her! knowin" he had to be near her. She was the only person that would e#er understand how he felt. 2hen he reached her he saw that she was swayin" to the usic. She see ed to sense his presence as she half turned! raisin" her hand to hi . 61eres a shot.7 4t was all she said! not lookin" at hi ! and he saw the shot "lass of li;uor in her hand.

1e was dan"erous drunk! but it didnt see to atter to hi and he took the shot. 1e tasted it was te;uila a second before it burned down his throat. 1e set the e pty shot "lass down on the :ukebox! and it clinked on its hard surface. A second later! he saw a tiny splash of water hit the "lass surface! co#erin" the son" choices. 1is ind tried to co prehend where the li;uid ca e fro as his "a%e followed the line of /i#s "ently swayin" body. 1e reali%ed she was cryin"! and the wetness was fro her tears. 2ithout thinkin"! he "rasped her ar ! pullin" her to hi . 6/i#!7 he said! and his #oice was hea#y with pain. She was stiff! not resistin"! but not helpin" as he e braced her! cuppin" the back of her head. 6Cry for both of us!7 he stated harshly! brin"in" their bodies to"ether to sway with the usic. She slu ped into his body and pressed her face into his upper chest. 1e felt her sobs #ibratin" a"ainst his hand on her nape and the one strokin" the s all of her back. Ti"htenin" around her! he held her close. 1is eyes hurt! but no tears fell. 1e refused to shed any for his cheatin" and backstabbin" wife. Stran"ely! /i#s tears helped hi . 4t ade hi know that he wasnt standin" alone in his pain as he o#ed the slowly around the dance floor. 1e closed his eyes! keepin" ;uiet and lettin" /i# cry as he absorbed the feelin" of her body! so war and soft a"ainst his. 4t was co fortin". /i# indul"ed in pressin" her cheek a"ainst Axels well3built chest as the heat of his body slid throu"h her fro head to toe. 1e felt so "ood and stron"! while her tears slid slowly into the fabric of his shirt. After a ti e her tears lessened! and then she really had no excuse to stay swayin" in his stron" ar s. Except she did stay! relishin" the feel as she danced too close to hi . Shed ne#er done anythin" so o#ertly sexual in her life. She kept tellin" herself that Axel didnt see it as sexual! but that didnt stop her feelin"s. Andrew didnt want this any ore! but a an like Axel did. 1e stayed holdin" her. Her! whose husband had du ped her as unworthy! and this ade her feel better! da n it. She wasnt "oin" to be sorry for her te porary little fantasy. 64 cant belie#e we found out like this < to"ether.7 Axels #oice was a ru ble a"ainst her cheek restin" on his chest. She lifted her face to his face < so close. 60o you think they ha#e been doin" this for lon"=7 1er ;uestion was a #ulnerable plea! and she re"retted e#en askin" it the o ent it left her outh. Axels hand rose and his thu b brushed at the tears on her cheek as he shook his head! then said! 64 want to say no! not lon"! but <7 6A lon" ti e!7 she whispered! and she saw hi lookin" at her lips as they danced! and she could s ell the spice of te;uila between the . She shouldnt ha#e! she really shouldnt ha#e! but so ehow she had to! and she stretched up to touch her lips to Axels. She felt the heat and shape of his outh as his body stiffened. Any second she expected hi to sho#e her away. Shed stepped o#er a hu"e! blarin" line. She wasnt certain what she was thinkin"9howe#er! it was tan"led with wantin" to feel ore desirable than ?iki Sa##i. /ord help her! Axels outh was hea#en! and his lips were not fli sy or distracted like Andrews were ost of the ti e. Axel didnt hesitate < he kissed her back. Dully. +oldin" her outh and shapin" her lips as he controlled the kiss shed started and he deepened. She was stunned. +aybe she thou"ht a peck or a si ple press of lips. But this hot kiss ade her want to oan. 4t could be it was the alcohol! but she wanted to crawl up his bi"! uscular body and add her ton"ue into the ix. Axel wasnt surprised enou"h to stop the kiss. 1e was an"ry! hurt! and horny fro ne"lect and te;uila. Added on top of that! /i#s outh was as sweet as her cur#in" fi"ure pressed up a"ainst hi . The lady looked a bit cultured! in a certain unassu in" way! but /i#s kiss wasnt a refined bit of fluff 9it was a deep! sultry attack. +aybe! :ust aybe! he was bein" a chu p for feelin" exhilaration for kissin" that bastard 0awsons wife. And he i"ht ha#e started doin" :ust that9"ettin" back at 0awson9but the ore he kissed /i#! the ore it beca e about :ust the . 68h! wow.7 /i# broke their da p lips apart. 1er "ray eyes were "lassy with the heat between the ! and he reali%ed his hand was cuppin" her botto ! helpin" to keep their bodies pressed to"ether. 1er ar s were curled up o#er his shoulders! and the only space between the was their clothes. All pretense of dancin" was "one.

1e knew he shouldnt be doin" this to her! to the ! as he looked into her eyes! banked in heat fro the kiss and their bodies bein" pressed to"ether. She had to feel his reaction! and he wasnt "oin" to apolo"i%e for it. 1e was a an with a beautiful wo an in his ar s! after a heated kiss9of course his erection was "oin" to ake an appearance. 1e saw it then! the knowled"e in her eyes. Next! the interest. Then! speculation. >es < he was hea#ily speculatin" too. 6Axel=7 She tu""ed her botto lip with her upper teeth and the "esture curled into hi ! sweet and sexy. 1eatin" hi up a couple ore notches. 6>es! 4 interested. 1ell yes.7 1is #oice sounded husky and deep. 6But=7 she whispered! blinkin" her lon" lashes at hi . 1is chest filled with a re"retful si"h! plu pin" her breasts ti"hter into hi as he kept his hand cuppin" her botto so hed ha#e a lot to re e ber. 64 dont want to ess you up. 4 dont want re#en"e sex with you. Not with you. 4 <7 he started to say! then deepened his #oice. 62ant to re#isit this.7 She nodded i ediately! which ade hi feel "ood. 6Althou"h 4#e ne#er had re#en"e sex before.7 1er lips cur#ed upward! while a ischie#ous look ca e into her eyes. 6Sounds nau"hty.7 1e "roaned. That word co in" fro her outh was not helpin". So he kissed her! hot! deep! and short. Then he stepped back! lettin" "o of her a a%in" botto and "raspin" her shoulders to steady her. 1er cheeks looked as pink as her top! while she pushed her hair back! si"hin". 64 think 4 a bit drunk!7 she ad itted. 64 dont really drink.7 So he was doubly "lad hed not taken her back to the bathroo s! and then up a"ainst a wall! where he knew shed ha#e willin"ly "one. Just the thou"ht of her le"s wrapped around hi in passion! ade his body tense a"ainst "rabbin" her back to hi and con#incin" her. 64ll dri#e you ho e!7 he said instead. 1er fin"ers stroked his chest once and she looked at the re"retfully! then lifted the away. 6>ou#e drunk as uch as 4 ha#e!7 she re inded hi . 62hat are we "oin" to do! /i#=7 he asked with a sole n tone! brushin" at the side wa#es of her hair once before lettin" his hand drop. 1e knew she understood that he wasnt talkin" about dri#in" ho e. 6Confront the =7 She see ed to ask a ;uestion instead of statin" it. 1e walked o#er and leaned a"ainst the :ukebox and she ca e and stood in front of it. 6+y wife will deny it! e#en thou"h 4 can tell her 4 saw it!7 he stated flatly. /i# nodded! as thou"h her husband i"ht try that tact also. 61e will say 4 i a"inin" thin"s. That it wasnt hi and he can pro#e it! :ust call this blah3blah businessperson 4 was with. 1ell try to ake e feel stupid97 Axel interrupted. 6>oure not. 4ts a "a e!7 he said! with his an"er flarin". 1er "a%e stuck to his and he could see she wanted to belie#e hi . 4t took a certain a ount of willpower not to "rab her back into his ar s. #astard, he thou"ht! of her husband. 8f course he wanted to see hi as the #illain. 1e was the da n #illain. 6+aybe we should "et #ideo proof!7 he finally decided. 4t would help the both "et o#er the it3 cant3be3happenin"3to3 e syndro e. 4t would wipe away their blinders! plus "i#e the perpetrators no roo to bud"e on their lies! tryin" to escape the truth. 1e knew ?iki would try to anipulate hi . Sad truth was hed been lettin" her do that for too lon". 64 not certain 4 could handle seein" the really to"ether!7 /i# said! but then she strai"htened sli"htly. 64 i"ht ha#e to! thou"h.7 1e nodded. 64 think we should hire so eone! not try to follow the oursel#es.7 /i# released a bi" si"h! noddin" back at hi . 64ts "oin" to be hard to :ust "o ho e and pretend e#erythin" is okay! and then not say anythin".7 /i# felt the #alue of ha#in" so eone with her in the destroyed arria"e esses and e otional war%ones they were skippin" throu"h. She wasnt certain what shed ha#e done without Axel beside her. $ro%a%ly try to &retend it wasnt ha&&ening. Then shed hate herself for bein" so co placent and afraid to confront the situation. But with Axel! she felt added support! and she would "et stron"er. She would. 6>eah!7 Axel said! lookin" broodin" o#er her co ent. Then! she thou"ht < 6/ets exchan"e cell phone nu bers. +aybe we can bolster each other.7 She tried to s ile.

1e didnt answer! but reached in his pocket to pull out his cell! which he lifted up expectantly. She "a#e hi her nu ber and took his. 64#e "ot the person we can use to "et us #ideo proof!7 he said when theyd finished. 64ll help pay the !7 she said! then she asked in a "eneral way! 64 wonder how lon" it will take=7 6>ou and 4 will start co parin" notes < ti es they are "one at the sa e ti e! and that should help.7 1is "a%e looked as haunted as she felt! and she issed their earlier flirtin". That was easy and fun! but this was so hard. Chapter #our Axel had dri#en her to the rose far ! but shed had hi drop her off at the end of the dri#eway. /ess ;uestions about who he was! and! frankly! she was a bit e barrassed in the li"ht of day about their kissin". 4t felt a little as if shed cheated! and feelin" that way i"ht "randly show how essed up she was. Theyd said theyd keep in touch and hed s;uee%ed her hand before shed left the car. Then shed walked the lon" dri#eway leadin" into the far . 8nce there! shed had one of her workers dri#e her back to her S-. later that day when she was uch ore sober. Shed had to pretend shed run out of "as to co#er her acti#ities9e#en "oin" so far as to add fi#e "allons to her tank. An afternoon later and it was ti e to "o ho e to see her husband! yet she still lin"ered in the dusk outside her "rand others old house. She used one roo of the house as a s all office. So eti es she used the kitchen! but ainly the rest of the house was closed off! with its furniture and contents co#ered in drop cloths or boxed up. She hadnt had the heart to "o throu"h all her "rand other5s thin"s and dispose of the ! so shed :ust kept the in a holdin" pattern for se#eral years. /i# put her hand to her te ple to co#er her eyes fro the bri"ht sunset as she watched the dust kick up fro Carlos pickup truck lea#in". The far looked kind of desolate that ti e of year! with the rose bushes co#ered a"ainst frost! the "rass brown! and the trees bare! like watchin" sentinels with their ar s spread wide. She turned in a circle on the dri#eway toward her car! droppin" her shieldin" hand. Then she finished the circle past her S-. and ended facin" the house. She lo#ed the old house and always eant to fix it up! back to its for er "lory. All she could think was that if life were back to nor al she wouldnt be expectin" Andrew ho e yet. 1ow was she "oin" to "o ho e and pretend surprise he was there= 60a n it!7 she uttered. 61ow a 4 "oin" to pretend 4 dont know= Thats ore the proble .7 She certainly thou"ht Axel was ri"ht and they should "et indisputable proof. Andrew could be #icious when tryin" to deny so ethin" about which he was ob#iously wron". Shed seen hi bla e his parents and hurt their feelin"s on se#eral occasions when theyd cau"ht hi in lies. 1e had a way of puttin" people down that ade hi see like he wasnt doin" it! :ust as he was doin" it. She shi#ered! crossin" her ar s. Alone! she could ad it she was a bit afraid about confrontin" hi about the affair! and she certainly didnt want to see hi after hed < 6After he auled ?iki Sa##i!7 she uttered. Then she stalked toward the steps of the house. 6To hell with you! Andrew!7 she hissed. She "rabbed her keys out of her purse and unlocked the front door! ha#in" decided she wasnt "oin" ho e. 1alf the wei"ht of her arria"es doo see ed to lift off her shoulders. She didnt want to be in Andrews house any ore. She wouldnt be9and she didnt ha#e to be. +aybe she was hidin"! but it didnt feel like it. 4t felt as thou"h she was akin" a stand and takin" back so e of her di"nity. 64 a not "oin" back there!7 she stated fir ly! walkin" inside and shuttin" the door behind her. She leaned back a"ainst it! reali%in" her worst fears. 64 not "oin" back into his bed a"ain. 'ver.7 That was the thin" that she :ust couldnt face9"oin" back to sleep beside hi ! and then pretendin" she didnt know. 1e i"ht turn to her in the ni"ht. And she i"ht "et sick. FFF

Axel pulled up to the front of his rental business after droppin" off /i#. 1e shut off his car! lookin" at the front display window. /i# had said it was #ery creati#e! and hed felt "ood about her co pli ent. 4t was such a si ple thin" and so ethin" that was sorely lackin" in his life. ?iki tended to nitpick! not co pli ent. 1e rubbed his :aw! wonderin" how he was "oin" to face ?iki. 4t was easy to tell /i# they had to "o back and li#e with their cheatin" spouses! but now! faced with doin" it < hed rather eat dirt. 1ed ne#er "et the picture of 0awson "ropin" ?iki out of his ind! or the worst betrayal of doin" it ri"ht outside the rental shop. /ike he was an idiot. That hurt badly! and he couldnt ;uite wrap his ind around all of it. 1e searched his pocket for his cell phone! and he called Jax inside the shop. 8nce he heard Jax answer! he said! 61ey! 4 need a week! can you co#er the shop for e=7 Jaxs i ediate answer was 6>es.7 Dollowed by a ;uestion! if he was all ri"ht. 64 dont know! an!7 Axel answered. 64ll let you know.7 Then he cut the call on whate#er else Jax would try to say. 8kay! now he was freewheelin"! did he feel any better= Not. ,eally. 1is chest ached and felt ti"ht. 1e wished to Aod he could "o to ?iki and wrap his ar s around her and ake e#erythin" "ood a"ain. Then he cussed and started his car. 1e wasnt certain where he was "oin" until he turned down the street and reali%ed it was the street his aunt had li#ed on. 1er house was still there. 1e had kept it up as if she were co in" back any day. ?iki had bitched at hi a lot about not sellin" it. But as lon" as his aunt was still ali#e! he :ust couldnt. 1e pulled in the dri#eway! re e berin" when he was youn"! runnin" up the front steps and sla in" open the front door. 1ed be callin" his aunts na e before he hit the kitchen! lookin" for so ethin" to eat. Always lookin" to eat. Shed always been there too. And shed ade hi belie#e she always would be there! so he could relax and be a kid a"ain! not worried about bein" abandoned. Axel turned his car off and "ot out! lookin" at the old place. 1is aunt had li#ed there a lon" ti e by herself! without uch help! and the old place needed so e work. 1ed always thou"ht hed en:oy fixin" it up before he sold it. 8nly the sellin" it idea wasnt his idea! it was ?ikis. 1e wanted to keep it! aybe rent it out. The house he and ?iki li#ed in was a ansion co pared to it! but when he walked up to the front door! pullin" out his keys! he felt ore at ho e than he had in a lon" ti e. Euietly! he went inside and looked around. All of his aunts stuff was thereB furniture! clothes! and knickknacks. 4t was pretty dusty! but he could clean it up in no ti e. 2ithout e#en akin" a conscious decision! he went to sit on the couch. 1e pulled out his cell and first he called his old ilitary buddy! ,onan! to ask hi to put ?iki and 0awson under sur#eillance. Axel appreciated the fact ,onan didnt del#e into the whys after his first pause. 1e :ust asked! 60o you want in3depth sur#eillance=7 6>es! buddy!7 Axel answered. 6As far as you can le"ally "o and not "et cau"ht. 4ll try to keep you up on so e of their whereabouts if 4 can. 4 think itll be easier to follow ?iki.7 6>ou "ot it!7 ,onan replied with his sli"ht 4rish accent. 6>ou can report to e on this cell!7 Axel said before han"in" up. Then he punched another nu ber! feelin" so uch relief when he heard her #oice. The next split second he reali%ed he could ha#e cau"ht her with her husband. 6/i#! 4 wasnt thinkin"! can you talk=7 he asked hurriedly. 1er returnin" si"h sounded cal ! and he relaxed a bit. 6>es! 4 can talk. 4 was :ust "oin" to call you.7 6Aood!7 he said! relie#ed. Then he thou"htB She wasnt with 0awson yet. 1e "lanced out the li#in"3roo window and saw it was al ost dark! akin" hi frown and reach o#er to switch on a la p. 64ts "ettin" later!7 he pro pted! hopin" to nud"e her into talkin" without hi co in" ri"ht out to ask. After a o ent she blurted softly! 64 :ust couldnt "o ho e.7 Axel sat forward on the couch! then he heard her add in a whisper! 6Not to his bed.7 Axel nodded! then reali%ed /i# couldnt see hi . 6>eah! 4 "et that one hundred percent.7 1e felt relie#ed* he also felt an odd bit of excite ent that /i# hadnt "one back to the bastard. 6>oure not

"oin" to belie#e this!7 he said! tryin" to keep the weird e otions he was ha#in" out of his #oice. 64 didnt "o ho e either.7 6Not yet! huh=7 /i# responded. 6No! 4 ean 4 not "oin" to. 4 at y aunts old house.7 1e heard /i# lau"h li"htly. 64t ust be a si"n that its ri"ht!7 she said. 1e thou"ht it ust be too! but he thou"ht to add! 64 do need to call her. Not sure what 4 will say.7 6/ie!7 /i# stated fir ly. 6They dont deser#e any better. 4 dont ha#e to call y asshole. 1e wasnt supposed to be ho e for another day. /et hi find e.7 She sounded so sure of herself! and he ad ired her that clarity. 6But 4 wont tell hi 4 know!7 she reassured hi . 64ll :ust tell hi 4 not happy with hi bein" "one all the ti e! or so ethin" like that.7 6>es! 4 think 4 will use an excuse with ?iki too!7 he responded! then added! 64 ha#e y an set up to watch the .7 64 cant i a"ine there is anyone like that in our s all town!7 she said. 64ts a friend fro the ilitary who works as a $4 in Arandha#en! but he will co e out this far for e.7 1e paused! pressin" his elbows to his knees as he talked. 64 took a week off fro the shop! so if you e#er! 4 dont know! thou"ht to stop in there lookin" for e! 4 :ust wanted you to know.7 62e are kind of in this to"ether!7 she said! soundin" co passionate! and once a"ain he noticed the stark contrast between /i# and ?iki. ?iki would ha#e reacted ne"ati#ely if hed sounded so unsure or hesitant about so ethin"! while /i# reacted with e pathy. 62e are!7 he a"reed! feelin" like he could tell her a lot and she wouldnt :ud"e hi or think less of hi . 60arn! its kind of cold here!7 she uttered! al ost soundin" as if she were talkin" to herself. Then she said! 6So 4 suppose we are both sittin" in our respecti#e hideaways with :ust the clothes on our backs.7 1er co ent brou"ht a chuckle to hi . 62here are you=7 he asked. 64f you dont ind y askin".7 64 dont ind. 4 at y "rand others house here! where you dropped e off at y rose far . 4ts seen better days.7 6+y aunts place is like that too. Needs work.7 1e looked around. 64ts kind of dusty. 4 "uess 4 took ore ti e keepin" the yard up than 4 did the inside! since she went into the ho e.7 6So do you ha#e electricity there=7 she asked! soundin" distracted with back"round noises! as if she were openin" drawers or cabinets. 6>ou dont=7 he responded! i ediately thinkin" how cold it was "ettin" outside! besides there bein" no li"hts. 6And yes! 4 ne#er turned the electricity off here. 4 use it outside! and :ust ne#er did.7 68h! thats "ood!7 she replied! still soundin" distracted. Then a loud ban" sounded on her end. 6/i#=7 1e stood and started pacin". 64 all ri"ht.7 1er #oice was soft and reassurin"! not panicked. 64 was :ust lookin" for the propane heater we use in the office so eti es. But 4 dropped the flashli"ht. Just a second! Axel! 4 need to put down y cell. 8kay=7 She didnt see to wait for hi to answer! but he said! 68kay.7 1e continued to pace! thinkin" about her alone out in that dark and cold far house. 4t was cra%y. E#en a hotel roo would be better! and he decided to try to talk her into one when she returned to her cell. 1e heard her #oice u ble that she was back! but she still sounded preoccupied. 6/i#! why dont you co e o#er here= Theres extra roo . 4 could "et a pi%%a.7 The words were out of his outh before he knew where they ca e fro . That wasnt what hed planned to say. 1owe#er! it felt ri"ht. 6Axel= 2hat=7 /i#s #oice see ed to focus in on what he was sayin". 68h! 4 couldnt <7 she be"an. 62hy not=7 he asked ;uickly. 64 < well <7 She paused! then said! 6>ou know! that was probably :ust an auto atic answer 4d "i#e because 4 arried.7 1e stopped pacin" and stood! lookin" out into the dark beyond the picture windows. 64 know!7 he answered ;uietly. 62ell < but I will brin" the pi%%a. 4 insist.7 1e s iled. 6>ou ha#e a deal.7 Then he "a#e her the directions. But as soon as he thu bed the call closed on his cell! he "rabbed his car keys. 1e had a little trip to ake before /i# arri#ed.

