GraceThere is a bitter taste in my mouth. I can’t get rid of it no matter how many sweets I eat, or how much wine I swallow.I watch as my husband parades that beautiful secretary around like she is his wife instead of me. My eyes narrow just a little, the alcohol in my stream beginning to burn hot—hotter by the moment.Why her? He said he has seen so many beautiful women around, then why is it her he brought here with him or why is it her that he chose over me?I scan her from head to toe, my gaze lingering on the slit in her dress that reveals her whole leg, to her upper thigh. Then, I look at her hair which is curled to perfection and left to fall in waves over her bare back.My trance breaks as her soft laughter filters through the other noise around me. When she smiles, her cheeks push her eyes up a little, making them appear like crescent moons.She is indeed beautiful.But... She is…less beautiful than many women I have seen besides Tristin before.But…she can give a genuine
Grace“ It’s a nice surprise to see you— ”Her shrill voice dies, as I grab my husband by his jacket and pull him down. Before any of us can anticipate my next moment, my lips slam against his mouth, staking my claim on him.Words are not needed. I don’t need to hit another girl either.This man alone…needs to know that I am still here, and whether he hates it or not, we are still married. What I did was not a conscious sin, but what he is doing is a grave sin and it’s…breaking my heart apart.I am sure I hear gasps erupt around me, but why does it matter?I reach forward, and my hands rest on his nape as I deepen the kiss, just lingering there, tasting his minty breath against mine. He doesn’t respond, doesn’t even flinch. We are so used to it that his lips fit right into mine without him trying.He can’t forget it, can he? He can't forget that we have kissed more times than we can count and his body responds to mine with a fervor that he can never experience with another woman...
GraceTristin’s hand clenches into a fist. I watch as he steps back, running his fingers through his dark hair, the way he always does when he is trying to control his rage. My chest tightens, and my heart pounds harder by the passing moments. A server carrying a tray of glasses passes by me, and without thinking, I grab another glass of wine. I lift it to my lips, and Tristin’s hand shoots out. Too late. I down the glass in one gulp, the sharp burn moving down my throat. He snatches the glass from my hand and slams it onto the tray. His eyes darken some more. Now, I can sense him vibrating under that dark suit, just on the verge of exploding. “ Really? ” His voice is low and controlled—dangerous.I shrug, and my heart misses a beat as he steps forward. The air thickens around us. He grabs my arm tightly, but not tight enough to hurt, and starts dragging me towards the exit. “ Tristin… ” I begin, but my words die in my mouth as his grip tightens, warning me to keep quiet.The ro
GraceI lift my gaze, and meet his blue eyes. He is disgusted—a voice whispers in my head right away. I kissed him. I knew he felt disgusted around me after what happened, and I still went ahead and kissed him in front of everyone. And like a good husband, he didn’t let me embarrass myself. Shame claws at my chest. I bite my lip so hard it starts stinging. I drop my gaze to the pavement and wish he just goes inside so he doesn’t have to witness my walk of shame.But he is more stubborn than I like.A moment later, his shadow covers the lights around me, and his black, shiny shoes come into my view. “ What happened? ” His voice is low and sarcastic. “ Were not you trying to act like a teasing, happy wife just some time ago? Did you lose all that courage already? ”Tears burn the back of my eyes as my head drops even lower. We didn’t even talk properly after that morning in the cabin, and I don’t know how to take it…now that I am beginning to sober up. He just left me alone without
GraceMy hand lowers to his collar, and this time, I don’t trace his skin, I just hold on for dear life and try to avert my gaze.“ Look at me. ” He hisses, still holding me in his arms, still trying to suppress his fury. “ did I not tell you about what a cheat my father was? Did I not tell you how much I fucking hated how he cheated on a new woman every fucking week, and destroyed every single life in our house?! ”I flinch and tighten my grip over his collar. My lips quiver, but I don’t look away from his fire-filled eyes.“ And you still…believe…I would do the same to you? You believe I would repeat that cycle? ” His voice rises, making my chest tighten.I flinch again and force the words out. “ I am sorr— ”“ I wouldn’t have done it to my wife even if I had married for business. ” He notices the slight fear that reflects in my eyes and lowers his voice. “ And you think I could have done this to you? Even after you know…I loved you? ”Cold crawls down my spine. Everything stills in
GraceIt all happens so fast. One moment I am sitting in his lap, and the next, he slams me into the bed. His legs force my thighs apart and his hands hold my wrists above my head.Tristin draws his head back and I gasp. “ I am sorry. ”He presses his face into my neck. I feel his ragged breaths warming my skin until he exhales so close to my ear. “ I don’t need it. ”A heaviness settles onto my chest. We remain like this, his fingers digging into my wrists and his weight over my body, crushing me under him. “ I don’t know what else to do, Tristin. But I know…I don’t want to lose you. ” I choke out, my mouth drying. “ I…love you so much. I can’t be without you. ”The moment those words are out of my mind is the moment he pulls his face out of my neck and stares at me. My heart misses a beat as I see the rage, the pain in his eyes. “ Tristin. ” I whisper.“ I hate that you have made me this way. ” He murmurs, his voice husky. “ so out of control. So desperate for you. ”There is no t
GraceTristin doesn’t give me the time to adjust before he pulls out and thrusts back in, easing himself deeper than before.My walls clench around him as pleasure clashes with pain. My thighs shake but he continues. In. Out. In. Out. His hips snap into mine, his teeth sink into my bottom lip, he drinks my moans, my sighs, my whimpers.His eyes have a craze—something I have never seen before. And his actions become rougher and harsher.Suddenly, he pulls out and grabs my hips. Before I can cry out, he flips me to my knees and, without giving me the time to breathe, shoves his length inside me again.I cry out, my hips jerking up and away from him but he pulls me back. His pace fastens until I can’t keep track of his movements.“ Tristin— ” I struggle to catch my breath. “ It’s too…It’s too rough. I can’t— ”Tristin cuts me off as he grabs my hair and pulls me up. I gasp, the burn spreading on my scalp. My back presses against his chest. His length fills me deeper, faster. “ Do you
