Bang(48)

“I am too. I know what I want. And even if it comes with the manipulation right now, I still want it.”

“I don’t know,” I say in a heavy sigh. “I’m not that kind of person, Declan. I’m faithful and good. This—kissing you—it’s already hurting me. But . . .”

“Say it,” he demands.

“But it’s already filling something in me I didn’t know was even empty until you. I just . . . I just need a little time to think about this.”

“I’m not a patient man, Nina.”

“I know. But please, just . . .”

He steps to me, gripping my arms tightly in his hands, and says, “We both know what you want here. You’re lying to yourself right now if you say it’s Bennett or else you wouldn’t have come here.”

“Stop.”

“No.”

Tugging my arms away, his grip tightens and I see the beginnings of a smirk.

“Declan, stop. Let go.”

“No,” he says in a hardened voice. “I don’t play games, and this is you, playing with me.”

“I’m not playing, Declan. This isn’t a game; this is my life, a life I’ve made with my husband, and right now, I’m really confused. Just let me think,” I tell him.

His hands let go of me and he walks to the door, opening it. I watch him, trying to read past his glare as he states, “Then go think,” before he silently dismisses me from the room.

I don’t worry too much about the fact that I just pissed him off. All is fair in love and war, right? So I straighten myself and walk to the door, stopping to look at him with soft eyes, and then leave. This will never work properly if I go to him; he needs to come to me. So I’ll make him jealous. I’ll make him attack.





RETURNING HOME FROM running a few last minute errands before the party tonight, I hear the annoying chuckle of Richard, Bennett’s business partner, coming from the office. I toss my shopping bags on the dining room table before heading into the kitchen.

“Honey, is that you?” Bennett calls out from across the house.

“Yes, dear.”

I grab a bottle of chilled Chardonnay from the wine fridge and begin opening it as the boys round the corner. Smiling up at Bennett as he moves in behind me, I turn my head so that he can take a kiss.

“What are the two of you discussing?” I ask.

“Just a couple of merger opportunities, that’s all.”

Setting the bottle down, I respond, “I didn’t know you were interested in something like that.”

“We’re not,” Richard blurts out. “We’re not entertaining any of the offers.”

I turn to face Bennett, and he doesn’t even seem to acknowledge Richard as his eyes are focused on me with a slight smile. It isn’t until I raise up on my toes to give my husband a kiss that Richard speaks again, saying, “Jacqueline mentioned you girls having lunch yesterday. Said you had the attention of another man.”

He’s such an *.

“Who?” Bennett asks.

“Declan,” I tell him and then step away to face Richard, adding, “He’s the owner of the hotel the party is being held at tonight, but I’m sure that small detail was left out of whatever gossip was being slung around about me. I’m sure you’re well aware of maintaining good graces with people you do business with, am I right?”

“No need to get defensive, honey,” Bennett says.

“Not defensive, just cankered with offhanded suggestions,” I defend while eyeing Richard.

His wink peeves me as he says, “Well, you know how women can be.”

Mustering up the most gracious smile I can, I say, “As charming as this little interaction has been, you must excuse me while I get ready for the party.” I turn to Bennett, give him a kiss along his jaw, and whisper suggestively, “Join me in the bathroom,” before walking away and saying to Richard, “I look forward to seeing both you and your wife tonight.”

Whatever Jacqueline’s intentions were when she decided to tell her husband about my run-in with Declan, I know I need to play it off as nothing to Bennett and be on my best behavior tonight so that he isn’t the least bit tipped off about what I’m doing. So when he walks into the bathroom after a few minutes, I turn to face him, and silently strip off my clothes as he watches. His growing erection is noticeable through his slacks as I sit myself up on the sink counter and spread my legs open, inviting him to take what he wants.

I watch him loosen his tie, and when he starts working the buttons on his shirt, I lick my fingers and drag them down to my clit, rubbing soft circles. I think about anything but Bennett, working hard in my imagination, attempting to get myself wet. Leaning my head back against the mirror, I prop my feet up on the ledge and close my eyes. When the vision of Declan hovering over me with his hand inside my panties in his hotel the other night flashes in my head, my eyes pop open.

Fuck. I can’t think about him.

In an instant, Bennett is crouched down in front of me, hands spreading me open wider before dipping his tongue inside me. I continue massaging myself as he laps me up like I’m the only one who can quench his thirst. He sickens me, and as soon as I feel the swirl of hate manifest, I turn every part of me off and simply go through the movements I know he likes. I’m a well-oiled machine at this point, flawless in my performance.