Chapter #ive /i# picked the 4talian Arill for the pi%%a. 4t was ore expensi#e but worth it. She "ot so e salads and a bottle of soda to round it out. After waitin" about forty3fi#e inutes! she was on her way! followin" the directions Axel had "i#en her. There was a knot of excite ent centered in her belly! and it o#errode the an"ry feelin"s she had toward her husband. 4t was nearly as if she was thrustin" a sword into Andrew with these darin" actions! sayin"! 6Take that! you bastard.7 Then! when she was a few blocks away fro the address Axel had "i#en her! her cell phone ran". She didnt like to speak on it while dri#in"! so she pulled to the curb by a row of older suburban houses. As soon as shed wran"led her cell out of her purse! she "roaned when she saw who it was. Andrew. 1e usually called her once at ni"ht when he was out of town. This was his co it ent call. Dunny how dispara"in"ly she looked on it now. She accepted the call! wonderin" if he was "oin" to say he was in town or lie. 61i! sweetheart.7 61ello! Andrew.7 She tried to sound neutral! but she wasnt callin" hi an endear ent. 64ts "ood to hear your #oice! /i#. 4 cant wait to see you to orrow ni"ht.7 That lie s acked /i# ri"ht in the chest! and she stru""led not to start cryin". 2here was he= 2ith another wo an= 1e couldnt ha#e "one back to 1ouston by now. 64 < uh! yes! 4 cant wait either.7 1er #oice sounded raspy to her* she :ust hoped the cell co#ered it. 6>ou okay! hon= >ou sound upset.7 /i# looked up at the streetli"ht! then at the "lare on the windshield of her S-.. She blinked rapidly! keepin" her tears back. That %astard. 64 "ettin" tired of you not bein" ho e! Andrew.7 4t ca e to her to start layin" the "roundwork. 64ts like were barely arried.7 4t was an old accusation! but now it hurt worse because she knew why. 64ts not that bad. 0ont be o#erly dra atic! hon. >ou know 4 shri#el up in that s all town. 1ow about next ti e you co e with e= 2e can ake a ini3#acation of it.7 /i# s;uinted! tryin" not to "et adder. 6+aybe 4 should sell the rose far and o#e to 1ouston with you. 4 dont want to be responsible for holdin" you back.7 She lobbed that bo b on hi ! holdin" her breath. 6Ah! hon <7 Because she "new. 6Ah! well! 4 couldnt! ah! ask you to do that.7 She "new he wouldnt do it! e#en with the fre;uency he said he had to "o to 1ouston. Aod! shed been such an idiot thinkin" she was holdin" hi back! akin" hi li#e in their s all town because of her work. 2hen all the ti e he would ha#e ne#er accepted the o#in" to 1ouston to"ether. 64 :ust really tired! Andrew.7 68kay! hon! you "o "et so e sleep.7 /i# sat there for a lon" while after speakin" to Andrew. She hated wonderin" where he could be and who he was with. 62hy should 4 care=7 she de anded! hittin" the steerin" wheel. But it took a lot of effort for her to not call Axel to cancel! so she could "o look for Andrews sports car! and find out where he was. She inhaled sharply! then she ade herself let it out. 64 already know hes cheatin" and lyin".7 ,esolutely! she shifted out of park and forced herself to dri#e to Axels. She wanted to see Axel! but it "nawed on her as to where Andrew was. She saw Axels car parked on the street before she :ud"ed the ri"ht address! and then she pulled into the dri#eway. She appreciated the way Axel left her the dri#eway! and then for so e stupid reason the tears shed been fi"htin" started tricklin" down her cheeks. 1astily! she "rabbed a tissue! tryin" to stop the flow! but it didnt work. Axel was a an treatin" her like a cherished wo an! lea#in" her the dri#eway like he had. 4t was such a stark contrast fro Andrew. She couldnt re e ber the last ti e Andrew had held a door for her! brou"ht her flowers! or e#en co pli ented her looks. Before this! shed noticed it! but she thou"ht it was :ust the co fortable settlin"s that arria"es did. So ehow shed fooled herself into thinkin" it was nor al! e#en as shed see other couples walkin" while holdin" hands and "a%in" at each other with pleasure. Tears felt hot on her cheeks! and she was

"lad Axel hadnt noticed shed arri#ed and co e outside to see why she hadnt co e in yet. 4t took her se#eral ore inutes to dry her tears and check her ascara in the #isor irror. Nothin" was "oin" to help her red eyes! and she was afraid Axel would "uess ri"ht away shed been cryin". She "rabbed the pi%%a and salad! nearly defiantly. There would be red eyes because they both had broken hearts. 2hen she reached the door! she hesitated. The cold darkness of her "rand others house! the only other place she had to "o! co pelled her hand to knock. The inute she saw Axel! she wondered why she had e#er hesitated. Just lookin" into his concerned brown eyes ade her feel better. 6/i#! 4 can tell you#e been talkin" to hi .7 She nodded as he continued to open the screen door! then he "rasped her elbow to "uide her inside. 6Before that!7 he said with a deep #oice close to her ear! 64 #ery "lad you ca e here! to be with e.7 The tra"edy shed been feelin" started to sli"htly war and elt away. She knew it would ne#er lea#e her fully! but she hoped that perhaps so eday it would beco e a distant hurt that she ne#er dwelt on. They stood in the entryway as she looked up at hi . 64 "lad 4 ca e too.7 She felt the i ediate thrill of bein" close to hi that she felt each ti e she was. 4t soothed her in:ured feelin"s to ha#e his attention. 64 ha#ent called ?iki yet!7 he ad itted as he "uided her into the s all kitchen! where they set the pi%%a! salad! and soda on the counter. She appreciated the war th and electricity! but she appreciated the bottle of wine! with two "lasses sittin" ready! e#en ore. The cra%y desire to "rab the bottle and :ust start "u%%lin" it ade her turn away fro the bitter te ptation. 62hat are you "oin" to say to her=7 /i# asked about his confession. She wanted to s ooth the worry lines between his black eyebrows and assa"e the tension out of his broad shoulders. She couldnt i a"ine bein" alone with this an"uish9the death of two arria"es. 64 dont usually stay out all ni"ht!7 he uttered. /i# nodded* she thou"ht ost husbands didnt. 6But 4 dont want to "et into it now! before we ha#e photos or #ideo proof.7 /i# set her purse on the counter and touched Axels ar ! which felt rock solid throu"h his shirt. Shed heard hi say this before! as if ?iki would anipulate hi without concrete proof. 61ow about a friend in need=7 she su""ested. 6/ike Jax! you could say he is! u <7 She paused! tryin" to i a"ine a plausible lie. 64 could tell her hes "one El#is9that is if she didnt "o back inside the store when we saw her.7 6Aone El#is=7 /i# asked. 6Sorry.7 1e shru""ed with a ti"htenin" of his lips. 64ts a ilitary sayin" for issin" in action. But here in the states #ets use it to ean anythin" fro deep post3trau atic to fallin" out of contact.7 The tinny sound of the opera son" 6A#e +aria7 interrupted their sche in". 4t was probably the only opera son" she could reco"ni%e. /i# watched Axel reach for his cell phone! while she s iled at his rin"3tone choice. Then she instantly sobered at the e otion "atherin" in his brown eyes. 4t had to be ?iki. A second later! he si"hed with his shoulders relaxin". 6Just a text!7 he uttered. /i# "uessed he was relie#ed he didnt ha#e to talk to her in person. She watched hi scannin" the essa"e and his full lips fir ed as thou"h he were "ri acin". 6Shit!7 he cursed! and his sharpness startled her. 1is "a%e swun" to hers and she saw the haunted ;uality. 6Sorry!7 he offered9for his cursin"! she i a"ined9and she wanted to yank the cell fro his hand! to read the essa"e. She had an awful intuition < 6Shes not co in" ho e toni"ht! ri"ht=7 she blurted! instantly feelin" bad for #oicin" her concern! if she were wron"! but Axel nodded. 68h!7 she whined! turnin" away. 6She says shes "oin" to return those pro dresses to 1ouston that 4 hated and she wont be back until to orrow or later.7 Axel felt his an"er risin" at ha#in" to "i#e /i# the news that their cheatin" spouses were likely to"ether a"ain9for the whole ni"ht. 1is lips flattened and his teeth "round to"ether as he looked at /i#s slender back. 4t was like bein" stabbed a"ain after the first ti e. 1is i ediate reaction was to run out and find the ! and then < 1e "runted! tryin" to restrain his e otions while i a"es in his ind of "uns and shootin" started fadin". 4t was not worth that. No wo an was worth that. 6Shes ade her choice!7 he uttered beneath his breath. 62hat=7 /i# asked! turnin" toward hi ! and he saw the bruised hurt in her eyes.

1e shru""ed! tryin" to loosen the knotted tension in his shoulders! as he said in a louder #oice so she could hear! 6She ade her choice.7 /i# released a lon" si"h! her "a%e searchin" his! then she nodded. 6>es! you are ri"ht. They ade their choice.7 She reached for the bottle of wine beside hi on the countertop. 60a n the !7 she uttered! liftin" the bottle in front of hi . 6Can we open this= 4ts either "et drunk or "o lookin" for the .7 4t was a a%in"9when it should ha#e been worse! the tension loosened. 4t was because they both felt the sa e thin". They both were fi"htin" the sa e de ons. 1e wasnt alone. 1e took the botto of the bottle. 6+y pleasure.7 She released the bottle to hi ! and as he turned toward the counter! he said! 6But lets help our need for #en"eance a little bit. 4ll call y sur#eillance friend9"et hi up here to find the ! and then "et the #ideo e#idence we need.7 Chapter Six /i# swirled her fourth "lass of wine! :ud"in" the a ber color. /uckily! theyd found that Axels aunt kept a s all stash of wine. 6+y "uess! its a Chardonnay!7 she said! leanin" back while sittin" on the floor in front of a fire that Axel had built. She had her shoes off and her toes curled into the carpet pile. 1e shook his head! sittin" ore upri"ht beside her with his knees bent and his forear s restin" on his knees. 6$inot Blanc!7 he said! swirlin" the wine in his "lass! and then takin" a drink. 64ts close! thou"h!7 she said of her "uess. 6.ery!7 he assured her. 64f you like white wines.7 2hich hed said he didnt. 60ecent enou"h to "et drunk on!7 she offered! s ilin" up at hi . 1is "a%e was war ! and she hadnt felt she had the sole attention of a an in a #ery lon" ti e. Theyd discussed their spouses throu"h the first two bottles! then ade a deal not to talk about the on the third bottle. There were no conditions on the fourth bottle that Axel had :ust opened. 64t is definitely "ood enou"h to stay drunk on!7 he said. 6And! since theres nothin" else but the hard stuff! 4ll ake do.7 /i# was intri"ued by the 6hard stuff!7 but first she asked! 62hat ti e is it=7 1e turned his wrist! akin" her eyes follow the rich! dark skin. Axel had #ery nice forear s. 68ne3 thirty!7 he infor ed her. She si"hed. 64 ha#ent been up this late in a"es.7 1e nodded. 64 suppose it co es with responsibility.7 1e took a drink of his wine and "ri aced a bit! akin" her study his lips. 6/i#! ha#e you "ot to be up in the ornin"= Are you "oin" into work=7 She was sli"htly distracted by his fir lips and the nice an"le of his :aw as she ur ured nonco ittally. Then she tu""ed her "a%e up to his dark brown eyes. 64 think 4 will hide here!7 she said! boldly for her. 6Aood.7 1e turned to lean down beside her! stretchin" out his lon" le"s. They sat! leanin" toward each other with their backs to the fire. 64 wont ha#e anythin" to wear or clean up with!7 she said! turnin" to look at the side of his face. 1is profile was as handso e as full on! but then he turned to look at her and she "ot lost in the brownness of his eyes. They were #ery close. 64 took care of that.7 Shed really issed the eanin" of what he was sayin"! lookin" deep in his eyes. But shed cau"ht a bit of the end. 6Care of<=7 she u bled! distracted. 64 brou"ht so e clothes you can chan"e into o#er fro y shop.7 1er eyes widened as she watched hi nod toward a chair in the corner with so e black han"in" ba"s o#er the back that shed not noticed before. 6Axel=7 she ;uestioned! settin" her "lass of wine on the brick base of the fireplace. She o#ed to curl her le"s under her to stand. 64 knew you wouldnt ha#e anythin" to wear to orrow if you ca e o#er here!7 he was sayin". /i# started to stu ble as she rose! probably tipsy and unbalanced. 62hoa! /i#.7 Axel :u ped up! catchin" her. She fell a"ainst his chest! and he steadied the both as she lau"hed. 6Sorry! 4 think 4 i"ht be a bit drunk.7

64 not sure 4 ind!7 he said! holdin" her a"ainst hi . She was fitted to the len"th of hi with her head tilted up to look at hi . 4t put their ouths #ery close. She stroked her hand across his chest. 6Tell e to stop or 4 a "oin" to kiss you!7 he said! and she saw the burn of desire deep in his dark eyes. She parted her lips! not sayin" a word! but risin" up on her toes with a blatant in#itation. 6Aod! /i#!7 he ur ured as his lips slowly co#ered hers. 8nce a"ain! like before! she was instantly transported. +aybe it was the alcohol loosenin" her up! or her husband5s betrayal! but she didnt hold back. Their lips pressed! then be"an searchin" and learnin"! as his bi" hands cupped her face! turnin" her outh so he could kiss her deeper. She felt his erection fir in" a"ainst her pel#is! and a part of her was thrilled she was affectin" hi . She oaned into his outh and his ton"ue swept inside! slidin" o#er her ton"ue. They Drench kissed for lon" o ents and to di%%yin" hei"hts. Then their lips parted for a few pitched breaths. 6Axel!7 she panted a"ainst his lips. 6Baby! 4 dont know where this is co in" fro !7 his outh said a"ainst hers. Their lips stayed touchin" as she shook her head a"reein" with hi . Shed ne#er felt passion so thick and so ;uick before. 64 dont want to stop!7 she whispered. 1is hand "rasped the s all of her back and pulled! pressin" her a"ainst his erection. 64 dont either.7 Their lips parted and his forehead rested on her te ple as the heat of their bodies see ed to throb to"ether. 62ould we re"ret it < like this=7 She didnt want to ;uestion it! but she couldnt help herself. 6>oure "ood at sayin" the words! /i#. 4 like that about you.7 She felt his shoulder uscles! thrilled at how stron" he was. 2ould it be wron" if she :ust :u ped into bed with hi = 2ould it ease her pain or ake e#erythin" worse= She was so attracted to hi ! and that had nothin" to do with the situation at all. 64 cant belie#e you and 4 < That we < after they<7 6>eah!7 he ur ured! kissin" the side of her outh. Then his lar"e hands encircled ost of her waist! and he "ently pried the apart until there was space between their bodies. 64 dont want you "ettin" any ore hurt.7 Axel si"hed! his "a%e lookin" re"retful as she stroked his :aw line. 64 dont want you "ettin" hurt ore either.7 1e nodded! and it o#ed her hand on his :aw. 6At least until we confront the and are finished with both of the .7 1e was ri"ht! but she didnt want hi to be ri"ht. 62hy cant we be as bad as the =7 She pouted. 1e s iled and "rasped her shoulders! turnin" her toward the clothes. 6Check the clothes! then you better "et so e sleep. There are three bedroo s. >ou pick one* 4ll take one thats left.7 /i# si"hed! but when she o#ed forward! Axels war hand cupped her buttock throu"h her :eans "i#in" an inti ate s;uee%e! then a sexy pat. 62ere :ust waitin"! not endin" a thin".7 She lau"hed! lookin" o#er her shoulder at hi . Thank Aod for Axel. The next ornin"! Axel had a headache and an unrelie#ed hard3on. 1e supposed the best part was the erection wasnt for his two3ti in" wife. 1e turned the shower on to hot and cli bed in. 1e was "oin" to relie#e hi self with thou"hts of /i#! because while they were waitin"! they were not o#er! :ust bidin" their ti e. 1e fully intended to ha#e /i# in his bed. 1e felt better after his shower! and his headache was nearly "one! while the ed"e of horniness was ;uieted down. 4t was a "ood thin"! because he didnt need it akin" hi ore ed"y that day! with all the intense thin"s he was "oin" to ha#e to deal with. 1e dressed in so e of the desi"ner clothes hed brou"ht fro the shop. 6+i"ht as well look "ood while you are endin" your arria"e!7 he uttered! buttonin" the $ronto -o o Drench3cuffed dress shirt that hed ne#er consider affordin". But it did look "ood! and it felt like a sensual caress a"ainst his skin. The barely3there li"ht blue stripes co ple ented his war ! cocoa3colored skin as he tucked it into a pair of expensi#e $ronto -o o charcoal3colored slacks. 8wnin" a rental shop had its perks! yet he5d ne#er worn the apparel before. /ookin" at hi self in his aunts #anity irror! he wondered why not. ?iki ca e i ediately into his ind. She would ha#e pestered hi about not stainin" or ruinin" their oney akers. 6She wont be doin" that any ore!7 he uttered. But he didnt want to think about that. Not with /i# so close by. 1ed start dealin" with it soon enou"h* ri"ht then he needed coffee! and he was anticipatin" seein" /i# dressed in the expensi#e Aucci outfit hed brou"ht for her.

1ed ade coffee in the kitchen when he heard /i#s #oice callin" down the hallway. 6Axel! 4 cant wear this! its too expensi#e.7 1e stayed by the kitchen end of the hallway! not willin" to see her half undressed! if he went to her. 6>es! you can! /i#. 4#e been waitin" all ornin" to see you in that.7 6But! Axel <7 6,eally! /i#! 4 wearin" $ronto -o o.7 64 i"ht stain it or so ethin".7 6Baby! 4 dont care. 4t is yours. 4 "i#in" it to you.7 Suddenly! his cell phone chi ed. 1e heard /i# utterin"! 68kay!7 as he s iled and looked at the call. 4t was ,onan. 1is heart beat faster as he took the call. 6Axel! sorry to tell you this! but 4 "ot your e#idence!7 ,onan said. Axel liked that about ,onan9he was strai"htforward! kind of like /i#. Axel felt nu b! not sure what to feel. 1e was surprised he didnt feel like breakin" down. 68n di"ital=7 he asked. 6>eah! buddy! lots of it. Not sure you should see it.7 6,onan! 4 "et that. 4 know its "oin" to be hard to look at! but you#e "ot to understand < 4 need to see it.7 ,onan si"hed on the other end. 6>our call.7 6Can you brin" it to e! and do you ha#e any ideas on a lawyer=7 ,onan said hed be o#er in thirty inutes after so e breakfast. Axel closed the call! reali%in" the worst wasnt o#er < he still had to tell /i#. 1e sat at the kitchen table! drinkin" coffee and ponderin" his next personal o#es! partially as a way to keep fro thinkin" about tellin" /i#. 1e knew ?iki would try to "et half of e#erythin"! if not ore! but he thou"ht di#orces didnt need e#idence any ore. .ideo proof wasnt "oin" to "et hi a break in the di#orce. 4t was only "oin" to pro#e to ?iki he couldnt be fooled another inute. 1e should be destroyed! knowin" ?iki was lea#in" the shop and doin" that "uy ri"ht outside. But so ehow! ha#in" /i# around ade the feelin"s of bein" an idiot s ooth out! until he was :ust an"ry as hell at ?iki. But he needed to be careful and not "et into a do estic dispute! because there were ilitary records showin" hed been treated for $TS0. /on" a"o! but still! he needed to control his te per. 60a n! how a 4 "oin" to do that=7 1e dru ed his fin"ers on the tabletop. +aybe he should "o talk to a shrink too. 8r better yet! "et his fa#orite ilitary indbender! 0r. ?nox! to co e to the house when he confronted ?iki and ended their arria"e. 6Axel! 4#e ne#er had anythin" as nice.7 Axel turned in his chair! lookin" toward the kitchen entrance. Then he sucked in a breath! i ediately standin". 0a n < he had to fi"ht back an instant hard3on! and that hadnt happened to hi since he was a teena"er. 64 thou"ht youd look "ood in that leopard3print ca isole! /i#! but you5re killin" it.7 She instantly blushed! s oothin" her hand down the Aucci silk pants that only ade the expensi#e ca isole on her sin". 64t feels like nothin" 4#e e#er felt before!7 she said as he walked to her and took her hand. 1e lifted her hand and i itated a twirl with his hand! which she followed as he studied her botto ! encased in silk! then her breasts! co#ered by the ost luxurious leopard print. 1is heart was poundin". 6So worth it!7 he uttered! barely able to find his #oice. 6Axel.7 She s iled at hi ! lookin" pleased by his reaction and a little shy. 64 told yself this ornin"! when 4 "ot dressed! that 4 i"ht as well "o out lookin" "ood for a day like today!7 he said. She watched his eyes! his outh! then his eyes! as he dropped her hand but held on. Then she nodded! liftin" a tentati#e hand to the front of his shirt! which she barely touched. 6>oure ri"ht!7 she ur ured! then she added! 64 sorry 4 "ot drunk last ni"ht97 1e lifted his fin"er to her lips! silencin" her. 64f 4 brin" so e wine back here toni"ht! can 4 "et you to start where we left off=7 A s all lau"h escaped her. 68kay! 4ll let you "et e drunk anyti e.7 Then her hand bra#ely flattened on his chest. 6Axel! you look hot in this outfit.7 1is eyes widened. 62hy! thank you! aa .7

1is erection was probably the one in control when he tu""ed and she slid into his chest as he dipped his outh. There had been no plans in his ind to kiss her that ornin". But they were kissin" within seconds! and his hands "ot to feel Aucci silk o#er /i#s cur#es. 4t was probably a "ood thin" when! se#eral inutes later! a knock sounded on the front door! or they i"ht ha#e ade their way back to the bedroo . 1is ind knew there were reasons he shouldnt! yet his body and desire were hard to i"nore. 62ow!7 /i# whispered as they looked toward the front door. Axel forced his body away fro /i#s as he said! 64 didnt "et the ti e to tell you <7 The poundin" on the door o#ed hi toward it. 6+y friend "ot so e e#idence.7 1e paused with his hand on the doorknob. 64 know 4 shouldnt ha#e told you so ;uickly like this.7 /i# shook her head! and her tawny hair slid like silk around her shoulders. 64 think the kiss is helpin"!7 she ur ured! but he didnt iss her shudder before he pulled the door open. /i# decided that all of Axels ilitary friends were on the ru""ed side of handso e. Shed seen Jax fro a distance! and now ,onan! who was ilitary buff! like all of the ! and still had the crew cut. 1e also had baby blues and a New >ork accent. 6,onan Ellis! this is /i# 0awson. Shes the tar"ets wife.7 /i# inwardly winced a bit at Axel callin" her husband 6the tar"et.7 That was what he was thou"h. 2asnt it= And she wasnt fool enou"h to think ,onan ca e bearin" "ood news. She took ,onans hand! shakin" it. 6,onan.7 She tried a s ile! but it felt forced. Axels hand war ed her waist fro behind! and she o#ed with a barely perceptible otion back into the co fort of his touch. She could still feel his passionate kiss on her lips as she tried to clear her thou"hts! noticin" ,onan carried a s all di"ital ca corder. She stiffened! reali%in" what ust be on it. 6>ou want coffee=7 Axel asked ,onan o#er her shoulder. ,onan shook his head. 64 "ood! but thanks.7 6/ets sit at the kitchen table!7 Axel said! and his #oice sounded tired. 4t was a stark contrast fro o ents before theyd opened the door and let ,onan in. Axels hand pressed her back as thou"h to ur"e her toward a kitchen chair! but she stalled! not o#in". 6Theres #ideo on that ca era!7 she stated! then she looked o#er her shoulder at Axel. 1is features were ti"ht with ob#ious stress. 64ts #ideo of the < to"ether=7 she asked. 1e nodded sole nly. She ;uickly looked away! surprised at the burn of tears she had to fi"ht back. Then she scooted fro Axels hand at the s all of her back. 64 not "oin" to look at that proof.7 She walked out of the kitchen without further explanation. She ade it halfway down the hallway before Axels hand curled o#er her waist! stoppin" her. She wiped at her tears and turned to press her back into the wall! dislod"in" Axels hold as she looked to the side of hi . 6/i#97 he started to say. 60ont tell e97 she interrupted hi . 6That 4 need to see that #ideo to pro#e it.7 She heard hi si"hin" hea#ily and she saw his hand on the wall beside her! so she knew he was leanin" o#er her. 64ll look at it for both of us!7 Axel said. 6No!7 she exclai ed! "rabbin" his shirt to hold hi fro turnin" away. She finally looked up at hi . 6Thats not fair. 4 didnt lea#e so you would do it.7 She paused! searchin" his features and seein" the pain. 64 don5t think either of us needs to watch it!7 she whispered. 1is hand ca e down fro the wall and cupped her face! with his thu b brushin" at the tears dryin" on her cheek. 1e shook his head and she "ripped his shirt ti"hter. 62hy=7 she de anded. 64f ,onan says there is e#idence! we dont need to see it.7 64 :ust need to see it!7 he ad itted softly. 64 understand if you dont.7 4t felt as if a chas was openin" up between the . She knew it was unreasonable! but earlier they were beco in" a tea B us a"ainst the . They were to"ether. Now they were splittin" < and it hurt. So she couldnt see any "ood would co e fro seein" the #ideo. 4t would only tear a"ony throu"h both of the . She wanted to tell hi she thou"ht he was akin" a istake! but she reali%ed she didnt e#en know hi well enou"h to offer such ad#ice. And here shed been kissin" hi as thou"h they did know each other. She o#ed away fro his hand cuppin" her face. 64 need to "o anyways.7

