The Private Serials Box Set(47)

He groaned, expelling his breath, but picked up his speed even more, keeping a punishing pace.

We continued this pattern a few more times, each thrust pushing both of us up that hill, until finally I found my release, only spurred on by the sound of his. His loud grunt coupled with a guttural moan was all I needed to follow him into bliss.





Chapter Six


I woke the next morning to my alarm with no arms wound around me, no warmth enveloping me, and no Preston to be found in the bed. I opened my eyes and listened for the shower, but heard nothing. Rolling onto my back, images of the night before flashed through my mind. Preston’s ankles spreading my legs. His hands touching every part of my body. His mouth. I rolled back over and groaned into the pillow.

I was in trouble.

Every part of my body was sore from use. Sore from enjoyment. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love it, didn’t love feeling as if every time I moved for the rest of the day I’d feel a reminder that Preston was deep inside me the night before. That he’d used my body to make himself come. That he’d brought me to my peak over and over again.

I was definitely in trouble.

I managed to climb out of bed and head to the bathroom, each slightly painful step another reminder. I hoped a hot shower would loosen me up, bring me a little relief. I found a note on the bathroom counter and I smiled as I picked it up.

You looked so beautiful sleeping, and so tired, too. I couldn’t bring myself to wake you. Please make yourself at home. There’s coffee in the kitchen and some fruit or muffins for breakfast. Your keys are on the counter in the kitchen, and your car is parked out front. I expect you to come home to me tonight. I’ll be waiting.

I smiled because he had thought of everything. My smile never left until I found myself at my desk, trying to focus on a job that was quickly losing its appeal. I’d taken this job because it allowed me to use my business degree and because it was close to home. Derrek’s company had also done work with the company I worked for, so it seemed like a good fit when I’d started right out of college. I’d worked hard, climbed the ladder, made strides, but with everything in my life up in the air, I found it difficult to harness the drive to do the work I was tasked with.

My phone buzzed in my top drawer and I pulled it out to find a text from Sam.

**Still on for lunch today?**

I typed my response immediately.

**Definitely. Want to meet at the food trucks?**

**Sounds great! See you there!**

When I came upon Sam at the food truck driveway, a smile took over my face and my cheeks bunched up for the first time since I left Preston’s house. I walked toward her with open arms and she opened hers to me and took me in, just like she always did. We hugged and then backed away from each other, but her hands never left my shoulders.

“You okay?” she asked, her face strained with concern, a large wrinkle forming between her eyebrows.

I nodded and smiled sincerely. “Nothing a plate of noodles won’t fix.” She turned to stand next to me and threaded her arm through the crook of my elbow, propelling me toward our favorite Yaki Soba noodle truck.

“I’ve been craving these damn noodles, too.”

We grabbed our plates and found an open table, sitting across from one another.

“All right, woman. I think I’ve been more than patient. Now it’s time to spill. What’s going on?”

I took a deep breath in and then thought about where in the world I was supposed to start my story. I decided that perhaps the best place was the beginning.

“Friday night I went with Derrek to a charity gala.” I hadn’t even gotten through an entire sentence before Sam started making fake gagging noises. I smiled at her open disgust for my husband. “Everything was fine until he introduced me to his mistress.” I paused for dramatic effect.

“He. Didn’t.” Sam said, noodles suspended in midair, halfway to her mouth.

“He did. Her name is Jessica Fahey, and she most definitely knew I was her boyfriend’s wife. She loathed me.” I shrugged. “Honestly, it was kind of fun meeting her, because I totally got to f*ck with her. I even asked her if she wanted to try on my wedding ring.”

“You. Didn’t.”

“I did,” I said with a smile. “Anyway, I was a little pissed off he’d been so brazen and practically shoved his mistress in my face, and when I excused myself to go to the restroom, Preston pulled me into a closet.”

Sam’s eyes widened, but her fork continued to her mouth. “Then what happened?” she asked around the noodles in her mouth.

“Things of a sexual nature.” My eyes drifted down to the fork twirling on my plate and I could feel my face start to heat.

“No!” She gasped.

I went on to tell her all the sordid and fantastic details of our weekend together, giving her the specifics a woman only shares with her best friend. The kind of toe-curling details one has to make sure no one else is eavesdropping on. The particulars which made Sam fan herself with her napkin. Details that made us both blush, that made me ache to get back to Preston even more.

“Shit,” was Sam’s response.

“Indeed.”

“Okay, so why did Derrek call me yesterday and freak out on me?”

My face fell as my mind fluttered to what had happened in the shower. “Derrek knows I never came home over the weekend and I needed an alibi. I told him I was with you.” I looked up to meet her eyes, which were filling with rage as she put two and two together. “Thank you for covering for me.”