Frayed Silk(24)

And mere seconds later, I do. He grabs both my thighs to help hold me up as I throw my head back and get lost in the sensations sweeping over me from head to toe.

Placing a soft kiss on my mound, he rises and tugs my dress down. I grab his face, pulling his lips to mine and turning him into the wall. I’m rewarded with a groan as I rub my tongue against his, tasting myself on him. “Blondie.” He pulls away, breathing heavily. “While I want nothing more than to bend you over and fuck you so hard you’ll be feeling me for days … you gotta go.” His words conflict with the desperation bleeding from his green eyes. But he glances away, and I take a step back.

Right. My kids. Shit. I run a shaky hand through my hair and look around for my panties. Jared grabs my hand, tugging me out of the theatre. Great, I hope the wind doesn’t pick up, but a glance at the clock on the wall in the lobby tells me I don’t have time to waste worrying about my undergarments. We race out the doors into the early afternoon sunshine streaking through the city avenues and skyscrapers. I don’t let go of his hand. I don’t even think about the fact that anyone could see me because my brain is still half mush thanks to his talented mouth and fingers.

Once we reach my car, he opens my door for me when I unlock it. I hop inside as he leans in, his arms stretching over the roof as he puckers his lips playfully at me. I laugh, grabbing his chin to gently kiss his lips. As I move away, his arms leave the car, and his hands weave into my hair. Tilting my head back, he slowly devours my mouth with his.

He pulls away, and it takes me a second to open my eyes. Once I do, I see him smiling softly at me. He reaches in to start the ignition and tug my seat belt on. My heart flutters crazily in my chest as he skims a finger over my kiss-swollen lips before closing the door and gently patting the roof. Slumping back in my seat, I try to catch my breath and clear my head enough to be able to drive. I glance into the rearview mirror just in time to see Jared’s swaggering backside disappear into the crowd as he walks away.

What the hell is he doing to me?





It’s Friday, and I’m doing the one thing I’ve been dreading all week—getting ready for the charity gala. I had to call in Clare, our sitter, which I haven’t had to do in a while. Not since we last went out to Fiona and Dylan’s anniversary party.

My phone chirps in my clutch, and my eyes dart to the en suite behind me as I hear the shower still going behind the closed door. Thinking I have enough time, I dig it out and read the message.



Jared: What are you doing tonight, Blondie?



I bite my lip to hold back a smile. He’s toned it down a little with the texting. But I find myself looking forward to them now, even though I shouldn’t. Leo’s barely been home all week. When he does get home, I’m usually already in bed and pretending to be asleep.



Me: Not much. Might watch a movie with the kids. You?



For some reason, I don’t want to make the differences between our lives any more prominent by telling him what I’m really doing.

I glance at the time, noting that it’s almost seven. We need to leave soon to be in the city before eight when the event starts.

The shower shuts off, but his reply comes through right away.



Jared: Working. When can I see you again?



I knew the question might come, that I’d be a fool in thinking he’d be happy with only seeing me for a short time every Tuesday, but I can’t think about that right now. Not when Leo opens the bathroom door and comes striding into the bedroom in just a towel. I put my phone away, slip my silver hoops into my ears, and watch his broad back through the mirror as he heads into our walk-in closet to get dressed.

I blow out a heavy breath, missing the days when he’d walk around naked in our room, teasing and taunting me with a crooked grin. I finish pinning my hair back off my face and rise from the stool at my dressing table, smoothing down the gauzy skirt of my lavender gown as I do. Doing a quick scan in the full-length mirror, I quickly adjust one of the off-the-shoulder straps. I then take a second to admire the way the bodice wraps tightly around me, accentuating my curves before flowing to the floor in a beautiful mess. I slip my feet into my strappy cream heels and bend over to lace them up.

Straightening, I find Leo adjusting his tie as he watches me. I glance away and grab my clutch from my dressing table.

“Ready?” I head for the door, not waiting for a response. I walk downstairs to tell Clare that we should be back by eleven and make sure that she knows she can call me at any time.

“Mommy!” Greta gushes, running into the kitchen in her polka dot nightgown. “You look like a real-life princess.”

She moves in to touch the soft material of my gown as I smile down at her. It’s true, and it’s one of the only perks of going to these events. I get to feel beautiful and spoil myself a little with getting done up for them.

“Greta,” Leo admonishes gently. “Hands off, you were just eating dinner.”

She steps back, smiling up at him sheepishly. He walks over to her and bends down to kiss both her cheeks and then her lips when she closes her eyes and puckers them up for him.

Charlie comes in, and Leo kisses his head, smoothing his large hand over our son’s messy hair. “Be good and make sure you go to bed when Clare tells you to. All right?”

They both nod. Clare smiles at them, clapping her hands together. “Right. Let’s go pick a movie and a board game.” The kids run off, and she follows them, telling us to have fun over her shoulder as she leaves the kitchen.