1e looked curious for a o ent! as thou"h hed issed so ethin"! then he said! 64#e "ot to talk to you about a few thin"s. 4ll tell ,onan to cool it for a few inutes.7 She couldnt i a"ine what he had to talk to her about! and she didnt want to talk. She wanted to flee away fro that #ideo and any actions it would brin". 64 would feel bad akin" hi wait. Cant you :ust call e later and we can talk on the phone=7 She started to scoot toward the bedroo shed used last ni"ht. 6No! /i#!7 he said. 64t has to be now.7 She raised her eyebrows at his fir ness. 6Co e on into the li#in" roo for a inute! it won5t take lon".7 ,eluctantly! /i# chan"ed directions and followed Axel! who stopped to tell ,onan to wait. 8nce in the li#in" roo ! she sat in a chair so Axel had no choice but to sit away fro her. 1e chose the couch! and the ornin" sunli"ht outlined his uscular shoulders and threw li"ht onto the black ed"es of his short3cropped hair. 1e cleared his throat! leanin" toward her. 64 :ust wanted to talk about what we do fro here on. +ake so e plans.7 1er eyebrows scrunched. 64 wont co e back here! Axel. 4ll "et the far house ready and97 6No!7 he said ;uickly. 6/i#! thats not what 4 eant.7 1e shook his head. 68f course youll co e back here. 4ll "et you a key.7 She started to say 6no!7 but he continued! 64 eant plan what to do about our spouses. 2hen should we confront the ! or whether should we wait.7 2hate#er she was thinkin" flew fro her thou"hts. 64 ha#ent thou"ht about when!7 she uttered. 6But why would we wait=7 62ell for you! it would definitely put you in a better position. 4 wouldnt let on to your husband that you know! but first hire a lawyer and seek his ad#ice.7 The first thin" that popped into her head wasB 64 not "oin" back there and li#in" with hi . 4 couldnt do that. Are you "oin" back to your wife9to pretend9while you see a lawyer=7 Axel looked as if he wanted to co e to her! but he stayed in place. 6No! /i#.7 1e shook his head. 64 cant li#e with her! but 4 not tellin" her 4 know either. 4 thinkin" 4 i"ht blow up so e ar"u ent as an excuse to stay away until 4 ha#e e#erythin" thou"ht throu"h.7 She was surprised at how wise he was. She probably would ha#e "one tearin" to her husband to accuse hi . 68kay! Axel! 4 think youre ri"ht. Thanks for akin" e listen.7 She offered hi a s all s ile. 6And you are co in" back here to stay=7 1e watched her like a hawk. 6$lease!7 he added ;uietly. She tilted her head. 64t5s so unusual.7 1e s iled! and her heartbeat fluttered. 64 dont think offerin" each other support is that unusual. 2ho better to understand=7 She nodded. 6Areat!7 he said. /i# pursed her lips. Shed been noddin" to the 6who better to understand7 part. Shed not been noddin" her a"ree ent. 68ne ore ;uestion!7 he said. 60o you think your husband could beco e #iolent=7 8nce a"ain she co pletely for"ot what shed been thinkin" about. 64! ah!7 she stuttered. 2as Andrew #iolent= 1e had "otten so ad at her one ti e! hed sho#ed her. Another ti e hed trapped her in the bathroo ! yellin" at her! when shed wanted to "o out. 1e did ha#e a te per! and if he thou"ht his oney was at stake! she i a"ined he could "et furious. 6Baby! 4 see you are not sure.7 The feelin"s Axel in#oked! callin" her 6baby!7 nearly ade her cry. But it warred with what shed been thinkin". 64 dont think he would! Axel! but you are ri"ht! 4 not sure.7 Axel nodded! lookin" "ra#e! and not at all like hed reali%ed hed called her an endear ent. 62ell! we need to keep that in ind when you ake the plan on how to confront hi with the affair.7 61ow about you= 2ill you confront her ri"ht away=7 She leaned toward hi ! now wishin" she had sat closer. There was so e bitterness and an"er shadin" Axels brown eyes as he shook his head. 6No! 4d ne#er try to confront her without the proof so airti"ht she couldnt wi""le.7 1e si"hed. 6She has a way of turnin" bla e on e#eryone else.7

/i# nodded! but she really didnt understand! she :ust wanted to offer support. 6>oull do the best thin"! Axel! thinkin" this all throu"h.7 Chapter Seven After their talk! /i# left Axel with ,onan while she dro#e to the rose far . 2as she bein" a total coward not wantin" to see that #ideo= She "ripped the steerin" wheel harder. 6+aybe 4 a !7 she uttered! pullin" into the dri#eway of the rose far . She was "oin" to tell her e ployees that shed be "one for a while and they needed to take o#er for her. 4t was the slow season! and she didnt feel too "uilty takin" the ti e off so she could sort throu"h her life. Axel was ri"ht9she needed to plan better! and she was "oin" to start ri"ht away. 8nce she had the rose far affairs strai"htened out with Carlos and Dran! who were happy to keep thin"s on track! she dashed to her house. She didnt want to take any chances of seein" Andrew! and he ne#er arri#ed ho e before the afternoon. 8n the way to her house! she broke the law talkin" on her cell phone to set up an appoint ent to see a lawyer that ,onan had reco ended. After she hun" up! she wondered if Axel would be usin" the sa e an. She "a%ed! unseein"! up at her house as she pulled in the dri#eway. ?iki and Andrew i"ht ne#er know she and Axel were usin" the sa e lawyer. They i"ht ne#er know they were to"ether in this. So ehow those thou"hts ade her feel better. ?ind of like < 6Take thatC7 she snapped. 6They deser#e it! and Axel and 4 will be stron"er because of it.7 She could feel it9e#ery ti e she started to slu p into despair! she thou"ht of hi . Axel was there with her < she wasnt alone. Andrew wasnt "ettin" the upper hand this ti e. Any "uilt she felt about "ettin" too close to Axel! too fast! was tiny co pared to the betrayal and bitterness she felt o#er Andrew cheatin" on their arria"e. Shed ne#er considered bein" close to another an before the infidelity. She was faithful and planned to be her entire arria"e. 1appy or not! bu ps in the arria"e road or not! shed planned to stay wedded to Andrew until death. 8r aybe shed :ust been stubbornly denyin" how uch she wanted out. 8ut of Andrews constant indifference! out of his separateness pushin" her to the side! and out of his bed. /i# clasped a hand o#er her outh in surprise! as if shed spoken the words aloud! and hadnt :ust thou"ht the . She crin"ed! shakin" her head. But it was true. Auilt swept throu"h her. +aybe it was her fault Andrew didnt want to ha#e sex with her= 4f shed dressed fancier and tried to be ore sophisticated! with country3club style! aybe then Andrew would ha#e found her attracti#e= 1ed ha#e at least tried to ro ance her as if he cared. Tears burned her eyes. The last ti e theyd had sex it had lasted less than ten inutes! and then Andrew had rolled out of bed! without kissin" her! to "o "olfin". /i# dropped her hand to her side. 6But 4 let hi .7 Shed not stopped hi or tried to ake it better between the or ake it ore inti ate. Shed :ust let hi "o < glad it was o#er so ;uickly. $ictures flashed throu"h her ind of Andrew kissin" ?iki! of Andrew pressin" ?iki o#er the hood of his car. So passionately. She ban"ed the steerin" wheel. 6+aybe if thats how he acted with e! then 4d want hi C7 No! she wasnt "oin" to take all the bla e for this9she wasnt "oin" to think she could ha#e done better. 4t took two people to ake a arria"e work. 0eter ined to stop wallowin"! she wiped away her tears and cli bed out of her car. She was "oin" to pack and lea#e Andrew a note sayin" that she needed so e space to think! because she was unhappy with their arria"e. The sad truth was she knew Andrew wouldnt e#en co e lookin" for her or beco e upset and de and she co e back ho e. She knew hed "o strai"ht to ?iki! thinkin" how lucky he was "ettin" ti e away fro his wife. 2hen /i# entered the house! she looked at e#erythin" inside it in a different li"ht. She wondered if she could see hints of cheatin" there! now that she knew. 4t was stupid! but e#erywhere she went9to "et a suitcase! her clothes! and her bathroo supplies9she looked for e#idence. 2as there so ethin" in Andrews tossed3off dirty clothes she could find= She barely cau"ht herself fro riflin" throu"h the . 2ere there condo s in his bathroo supplies or sexy oils used for an affair= Could she check their phone bill for phone calls=

6AodC7 She used it ore as a cuss word than a supplication as she threw clothes into her suitcases. Shed dri#e herself cra%y with those thou"hts. Should she search for e#idence= She closed the suitcase and "rabbed her cell! thinkin" to call Axel. But as she held the cell phone aloft! she thou"ht about what he was doin" or had done. /ookin" at that #ideo. She couldnt heap this on hi . Bitin" her lip! she looked around the bedroo . She nearly crin"ed lookin" at the bed she and Andrew shared. 6Are you "oin" to let hi "et away with this!7 she exclai ed! with fury risin". 62alk all o#er you a"ain=7 She "rabbed her suitcases* she was "oin" to throw the into her car! then co e back inside and search for proof. Thinkin" ahead! like Axel wanted. Axel sat in the sa e spot hed sat in to watch the porno"raphic e#idence of his wifes infidelity. 1e sat in the sa e spot he was in when ,onan had left. Twenty inutes later! he was still sittin" there. 1e scrubbed a rou"h hand o#er the wiry nap of his short hair. Aod! ,onan was "ood. 2ell! what had he expected= ,onan had been "ood in the ser#ice* a talented spy. 8f course ,onan would "et "raphic proof. 1e ust ha#e used a lon" lens! and there had to ha#e been an open window at the hotel. /ucky the < "ettin" such solid e#idence. 64nfidelity7 was such a ta e word for screwin"! and that was what hed seenB Andrew 0awson screwin" his wife. 0oin" thin"s hed drea ed of doin" with her! but shed refused. Axels fist pounded the table. 4t was as if the li b was detached! because it surprised hi ! as if hed been in a fo". ?iki ne#er "a#e hi the inti acy of oral. She would co plain he was too bi" or he s elled funny or he had too uch hair down there! and Aod forbid he couldnt control hi self enou"h that he i"ht co e in her outh. 6But she was giving 0awson a blow:ob!7 he snarled! ti"htenin" his fin"ers into a fist on the tabletop. A wife couldnt for hi ! but would for a lo#er= 1is brain had a hard ti e with that. 1ed expected to see screwin" on the #ideo < flat3out screwin". But not thatC That blindsided hi . 1ed thou"ht they had a "ood sexual life. 1ed i a"ined! e#en thou"h they were at odds uch of the ti e! that hed at least satisfied her in bed. 2here it counted! ri"ht= /o#in" your wo ans body with all your heart. 1e. 2ould. Not. Cry. Axel stood. Took a deep breath. Then another. 1e unclenched his fists and shook the out. /ookin" around the kitchen. Anywhere but at the ca corder. 1e was "oin" to "o talk to his lawyer! and then he was "oin" for a twenty3 ile run. 2hate#er it took to bleed this out of hi . A couple of hours later! as he ran in the low hills outside of town! he went o#er what his lawyer had told hi . There was no better or worse position in di#orces nowadays. 4t was all no contest. That eant ti in" wasnt necessarily an issue for hi ! except his lawyer said it always worked out better for the an if he filed as ;uickly as possible. 8nce filed! any debt incurred by either party would be theirs. The lawyer told hi to not e pty the bank accounts! not to try to cancel credit cards! or do any creati#e bookkeepin" on his business! because it would all co e out at disclosure. Axel had asked if ?iki would "et half of e#erythin" and the answer wasB likely. The lawyer said he i"ht be able to swin" thin"s ore in Axels fa#or! but "enerally these thin"s went half and half! and did it throu"h ediation. There would be that9no "ettin" out of ediation. So ?iki could screw a "uy and "et half of what her husband had built. 4t didnt see ri"ht so ehow. But he wasnt "oin" to "et an"ry o#er it! he :ust wanted out with as little da a"e as possible. 1e could rebuild what hed lost a"ain. 1e liked challen"es! and he i"ht :ust sell the rental shop. 2hat hed always wanted to do was be a pilot! so aybe now he had the ti e. Axel stopped at the top of a hill for a o ent! blowin" breaths as he looked o#er the panora a. The only ti in" he had to wait for now was for /i#! and then he could hit ?iki! ba 3ba < one! two! and shed be out. 1it her with the e#idence! and then ser#e her the di#orce papers. 4f he planned it ri"ht he i"ht not ha#e to confront her! :ust take her out with no battered words between the . 1e wiped sweat off his brow. 1e liked that idea. Then he turned to run back down the hill! wonderin" what excuse he could use for not co in" back ho e until he was ready to deli#er his punches. By the ti e hed run o#er ten iles! and decided to "i#e it up! he was one hundred percent cal er. 2hen he reached his aunts house in the late afternoon! he felt pleasure "rip hi at the si"ht of /i#s

car in the dri#eway. 1ed left her a key under the at and texted her it was there! but otherwise theyd not spoken all day. 1e couldnt belie#e how "ood it felt to ha#e so eone waitin" that he could talk to about e#erythin". 6Except keep a lid on it about the #ideo!7 he uttered as he shut off his car. 1e would ha#e to keep circu spect about that #ideo! because /i# didnt need to know all of it. Shed ade her choice not to see it! and now he was "lad she had. Shed been ri"ht < hed ne#er needed to see that. Axel sat in his car! lookin" at the house. 1ed put it off all day < finally he picked up his cell and he called ?iki. 61ey!7 she answered. 6>ou back in town=7 he asked. She sounded distracted. 6Just co in" back in! and 4 didnt "et any ore for als.7 1e knew why she didnt! and he al ost ade her lie about it by askin". But he was holdin" on to it by a thread! keepin" his #oice le#el. 6Ace is in a bad way* ,onan and 4 are "oin" to "o check on hi .7 She didnt say anythin". 1e huffed under his breath! then said! 64ll be "one for a few days. Jax has the store! :ust lea#e hi to it.7 68h! 4 "et off the leash! then=7 Axel blinked hard. 2hat the hell did that ean= 64ll text you!7 he said ;uickly! before his #oice rose in an"er. 6Bye! ?iki.7 1e thou"ht she said one ore thin"! but he disconnected! not catchin" it. 1e stared at the phone! wonderin" what she eant. They worked to"ether9sort of. ?iki only worked when she felt like it. She ostly wanted to buy! not really tend the store. 1ell! half the ti e he didnt know where she was at. 1e cussed under his breath. 4f anythin"! they were apart too uch for a arried couple. Shakin" his head! he decided she was :ust tryin" to "et under his skin! and he cli bed out of his car! shoulderin" his duffle ba". Aoin" around to the rear of the car! he pulled another satchel out of the trunk. 1e planned to ha#e the ost i portant thin"s he wanted! that were ri"htfully his! o#er to his aunt5s house before he infor ed ?iki of their di#orce. The sad part was he didnt think ?iki would e#en notice his thin"s were disappearin". +o ents later! he was lookin" forward to "ettin" a shower and seein" /i#. 1e set his ba"s down in the hallway and he looked in both the li#in" roo and kitchen. 1e didnt see /i#! but saw "rocery ba"s on the kitchen counter! as if shed :ust been there. So ethin" bothered hi ! and he turned to look back into the li#in" roo . 1is "a%e landed on the ca corder! lyin" on its side! on the couch. 61ell!7 he cursed. 4nstantly! he knew /i# had looked at it. 1e stood for a o ent! fi"htin" his e otions! as thou"h hed :ust looked at the #ideo for the first ti e. But the ra"e and outri"ht hurt were easier to subdue this ti e. 6Bastards!7 he "round out! "oin" to look for /i#. 4t took hi a few inutes to find her out back! cryin"! while sittin" on a wrou"ht3iron patio chair. She had her head down! rockin" her body. 1e slowly closed the back door and walked toward her. 6/i#! 4 so sorry.7 1e felt the need to apolo"i%e! and he watched her flinchin" at his words and the reali%ation she wasnt alone. She didnt raise her head as he crouched beside her! touchin" her hair. 1er sobs "rew harder as he felt pain fill hi with each sound of an"uish she ade! then he did the only thin" he could think ofB he tu""ed her into his e brace. 1er face landed a"ainst his shoulder! ;uickly wettin" his tee shirt as he held her! then turnin" the both! until he sat with her in his lap. 6Axel!7 she sobbed! and he "round his eyes closed! holdin" her ti"ht. Chapter Eight /ater that afternoon! /i# was e barrassed about Axel seein" her breakdown. 1ed handled it well! "ettin" her tissues and stayin" with her until shed cal ed down. After a while! shed broken away fro sittin" in his lap to pace in front of hi . 64 see you bou"ht so e "roceries!7 he said ;uietly. 1e was co pletely a#oidin" her sni#elin"! and she cast hi a sideways "lance. 6>es.7 She hiccupped ri"ht in the iddle of her answer. 1e looked worried! but he s iled. 61ow about 4 fix so ethin" for dinner and you sit out here and relax!7 he said while standin". 64 can brin" you so e wine.7

She nodded while her head was down! not lookin" at hi ! as she uttered! 64 didnt know if your aunt had a "rill. 4 "ot so e s all steaks.7 She felt his hand claspin" hers! then "i#in" an inti ate s;uee%e. 6She does. 4 will dra" it out. >ou can see the hills fro here.7 Then he was "one back inside! and she si"hed. 6At least he didnt ake e talk about it!7 she uttered! dabbin" her eyes. Seein" the first parts of that #ideo had ra ed ho e the death of her arria"e. 6Annihilation! obliteration.7 She paused. 6The end!7 she finished. +aybe the fury had ade her cry so uch! but at the o ent she wished she were able to punch Andrew in the nose. Ai#e hi a "ood down3ho e beatin". 1ow dare heC /i# sat! with a plop! on the lawn chair. She "rabbed her weddin"3rin" fin"er. The rin" was :ust a si ple "old band. No buyin" his wife dia onds with any of that oney he had. 8h no! not for Andrew 0awson the Third. /i# "ripped the weddin" band on her fin"er and tu""ed it off! then raised her hand. She took a bi" swin" backwards! then forwards! and she let the rin" fly out into the "rass. 62as that your weddin" rin"=7 Axels #oice sounded behind her. She peeked o#er her shoulder at hi . 4t looked as if hed taken a ;uick shower. She nodded! not sayin" a word. 1e walked to her! carryin" a "lass of wine. 62ay to "o! /i#.7 She nearly s iled. She took the wine "lass and thanked hi for that. 1e looked "ood in :eans and a white tank top that showed off his uscular upper ar s. The white a"ainst his dark bron%e skin was ri#etin" as she watched hi "o and "et a "rill out of the back door of the "ara"e. Dor so e reason she was thinkin" that :ust :u pin" Axel! and ha#in" hot sex with hi ! would ake her feel better. A new an! new feelin"s < could they wipe out the old! bitter feelin"s= /i# turned her "a%e away fro Axel and toward the hills. That would be usin" hi ! and she didnt want to think of Axel that way. She drank half her "lass of wine while sittin" lookin" at the hills. E#ery ti e her ind drifted toward that #ideo! she forced it back. She heard the screen door open and close behind her. 6Nice steaks! /i#. 4 ade a salad too. 0o you want to eat out here=7 4t was ti e for her to stop bein" a slu"! /i# thou"ht! settin" her "lass of wine down. She stood! turnin" to look at Axel. 68ut here would be nice. /et e "et the plates and stuff.7 1e looked her o#er! as thou"h :ud"in" her condition! then nodded and turned to start tossin" the steaks on the "as "rill. 64ll take whate#er dressin" you are usin"!7 he said. She wanted to hu" hi for akin" it all so nor al. 2hen she scooted inside! she stopped in her roo to fix her akeup a bit. Then! when she went to the kitchen! she noticed the ca corder was "one fro the li#in" roo . She i ediately turned her ind away fro that. 8#er dinner! she and Axel had another silent a"ree ent not to talk about their soon3to3be exes. 6See s we should ha#e known each other in hi"h school! /i#!7 Axel said! sittin" back after they finished eatin". 1is te ple scrunched a bit as he studied her. 64 know 4 would not ha#e for"otten seein" you.7 2ar th spread throu"h her! and it was the pleased kind! not the e barrassed kind. 64 went to hi"h school a couple towns o#er because y other worked o#er there and stayed durin" the week. +y dad was tryin" to help Aran with the rose far by then! because hed lost his :ob when the ill shut down.7 She paused! lookin" throu"h her "lass of wine. 61e hated workin" the rose far ! thou"h. 4 think that was why Aran left it to e.7 Axel turned in his chair toward the hills. 6Still! we could ha#e et at any of the football or basketball "a es.7 She s iled at hi ! relaxin" ore. 64 did "o to so e "a es and sit with the pep rally. 0id you play either=7 1e shook his head. 6+y aunt was a sin"le parent tryin" to raise e. She couldnt swin" "ettin" e to and fro practices. Besides! 4 needed extra help with the school work.7 64 cant i a"ine that!7 she said. 1e shru""ed! lookin" at the hills! then back at her. 64 couldnt sit still back then. +y concentration was crap. 8h! sorry! 4 ean it was bad.7 She lau"hed a little. 64 was pretty crappy at ath and science. 4 nearly didnt "raduate.7 1is nice outh turned into a s ile. 6>ou dont "et fussy at a little word like crappy=7 She shook her head! swin"in" her hair.

6And now you use a tax accountant for the ath stuff=7 he sur ised. /i# chuckled. 6>ep. +aybe we use the sa e one=7 They disco#ered o#er so e ore s all talk that they used the sa e tax "uy! the sa e auto repair "uy! and they both went to the sa e dentist* a lady this ti e. An hour later! when she was takin" the dishes back into the kitchen! she heard her cell beepin" fro inside her purse in the li#in" roo . She was :ust lookin" at the text essa"es fro Carlos9sayin" the fertili%er was spread o#er a ;uarter of the rose field and he thou"ht he could finish it by the end of the week9when the phone ran". 61ello.7 A second later! /i# reali%ed shed for"otten to check who it was. 6/i#= /i#! whats "oin" on=7 /i# crin"ed. 4t was Andrew. 0a n! she didnt want to speak to hi with the i a"es of that #ideo in her ind. Especially since she needed to pretend she didnt know all of it. She heard Axel behind her! and she looked at hi kind of desperately. 1e outhed Andrews na e! and she nodded. 64 not ready to talk to you! Andrew!7 she said! findin" it really easy to put coldness and loathin" into her #oice. 6But what happened at the da n house= 1a#e we been bur"lari%ed=7 8h no. /i#s eyes widened. Axel "rasped her waist! whisperin" her na e in concern. 1er "a%e darted across Axels face as she thou"ht furiously. 64 needed so ethin" for the taxes! Andrew. 4ts not y fault you are ne#er ho e to keep our papers strai"htened out so 4 can find anythin".7 Axel s;uee%ed her waist! noddin" as if she was doin" well. 6So this ess is :ust you lookin" for so e tax thin"s. E#en in the bedroo ! /i#=7 6>our wife lea#es you a note sayin" she cant take you bein" absent in your arria"e any lon"er and this is what you call her about= This :ust shows it exactly.7 /i# knew she would hit a sore spot with Andrew. 6That is not fairC 4 was concerned. /ife doesnt re#ol#e around this stupid town97 6(r your wife!7 she interrupted hotly. 6Now! /i#97 64 wont be ho e for a while! Andrew. 0eal with it. And while you are at it! decide which is ore i portantB me or your damn country club.7 /i# cut the call! breathin" hard. Axels hands left her waist and he stepped back! "i#in" her so e space. The words left her outh before she could catch the . 6Now they ha#e ti e to %e to"ether.7 Axel backed away ore while puttin" his hands in his :ean pockets. 6>eah!7 he answered sole nly. She felt awful. 64 sorry! 4 :ust for"ot 4 was lookin" at our house for e#idence before 4 left! and 4 ade a ess.7 She swun" her hand up in exasperation. 6Just like hi to notice now! like he ne#er did before.7 6So he thou"ht <7 Axel pro pted. 6So eone i"ht ha#e bur"lari%ed the house.7 She looked sheepish. /i"ht a use ent hit Axels dark eyes. 6>ou snooped that uch=7 She shru""ed. 64 "uess 4 "ot carried away. But 4 did find thin"s 4 thou"ht a lawyer i"ht use! like cell phone bills and credit card receipts.7 She si"hed. 61opefully Andrew doesnt reali%e whats "one and start to put two and two to"ether.7 6>ou need to "et to the lawyer!7 Axel said. 64 talked to ine today! and he was #ery helpful.7 She ran her fin"ers throu"h her wa#y hair. 64 ha#e an appoint ent to orrow.7 She bent to put her cell back into her purse. 6That felt stran"e! as if 4 was "uilty of so ethin".7 6Aood people ha#e e otions like that! e#en if they are not the ri"ht e otions to ha#e about it! but bad people :ust dont care.7 She si"hed! noddin" at his wisdo . Then she said slowly! 64 not sure <7 She paused! not lookin" up at hi ! but she finally :ust spat it out. 64 not sure we should be doin" this.7 She e phasi%ed 6this7 with a wa#e around the . 64 not co in" closer! respectin" your space! no atter how uch 4 want too!7 he said lowly! akin" her "lance up at hi . 1is brown eyes were bron%e in the twili"ht of the roo . 64ts not that 4 dont think the sa e thin" at ti es. 2e were both arried. 4 ean are arried! but thou"ht we had real arria"es not days a"o. Thats a hard thin" to :ust set aside.7

6>oure ri"ht!7 she ur ured. 64ts a "ood point! but 4 al ost ore worried about "oin" too soon for us! and then essin" it up.7 She si"hed! shakin" her head and o#in" her hair around her shoulders. 64 ean! if there is an Gus or will be <7 6/i#! can 4 hold your hand=7 he asked. She instantly nodded! and she felt so uch war th and inti acy when their fin"ers entwined. >et he didnt co e any closer! which she appreciated! while parts of her were cla orin" for her to "o closer to hi . 64ts too soon! 4 know.7 1e hun" his head. 64#e o#ed too fast! needin" co fort.7 6No!7 she exclai ed softly! s;uee%in" his hand. Aod! she wanted to hu" hi ! run her fin"ers o#er his hair and his back. 64#e been o#in" too. 4ts not been one3sided.7 1e s iled a little! lookin" under his black lashes at her. 6At first 4 thou"ht a flin" i"ht be hot.7 She tre bled! with arousal flarin" throu"h her that had been on ed"e e#er since eetin" hi . Their hands see ed to pulse a"ainst each other. 6Any other wo an!7 he ur ured. She wondered what he eant. Any wo an other than the wo an whose husband was screwin" his wife < and hed ha#e tried to bed her. 8r did he ean shed beco e special and he couldnt= >et. She lau"hed a little! as if she understood all he had said! e#en thou"h she could only "uess. 6Any other an!7 she ur ured. 1is thu b caressed her pal . 64 dont think 4 cra%y! /i#. 4 think we ha#e so ethin". But its too soon and 4 pro ise to back off.7 1e undid their hands! his eyes lookin" as if they caressed her face. 6Dor now!7 he added. 64 dont think you are cra%y!7 she whispered! and then she turned and went to her roo ! ;uietly closin" the door. Chapter $ine Axel was "one the next ornin" when /i# "ot up after a half3hearted atte pt at sleepin". Too any thou"hts pla"ued her! fro ;uestions about the collapse of her arria"e! to disturbin" feelin"s her body wouldnt let "o of. /ike the subtle horniness that had her fi"htin" the ur"e not to "et herself off to thou"hts of Axel akin" lo#e to her! or ha#in" that 6hot flin"!7 as he called it. Aod! if they could :ust ha#e sex to"ether! and then not care! and then walk away afterward without a thou"ht. But she was afraid neither of the was capable of aybe hurtin" the other with another blow! after the punches of the affair. 1ow cruel would it be to double kick each other like that= 8ne of the i"ht care! one i"ht not. She was sure she would care. As uch as she wanted to be worldly and :ust ha#e a s olderin" affair! she knew she would care and ha#e feelin"s about it. She would ha#e feelin"s about hi . 8f course she would about Axel9she wouldnt want to let hi "o. 1e see ed to think ore of her than :ust a flin"! but how could he know when his head was so essed up about his wifes cheatin"= No! they had to wait. They couldnt hurt each other ore. 6And if 4 were kind! 4d "et out of here!7 she uttered! walkin" into the kitchen wearin" her own clothes shed brou"ht o#er. 64ts kind of te ptin" te ptation here.7 4 ediately! she s elled the coffee and found half a pot on the counter. She poured a cup and turned to see a note on the table. $ickin" it up! she instantly s iled. 6G4 wont call you sweetheart! honey! or babe!7 she read! chucklin". 6G/i#! dont "o.7 1er eyes widened as she strai"htened her back. 1ow could he know that shed been considerin" that= She kept readin" aloud. 6G2e will be friends. 2ere both adults. 2e can ana"e that and we need each others support.7 /i# took a sip of coffee! lookin" out the kitchen window without really seein" anythin" as she si"hed. 4t was "oin" to "et hairy and e otional dealin" with their spouses! ha#in" Axel around for support would be < 61ea#enly!7 she whispered. 64f 4 can :ust keep y traitorous body under control.7 2hat Axel didnt reali%e was how uch she :ust wanted to fall into bed with hi . She was sayin" one thin"! but tryin" to run away fro another thin". Turnin" her "a%e back down! she read Axels scrawl. 6G4ll be out all day. 4 hope we can ha#e dinner toni"ht to"ether. Talk about thin"s. >our friend! Axel.7 After con#incin" herself she could be an adult and put aside her attraction to Axel9that they could support each other :ust as friends9she texted hi .

)ee you at dinner. 1e texted back. Ill coo". Then she went to see her new lawyer! and co in" out of the buildin" after the appoint ent she ran directly into Andrew. /ord help her! if shed only been lookin" up and not lookin" down! while thinkin" throu"h the thin"s the lawyer had said! then shed ha#e seen Andrew. And then a#oided hi C 6/i#! what are you doin" here=7 Andrew kept walkin" toward her! while lookin" at the buildin" shed :ust exited! then back at her suspiciously. 1ad he seen her walk out of the buildin"! she wondered= 1e ca e up to her and tried to "i#e her a hu"! which she stiffened at! feelin" sick to her sto ach. 6Thats a hell of a hello!7 he accused as she stepped back. She wanted to screa at hi . Bitin" back her response! she :ust "lared. 61ello!7 she said stiffly. 1e looked an"ry! as if shed done so ethin" to ess up his life and not the other way around. 6So! its "oin" to be like this is it=7 he asked! steppin" into her space. 6>oure "oin" to be a bitch.7 She nearly slapped hi . 1er hand rose partway to do it. 6And you5re "oin" to attack and not listen!7 she said slowly! tryin" to keep the fury out of her #oice. 6+aybe 4 dont care!7 he returned flippantly! and then he stepped back fro her with his eyes "litterin". 6This shit you pull is "ettin" old!7 he said! then he :ust stalked past her. *hat the hell was he tal"ing a%out= she wanted to screa . They ar"ued < sure. But shed ne#er left hi before. 60ont expect e ho e anyti e soonC7 she exclai ed after hi . Then the worst blow of the entire encounter happened when he only shru""ed his shoulders and kept walkin" without lookin" back at her. /i# clutched her sto ach! blinkin" back her tears. She turned and rushed to her car before she outri"ht bawled. 8nce she reached the S-. she "ot inside! sla in" the door shut! and her eyes treacherously sou"ht out where her husband had "one. She saw he was at the end of the block! and before he crossed the street he turned and looked around once! then he crossed and he turned i ediately up onto a short dri#e. 1er eyes lifted and she read the si"n aloud. 68akwood 1otel.7 Tears burned her cheeks. 6That bastardC7 1e was "oin" to see her nowC 1er hands shook as she "rabbed her phone fro her purse. She tried twice throu"h her tears to "et Axels phone. 61ello! /i#=7 61e :ust ade it see like Im a bitch and 4 did so ethin" to our arria"e!7 she sobbed into the cell. 1er #oice cau"ht se#eral ti es o#er her words. 68h! baby! did you see Andrew=7 6>esC7 she cried. 6Axel! hes :ust "one into a hotel! ri"ht here where 4 can see fro y carC7 6>oure cryin". 4 can hear youre upset! sweetheart. Try to cal down. 4ll be there.7 6Axel! he doesnt care 4 left hi !7 she sobbed. 61es "oin" to use it to "et out of our arria"e. 4 can tellC7 She scrubbed her face with her free hand! then she watched Andrew co e back outside the hotel and walk to a roo door out front. 6/i#! where are you= Tell e where you are.7 61es "oin" to a roo right out front!7 she whined! then she told Axel where she was. 64 fi#e inutes fro you. /i#! try to cal down. The bastards not worth it.7 /i# shuddered! feelin" the truth of Axels words cut throu"h her uphea#al. She took a deep breath. 6>oure ri"ht. 1e :3:ust blindsided e.7 6Another three inutes and 4ll be there!7 Axel said. /i# watched Andrew start to open the door! but then the door flew open on its own and /i# saw ?iki standin" there in a towel. There was a brief flash of the to"ether! then they were inside with the door closin". 6No! Axel. 4 will co e to you. Tell e where you are.7 She fou"ht back ore tears! but sa#in" Axel fro seein" what was happenin" beca e #ery i portant. 4t took a o ent to con#ince hi she was okay to dri#e and she had to dri#e too hi < eet hi so ewhere. Dinally! she :ust said! 64 not stayin" here. 4ll be at that bi" park by the lake.7 She cut the call o#er whate#er else she i"ht say! because Axel could be there before she could con#ince hi . Then she ;uickly started her car! with i a"es of Andrew and ?iki e bracin" burned

inside her brain < o#er the i a"es of the in bed fro the #ideo where ?iki was "i#in" Andrew a blow:ob. 4t :ust heaped ore on it. The park was bi"! but she parked toward the front and "ot out of her car to wait by the bu per so Axel would be sure to see her. She took a o ent to try to repair her akeup! but nothin" could hide her red eyes or nose fro Axel as he pulled up and "ot out of his car to walk toward her. 1e looked "ri ! searchin" her face with concern! and she :ust walked into his e brace. 1is stron" ar s folded around her! offerin" co fort that she soaked up. 6?iki was there! wasnt she=7 he asked. 6>ou saw her! and thats why you had to eet e here.7 She only nodded with her tears co in" hard and fast. 4t see ed she was always cryin"! and she hated that! but she couldnt see to stop. Axel held /i#! with his chin on top of her head! as she cried. 1e was pissed9so freakin" an"ry that their spouses kept hurtin" the . 1e and /i# didnt deser#e it. That bastard 0awson! treatin" his wife like that. >et as furious as he was! it lost its potency before /i#s an"uish. 4t :ust fi%%led as he stroked her soft hair and ur ured that it would be all ri"ht. 2hat he wouldnt do to see her not cry like this a"ain! but he was "lad he was there for her. 1a#in" /i# to co fort probably kept hi fro "oin" to kick down the hotel roo door. 1e felt nu b where ?iki was concerned. 2hat he wanted was for the di#orce papers to be ser#ed and for it to be all out in the open so he and /i# could try to o#e on and not ha#e to wallow in it any ore. /i# was cal in" as he slowly stroked her nape. 1e wasnt sure how he could :ust be friends holdin" her like this. She felt ri"ht < as if she fit hi . 6/ook at the lake!7 he whispered in her ear after her tears had ostly stopped. She turned her face a"ainst his chest until her ear rested on it as she looked at the lake. 64ts paddle boats!7 he said. 64 didnt know they had those here! and look there <7 1e pointed. 6There are so e baby ducks.7 She leaned a"ainst hi ore! while wipin" her nose with a ?leenex. 64ts creati#e the way they ade the paddle boats different colors!7 she ur ured. 6/ike little dots of color!7 he a"reed. 6>ou want to take a walk=7 She nodded a"ainst his chest and he reached for her hand as they separated. She wouldnt look o#er at hi ! but he didnt push it as they be"an walkin" the shoreline. 4t was a war er day! but he was still surprised so any were out paddlin". After a few inutes! /i# said! 6The lawyer said if 4 plannin" a di#orce 4 should ser#e hi as soon as possible.7 Axel s;uee%ed her hand! entwinin" their fin"ers ore. 6Thats what he said to e too.7 64 asked hi if us ha#in" the sa e lawyer attered.7 She shook her head li"htly! dancin" her tawny hair in the sunli"ht. 61e was :ust a a%ed at the story we both knew and found out to"ether! but otherwise he said it shouldnt ha#e any repercussions.7 Axel tried a chuckle! which felt rusty. 62e ha#e ;uite a story!7 he said! then added! 64t was s art of you to think to ask! because 4 didnt.7 64 dont e#er want to see hi a"ain!7 /i# stated #ehe ently. 64 afraid of what 4 i"ht do if 4 see either of the . Especially hi !7 Axel uttered. /i# tu""ed his hand! stoppin" hi as she turned to look o#er his face. 64 dont want you in trouble! e#en as satisfyin" as beatin" hi up sounds.7 Axel knew there was the heat of suppressed fury in his "a%e. 61ow essed up is it that 4 dont feel that sa e intensity toward her=7 /i# cupped his :aw. 6Shes a wo an < you are a "entle an.7 1e nodded! si"hed! and then kissed her pal . 64 ha#e to watch y te per!7 he said. 1er hand o#ed to the top of his chest. 64 bet a lot of ex3 ilitary en feel that way!7 she said. Surprise hit hi . 62here did you learn < 1ow do you know that=7 She was ri"ht! and hed ne#er looked at it that way. /i# took his hand and tu""ed hi alon" to walk a"ain. 6Just akes sense. They teach you to kill. >ou do your :ob! then co e back a on" ci#ilians! but now you know how to do it.7 She looked up at hi as they walked. 64d be afraid y trained instincts i"ht take o#er in an"er.7 6>eah!7 he uttered. 6But! Axel!7 she said! s;uee%in" his hand! 6you had instincts before that. 0eep in your soul! that ake you the an you are! and that an could ne#er lose such control as to fatally hurt so eone. >ou ha#e to trust that.7

1e stopped walkin"! lookin" down on her! his "a%e searchin" her face. She ade so uch sense and what she said felt ri"ht. Could he trust hi self to "et a bit an"ry and not lose control= 64t feels ri"ht!7 he ur ured! tu""in" and pullin" her a"ainst hi . 64#e been worryin" about this for a lon" ti e.7 She pressed inti ately a"ainst hi and held his waist. 6So aybe we can "o kick their butts a little bit.7 1er s ile was a "rin close to his chin. 1e nud"ed her with his hip. 6+aybe we can use this excess e otion in another way.7 She instantly thou"ht he eant sex. 1e could feel it in the subli e way her body fit to his and the subtle! sexy look on her face. 1is lips lifted sli"htly. 1e wanted that < and he was "oin" to work to ha#e that! but ri"ht now< 6Co e on! lets rent one of those paddle boats.7 /i# lau"hed! and it was a :oyous sound that he lo#ed as he pulled her alon". >eah! they both needed to s ile ore. Chapter "en Axel stayed with her the rest of the day. They spent at least two hours out paddlin" the lake in the sunshine. 4t was cold out there! but the sun ade it bearable. She learned Axel had always wanted to "et his pilot5s license and he was aller"ic to peanuts. 1e learned she really lo#ed the rose far and shed not "one to the pro . They found out to"ether hed "one with a "irl she knew. There was no ore cryin" and no ore talk about their exes until they returned to their cars and Axel told her his idea on how to let their spouses know that they were di#orcin" the and they knew about the affair. 4t was brilliant. Shed ne#er ha#e to see Andrew a"ain for a lon" while if she followed Axels plan. They sat in Axels car discussin" it! and she was ;uite ready to show Andrew they were throu"h < forever. 6So we will ake an extra 0.0 of the #ideo of the to"ether and we will loop it so it will play for hours!7 Axel said. She liked his de#ious ind as she spoke his plan throu"h a"ain. 62e will "et the di#orce papers! put the 0.0 into play so when they co e ho e <7 Then she let Axel finish. 6There! in Technicolor! will be irrefutable proof of their infidelity alon"side papers for di#orce.7 4t felt de#ious and "ood. 62e will ha#e all of our i portant stuff out of our houses all ready!7 she said. She saw Axels hands ti"htenin" on the steerin" wheel in front of hi . 64f were lucky we i"ht not ha#e to see the a"ain except in court. No hu"e dra atic confrontations.7 /i# si"hed. 6That would be perfect!7 she ur ured. 6So!7 she said! sittin" strai"hter! 6we do it Driday.7 Axel nodded! placin" his hand on his keys to start his car. She looked at hi curiously. 64 pro ised you dinner!7 he said. 62e will swin" back by afterward and "et your car.7 6But if were "oin" to "o ho e97 she be"an. 1e shook his head! interruptin" her. 64 takin" you out to eat.7 /i# s iled! leanin" back in her seat. 6Nothin" fancy! okay= 4 a raccoon after all that cryin".7 1e put the car in "ear and lifted his ar onto the back of the seats! which brushed his fin"ers across her cheek. 6>ou look lo#ely!7 he said. And when Axel said it! the way he said it! she belie#ed hi . 64talian or +exican=7 he offered. 6>ou choose.7 64talian sounds "ood!7 she answered. Aoin" out to dinner with Axel felt like they were "oin" out on a date! and she treated it that way! because she wanted to be as far away fro her troubled thou"hts as she could. She no lon"er cared about her husband or what he was doin" and she refused to think about it. Axel picked a restaurant shed heard of but hadnt been to before. 4t looked expensi#e once inside! but luckily it was candlelit and she thou"ht the ra#a"es to her face i"ht be so ewhat concealed by the low li"htin". 2hen they were seated! Axel ordered a bottle of wine and an antipasto appeti%er. 1e looked #ery "ood in the candleli"ht and the hostess noticed! with a lin"erin" "a%e. $lus! out of the corner of her eye! /i# saw a table of three youn" wo en seated in a circular booth! "i""lin" and lookin" o#er at hi . 1e! on the other hand! see ed not to notice the attention.

1is "a%e was strictly for her. 68ur first date!7 he said! pourin" her wine. 1er eyes widened. 2hile shed been pretendin" it was! shed not thou"ht he was thinkin" that. She took her "lass! takin" a sip as if to seal his words. Then she literally purred at the taste. 68h y! this is fantastic.7 64ts not well known how "ood it is. +y little secret!7 he said. She lifted her "lass to hi . 6Thank you for sharin" <7 She paused! then added! 6And for the date.7 She could tell Axel liked that* his eyes war ed and his handso e lips lifted. 4n the corner of the roo ! the three youn" wo en si"hed. Theyd seen his look. 6/i#! 4 know we said friends.7 1e reached o#er and touched her ar until she o#ed and lifted her hand to his. 1is bi" hand co#ered hers. 6+aybe < kissin" friends=7 he teased. She lau"hed at his flirtin". 6Besides y life fallin" apart! all 4 think about is kissin" you.7 1is face showed his surprise at her honesty. But before he could co ent! the appeti%er arri#ed. 8nce theyd been ser#ed and had nibbled on a few bites! he brou"ht her back to her re#elation. 6So! you think about kissin" e=7 1e said it slowly! and she blushed. 64#e ne#er been kissed like we kiss!7 she ad itted. 6Aod! you ake e happy!7 he announced. 6>ou throw it out there! in the open! and 4 lo#e it.7 She shook her head. 64 too blunt and words :ust pop out.7 62ho said that=7 he de anded! then he i ediately said! 6Ne#er ind! 4 can "uess. And he is wron". 4ts refreshin" and honest.7 She took a sip of wine! lookin" o#er the ed"e of her "lass at hi . 4t was hard to belie#e he eant it. Dor so lon" now shed been belittled for her bluntness. 6,eally! /i#!7 he said as if readin" her doubts. 64 dont ha#e to wonder < you tell e. 4 lo#e it.7 She released her doubts. 68kay! 4 belie#e you.7 4t was freein". 1is answerin" s ile was as attracti#e as it was sincere! and another si"h rose fro the spyin" eyes of the fe ale "allery. 1ow wonderful it was to be with the an e#ery wo an! of le"al a"e in the roo ! thou"ht was hot. A a%in". 6Now back to this kissin" thin"! 4 think youre dod"in"!7 he said. 6Driends kiss!7 she instantly teased back at hi . 6>ou kiss your friends on the lips=7 he asked! leanin" his elbows on the table and ore toward her in an inti ate anner. 6No! cant think of a one!7 she ad itted. 6But 4 a willin" to turn o#er a new leaf and try it.7 1e lau"hed then! akin" her lau"h. 64 like this the e! friends to lo#ers also!7 he said throu"h his lau"h. She a"reed ener"etically with that! noddin". But the waiter ca e to take the rest of their order and they had to cool their flirtin" banter! which felt as if it was healin" as uch as it was excitin". The food was fabulous and she ate too uch as they talked and flirted a bit ore. She was :ust si%in" up her last eatball when Axels hand darted across the table and "rabbed her hand with the fork still between her fin"ers. 1e s;uee%ed her hand kind of ti"htly! and her "a%e :erked to his. 61ell!7 he hissed under his breath. 1e was "larin" o#er her ri"ht shoulder. She watched his "a%e stalk so ethin" as if he were a predator. 6Theres no warnin" 4 could possibly "i#e for this!7 he "rowled beneath his breath. 1e was scarin" her < she couldnt i a"ine. 6Axel < what=7 She watched his head turn and she could finally follow his "a%e! because it was to the side of the . She saw a couple with their backs to the ! bein" seated. So ethin" re"istered in the back of her ind. Dro behind! the an looked like < 64ts them,7 Axel finally said! sittin" back in his chair. /i#s "a%e darted to Axel while she was tryin" to co prehend what he was sayin". Then her eyes trailed back and she saw the ans profile as he scooted into the booth beside the wo an. 4t was AndrewC /i# s;uinted! lookin" past Andrew at the wo an. ?ikiC They were both obli#ious to anyone else in the restaurant as they cuddled and kissed. ,i"ht out in the open! not ten feet fro where she sat. 1er chest felt suddenly ti"ht and alar flashed throu"h her #eins. Axel scowled at his wife across the roo with his ar s locked to his chest. 1e watched the kiss! and fondle under the table! and then ?ikis "a%e finally be"an wanderin" the roo . Axel "lanced at /i#! and then back. /i# looked pale! but his eyes ;uickly returned to ?iki.

?ikis "a%e swept the roo as 0awson kissed her neck! then her "a%e swept back! haltin" on Axel. 1er eyes widened and a little shriek escaped her lips as she sho#ed 0awson away. /i# ade a stran"led sound on the other side of the table and alar struck hi as he turned back to her. She was whiter than before! with her hand clutched to her chest. 1e threw down his napkin. 6$anic attack=7 he asked with a hissed breath. She could only nod as he rose! then lowered to his knees beside her. 1e "rabbed her hands as her "a%e darted to where Andrew and ?iki were. 6Dor"et the !7 he ordered. 6/ook at e! /i#. Co e on! baby.7 She looked panicked as her "a%e clutched his. 68h. Aod.7 6Breathe as deep as you can!7 he ordered. She shook her head! whee%in". 1e scooted closer to her fro the side! leanin" his outh to her ear as both her hands clutched one of his hands in her lap. 6Slow in. Co e on slow! baby. Thats it. Try slowly out.7 6/i#! what the hell are you doin" here with him=7 /i# ade a stran"led sound and Axel "rabbed her chin! turnin" her face to his. 6Stay with e! only e. Breathe deep.7 She nodded! o#in" his hand holdin" her chin! as she tried to breathe deep. Axel snarled o#er his shoulder. 6>our wife is ha#in" a panic attack! dude.7 68h! hell! those are faked for attention!7 0awson clai ed. /i# ade a wounded sound. 6Breathe with e! /i#!7 Axel ordered her! then o#er his shoulder he uttered to 0awson! 6Then "et the hell out of here.7 Axel heard ?ikis hi"h #oice. 6/ets "o. !ets go. Are you cra%y! Andrew=7 64 want to know how she knows hi C7 0awson exclai ed. 8#er the top of the ! Axel said! 6A couple ore! sweetheart. 4n < thats it. 8ut < slowly.7 /i#s "ray eyes looked a little less wild! and Axel "lanced o#er his shoulder and up at ?iki! who was tryin" to tu" 0awsons ar . 6+et your lo#er out of here!7 he "rowled at her. ?iki ade a stran"led shriekin" sound! her eyes dartin". 64ts not like thatC7 Axel turned back to /i# as he heard 0awson exclai ! 62hat if we were lo#ers= 1ow the hell do you two know each other=7 ?iki cried! 64 lea#in" you if you dont co e! AndrewC7 Then /i# surprised the hell out of hi by exclai in"! 6Axel and 4 ha#e known each other for yearsC Think on that! AndrewC7 4n the idst of the chaos! the hostess be"an de andin" they all lea#e. 6+ake the "o first! shes feelin" sick!7 Axel told the hostess. 6Ai#e us a inute.7 0awson "lared at Axel as ?iki tu""ed hi out of the restaurant. 6Are you better=7 Axel asked! s oothin" back /i#s hair. 1e could feel her hands shakin" where they clutched his! but she nodded. 6Sir! please!7 the hostess said. Axel stood beside /i#! keepin" hold of one of her hands. 1e du" into his back pocket! "ettin" out his wallet! which he flipped open. 6See that top credit card= Just take it and pay our bill. She will be ready by the ti e you "et back.7 The hostess! who had looked at hi as if shed wanted hi for dessert when he first ca e in! now "a#e hi a sour look. But she took the card! lea#in". 1e bent o#er /i#. 64s it "oin" away=7 he asked. 6Because 4 wont let her ake us lea#e until you are97 /i# interrupted hi ! lookin" up. 6No! it is uch better! really.7 1e nodded :ust as the hostess returned for his si"nature. 2hen he turned back! /i# was standin" beside hi with a s all! shaky s ile. 1e put his ar around her and they walked forward. 1e dipped close to her ear. 6A a%in" what you said. 4 bet they think that we are < you know.7 /i# nodded a"ainst his lips as she uttered! 64 hope they do.7 1e held back his chuckle! but said! 64tll ake the cra%y.7 She leaned into hi and he held her upri"ht as they left the restaurant. 8nce outside! he thou"ht they were both surprised to see ?iki and 0awson still in the parkin" lot. They were next to 0awsons sports car! ob#iously ar"uin". 6>ou better=7 Axel asked /i#! with a sideways hu". 64 reco#ered!7 she answered.

6Aood!7 he declared. Then he "ently swun" her around! "raspin" her face into his hands! before he bent to kiss her. She ade a surprised sound! stiff at first! then eltin" into hi a second later. 4nstantly hot! they started kissin" as if they were the only two people in the world. 64 want a di#orce! you tram&C7 /i# hun" on to Axels shoulders as Andrews bellowed #oice sounded so ewhere behind the . She continued to kiss Axel deeply* howe#er! Axel broke apart their kissin" lips. 6*hat the hell did you call her=7 Axels #oice was a suppressed shout as he held on to her with his ar curled o#er her shoulders. 6Shes cheatin"C7 Andrew exclai ed! and he tried to "rab her shoulder! but Axel swun" her away. Then ?iki! who had run up to the ! asked in a shrill #oice! 6Are you really sleepin" with her! Axel=7 2hen /i# looked at Axels stony features! she saw his botto lip curl upward. 6Are you sleepin" with him=7 Axels head tilted toward Andrew. ?iki "asped! shakin" her head with no sound! while Andrew blurted! 62ere business partners! not screwin" like you two are. +y lawyer is "oin" to lo#e thisC7 /i# felt shock runnin" throu"h her. 1er husband was an ass. She so wanted to swin" her hand up and slap hi . 6?iki=7 Axel de anded. ?iki cla ped her hands to her outh! and /i# saw tears startin" in her eyes! and throu"h her fin"ers! ?iki wailed! 61ow could you! Axel= 2ith her=7 /i# felt the sla inside her "ut! and she wondered why she "a#e a da n what ?iki Sa##i thou"ht about anything. /i# could hear Axel "rowlin" under his breath as he s;uee%ed her shoulders a bit ti"htly. 6>ou two are unbelie#able!7 Axel uttered! and he pressed her shoulders with the otion to o#e. 61a#e fun with your plans!7 /i# hissed as she walked by Andrew! who was lookin" an"ry but shrewd. Then! at her words! he looked sly. But what he didnt look like9and this shot ore pain throu"h her9was a an de#astated he was losin" his wife. ?iki! on the other hand! was sobbin" dra atically. 6>ou cant "o off with her! Axel. 2e need to talkC7 she wailed! runnin" after their retreat to Axels car. 6?iki! co e hereC7 Andrew de anded! and /i# saw o#er Axels stiff shoulder that Andrew tried to stop ?iki and haul her back toward his roadster. 1owe#er! ?iki broke free! cryin"! 6Just lea#e e alone! AndrewC7 Then she ran on her heels toward Axel! exclai in"! 6$lease! honey! he ade e do itC Just listen to eC7 /i# heard another incensed "rowl fro Axel as they stopped by the passen"er door of his car. /i# could understand ?ikis dile a9shed take Axel o#er Andrew too. Axel stood with one hand braced on the top ed"e of the cars roof! while his other hand cupped the far side of her waist. /i# "a%ed at hi as he stared down at the pa#e ent. She knew he couldnt see ?ikis headlon" sprint towards hi ! but he ust ha#e known it was co in". Then ?iki was in his space! and /i# backed away as he released his hold on her waist. ?iki practically cli bed up Axels broad! sturdy chest. /i# felt ore pain catchin" her throat and she looked away. 6$lease! baby!7 she heard ?iki pleadin". 61e made e. /et e tell you.7 The ost satisfaction /i# recei#ed fro what was happenin" was seein" Andrews face. The bastard was crushed! but of course he was too arro"ant to "ro#el. 1e :ust stalked to his roadster and "ot in! sla in" the door shut. Seconds later he sped away. She lifted her "a%e and she saw a couple "ettin" out of a cab in front of the restaurant. At that sa e o ent! she heard Axel sayin"! 6Tell e how he forced you.7 $ainfully! /i# closed her eyes! then she scooted toward the cab. 6Take e ho e! AxelC 4ts a lon" story! baby!7 ?iki cried. /i# heard ?ikis cried words :ust as she ade it to rap on the cabbies window. She knew there was only two cabs in town! and she wondered about fate lettin" there be one ri"ht in front of her! in her ti e of need. 6/i#C7 Axel called. But she i"nored his call! hurryin" around the cab to pull open the back door. 2hen she looked up o#er the roof of the cab! ?iki was still han"in" off Axel! but he looked an"uished and torn. 6/i#C7

She shook her head and "ot into the cab. Chapter Eleven Axel tried to unhook ?ikis ar s fro hi and step back. She followed hi with tears. 64 know youre doin" hi !7 he uttered! pressin" one hand into her collarbone to keep her a step away fro hi ! as he watched the cab carryin" /i# dri#e away. Damn. 1ed not wanted that to happen. 61e said he would close us down if 4 didnt! AxelC7 Axel :erked his head around to ?iki! his eyes narrowin" on her pleadin" and hurt "a%e. She was decked out in the sexiest outfit hed e#er seen her wear. 61ow the hell would 0awson97 1e :erked his head in the direction 0awson left96ha#e the power to shut us down=7 1er botto lip ;ui#ered. 1ell! hed ne#er seen ?iki so eek. +aybe so ethin" was wron". She looked to the side. Thats when he "new. 61es on the council. 1e can do it.7 She was lyin" to hi . 1e knew that sideways "lance like the back of his hand. But what he couldnt fi"ure out was why= 0id ?iki really want hi back and was she that desperate= 1e played alon". 1ed already ruin thin"s with /i#. Badly. 6So he told you that you had to "o to bed with hi or he would shut us down=7 She nodded #i"orously! dabbin" at fake tears that had disappeared fro her eyes. 61ow lon"=7 he asked. 1e lowered his hand carefully! in case she o#ed and he had to raise it a"ain. 6<7 She looked to the side a"ain. 6Twice!7 she finally said. Then she added dra atically! 64t was terrible! baby.7 ,h huh. 1is fist clenched at his side. 6Not sure 4 can "et o#er it!7 he stated bluntly. 64t wasnt y fault!7 she "asped. 6But if you di#orced e! it wouldnt be y fault eitherC7 1er reasonin" was finally startin" to show. 61e ade you co e out and eat dinner with hi !7 Axel tossed out. ?iki looked startled! then at the restaurant! then back at hi . 613he did!7 she said uncertainly. 6+ake you lau"h in there and put your ton"ue in his outh=7 Axel asked without raisin" his #oice. She shuffled on her hi"h heels. 64 had to ake it "ood! to sa#e your business!7 she declared. 64 did it for you. Now youre "i#in" e the third de"reeC7 61a#e you e#er thou"ht about di#orce=7 he asked abruptly. 6>esC7 she blurted! then she looked surprised. 64 didnt ean that!7 she sta ered. 64 "uess with you bein" forced to cheat! that any di#orce would "o in your fa#or. 4d lose it all to you!7 he stated. 6Axel < baby! that would be so bad.7 Axel "uessed ?iki didnt know there were no3contest di#orces now! so the di#ision of oney didnt hin"e on bla e! or aybe she :ust didnt want to look like the #illain. But as he looked down on her! he ar#eled at how so eone who had been so close to hi could see so alien. 1ad he e#er known her= After that he played it close. Tellin" ?iki he was ha#in" a hard ti e acceptin" shed slept with another an < e#en if she had too Hher lies.I 1owe#er! he was stuck takin" her ho e. 8nce in the car! she turned to hi and asked! 61a#e you slept with her=7 The second the ;uestion hit hi ! he had a hard ti e fi"urin" out what she eant! then it dawned on hi . 6+rs. 0awson= No way.7 1e shook his head. 6But you kissed her! Axel.7 1ed been keepin" it pretty cool up until that point. 1e wanted to be s art about how he dealt with ?iki and her cheatin". 1e still had plans to blow it up in her lyin" face. But ?ikis accusation about /i# put hi on slow si er a"ain. 6That was for your and 0awsons benefit!7 he said! purposely bein" #a"ue. 6But how do you know her=7 she de anded. No way was he "oin" to be on the ;uestionin" block with his lyin"! cheatin"! and now sche in" wife. 6?nown her since hi"h school!7 he declared! pullin" in their dri#eway! thank Aod. 6But97 ?iki started.

2hich he o#errode. 6Not now! ?iki. 4 barely keepin" it to"ether as it is.7 6>ou should co e inside and "et in bed with e! baby. 4ll ake you for"et her.7 6Aet out. 2e will talk later!7 he "rowled. 64ll be here! naked in our bed!7 she whispered before she opened her door. Then! on the way out! she "a#e hi a "ood look up her le"s and up to a sexy thon" she had on. 8nce her door was shut! he sla ed the car into re#erse! and he left fast. 1e was reelin"! because it see ed this newest act ?iki was playin" was about her not wantin" another wo an on himC Could that be it= 4 not screwin" hi ! but youre not either. 61ell!7 he swore! "rippin" the steerin" wheel. 1e wanted to "o ho e < talk to /i#. But that was essed up and he needed to think. E#ery da n thin" was confusin". /i# had the taxi take her to her car in the park! then she dro#e her car to Axels aunts house. The entire dri#e shed planned to "o inside! "rab her thin"s! and hi"htail it to the dark! cold house at the rose far . 4t felt as if Axel had chosen ?iki o#er her. 4t felt as if her husband didnt "i#e a da n about her and it felt like ?iki could "et the %oth under her spell. She fu bled with the keys! tryin" to "et into the house. 4t was dark and she for"ot where the li"ht was. Then she took one step inside and her heel cau"ht on so ethin". She nearly fell but cau"ht the wall! and then she felt the li"ht switch. 6There you are!7 she uttered. ,i"ht then her cell ran" and she thou"ht about i"norin" it! but she pulled it out to see who shed be i"norin". 4t was Axel. A text. 2ell! a text was better than talkin" and she couldnt help bein" curious so she took the text. )orry, %a%y. She nearly winced at the words. Aod! texts were so i personal. 0id he really ean it! and where was he= 2as he still with her= /i# didnt answer the text* instead she closed her cell and put it back into her purse. Then she went to her roo ! where she was "oin" to pack. 6And ?iki can ha#e the both!7 she uttered throu"h "ritted teeth. 8nly an hour later! shed packed but hadnt left. 4nstead! shed wandered out into the li#in" roo and sat on the couch! dra""in" a pillow to her chest as she curled her le"s under her. Starin" out into the roo ! she :ust sat there thinkin". She didnt "i#e a da n any ore about losin" her bastard husband. Andrew! who couldnt "et away fro her ;uick enou"h. But she really cared about losin" Axel. That hurt deeply. 64 dont want to lose hi .7 She took a steadyin" breath! tryin" not to cry. They were startin" so ethin" and it looked beautiful. +aybe she was re"rettin" not "oin" to bed with hi . The chance to ha#e that ripped asculine body o#er her or below her. 1er hands on hi . 6Aod.7 She closed her fin"ers! "rippin" the into a fist! and brin"in" it to her outh. 64 could ha#e had that. 4diot.7 2ell! she wasnt "oin" to let it "o so easy by :ust runnin" away. +aybe it was hopeless < his wife had uch ore history with hi . But she had to wait to see what happened! how it played out. +aybe shed issed so ethin" and had reacted too soon. Axel had kissed her #ery hot! deep! and hard ri"ht before it had all "one to hell. That kiss eant so ethin". /i# :ust wished Axel would co e ho e! because the lon"er she sat waitin"! the ore worried she beca e that hed "one ho e! and then to bed with his wife. A couple of hours passed before she heard a car door closin" out front. 1er head lifted at the sound and she thou"ht she i"ht ha#e do%ed off. Then she heard the front door openin"! and before she could "et up she saw Axel shufflin" in beside Jax. Axel didnt appear to be holdin" hi self up. She knew it was Jax because of his beautiful hair! e#en thou"h shed only seen hi fro a distance. 4t was lon"! trailin" in a ponytail down his back in dark browns and reds with honey3toned hi"hli"hts. 61ey!7 he said! noddin" to her! but he kept shufflin" Axel! whose head was down! to the back of the house. 61ey!7 /i# said. Axels head rose partway! then fell a"ain. 6+y fault!7 Axel uttered. ,h oh. 8b#iously! Axel was drunk. She :ust stared until they disappeared down the hall. Then she finally stood and walked to the hall! watchin" Jax aneu#er Axel into the bedroo hed been usin".

She stood there for a o ent! not sure what to think. But then it ca e to her < did Axel ha#e enou"h ti e to "o out and "et drunk and "o to bed with his wife= 64 dont think so!7 /i# whispered! and a s ile followed. Jax didnt co unicate uch with her after he put Axel to bed. 1e basically :ust uttered! 61es a "ood an.7 Then he left. She lin"ered outside Axels closed bedroo door! wantin" to "o in! yet finally decidin" she better not! so she went to bed. But sleep didnt co e easily. 2akin" in the ornin"! she felt "ro""y and "ru py. She felt like a teena"er with a crush! and the crush wasnt "oin" well. 61ow stupid is that!7 she uttered! rollin" out of bed to look for her silky robe. Arabbin" the black and "old robe off a hook on the bedroo closet door! she pulled it on o#er the ca isole and ni"htie short3shorts shed slept in. There was only one bathroo in the house! and she had to wear a robe to "et to it. But she lin"ered by the bed! thinkin" about her earlier thou"hts. 2hy was she e#en thinkin" about "ettin" in#ol#ed with Axel! while her arria"e was dissol#in"= #ecause hes hot was the first thin" that popped into her ind. 6Aod < he is too!7 she oaned. 1e was built! and with a brown3eyed! sexy "a%e that :ust du" into her and ade her wet on the spot. $lus! his outh was a a%in" when they were kissin". Shed ne#er been kissed like Axel kissed her. So it was as if she was in hi"h school! oonin" o#er the hot :ock. But she was a wo an! not a kid! and she knew the pitfalls. 4t could end up :ust bein" a flin". That was if he wasnt "oin" back to his wife after the ni"ht before. She "rowled with that thou"ht! knowin" she shouldnt secretly hope she ade it into bed with Axel < and beyond. 1ow could she find so eone like hi now! at this ti e in her life= All the indecisi#e thinkin"! "oin" back and forth! :ust ade her "ru pier! so she called it all off. 64 :ust "oin" to let happen what happens! da n it.7 She sto ped to the door and tu""ed it open. The inute the door swept past her! the ost delicious s ell o#ertook her. 4t s elled like #anilla and cinna on and < She went the opposite way of the bathroo . 6Coffee!7 she si"hed with lon"in". 2ithout really thinkin" about what she was wearin" or where she was "oin"! the yu y s ells drew her into the kitchen and in #iew of Axels broad back at the sto#e. 1e had on brown silk pa:a a botto s that hu""ed his ti"ht ass and a white wife3beater shirt on that e phasi%ed the uscles in his shoulders. 1er eyes traced o#er the taut! uscular bul"es in his upper ar s. 8h. Aod. 1er silky ca isole top slid o#er her now hard nipples as she watched the hanks of Axels ass o#e as he did so ethin" at the sto#e. She ust ha#e ade a lon"in" sound! because she knew she was l o n " i n ". 6/i#! 4 sorry < and 4 ha#e Drench toast!7 Axel said before turnin" to look at her. 4t was interestin"* he started to swin" around with a spatula held up and suddenly he stalled. She dra""ed her "a%e fro his ripped body to see his brown eyes lookin" at her bare le"s! up to her hips! hi"her to her chest! o#er her face! and then back down with an intensely hot look at her hard nipples. She felt it to her bones and she i ediately "ot wet with arousal. The spatula clattered onto the sto#e and he stalked forward. 62hat are you wearin"=7 1is #oice was rasped and husky as his "a%e i"nited fire into hers. 1is reaction to what little she was wearin" was intense and a a%in". 6Silk robe!7 she ana"ed to scratch out of her throat. Then his heat was war in" the front of her. 6Jesus! if this is what5s on top! not sure 4 can handle whats underneath.7 1is hand cupped on the side of her breast! with his thu b brushin" the outline of her ti"ht nipple. She "asped! archin" toward hi . 64 can see these clear throu"h that silk!7 he uttered. Then he be"an tu""in" her robe open. She cau"ht his upper ar s! but not to stop hi . 64 thou"ht you couldnt see what5s beneath.7 Shed ne#er had a an react this way to her before. 6Dor"et that!7 he "rowled. 6Aot to see.7 4t ade her flush with pleasure and ore. Then he had her unwrapped! with her robe "lidin" down her le"s to pool around her bare feet. Axels "a%e darkened into olten browns as he looked at her belly button peekin" out! then down at her tiny ni"htie shorts. 1is hand stiffened at the side of her breast! with his thu b centered and un o#in" on her twan"in" nipple.

Suddenly! his hand o#ed fro her breast and he used both hands to "rasp her shoulders! twirlin" her around! then stoppin" her with her back to hi . 6Jesus!7 he uttered. She blushed clear to her roots. 1e had to be lookin" at her botto . 6So any thin"s 4 was "oin" to do about us this ornin"!7 he uttered behind her. 6But this. 1ell.7 1is hand "rasped the back of her thi"h! caressin" up to her lower buttocks! then it dra""ed the aterial of her ni"htie shorts upward until his bi" hand swept to the other side of her botto . 1e stroked down and her butt undulated in his wide hand. 6Aod! Axel!7 she whispered. 1e rubbed her butt a"ain and she rolled her botto a"ainst his hand. 61ell! baby!7 he uttered. Then he turned her to hi like a whirlwind a"ain! "rabbin" the back of her head throu"h her hair and liftin" until their lips collided. 1is stron" ar bracketed the back of her waist and pulled her ti"ht into his body. She oaned in his outh! with her hands strokin" all that uscle shed eyed earlier. 1is erection was hard a"ainst her belly like a thick! hea#y colu n. She ewled deep into his outh as they ton"ued each other. 1e was ore si%able than shed e#er felt! and thrills ;ui#ered throu"h her! while her center ached ore intensely for hi ! "ettin" wetter. 1e tu""ed her head to the other side and tilted his head to take her outh deeper as her le" crept up o#er his hip and she "round her pel#is a"ainst hi . 1e "rowled in his throat at this! cla pin" a hand o#er her ass to help her. 1is ton"ue lashed her outh deeper! which left her unfocused with da%ed passion. 64 want this. 0o you want this=7 he uttered. 1er pel#is continued to "rind a"ainst hi . 6>es!7 she panted. 6/ook at e.7 1e :erked! liftin" her up! and her le"s auto atically circled his waist. 1er center split o#er the rid"e of his shaft. And she ewled with deep lon"in". 6/ook.7 1is hand in her hair tu""ed her face towards his. 6/ook! /i#!7 he de anded a"ain. 6Axel!7 she whined! openin" her unfocused eyes. She s;uinted hard and saw the intense bla%e of his irises. 1e was walkin"! then she felt the cold counter on her botto . 6Tell e!7 he said! shakin" her head li"htly by his hold to her hair. 62ant you!7 she oaned. 62ant. -ou.7 She heard slappin" beside her and she looked o#er to see hi turnin" off the burners. She li ply put a hand to the effort! ana"in" to turn one off. Their lips attacked each other a"ain! only this ti e it was better because she was open for hi with her le"s on either side of his hips. 1er breasts were s ashed into his chest and her center was crushed into his erection as his bi" hands "roped her butt. 64 can feel your wet on e!7 he ru bled huskily a"ainst her outh. She oaned! hu pin" a"ainst hi . 1is bi" hands lifted her and she "rabbed his neck as he be"an walkin" while she kissed his throat and hun" on. 1e "ot to her bedroo and threw her down on the bed! tearin" off his tee as she ripped her top up o#er her head. Then her eyes "reedily took in e#ery point on his spectacular chest as he bent! swellin" those uscles! and pulled her ni"htie shorts off her hips and down her le"s. 1e pulled the off her feet! kissin" her ankle as he went! then he suddenly stiffened and swore! 6Damn it.7 She was pantin" for hi ! so she wasnt certain if he was an"ry or hyped up! hot! and horny. 62hat=7 she exclai ed. 1is "a%e :erked fro lookin" at her slit! which was pretty exposed with her le"s up a"ainst his chest. 6No condo sC7 he practically shouted. 68hC7 she careened! she was so disappointed. She hadnt had to use condo s in years. 1is "a%e was so hot and intense she was surprised she didnt see s oke co in" out of it as he looked at her bare breasts! then down to her bare belly and hips! then her slit! then her le"s. 1e "rowled a cuss word a"ain! and she saw hi #isibly tre or. 6Axel. (ral!7 she tried. 1is head :erked. 60a n it! /i#.7 1e clutched both her ankles. 6Not our first ti e.7 64 on the pillC7 she exclai ed. 1is head shook slowly. 6Not "oin" to do that to you!7 he said! as if con#incin" hi self. Then he let "o of her le"s! and he abruptly turned and stalked fro the roo . 4f shed been "ru py before! now she was freakin" frustrated.

Chapter "welve /i# stayed in her roo for twenty inutes while tryin" to cal her ra ped3up desires. 2hen she could think clearly! she reali%ed Axel was :ust protectin" her. And hi self. The pill was fine! but in their situation condo s were a ust < until they both "ot checked out. E#entually! she "ru bled! 6Thank Aod Axel has control.7 She didnt like it! but he was ri"ht. All "ood and well to fi"ure out why he did what he did < that still didnt help her denied arousal after burn. /ater! she peeked out of her bedroo ! seein" the coast was clear! and she scooted to the bathroo to take a lon" cold shower. Shed ne#er needed one of those before! but boy she did then. An hour later! when she finally bra#ed "oin" out into the kitchen! she saw Axel sittin" in the li#in" roo . 4t was as if he was waitin" for her. Just lookin" at hi in his :eans and the sa e killer3lookin" wife3beater tee! with his "a%e so deep! yet intense! instantly relit her arousal. 61ey!7 he said! lookin" her o#er. 61ey!7 she answered! not lea#in" the doorway. 1is "a%e tra#eled o#er her :eans and the thin3strapped flowered top she had on! then it lin"ered on her face. 64 "ot carried away!7 he said sole nly. 64ts :ust when 4 saw you in that sexy <7 1e didnt finish. 64 "ot carried away too!7 she offered ;uietly. 1e "rabbed his knees and rolled his shoulders! as if loosenin" the ! while she really appreciated the #iew. 64 want to "et carried away with you. 2ay away!7 he said lowly. 64ts :ust <7 She interrupted hi . 6No! 4 "et it! Axel.7 She paused! then u bled! 64 didnt want to "et it at first! but we dont want the and who they#e been with in our bed.7 1is s ile was slow and sweet. 6Thats y /i#! ri"ht out there. /o#e it.7 She s iled a little. 6So you "ot drunk last ni"ht=7 she asked. 1e "rabbed the back of his neck! rubbin" for a o ent as she switched feet to lean on. 1e dropped his hand. 6Dirst 4 "oin" out! ri"ht after we talk! to buy condo s.7 1er heartbeat sped up at this and a blush coursed across her cheeks. 60ont like lea#in" y lady needy like that!7 he said in a low and intense #oice. 2ar eltin" started so ewhere near her heart! touched her nipples! then headed south. 6Sa e here!7 she replied softly! way softer than she was feelin"! keepin" herself on the other side of the roo fro hi . 6As far as last ni"ht! /i#! 4 was confused and 4 didnt handle it well.7 6?iki=7 she asked! tryin" to keep out of her #oice how i portant the answer hed "i#e to her was. 1e started to answer slowly! 6?iki and 4 < that was :ust <7 .noc"/ .noc"/ .noc"/ .noc"/ Both their heads turned at the rapid knockin" on the front door! and /i# really wished Axel had answered that loo in" ;uestion! not had to lea#e it han"in"! like the answer could be ?iki and hi "ettin" back to"ether. 61ell!7 Axel uttered. 61a#e no idea who that could be.7 She let hi "o to the door* it was his aunt5s house and she stepped aside so he could o#e throu"h the entrance. As soon as Axel pulled open the front door! /i# wished shed not been standin" there or anywhere in the house for that atter. 6?iki!7 Axel uttered! and /i# could not :ud"e his deep #oice fro behind. She strai"htened! wantin" to fade into the wall. 6*hat is she doing here=7 ?iki exclai ed! in the hi"her ends of screechin". /i# saw ?iki was dressed to acco plish so ethin"! and her barely there halter dress screa ed! I want my man %ac"/ Axel could ha#e cussed as dirty and low down as hed learned in the ilitary. 1e could not belie#e ?iki was standin" in front of hi . ?iki tried to "rab the screen door! and he had the presence of ind to catch the handle on his side and keep her fro openin" the fli sy barrier. 6/et e inC7 she de anded. But he held on! shakin" his head. 6Aot nothin" for you!7 he uttered. 6But you ha#e so ethin" for her!7 ?iki spat. 64 your wifeC 2e need to talkC7

62hy=7 he asked in a pissed3off "rowl. 6Because 4 a your wife and you need to be with e after what her bastard husband ade e doC7 62hat did he do=7 /i# whispered behind hi . Axel swun" his hand behind hi with one fin"er out in a "esture for her to wait a inute. 61e black ailed e into bedC7 ?iki screeched on the other side of the screen door. Axel heard /i# "asp with a cut3off lau"h behind hi ! then she exclai ed! 61e isnt capable of doin" thatC 2hy would he=7 ?iki sto ped her hi"h heels like a child. 61e didC7 Axel heard /i# barely whisperin"! 6Shes lyin".7 6Because hes on the council! ri"ht=7 Axel threw at ?iki. 64 didnt say<7 ?iki cried. /i# exclai ed o#er her! 61es notC7 ?iki finished! 6ThatC7 Then /i# added! 6Not on any freakin" council.7 6AxelC 8pen the door! baby.7 ?iki si pered! poutin" her lips at hi throu"h the screen. 6Euit da n lyin"!7 he stated an"rily. 6(ne call! 4 can find out.7 6But 4 want you backC 0oesnt that ean so ethin"=7 she cried. 6No. Duck. No.7 She backed off the porch as if hed hit her. Then she stu bled down the step. 6>ou could#e had thisC7 She "estured at her body! shakin" her pointin" fin"er. 64nstead of that skinny bitchC7 Axel s;uee%ed his eyes shut. Damn her. 6>ou stay away fro e and /i# or 4 will "et a restrainin" order! ?iki.7 ?iki screeched one ore ti e! then she "ot into her car. Axel turned and sla ed the door shut. 2hen he turned to look at /i#! she was "one. /i# ca ped in her bedroo ! callin" her lawyer! and debatin" whether to call Andrew and tell hi what ?iki was sayin". 6+ore like rub it in his face that his little istress is tryin" to "et her husband back!7 she uttered. 2hile that held i ense hopes of #en"eful satisfaction! she hesitated! thinkin" she needed Axels ad#ice on it. But she didnt want to talk to Axel ri"ht then! not with his wife lookin" so sexy and tryin" to "et hi back. Then there was their failed atte pt at sex! so fresh. 1er cell din"ed and she looked down seein" an inco in" text fro Axel. +oing out, %a%e. )orry a%out .i"i. She was sorry about ?iki too. The bitch. Tryin" to han" on to two en. She texted back. Im going to serve Andrew today. Its 0riday. 1is return textB 1eally. ("ay. Ill serve .i"i. If I can. !i"e we &lanned. She knew his 6if 4 can7 was if ?iki wasnt at ho e. Theyd planned it out for both of the to do it while their spouses werent at ho e. /ea#in" the papers for the to find. But with ?iki and Andrew apparently on the outs! it i"ht be harder for Axel to find ?iki not at ho e. She was "lad Axel was "i#in" her space by not talkin" to her directly! but she felt uneasy about that too. 2as he pullin" away fro her or was he bein" kind and lettin" her deal with so e of the thin"s that had been happenin"= 4f it werent for ?iki shed belie#e the latter. 6>ou did ha#e the hottest ake3out session of the century :ust this ornin"!7 she uttered. 61e is into you.7 4nstead of dwellin" on thin"s she couldnt fi"ure out! she "ot ready to "o see her lawyer to pick up the di#orce papers! then shed put 6the plan7 into action. Actually! the plan was ;uite cle#er on Axels part! e#en thou"h the cat was out of the ba"! as it was! about the affair. The plan still had erit. After the lawyers office! she pulled into the dri#eway of her house! lookin" at the structure as if she hadnt spent the last fi#e to six years li#in" there. 4t looked forei"n and way too perfect! because Andrew did not like dressin" a house up with ho ey accents9he preferred perfected class. There were two identical HfakeI topiaries on either side of the entrance! white colu ns! a nice porch! and no outdoor furniture. Andrew abhorred the thou"ht they i"ht sit out on their front porch. /i# "uessed people fro his country club didnt do that. As she "ot out of her car! lookin" at the house! she reali%ed how little of her personality sta ped her house. Not uch. +aybe that was why she felt no real loss at lea#in" it behind. 1er thin"s yes! the house < no.

She was happy to see Andrew wasnt ho e9of course! she knew he wouldnt be at that ti e of day. She let herself into the darkened house ;uietly! feelin" kind of otherworldly about it all. Aoin" directly to the li#in" roo ! she turned on the li"hts to "et a better look at the 0.0 player. That was Axels plan* they were to take the 0.0 each of the had! showin" proof of the cheatin"! and put it in to play so when their spouses ca e ho e! the proof would be blarin" at the . Next to the "larin" proof would be the di#orce papers lyin" under the re ote! not to be issed that way. 64 think that says it all!7 /i# declared. She inserted the 0.0 and stood back with the re ote to start it. 6Says all what! /i#=7 /i# "asped! swin"in" around to stare at Andrew. 1e was in casual attire! but his expression was enacin". Stupidly! she said! 6>ou5re ne#er here this ti e of day. 2heres your car=7 64n the "ara"e now that 4#e "otten rid of all your crap out there.7 1e see ed snotty and rude! as if he hated her. 6+y stuff= 2hat ha#e you done with my stuff=7 1e shru""ed! walkin" closer. 64 belie#e in "i#in" to charity.7 She nearly screa ed at hi ! or rushed out to see what of hers hed "i#en away! because she took his eanin" clearly. She saw by the look playin" around his eyes and lips that hed done it out of spite. 60i#orce papers!7 she snapped at hi ! thrustin" the folded white papers she held out toward hi . 6Take the !7 she de anded. 1is hands went behind his back while he uttered! 6Ahead of the "a e.7 +ame 6Take the ! AndrewC7 1e stepped back! and she shook the papers at hi . 6>ou fuck hi =7 he asked with a pee#ish sound. She dropped the papers on the floor between the and pointed the re ote at the T.. 64 not the cheater!7 she hissed. They "lared at each other and she couldnt belie#e! not ten days a"o! shed kissed hi in this house and tried to do it passionately. Sounds of screwin" filled the air and Andrews "a%e :u ped to the T.. 6>ou had e followed=7 1is hand slashed throu"h the air. 6>ou bitchC7 /i# threw the re ote o#er the back of the couch! to land with a bounce on the seat cushions. 62ere throu"h!7 she proclai ed! and she started to rush by hi . But he "rabbed her < with such force it hurt her upper ar s. At the sa e o ent she screa ed! 6/et "oC7 1e yelled! 6>ou think 4 careC7 1e shook her. 6>ou5re like a lead wei"ht! and 4 a "lad to "et rid of youC7 She looked into his an"ry! puffed3out face. 6>ou should ha#e di#orced e! then!7 she whi pered. 1e shook her a"ain! and she had no choice but to "rab his upper ar s to stay on her feet. 6>ou ha#ent ade y dick hard in years. But :ust thinkin" about you with him!7 he spat. 6>ou like it like that=7 She shook her head! tryin" to push away fro hi ! not understandin" what he was sayin" or why! but she was afraid! and the need to flee was stron". 6/et e "o! AndrewC /et e lea#e.7 6>ou like it like that!7 he snarled a"ain! shakin" her ore! until she yelped in pain. 6/ike what=7 she cried. 6>ou are always so stiff in bed! like a lu p. >ou o#e for him=7 64 dont know what youre sayin"! AndrewC >ou need to let e "o.7 /i# tried to pull free! but he followed her o#e ent until she was pressed into the ed"e of the breakfast bar that di#ided the li#in" roo fro the kitchen. 6?iss e like you kiss hi !7 Andrew de anded. 6NoC7 she cried! twistin" her head when he tried to put his outh on hers. 6Are you cra%y=7 64 can "i#e it to you like hi !7 he "rowled. 6>ou like it fro behindC7 Andrew swun" her around and sho#ed her so hard forward she hit the back of the couch and she had to put her hands forward to keep fro fallin" o#er it. Andrew crowded behind her botto ! pushin" into her! and then she felt his < his erection. 6/ike this!7 he spat! and he hu ped her hard. 62hat about ?iki=7 /i# cried! tryin" to turn hi away fro his furious re#en"e.

6?ikis ore wo an than youll e#er fuckin" be!7 he uttered! "rindin" his erection a"ainst her botto ! while she tried to push off the couch cushion to stand! but she couldnt. 6?iki wouldnt take it up the ass. >ou want to! bitch. 4 i"ht keep you.7 1e was insaneC /i# finally reali%ed another escape route! and instead of "oin" backwards! she went forwards. She so surprised Andrew he didnt catch her as she tucked and rolled sideways onto the couch. Then she was up and runnin" to the "ara"e door that she knew she could lock. She ade itC Sla in" and lockin" the door with Andrew bellowin" on the other side. 4t sounded as if he hit and kicked the door as she sprinted to the inside "ara"e door opener! slappin" it. Shed left her purse and her keys inside the house! but she had a spare key in a a"net box under the front3wheel hub on her car. She snatched it as Andrew sla ed opened the front door. 6>oull ne#er keep hi C7 Andrew shouted! while she fu bled the key into her hand and :u ped into her S-.! lockin" the doors. Andrew stood on the front step! lookin" enacin" as she tried to "et the spare key into the i"nition! pantin". 6No tits! no passion! you will ne#er keep hi C7 Andrew shouted! and /i#s tears finally started to fall. She "ot her car started and she peeled the tires on the dri#eway "ettin" out of there. She was shakin" and cryin" so bad that a ile later! she had to pull o#er. 61ow could he hate e so uch!7 she kept sayin" o#er and o#er. Chapter "hirteen Axel was frantic. 4t was after dark and /i# wasnt ho e. She didnt answer her cell and hed finally "ot in his car to try to find her. But he didnt know her ho e address. 60a n!7 he "rowled! dri#in" by the bikers bar where theyd done their sur#eillance. 1e didnt see her S-. and he dro#e on to check the only other place he did know was her turf < the rose far . 1e knew she was "oin" to ser#e di#orce papers on her dickwad husband! but said dick shouldnt ha#e been ho e. /i# knew ha#in" her husband ho e with her was to be a#oided. But after hed "i#en her space this ornin"! he hadnt heard fro her all da n day. 1ed "otten ore and ore worried! nearly callin" ,onan to see if he could track her. But it was all he didnt know that stopped hi . 2as she pissed about ?iki= /ikely. 2as she "i#in" hi the silent treat ent because of it all= 4f she was! it was seriously o#erboard. 4t was hard to find the rose3far entrance in the dark! and he issed it once and had to "o back. 1e finally dro#e his car down the lon" dri#eway while sweepin" his eyes where he could see followin" the headli"hts. Suddenly! his "a%e landed on /i#s S-. and his heartbeat thu ped! he was so instantly relie#ed to ha#e found her. 1e pulled in beside her car and turned his off! lookin" up at the house! which was dark. 1e "ot out! lookin" around. So ehow he knew she wasnt in the house! and it was pretty cold out as he looked around the dark rose far . 1alfway throu"h his sweepin" "a%e! he saw a li"ht and he be"an walkin" toward it. 4t beca e ob#ious that it was a flashli"ht flickerin" out in the rose bushes. 2ithout a li"ht of his own! he had to walk carefully in the dark! an"lin" toward the li"ht. So ethin" kept hi fro callin" out to her as he drew closer! feelin" certain it was /i#. 1e found her sittin" on a bench with her flashli"ht pointed at a rosebush that looked like a thick and stocky sentry in the wa#erin" li"ht. 2a#erin"! because he reali%ed /i# was cryin". Damn, no. 1e was afraid to find out what had happened! and he was ad she was out in the cold with :ust a li"ht top on and no coat. 1e didnt want to scare her. 6/i#= 4ts Axel.7 1er head ca e up fro where shed been weepin". 64ts the first rose bush.7 1er #oice wa#ered throu"h a sob. 1e ca e to her side ;uickly then! now that she knew he was there. 1e sat! sayin"! 6Baby! thats a a%in".7 She ade a sobbin" sound and she fell a"ainst hi . 1e pulled her in ti"ht! claspin" the back of her head! where her face pressed to his chest. 1e felt her shakin" and he separated the for a second! un%ippin" his coat and pullin" her deep! takin" the ed"es of his coat as far around her as he could.

She cried throu"h it all! as if shed been waitin" for hi to let loose. ,ockin" her! he finally pulled her into his lap and let her cry! while his chest ti"htened. 1er clothes were on and nothin" see ed torn. 1e didnt think shed been raped. 4n the little hed seen of her! she didnt look beaten up. 1e prayed a little! holdin" her and holdin" his ton"ue until she cal ed down. 2hen her sobs were :ust little catches! he asked! 61ow old is the rose bush= 0id your "rand a plant it=7 68#er fifty years!7 she u bled into his chest. 64ts a china rose. Arand a and Arandpa planted it.7 E#en in the dark he could see! with the bench and clearin" around it! that it was a type of onu ent. 6Difty years. A a%in".7 She was silent! burrowin" into hi ore! then :ust when he was "oin" to ask! she said! 6Andrew ca e ho e.7 61e hurt you=7 1e had to know. 6>es!7 she whined! pressin" ti"hter a"ainst hi as he ti"htened his ar s! feelin" an"er and an"uish rise inside hi . 6But 4 "ot away before it "ot really bad!7 she whispered. 1e released a ti"ht breath! tryin" to hold his te per. Dor her. 6Tell e.7 She shook her face a"ainst hi . 6Tell e! baby!7 he ordered a"ain. 61e said 4ll ne#er keep you with no tits and no passion. 4 a lu p in bed.7 6Shut it!7 he "rowled. And she "asped a"ainst hi . 6Not "oin" to show you ri"ht now. But you know < you "now thats crap. Can barely keep y hands off you.7 1e shook her li"htly. 6>ou hear e=7 he de anded. 6>es!7 she whi pered! and he felt her face hit his neck with ore tears! then she told hi the worst of what had happened. 1e swore! his ar s :erkin" a"ainst her. Shed co e #ery close to bein" raped! and he was ha#in" a hard ti e containin" his an"er. That damn bastard. 64 ne#er expected anythin" like that!7 /i# whispered. 2hat bothered hi was why she was out at the rose far as if she were hidin". 1e knew it eant she belie#ed half the thin"s her husband had spewed about her. 64 takin" you ho e!7 he uttered. 1is full intentions had been to take /i# to his aunts house! then "o after 0awson! but once he "ot her there he couldnt lea#e her* she was too shaken. So he "uided her into her bedroo . 6Take a shower! baby! 4ll wait here!7 he said! and he didnt like the bewildered and hurt look in her eyes. 68kay! Axel.7 1e decided the inute she closed the bathroo door that he had to stay! and he went to chan"e into so e $J botto s! because he knew exactly how he was "oin" to do it. Back in her roo ! he fixed the bedco#ers and pillows! and then he "ot in the bed. Dirst! he noticed how cute she looked in her ni"htie. 4t was so e pink thin" with ruffles! but her eyes were wide. 6Axel=7 6Aet in bed!7 he ordered! pattin" the space beside hi . 6This is the way its "oin" to be! /i#. Dro now on.7 She looked ore surprised! and then worried. 6- ! 4 dont know if 4 can97 6Just sleep! baby!7 he said! "uessin" where her thou"hts were "oin". 62ere "oin" to do that too! but not until youre ready.7 That see ed to co pletely relie#e her! then he was pleased by how easily she "ot into the bed. 4t eant she really trusted hi . But she tried to lie down on the far ed"e fro hi ! and he shook his head! "rabbed her waist! really likin" the feel! and he pulled her into hi . 1i on his side and her on her back. She ade a surprised sound as he wrapped her up a"ainst hi . 64 a cuddler!7 he ur ured in her ear. 6>ou are=7 she whispered. 1e would ha#e chuckled! but he wasnt feelin" too funny with her pressed a"ainst hi . Still! he was "oin" to i"nore it! for her. 1e ur ured an affir ati#e sound to her ;uestion. She si"hed and lost about half the tension in her body.

6/ike the ni"htie!7 he ur ured into her hair. She ade a s all sound! then snu""led into hi . 6Thank you! honey.7 1e knew she wasnt thankin" hi for the co pli ent on her ni"htie! and he lo#ed her callin" hi honey. 1e lay there! wonderin" if she was a talker before she went to sleep or a ;uiet thinker! before he reached back and turned off the li"ht. 6E#ery ni"ht. Dro now on!7 he uttered! and he felt her nod. 4t took her awhile to "o to sleep and they shifted a few ti es* finally! the one that put her under was the one where she lay on her side partially o#er hi with her le" up o#er his thi"h. 1e fi"ured it was the way he could "ently stroke her back that helped. As he listened to her soft breathin" while she slept! he reali%ed he was ore relaxed too. By bein" with her! hed brou"ht his ra"e down. Aood thin". Ne#er "ood to "o without a solid plan! so he wasnt disappointed he had to wait. The next ornin" Axel woke with a hard3on and his hand inside /i#s panties. Hell. At least he was cuppin" her butt! not her ound. 1e ust ha#e burrowed to find so ethin" nice to s;uee%e in his sleep. 1e looked throu"h his lashes and he saw /i# was asleep! belly down with her face toward where he lay on his side. 1er lips were parted and full and there was a strand of her hair o#er one eye and her nose. 1e wanted to play ornin" wake3up with his ton"ue deep in her outh! but hed pro ised her! and he knew after what her dick husband did! shed not be ready for his hot and hea#y. 1e con#inced his erection he had thin"s to do! but it told hi he better "et it off in his ornin" shower or it would :u p /i# and sink in deep! with pleasure. So he slipped away fro /i#! not wakin" her! and he showered! with a little :ackin" off thrown in. 1e dressed in the bathroo and slipped out to ake ornin" coffee. 4t was pretty early and he wasn5t "oin" to wake /i# unless he had too. Besides! he had a ission to acti#ate and he reached for his cell as he stood by the kitchen counter. Jax picked up on the third rin". 6>o! bro.7 6>o!7 Axel offered back. 64 need backup.7 68n what=7 Jax asked. Axel explained what happened to /i# the afternoon before. 62e dont need :ail ti e! so we need to "et creati#e!7 Axel said. 6>ou cool lea#in" the shop closed=7 Jax asked. 6>eah! for today. Can you recon his place! then head o#er here! buddy=7 6>ou "ot it!7 Jax replied! then they both ended the call. Axel stood at the counter! debatin" whether to let /i# in on this or lea#e her out. 1e planned to "et her thin"s back! so aybe shed fi"ure it out either way. /i# wandered into the kitchen! lured by the s ell of coffee. Axels "a%e "a#e her the sa e slow3 burnin" perusal he had the ornin" before. Then he crooked his fin"er for her to co e closer. 1e looked really "ood in stonewash black :eans and a chest3hu""in" tee shirt that e phasi%ed the pronounced uscles in his upper ar s. 2hen she "ot close enou"h! he cau"ht her waist and pulled her a"ainst hi . 68ne of these ornin"s 4 "oin" to "i#e these sexy ni"hties you wear y appreciation! baby.7 /i# s iled a"ainst his outh and they be"an kissin" each other "ood ornin". Axels hands wandered to her botto < under her ni"htie. Then he "roaned and lifted his head. 6$ains e! but 4 cannot "et into this9Jax is co in" o#er.7 /i# rubbed her cheek alon" his :aw. She was in a bit of an arousal3by3kissin" da%e and thinkin" about feelin" total body skin to skin. 62hat for=7 she ur ured! rubbin" a"ainst Axels body. 1e helped with his hands down her panties! cuppin" her behind. 6Aoin" to treat your dick husband to so e :ustice.7 That woke her out of her tin"lin" ha%e. 4nstead of her hands pettin" hi as theyd been doin"! she used the to push and look up at hi . 6Excuse e= 2hat did you say=7 Axels "a%e "rew instantly "uarded as he looked down at her. 6Not stoppin" e!7 he warned. /i# pushed ore until his hands ca e out of her panties! and she could step back so she could re"ard hi . 64 want to help!7 she said. /i# saw Axels look of surprise! then he lau"hed. 61ell! darlin! 4 thou"ht you were "oin" to bite y ass! not ask to help.7 She lo#ed his lau"h. 4t was #ery sexy. 64 dont want you in trouble or Andrew killed! but anythin" else! you have to let e help.7

Axel reached forward and "rabbed her to pull her a"ainst hi a"ain. 6>ou "ot it.7 1e cupped her :aw and kissed her se#eral ti es. 64 "et to be your co ander for this ission! /i#! and you ust follow all y orders.7 /i# shi#ered! and she knew he felt it! because his "a%e lifted to hers. 6>ou like e bein" in control=7 he asked softly. She nodded li"htly. 6>es! sir!7 she whispered. 1e leaned forward a"ainst her ear. 6,e e ber that for toni"ht in our bed.7 Dull3fled"ed body heat flushed throu"h her. Then he "a#e her his first order! with a slap on her butt. 6Ao "et dressed! soldier.7 Chapter #ourteen /i# couldnt belie#e it. Axel and Jax had kidnapped Andrew. She was the dri#er and Andrew had a black ba" o#er his head. Jax did all the talkin". 2ell! really it was deep3throated threats and orders! while Andrew whined and his puny body shook. 4t was a blastC Andrew deser#ed bein" scared cra%y. Axel and Jax had "one into her old house! :u pin" on Andrew! still in bed! and pullin" hi out the back of the house! where she waited in her S-.. Andrew didnt know it was his wifes car! because he had a ba" o#er his headC Axel had tossed her purse and cell onto the passen"er seat when hed been sho#in" Andrew into the back seat. Then Jax de anded! 61eard you fucked with ?iki. 0ont like en that touch wo en wron"! asshole.7 4t was brilliant! sayin" this had to do with ?ikiC 64 ne#er! 4 ne#erC7 Andrew wailed. 6>ou re e ber! 4 on you! 4 hear that shit a"ain. 2ith any wo anC7 Then the ost a a%in" thin" happenedB Axel and Jax started pullin" Andrews pa:a as off! until he was buck naked! and Axel otioned for her to stop the car. Before she knew what the heck they could be doin"! they pushed Andrew out of the car with the ba" still tied o#er his head. 64tll be worst next ti e 4 hear you hurt a wo an! bastardC7 Jax yelled at Andrew! who was cuppin" his bare "enitals while runnin" down the road. 6Dloor it!7 Axel ordered! and she did! with tears of lau"hter in her eyes. 68h y Aod! that was so bad! it was "oodC7 she exclai ed as she looked in her rear#iew irror! seein" Andrews pale ass bouncin" as he hopped down the hi"hway. 2hen they "ot to Axels aunts house! an hour later after droppin" Jax off! they were both still lau"hin". /i# couldnt belie#e how e powered the stunt ade her feel. And how turned on < which was clin"in" to her fro that ornin" and fro sleepin" next to Axels hard body all ni"ht. +aybe that was why she felt bold enou"h to attack Axel the inute the door closed. She felt surprise stiffen his body when she hooked his shoulders and pressed a"ainst hi so hard his back hit the entryway wall. She "ot his outh on a lau"h as she kissed hi . Seconds later! he had her botto cau"ht in his hands and he was pullin" her up his body! where she cla ped her le"s o#er his hips. Their lips nipped and lashed at each others! twistin" one way! then tiltin" another. 1e turned and pressed her body into the wall and she could feel the hard len"th of his erection pressin" deep into her. She oaned. 1is ton"ue swept into her outh while their hips "round to"ether. Dor a half3second she broke their torrid kissin". 6Condo s=7 She "asped the ;uestion. 6Dull da n box!7 he returned the answer! :ust before his outh co#ered her lips a"ain. An hour later! Axel had her sprawled naked on the bed with her le"s tan"led o#er his shoulders while he worked his brilliant outh on her! toward cli ax. Aod! he was dedicated. Shed tried to stop hi at thirty inutes! sayin" she was :ust too tense to ha#e one9not the truth! that shed ne#er had one fro oral before! and only on the rare occasion fro a ans fin"ers. 2hile totally lustin" after Axel! shed for"otten about this issue. But now < with his tenaciousness < 68h +od! Axel!7 she cried passionately! her hips :u pin" in ti e with his fin"ers burnin" rapid circles o#er her clit. 1e had three fin"ers fro his other hand pu pin" inside her! and at odd unti ed o ents he lifted his fin"er and sucked hard on her clit. 1er head thrashed as she tried to lose herself to the cli ax ti"htenin" inside her. 6Think about the ways 4ll fuck you! /i#!7 he rasped! churnin" his fin"ers so fast o#er her clit. 6Thrustin" into you < takin" you hard.7

68hC 8hC 8hC7 she panted. 1ow did he know she needed that #isual of her sex achin" to be filled hard! deep! and fast= Then he thrust his fin"ers inside her! rockin" her hips. 6/ike this.7 1e thrust hard. 62ith you so wet on e as 4 stretch you and dri#e deep.7 /i# screeched! archin" hi"h! then Axels hot outh elted o#er her sex and she felt a :erkin" tu" that drew up her cli ax. 4t threw it o#er the top into shudders and pleasure so intense she for"ot to breathe for lon" seconds! :ust feelin" it explode throu"h her. Axel o#ed her on the bed until her thi"hs cla ped his head as he sucked on her slit! while "rowlin" in a way she could only take as pleasure. 1er body shook with her feet planted flat on his shoulder blades. +inutes later! he licked her slit slowly as thou"h he was sa#orin" it! and she put her hand on top of his head. 64 so sorry it took so lon"!7 she started to say! but her words "ot stuck! when he lifted his head with a wicked "rin on his lips and the e bers of lust in his eyes. 6That was so da n hot!7 he said. Then he be"an crawlin" up fro between her le"s. 6>ou "i#e e anythin" less than an hour on your sweetness and 4 "oin" to be pissed.7 1e stopped at her taut nipple to suck on it and she could feel his erection! thick and hard! pushin" into her slit. 6Axel!7 she oaned as he nipped her nipple. 68kay!7 she whispered as he be"an pushin" his thick shaft into her! and she lifted her le"s to accept hi while oanin". Axel hooked his forear under the s all of /i#s back! dra""in" her a"ainst hi each ti e he thrust into her. 6A3Aod! youre so bi"3"!7 /i# "asped! and he pu ped his hips faster with his face buried in her neck. 1e "rowled his response to her! swin"in" his hips. 6)o "ood!7 she ewled in his ear. 1e was "oin" to lose it! but he was fi"htin" it! because akin" lo#e to /i# felt so a a%in" he ne#er wanted it to end. 1e wanted her for hours and in e#ery position he could i a"ine. But he only had one left in hi ! and he unhooked her spine to dra" her le"s up on his shoulders as he pushed forward and rolled her ass up into his lower chest. She s;uealed in pleasure as he looked down at his shaft pu pin" into her pink wetness. That did it. 1e cla ped the back of her head! dra""in" her lips to his outh as he "runted a harsh "roan of release! while takin" her outh deep. 2hen his blissed3out brain started firin" a"ain! he reali%ed /i# was on the last ed"es of another cli ax herself! while his bi" body held her curled. 6That never happened before!7 she said breathlessly o ents later! as he slowly pulled out of her! watchin" it happen. 6Ne#er what=7 he asked! distracted. 1er slit was reddish pink now and "listenin" wet. 6Cli ax with intercourse.7 1is eyes :erked to hers as he held his body abo#e hers! and she slowly lowered her le"s down his thi"hs. 6+aybe the position helped!7 he said with what he knew was a lot of arro"ance underlyin" in his tone. 64 think it was you!7 she said! with a seducti#e look as she stroked his chest. 6>our outh is a a%in".7 1e released his wicked "rin and pushed off the bed. 1e had to dispose of the condo and he brou"ht back a war washcloth for /i#. 6No! let e!7 he said when she tried to take it fro hi . She ade a s all! frustrated sound and he winked at her. 64 the boss! re e ber.7 1e o#ed her thi"h and put the war washcloth between her le"s. 64 attached to this pretty pinkness now!7 he said huskily! watchin" his hand and the washcloth clean her. 62ow! :ust wow!7 /i# whispered. 6>ou ake e feel really "ood! and <7 1e raised his eyes while holdin" the war washcloth a"ainst her. 6And what! baby=7 1e could tell she was reluctant to finish! but she whispered! 6Sexual. ,eally sexual! where 4 felt half dead before.7 /ater! when he had her naked a"ainst hi in a war body cuddle before sleep! they talked about that. 1e ad itted how lon" it had been since hed been to bed with ?iki! and how uch it frustrated and hurt hi tryin" to i"nore it. 64ts like they ake you feel as if theres so ethin" wron" with you!7 /i# whispered. 6Not that theyre selfish and unresponsi#e.7

Axel kissed her te ple. 6>eah! baby. Not that the reason they dont want to "o to bed with you is because theyre already "ettin" screwed by so eone else.7 68h y Aod! 4 ne#er thou"ht of it like that!7 /i# exclai ed softly. 1ed thou"ht of it9 any ti es9since hed found out ?iki was cheatin". 62hat we :ust had here! sweetheart! shows we ha#e a whole lot to "i#e! if theyd :ust ha#e et us halfway.7 /i# nodded a"ainst hi . 64 lo#in" how its akin" e feel as if 4 ha#e one i portant and a a%in" thin" way up on the . They could ne#er co e close to this.7 She kissed hi on the cheek. 6Theyre ne#er "ettin" anythin" this "ood.7 1e lo#ed the feel of her o#in" naked a"ainst hi . 62e#e "ot to keep on top of this Gus to"ether!7 he ur ured! o#in"! rollin"! and liftin" o#er her slowly. 6A"ain!7 she whispered in wonder! pettin" his chest. 6>ou put the condo on this ti e!7 he told her in response. The next ornin"! /i# s iled herself awake. She felt like a sex kitten stretchin" naked under the sheets. She could feel the li"ht ache of #i"orous lo#e akin" between her thi"hs. She :ust wanted to < sin" an operaC /au"hin"! she stretched ore. She knew Axel was up already. 1ed kissed her an hour or so earlier and said he was "oin" to ake coffee and she should sleep in. Aod! she hadnt felt this sexy in years. The thrill of it :ust hu ed throu"h her body. /i# turned on her tu y! "rabbin" a pillow to sho#e under her chin as she stared at the headboard. 6Three or"as s!7 she whispered. Axel :ust didnt take no for an answer! where her or"as s were concerned. 1ed tau"ht her a lot of thin"s too. /ike the way he had her rubbin" her clit while he thrust so "ood inside her. 1e acted as if she was really hot and he couldnt "et enou"h of her. 4t ade her freakin" fly with happiness. And Axels body. 6>u !7 she purred. She could stroke hi fore#er* he was such a hunk of an. She heard the door whisper open behind her! then Axels ;uiet #oice. 61ey! baby! your cell is rin"in".7 She heard the next rin" as she started to turn! but the cell appeared in her line of #ision. 6Thank you!7 she whispered o#er her shoulder to Axel before she looked back to her cell and took the call. 61ello.7 She paused! listenin". 6?atie! hi. 8h! its been a while.7 She hadnt talked to her friend ?atie in ore than a onth. As she listened to ?atie in#itin" her to a barbecue! she felt Axel sittin" beside her. Then his war hand slowly stroked up her bare back. 1er botto shifted as she took a deep breath. 6Andrew and 4 are di#orcin"!7 she spoke into the cell. Axels hand stopped o#in". ?atie was shocked! then stutterin"! and then she in#ited her a"ain to co e alone to the barbecue. 64 dont know! thin"s are cra%y!7 /i# said to the second in#ite. Axel had started playin" with her hair. +aybe it was Axel bein" ri"ht there beside her! but she asked! 6Can 4 brin" so eone=7 ?atie i ediately thou"ht it was another "irlfriend as /i# looked o#er her shoulder at Axel. 1is "a%e :ud"ed her! but his hand slowly started pullin" the sheet down! re#ealin" her behind. 64ll "o with you anywhere!7 he whispered. She felt the sheet lea#in" her bare. 2ow. 6! no! its a an 4 seein".7 Then she had to say! 6>es! really ;uick. >es! a surprise.7 Axels hand cupped her buttock! distractin" her thou"hts. Then she reali%ed what ?atie had asked. /i# sat ;uickly upri"ht! akin" Axel ha#e to scoot back as she clutched the cell. 6No! 4 was not cheatin" on hi !7 she said an"rily into the cell. 64#e :ust et so eone ri"ht after 4 found Andrew cheatin" on me.7 /i# couldnt belie#e how unsy pathetic ?atie was. ?atie was actin" like her arria"e could catch the trouble and di#orce by :ust bein" associated with /i#. 64 cant belie#e you are actin" like you dont belie#e e!7 /i# said with hurt in her #oice. Axels ar ca e around her back and she leaned into hi . 6+aybe well talk later. 4 ha#e to "o.7 /i# snapped her cell shut. 6That was eye openin"!7 she uttered. Then she was transported onto Axels lap and her ar s auto atically went around his neck. She reali%ed she was co pletely nude while he was dressed in :eans and a button3down shirt. 1e pulled until he wrapped her up a"ainst hi . 6Ne#er thou"ht about it!7 he said into her hair while she sou"ht co fort in his e brace. 64 "uess arried friends are "oin" to break one of two ways! for or a"ainst.7

She rubbed her nose a"ainst his neck. 64 bettin" now a3"ainst.7 6>eah!7 he a"reed. Then he brou"ht up a new sub:ect that had her blushin"! 6>ou sore! baby=7 1is hands were war and explorin" as she nodded into his neck. 1er answer ade hi si"h. 68kay! then 4 better<7 1e started to pull back. She cupped his neck. 6>ou really could do it a"ain=7 she asked! a a%ed. 1is eyes were turned to look down at her bare breasts. 68h! yeah. But 4 "oin" to let you reco#er today! and 4 "ettin" so e lube.7 68h! yeah!7 she whispered back at hi ! s ilin". See ed she was "oin" to ha#e a s okin" hot affair. Chapter #i%teen 6Christ, /i#.7 1er outh went down on hi a"ain. 6Jesus!7 he "roaned! watchin" her lips stretch o#er his thick shaft. 1ed ne#er in a illion years "uessed shed < 6(h! Christ!7 he "roaned as she started "oin" faster while swirlin" her ton"ue in the ost incredible way. 1is hips be"an buckin" upwards. Then he reali%ed < 6Aoin to co e! baby!7 he uttered! out of breath! and he "rabbed the base of his shaft! tryin" to hold it back. 0a n! hed ne#er "otten her take on swallowin". /i# knocked his hand away! o#in" o#er hi with her hair trailin" o#er his abdo en and thi"hs! and she sucked faster. ("ay. 1e arched upward. Ten inutes later! she lay with her head on his abs and her fin"er swirlin" on his chest as he sifted his fin"ers throu"h her hair. 6That was a a%in"!7 he rasped. 1e felt her s ile across his flesh. 64 ne#er swallowed before!7 she whispered. 1ell. 1is hand ti"htened on her s all skull. 6Treasure! baby! pure treasure!7 he told her! then he o#ed and "rasped under her ar s to pull her body up his! until he had her outh in a ten3 inute kissin" appreciation arathon. 2hen he slowed! he looked down on her with his hands on either side of her face. 1ow could he ha#e known hed find this kind of special after findin" ?iki cheatin"= E#eryone lookin" outside i"ht think he was an unlucky bastard to ha#e a cheatin"3ass wife! but he wasnt that at all. 64 so lucky 4 found you! /i#.7 Epilogue Su er was nearly o#er and /i# watched Axel handin" o#er the keys to the rental shop. The sale was co plete and the newly arried couple buyin" Axels store looked as happy as she and Axel did. Axel hooked an ar across her neck fro behind and kissed her cheek! then held her a"ainst his side. 6>ou need a consult! "i#e us a call!7 Axel told the couple. /i# wa#ed as she and Axel started headin" back to their S-.. Shed found out in the onths theyd li#ed to"ether and "one throu"h their separate di#orces to"ether9so e of it easy and ost of it hard9that Axel had always wanted to be a pilot. 1ed found out! to his surprise! that her rose far wasnt :ust the little business that her ex3husband always thou"ht it was! because he could ne#er show any interest in it. 4t wasnt s all and barely akin" it < instead it was bi" and #ery profitable! to the tune of a illion and a half annually. 2hich eant that after Axel lost a hu"e whack to his witch of a wife ?iki! by ha#in" to sell both the house and business at a loss! plus the credit card totals Axel hadnt known about! /i# was able to say to hi ! with lots of lo#e! 61appy flyin"! baby. 4 cant wait until you "et your license and can fly e around as your first custo er.7 Axel "rabbed her by the door of the S-. for a flat3out hot ake3out kiss! ri"ht out there on the hi"hway! and when the heat of his passionate outh lifted! he said! 6+aybe 4ll learn how to dust our rose crop.7 She lau"hed! hu""in" hi . 6/o#e you! baby.7 1is i ediate responseB 6/o#e you as uch.7 "he End&

Just a Couple Exs Exposed 'read excerpt( 'Standalone novel( 'available now( )* S& +nders Nia Cooper couldn5t belie#e it. She5d :ust "otten off work fro the Dabric Barn when a an and a wo an approached her out in the parkin" lot! next to her old rusted AT8. They clai ed they were tele#ision producers for a show called! J,otten Cheatin" Spouses.J Nia looked disbelie#in"ly at the thin! forty3so ethin" wo an. Nia thou"ht her inward instincts were tellin" her that a wo an would offer ore support. She was wron" about that. J+rs. Cooper! wouldn5t you want to know if your husband was cheatin"=J a an in the "roup asked her! with a icrophone tilted toward her! as a tall an carryin" a bi" ca era on his shoulder slowly walked toward the . J1ere si"n this!J the thin wo an ur"ed. JSo we can tape your answer.J The wo an held a paper attached to a clipboard with a pen pointed in Nia5s direction. JJust initials are fine!J the wo an persisted. Nia tried ;uellin" the sudden alar she felt by rationali%in" it was :ust a poll taken by the T. show. 2hat were the odds of a T. show showin" up in her part of town thou"h= The town was bi" enou"h that she5d not been on the east3side of town in o#er a year. There was :ust no need to "o o#er there. J>es! 4 think husbands or wi#es should be told if their spouses are cheatin"!J she said! answerin" the poll ;uestion with her honest feelin"s. J4t5s a horrible thin"!J she added. JJust si"n this so your answer counts!J the wo an producer repeated! and she actually put the pen in Nia5s hand and o#ed her fin"ers to the paper. Nia initialed what she assu ed was her #ote! and :ust as the last swirl was drawn! the wo an producer exclai ed! JAot itCJ /i"hts fro the ca era flashed on! floodin" the area in bri"htness e#en thou"h it was dayli"ht. Nia lifted her hand! tryin" to shade her eyes fro the "lare! as she exclai ed! J8h noC No! 4 don5t want to be taped. 4 :ust "a#e y #ote is all= $lease don5t tape e.J J0on5t worry!J the an said! with a uch different #oice than he5d used to ask the cheatin" spouse ;uestion. Now his #oice was unnaturally deep soundin" and it had a fake sy pathetic tone to it. J>ou5ll want this docu ented!J he said. J+rs. Cooper! we ha#e so e #ideo that we think you need to see!J the wo an said! who now had a suit :acket on and her "lasses were "one. JJust take a look here.J A ini3ca corder screen was pushed under Nia5s nose! and as she looked down at it! she heard the an say. J2e are so sorry to ha#e to re#eal this to you! +rs. Cooper! and we will offer you co plete support throu"h all of this.J Nia felt her body tensin" as her sto ach "rew sour with terrible feelin"s. (h no. She tried to force her eyes away fro the #ideo screen! but her husband 0an was suddenly on the screen and she couldn5t tear her "a%e away. 4t ca e to her! ri"ht before it was confir ed by e#ents on the ca corder screen! what the co bination i"ht ean of her husband and a T. show called! J,otten Cheaters.J J8h it can5t be!J she whispered! and she didn5t reali%e she5d dropped her purse to clutch the #iewin" screen. 8n the screen she saw her husband! 0an! leanin" o#er to kiss a pretty black3haired wo an. 4t wasn5t a peck either. 4t was a lon" and lin"erin" kiss that ade her sicker with each o ent it went on. *here were they! she wondered= She was tryin" to place the back"round with the fleetin" hope that the #ideo was fro before they were arried. She5d uch rather belie#e her husband than so e stran"ers. J8ur underco#er an cau"ht this #ideo at /a Dontina ,estaurant!J the an was sayin". J2hen=J Nia de anded! drillin" her "a%e into his. J2hen was this taken=J JSe#eral onths a"o!J the wo an producer told her. Then! the an said! J45 afraid we ha#e ore! +rs. Cooper.J *ho was the woman! Nia wondered= 0an worked a lot! but she5d ne#er thou"ht he could be doin" ... She "asped! because now the screen showed 0an with the wo an and they were both "ettin" undressed. 4t looked as if the #ideo was shot fro beyond an open window blind. Tears be"an burnin" her eyes. JThat5s enou"hCJ a an5s #oice snapped throu"h the roarin" in her brain! as she swayed. JTurn it off. She5s seen enou"h. 4 won5t do your se" ent if you don5t turn it off.J

So eone stron" steadied her waist and a broad hand cla ped o#er the ca corder! blockin" the #iews of the up and down otions of 0an o#er the wo an. )e2. They were ha#in" sex. J2hoa!J Jack Andersen said! puttin" his other hand under Nia Cooper5s elbow to hold her upri"ht. +an! this had been a bad idea. 4f +rs. Cooper felt half as shell3shocked as he did! it was no wonder she was about to faint. And he5d seen the entire #ideo of his wife with +rs. Cooper5s husband. Christ! he wondered how the two of the e#en knew each other. The word and action! 6drin"ing!7 sped throu"h his thou"hts! but he sho#ed it aside. J>ou "et the picture they are ha#in" an affair!J Jack said! bendin" so he could say it close to Nia Cooper5s ear. She nodded sayin"! J4 don5t want to see any ore of that.J J2hat do you think about the fact your husband is ha#in" a clandestine affair with his wife! +rs. Cooper=J Nia pulled away fro Jacks support! with and excla ation! J>our wife=J She looked up at Jack with eyes the color of aho"any! akin" her face appear e#en ore waifish. Dan Coo&er was an idiot! Jack thou"ht! because his wife was a soft! delicate! and appealin" wo an. She was #ery pretty in a natural way. J>es! y wife!J Jack answered! puttin" his hand forward to shake her hand! while tryin" to keep the ra"e and hurt he felt off his face. 1e knew he had to be doin" a poor :ob of it as he wondered if a handshake was proper in a situation like this. J45 Jack Andersen.J Nia Cooper5s s all hand "ot lost in his as he "ently shook her hand! and unbelie#ably he heard her say. J45 so sorry! +r. Andersen.J That ade the hurt he was tryin" to control ache harder and he knew his pain was reflected on the pale contours of her face. +o ents later! he and Nia were ushered apart fro one another! while the producers explained the next phase of the Jcheaters stin"J as hed labeled it. 1e5d been the one to call the show in the first place! because hed desperately needed a way to disco#er if his suspicions were true. Especially after his wife Sadie! kept bla in" hi and sayin" he was the one that was cra%y. Too his ;uestions! she5d repeatedly said* no she wasn5t ha#in" an affair* he was :ust an insecure slob. 4t was one of the any tactics shed used to co#er her tracks. 8nce he "ot into the tele#ision show5s official S-.! he could see Nia looked ra#a"ed as she sat cru pled on the far side of the back seat he sat on. The da n ca era an had his ca era pointed fro the front passen"er5s seat! back towards her. She looked at hi ! and whispered! J0o you think this is a "ood idea < confrontin" the =J Jack saw it then! on the ed"es of her delicate features < fear. 1e silently berated hi self! thinkin" he should ha#e thou"ht about this ... for all he knew 0an Cooper could be a wife beater. This a bush could push hi beyond acceptable li its. Jack scooted toward her! while sho#in" his hand into the lens of the ca era! until he5d pushed it and the "uy runnin" it a foot toward the windshield. JTurn if off now!J Jack de anded. J+r. Andersen! we need this foota"e!J Shelia said! fro the second set of rear seats. She was the fe ale host of the show. 1e "lared at her. J>ou5ll "et enou"h! :ust not ri"ht now.J JAlri"ht. Alri"ht! Bob! shut if off for a bit. 2e ha#e ti e.J Jack let the ca era lens "o! and he looked down at Nia. J>ou don5t ha#e to "o confront the ! +rs. Cooper. 4 can "et you ho e.J The next phase was to catch his wife and her husband alone at his house! doin" what* he did not e#en want to think about. 1e5d seen enou"h on the #ideo< his wife "i#in" another an the sex hed wanted. The sex hed practically be""ed her for. Jack rubbed a rou"h hand o#er his face. Then he felt Nia5s soft hand on his forear . J45 sorry!J she said ;uietly! readin" his pain. JJust tell e if you want to confront the or not!J he said. J45ll back you up.J 1e could definitely "i#e her that for bein" so nice to hi . Sorry= She had nothin" to be sorry for. Nia thou"ht she5d entered a co pletely alternate life fro the one she5d had! not lon" a"o! lea#in" the Dabric Barn. E#en with #ideo proof! she could hardly belie#e it! and her ind kept tryin" to find excuses. -nfortunately! e#ery ti e she looked at Jack Andersen5s face! she saw the truth. 1ow unreal was it to be sittin" beside the husband of the wo an 0an was screwin".

Tears burned her eyes a"ain! and she felt Jack cla p his hand in support o#er the top of her hand. That he could "i#e her support 9 it nearly ade her tears fall as she swallowed hard. She felt so bad her husband was ruinin" his life. 4t was worse for wo en to cheat! wasn5t it= $eople expected en too! but wo en= Jack had to be as de#astated! and she felt hi s;uee%in" her hand! at the sa e ti e he held his stron"! asculine features fir . She had to know for certain! e#en if it killed her. She had to know why= J4 think 4 need to see the !J she told Jack! in a ;uiet #oice. She was close enou"h that as she looked up at hi ! she could see how shiny his deep brown eyes were. -nshed tears! like her. Dor so e reason that ade her tears fall. +en tried so hard not to cry! she thou"ht. J4 know that 4 ha#e to see the !J he answered! with an"er in his #oice. Nia swiped at her tears! lookin" away fro Jack. She wished she had an"er like he did to stren"then her resol#e. She prayed it would co e later! because at the o ent all she felt was fear. Dear of losin" her husband. Dear that her life was irre#ocably chan"in" and she couldn5t stop it. Then! the S-.5s were turnin" down a suburban street she didn5t reco"ni%e. How had Dan met 3ac"4s wife in this &art of town, she wondered= The word! Jdrinkin"J flickered throu"h her thou"hts. J2e5re nearly there!J Jack said! and she was "rateful for the warnin"! but a type of odd! otherworldly nu bness settled o#er her. Throu"h the stran"e nu bness she could see ore tenseness settlin" o#er Jack5s features! akin" the ore chiseled. 1e had a soldier5s face < co pellin" and stron". She wondered how in the world his wife could e#er cheat on hi . 1e was a an5s! an. 1e had to work with his hands or close to it. Nia looked down at his hand co#erin" hers. 4t was bi" and wide. Not li"e Dan4s! she thou"ht. 0an had thinner hands! and he ne#er used the for any type of labor. 0an was a financial ad#isor! but he also prepared peoples taxes! to shorten the "ap between those ti es when his business was slow. (r 5 non6e2istent! Nia nearly uttered aloud. 4t was an old discussion between the ! but it had "otten her into workin" part ti e at the Dabric Barn. She lo#ed that. Surprised! because she5d ne#er thou"ht she5d en:oy "ettin" out of the house so uch. J4t5s the li"ht3brown! ranch style house down that cul3de3sac. The one in the iddle.J Nia "lanced at the house as all the S-.5s passed the cul3de3sac. J2e5re "oin" to sta"e a block down!J the ale producer said! fro his seat in the rear of the #ehicle. 1e was usin" his nor al #oice at the o ent. No camera! Nia reali%ed. The house looked newer and well cared for! in the "li pse she5d "otten of it. She and 0an would ne#er ha#e been able to afford it. She leaned in and up toward Jack5s ear. J1e5s there!J she whispered. Jack closed the space between the ! leanin" down! until their heads "ra%ed each other. J>ou saw his car=J he "uessed in a low #oice. She nodded! akin" their heads touch! as he s;uee%ed the top of her hand. J0a n! so ehow e#en with all the e#idence! 4 :ust kept hopin".J $ain flared in Nia5s chest strikin" back the nu bness. Jack knew the producers weren5t happy by Nia5s response. She was ore shocked and fra"ile than she was hoppin" ad and ready to kick her husband5s butt. >ellin" confrontations sold shows. But he didn5t "i#e a da n about their show. They were only a eans to an end. 2hen he walked up to his house! with the ca eras and producers around hi ! he was centered on one thou"ht. Do not "ill anyone. 1e had to control his an"er. 1e knew the show wanted a fi"ht between hi and the an ballin" his wife. But he was here for Sadie. To re#eal her lies and backstabbin" by the way she always threw it back on hi . She wouldn5t be able to do that this ti e! and he5d be able to reclai so e of his di"nity. 1e wasn5t "oin" to ess that up by brawlin". Besides! he didn5t want to lea#e an enra"ed an! which fi"htin" could incite! for dainty Nia Cooper to ha#e to deal with later. Jack looked back at Nia behind hi ! with another ca era an and producer latched onto her. 1e stood at his front door ready to unlock it and "o in with a surprise attack. Nia5s face was so pale a"ainst her shoulder3len"th! fluffy brown hair. But she ti"htened her bow3shaped lips and nodded silently! understandin" that he was waitin" for her. 1e ;uietly unlocked the door and pushed it partway open. They were all supposed to o#e in ;uickly! with one ca era an :ust ahead of the ! to i ortali%e the destruction of two arria"es.

Jack found the ;uicker than he anticipated! and it startled hi . 1e had the sickest feelin" they5d be in his bed! in the aster bedroo ! on the far side of the house. But the ca era an otioned that he5d found the ! instantaneously! in the e pty dinin" roo . 1ands pushed Jack forward to the entrance! and he :ust cau"ht the cheaters beco in" aware they were not alone! as bri"ht ca era li"hts bla%ed across the . They were on so e type of lar"e ca pin" attress! on the floor. 1e wondered #a"uely where it had co e fro ! as he saw Sadie kneelin" on her hands and knees! naked! while 0an Cooper e;ually naked! fucked his wife fro behind. Jack saw red! slashin" his #ision for a o ent! as Sadie screeched and 0an Cooper cursed. J*ho the hell are you people= Aet out of hereCJ Just a Couple Exs Caught S& +nders ',ead an Excerpt('Standalone novel( '+vailable soon( 61es a biker!7 Natalie exclai ed under her breath as she inched around the bushes! watchin" hi . And that biker! whose wife was in the house! was "oin" to walk in and catch Natalies husband inside with his wife. Natalie still couldnt "et o#er the fact he was a biker! uch less the fact her husband 0ean had "one into that house with another wo an ... She was blankin" out the kiss theyd done on the way in. Now she wondered how uch she hated her husband for cheatin" on her! because if she let that biker "o in and catch the ! then 0ean would likely be dead seconds later. The an had stopped his bi" otorcycle with the lon" handle bars! which she thou"ht they called a chopper! back behind 0eans s all pickup. She wondered how 0ean and the bikers wife hadnt heard the ru ble of the chopper parkin" at the end of the dri#eway. 61e i"ht not be her husband!7 she uttered! really tryin" to con#ince herself into lettin" her lyin"! cheatin"! and asshole husband "et cau"ht ... The biker looked bi" in the dark and he :an"led as he walked toward the house! while lookin" o#er 0eans s all pickup #ery closely. 1e had a bandana on and a dark beard. She wondered if he had a bi" beer belly like in the o#ies. 1e stopped at the end of 0eans truck and he looked up at the house. The porch li"ht cau"ht his face and she "asped at how fierce he looked. 1e suspected so ethin". She was certain of itC 1is hand ca e up and he scrubbed it o#er his head! pullin" so e pieces of his lon" dark hair fro the bandana. She wanted 0ean to pay ... really bad. But aybe she didnt want hi dead. Ne#ertheless! she didnt o#e forward to sa#e hi either! and she wasnt sure she e#er would ha#e! but ... The little screech she "a#e! at feelin" so ethin" o#e across her bare le"! "a#e her away. Ah oh. She was too busy lookin" down at what touched her! and then tryin" to "et away fro it too see the biker was co in" toward her. Below her! she saw beady eyes "lintin" in the li"ht at her feet and she ade an alar ed sound a"ain. 62hat the hell! lady.7 Natalies eyes darted up to the biker towerin" o#er her. She pushed on his chest. No beer belly! only solid uscle. 6+o#eC Theres so ethin" back here.7 64ts a cat!7 his #oice ru bled. 8h shoot that wasnt bad. Still! she pushed past hi and headed down the dri#eway. 6- ... sorry! 4! u ... thou"ht y ball "ot thrown back there and 4 was lookin" for it.7 1er #oice stalled at the sa e o ent her body did with her "a%e trapped by the bra and panties on the front passen"er seat of 0eans truck. She ade a wounded sound. 1ed told her so any ti es that she was i a"inin" affairs that werent there. 6>ou fuckin" know hi ! dont you=7 Natalie :erked! and nearly fell backward! but a bi" hand wrapped around her upper ar and steadied her fro fallin". Tears were drippin" down her cheeks! while she shook her head ... lyin". She saw the biker had a dark oustache! fir lips! and penetratin" eyes. 6Shes not expectin" e ho e. So when 4 "o in there ...7 1e chin nodded the house. 64 wont find your what ... boyfriend or husband in there fuckin" her=7

1is #oice was "rowled! an"ry! and furious. She couldnt help the whi per his accusations tore her. Then he see ed to notice what she was death starin". 6Duck!7 he cussed! droppin" his hold on her ar to walk closer! lookin" down throu"h the windshield. 60ont kill the !7 she whispered throu"h her tears. 1is "a%e cut to hers and she saw he was an attracti#e an in an earthy and ru""ed way. 6Their bad and horrible! but not worth ...7 6>oure ri"ht!7 he snapped! shuttin" down her words as he strai"htened and turned toward her. She saw his fists were clenched and the :an"lin" shed heard earlier likely ca e fro the bi" otorcycle boots with buckles he was wearin". A thou"ht of hi sto pin" 0ean ca e to her! and she knew that her "a%e lookin" into his was fearful. 6Shit lady!7 he uttered. 1e o#ed toward her and his hand lifted to brush at the tears on her cheek. 60ont be afraid of e. 4 "ot control.7 She bit her botto lip! shuddered! and nodded. ,io "ri aced at the plu p little housewife! so ti id she was practically shakin". 1ow out of whack was it! findin" her like he had! sneakin" around his house because of what was "oin" on inside. The housewife didnt look like she had it in her to do a sneak3on3the3cheaters3sur#eillance. 1e was i pressed. 0o not :ud"e a book by its co#er. >eah! the co#er of beauty! like his two3ti in" wife. 1is "a%e swun" to the front door. 1e had to "o in there and he didnt know what to do with the bastards wo an beside hi . 1e knew what he was "oin" to find inside 9 he was as ready for the cut as any an could be. But the #oluptuous little house wife threw hi off. 6Aoin" in!7 he told her! and she "rabbed his ar . 6Be careful!7 she said stran"ely! and he wondered what kind of husband she had. She was cute! plu p and looked like a suburban housewife. No way was her dick husband any kind of an hed picture his wife /anie with. /anie was tall! slender! blonde! and beautiful. But also a bitch. 1e hadnt fi"ured that last part out until the shine of a couple years of arria"e had worn off. Then /anie beca e self3absorbed and ne#er turned back. 4f she wasnt bitchin" about how he didnt ake enou"h oney! she was "rippin" about ha#in" to ake dinner! keep the house up Hwhich she didnt doI or how they ne#er went out and sociali%ed. +aybe because he was too busy workin" his ass off. To say he wasnt #ery conflicted walkin" up to his front door! would be a fuckin" lie. 8n the one hand his wife was a bitch ore than she wasnt and on the other hand she was his bitch. And she always "a#e out sex re"ularly! which helped to cool the part about her bein" a bitch. But now she was "i#in" that little bit of su"ar he "ot to so e other asshole. 1e was supposed to be out of town at his brothers so there was no way /anie was expectin" hi . 1ed done it on purpose! because two days a"o hed found a condo wrapper in her car! in the back seat. Shed brou"ht her car into his shop to "et the oil chan"ed and tires rotated. 1ed kept thinkin" crap like how lucky he was none of the other "uys had worked on her car. 1ed insisted on doin" his wifes. 2hat a du b fuck. So while he had set it up to catch her that ni"ht! hed not been certain until hed stopped his chopper out front. E#en then! it could ha#e been so ethin" else. -p until the little wifey showed up! and then hed seen those panties in the unknown truck in his dri#eway. $anties hed reco"ni%ed. ,io wondered how a cuckold dude was supposed to act walkin" into his house and findin" his wife "ettin" dicked by another "uy. But he wasnt "oin" to let /anie bein" unfaithful put hi into :ail. 1e stuck the key in the front door! reali%ed it wasnt locked and turned the knob. 1ed expected to find the in the bedroo ! not when hed walked down the hallway into the area that held the fa ily roo and kitchen di#ided by a kitchen island. +usic was loud! house reeked of boo%e! and /anie was "ettin" fucked hard on the carpet in front of the cold fireplace. There was a porn o#ie abo#e the on the bi" screen so the "runts and s;ueals of fuckin" was surround sound. 6Duckin" bitch!7 he spat out! rubbin" a hand o#er his eyes! tryin" to not see what he was seein" as his le"s turned to stone and he stopped by the entryway into the roo . /anie was the first to react* the "uy was too uch into the fuckin". 6,ioC7 /anie screeched. 6No dont stopC Co e on fuck e! slutC7 fro

)lut ,io felt as if his irises turned red. /anie was on top. She was facin" hi ! because shed been fuckin" the "uy faced away fro hi . She slapped the dudes sides hard! who wanted her to keep "oin"! as she screa ed! 6+y husband! 0eanC 4ts y fuckin"! husbandC7 /anie rolled sideways fro 0ean! "ettin" off his cock. 0ean lay like a corpse on the floor! le"s splayed. +aybe he didnt "et what /anie was screechin"! because ,io knew when your cock was about ready to explode! oxy"en left your brain. ,io finished his hand "rind o#er his eyes and he could see /anie half crouched! standin" and lookin" at hi like he was a ten3headed alien. She didnt cry! wail! or run. She looked stunned! but he could see that her perfect features were turnin" calculatin"! then hard. The bitch was co in". 6This the way you "oin" to play it=7 he snarled at her before she could "et all her bitch ar or on. She flinched! but strai"htened! not tryin" to co#er her nude body. Totally sha#ed! he noticed with a "ri ace. That was fuckin" new. 1er hand reached to the antle and a ci"arette. Total witch. She flipped the li"hter! took a puff! "lared at hi . 1er upper lip curlin". 61e took e to /a Bouchon restaurant! the opera! and bou"ht e these fuckin" dia ond studs in y ears! while payin" attention to e! and not workin" all the fuckin" ti e akin" no fuckin" oney.7 ,io shook his head with his "ut twisted so ti"ht only a ra"in" punch was "oin" to loosen it. 6Cunt!7 he called her in a snarl. Then he added! 6Aet the fuck out of my house.7 6Jesus! that your husbandC7 dickwad cheater on the floor expelled. 60o you e#en care your wife was :ust "ettin" the best sex she e#er had=7 /anie screeched! and she threw her lit ci"arette onto the carpet! :ust as the "uy "rabbed his pants and started pullin" the on fast. ,ios answer was a sneer and he started walkin" toward the kitchen and the land line. 60o estic dispute. Aoin" to call the police youre not out of here.7 6>ou assholeC7 /anie screeched. The "uy "ot up and ,io saw he was ediu hei"ht! but had a bulky build! not like he worked it but was born with it. 6Aet that fuckin" ci"arette off the carpet! douche3ba"C7 ,io yelled at 0ean! with his hand "rabbin" the obile phone by the patio doors. 0ean "rabbed his shirt! shoes! and the lit ci" s olderin" in the carpet as he crab3ran toward the hallway. /anie sto ped toward the hall leadin" to their bedroo s and at least she had a shirt clutched in front of her. 6Aodda n it! 0ean! you wait for eC7 she yelled. ,io tried to e#en his breathin" and not show how fuckin" upset he was as he opened the frid"e and "rabbed a beer. 0ean was huddle by the front door* ,io could :ust see his bare toes fro where he stood. 64 cant take you ho e!7 0ean bellowed. /anies screechin" fro the bedroo was as clear! as if she were in the roo . 6>ou "oin" to lea#e e here! he will kill eC7 /anie appeared fro the hallway half3dressed. 6>ou#e :ust "ot to infor your bitch wife you are lea#in" her sooner!7 /anie threw at 0ean! as she "rabbed her purse off the counter and a bottle of Jack 0aniels. She threw a urderous "lare at ,io. 6+ost wo en!7 ,io uttered! 6+ost wi#es! "ood enou"h to ha#e! would be sorry and askin" for for"i#eness. This :ust shows it all! /anie.7 6Shows what! ,ioC That you cant keep your wifeC7 6That youre not fuckin" worth it!7 he bellowed at her. Then he forced hi self to back up and take a drink of beer. 1e had to cool down. /anie arched with her blouse unbuttoned and her white bra showin" to the antle. Another ci"arette and li"ht as she puffed furiously. 64 was lea#in" you anyways!7 she declared. The porn o#ie played o#er her head with a "uy sla in" pussy fro behind. 6>ou could ha#e fuckin" told e!7 he uttered under his breath. /anie was already sto pin" to the hallway toward 0ean! and ,io wondered if hed e#er known her. 2hat wife acts belli"erent like she did "ettin" cau"ht screwin" another dude= 1e was so sore it hurt inside his body! but he kept his face i obile. 6+y fuckin" wifes "oin" to start cryin" and shit! /anie!7 0ean said! in loud whispers. 6>ou "ot y lawyer to orrow!7 ,io shouted after the . /anie "a#e hi a hi"h fin"er as she sla ed open the front door and stalked out! lea#in" it open. ,io walked o#er to the door. 1e could still hear the ar"uin" about 0eans wife. 6>ou wanna be with her! 0ean= >ou said she was fat and a slu" in bed.7

Dor so e unknown reason! after e#erythin" piled on hi that should ha#e lit hi up beyond his ability to hold it back! hearin" that nearly did it. 1e "rabbed hold of the doorfra e to keep fro sprintin" out there and roarin" at the . 6Shell do as 4 tell her! /anie. >ou wait and see. She wont cross e.7 2hat the fuck did that ean! ,io wondered! as /anie standin" by the passen"er side of 0eans truck expelled! 64 not "oin" to your house. 4ts her or eC7 6Cal down! /anie! "ee%e. Just for toni"ht! 4 can keep her under control.7 6Duck!7 ,io cussed! and he let "o of the doorway and stalked out toward 0ean who was halfway into his truck. 6/ook out hes co in"C7 /anie screeched. ,io "rabbed the door fro swin"in" shut on 0eans side. 6>ou fuckin" lay one har ful fin"er on your wife! asshole! and 4 will tear you apartC7 0ean hastily started his truck with his "a%e lookin" furious but shocked. 6>ou stay out of shit with y wifeC7 0ean shouted. ,ios ar nearly "ot torn off when 0ean backed up the truck with the door still opened. ,io "runted in pain and "rabbed his upper ar as he watched 0ean reach out to sla the door shut! "i#e hi the fin"er! and then peel out while nearly hittin" his chopper. Just as the sound of the truck screechin" away was a distant sharpness he heard a sob behind hi ! toward the house. Shit. 1e turned knowin" who the hell it was... 1e also knew shed heard all that crap her dickwad husband was spewin". Just fuckin" "reat! he thou"ht tryin" to bite back the pain in his shoulder. 6434 couldnt lea#e!7 she whispered with tears in her #oice as she huddled by his "ara"e door. 1e i"ht ha#e sent her on her way! but so ethin" 0ean was sayin" at the end bothered hi ... like the asshole could and aybe already did hurt his wife. 6>oure hurt!7 she sniffled! then her shadow ca e towards hi . 6>our shoulder! is it bad=7 1e didnt say anythin"! :ust looked down at the tears on her pretty face. 64t needs ice and 4buprofen for swellin"!7 she whispered. 1e "runted! with a nod. 6Co e on in.7 )hes a slug in %ed and fat. Natalie forced the horrible words fro her ind. But what she couldnt force fro reality was how beautiful the wo an was. ,ios wife! /anie. Shed found out the na es fro 0ean and /anie yellin"! but ,ios! shed asked hi . 1ed "rowled his na e and shed "i#en hers as hed led her into his house. 2hy she followed his sort3of3in#itation to co e inside! without actually sayin" the words! was si ply because she had no clue where to "o. As she followed ,io! while tryin" to control her cryin"! she saw he was a different kind of an than she was used too. 1e had on the bi" black otorcycle boots! worn black :eans! and a washed out blue tee shirt that showed uscular upper ar s and read! 6Born 2ild!7 in faded letters on the front. 1e had a lon" sil#er chain that went fro his back pocket to so ewhere in front and when they "ot into the li"ht of his front hallway! she saw he had tattoos on his ar s. She didnt know any en that had tattoos ... or such lon" hair ... or really such a deep #oice. 2hene#er he spoke the bass of his #oice shi#ered throu"h her. She shouldnt follow into his house! but really she was #ery lost and hurt. 4 ediately! she fell back on bein" helpful as a way to co#er the suffocatin" pain! and she went ri"ht to his refri"erator opened the free%er and started di""in" in the ice aker for ice. 1e was in the fa ily roo and she saw he had a re ote in his hand. 1er "a%e lifted further and she saw a porn o#ie on a really bi" screen T. o#er the fireplace. The wo an on the screen had been "ettin" it fro two en. 8ne fro behind and one in her outh before the picture blinked off. Natalie tried to catch her sound of surprise! but it started out of her throat anyway and she rattled the ice really loudly to co#er it. +aybe she shouldnt be in a stran"ers house. Alone. To co#er her disco posure she "rabbed a towel off the o#en door handle to her ri"ht to put ice into as she fou"ht her horrid blushes. Shed ne#er seen a wo an do that to a an with her outh before. Then suddenly she reali%ed that it had to be 0ean and /anie watchin" the porn o#ie. Not ,io at all. 8f course it could be his porn! but hed not been ho e to put it on ...

6Just for"et it!7 she uttered under her breath! deter ined to help ,ios shoulder e#en besides :ust #iewin" a porn o#ie scene with hi . 1er tears were dried at least as she scooted o#er to hi ! standin" in the iddle of his fa ily roo ! behind a leather couch facin" the fireplace. 1is hip was cocked to one side and his :eans fit his butt ti"htly but his tee shirt had ridden up and she could see his lower back. There was so ethin" es eri%in" about it. Then she saw his eyes were a cocoa brown as she touched his really nice bicep and put the towel full of ice on the front of his shoulder. 1is oustache and short beard which i"ht not be a true beard but :ust a lon"er ti e fro sha#in" were as dark brown as his hair. Just shy of black. 6Thanks.7 1e "rabbed the ice towel and she slipped her hand out fro under his. To hide her instant shyness! her "a%e dipped! as she u bled! 64buprofen in the bathroo aybe=7 60ont know...7 Before he could say ore and to o#e away fro how close they were! she interrupted! too bri"htly! 64ll "o look.7 She started away! then thou"ht to add! 64f thats okay=7 6Dine with e! lady.7 Natalies eyes widened as she reached the hallway. The way hed said 6lady7 was like a baritone caress. 1e had a really "ood #oice. Then she proceeded to i"nore how dirty and essy ,ios house was. By the ti e she reached the bathroo she was dis ayed o#er it! then once in the bathroo she was appalled. Clearly ,ios wife /anie could screw en #ery well but not clean house worth a da n. Si"nup K recei#e a 0eal and an e ail when 6Just a Couple Exs Cau"ht7 is a#ailableC