Grace“ Sore? ” He rasps against my ear as I lie curled up on my side, my back facing him.I don’t know how many times we have done it. After he took me from behind, he turned me on my back and had his way with me again. Then, he laid me down flat on my stomach and kept driving in and out until I was begging him to stop.I never knew he had this side to him. He has always been so sweet and gentle and nice, always putting me first whenever we are in bed.“ On a scale of one to ten, how sore are you? ” Tristin asks when I don’t reply.My throat feels scratched after screaming so much and my legs ache as if they are going to fall off any moment. And my insides? I think something is rubbed raw in there, burning and satiated at the same time.I grumble under my breath. “ Hundred. ”“ Good. ” He whispers right away, and his hand grabs my bare hip to pull me back into him.“ Are you not done yet?! ” I scream before I can stop myself, my breaths growing labored again.I feel like crying becau
GraceSeb’s breath grows steady, his body soft and warm against mine as he drifts off to sleep. I hold him close a moment longer, feeling the rise and fall of his tiny chest. A fragile sense of peace settles over us.I rise from the couch slowly, careful not to wake him, and tuck him into bed. His small fist curls into the soft blanket as I smooth it over him. Just as I turn around, my breath catches in my throat.Tristin is leaning against the doorway, one shoulder pressed to the frame, his arms crossed. His eyes find mine with a quiet intensity that sends heat rushing to my cheeks.“ You are back… ” He says, his voice low and husky. I swallow hard and nod. “ I am back. ”The silence between us stretches. My heartbeat quickens, and memories swirl inside my head—his rough hands on my skin, his harsh mouth claiming me, the weight of his body. The air thickens with everything unspoken.Tristin’s gaze flickers, a subtle shift of emotion I can’t name. “ I thought you would stay and see y
Grace“ Mommy, I missed you! ” My son snuggles into my neck.He has been clinging to me since I came back unannounced. Now, I know my baby has one more similarity with his Daddy. He only pretends to be fine when I am away. It makes me reflect back on all the times when I was not there for Seb. Sighing, I kiss the side of his head and pull him in my lap.“ I missed you too, Baby. ” He grins, his cute two front teeth showing, before he wraps his small arms around my neck and hangs there. My heart melts. No matter what I am going through in life…Having my son cling to me can make it all better.“ Did you listen to Grandma? ” I ask, stroking his hair.“ Yes. I did. ” He nods, leaving my neck and sliding down my lap to settle on the couch beside me.I notice the sudden change and look down at his face to see him staring at his hands. An invisible, cold hand grips my heart.“ What’s wrong, Seb? ” I stroke his hair, fixing a few strands that have fallen on his forehead.“ You said…you wi
Grace“ I just saw the way he looked at her when I went to meet him. Doesn’t take a genius to guess what’s going on. I thought I should let you know… as a gesture of…goodwill. ” Ethan’s voice lightens, a playful lilt to it. The audacity he has…It will never fail to baffle me.I turn to face him. “ Tristin is not you, Ethan. Send a million beautiful women his way, and he won’t look at any of them the way you are trying to make me think he does. But you? ”I shift my weight from one leg to another as he watches me with all his attention. He lifts his brows, silently urging me to continue.“ You lose your mind over every woman who says ‘I love you’ to you because you…you are not a man, Ethan. You are an insecure little boy who wants to feel loved. But the truth? You are…so disgusting that no woman can actually love you after knowing the real you ” I snicker, noticing the look in his eyes.Judging from the way his jaw clenches and his hand turns into tight fists…I have hit the mark.“
Grace“ This deal can’t go through, Mr. Renaud. It requires a long stay here and I can’t stay for that long. I have family back home, and I need to return immediately. ” I state my reason, and keep my gaze steady on him. “ I apologize for the sudden notice, but it will be better if you start looking for other companies. ”“ Mrs. Roberto… ” He looks at me, and then at Ethan as if silently asking him what to do.My lips stretch into a smirk. Of course. This is all Ethan’s setup. A trap to get me to stay away from my family and get close to him. He wants to strike me when I am already vulnerable. He thinks I will return to him if I am cornered.But he doesn’t understand. After my whole life turned upside down, Tristin…held it together…and if I lose him too, then I will never love another man. And even if someday I find the courage to move forward, it won’t be with Ethan. There is nothing that can ever happen between us.“ This is not very professional of you, Grace. Backing out after
GraceWhen I wake up in the morning, Tristin is gone. I shoot up in bed, and look around but don’t find him anywhere.A strange fear fills me and claws its way up my throat. Did he leave me here alone?In a hurry, I reach for my phone on the floor but before I can dial his number, my gaze falls on the note placed on the side table.I grab it and stare at the message he has left me. —Fred needs to be taken care of, or it will become a problem. I have to go, but I am leaving Luca behind. Stick close to him, and don’t go anywhere alone. Swallowing the bile rising to my throat, I sit on the edge of the bed and turn the note around. The note is written in such a serious tone. It lacks Tristin’s usual smiley.I place it back on the table and look at the floor. My shoulders droop. He has not really gotten over what he saw. Ethan didn’t sleep with me, but I was in bed with him—Naked, with marks all over me. It won’t be easy for Tristin and I to put that past us. But…I am determined to put
GraceRelief creeps in slowly, but it doesn’t stay. Panic follows, threatening to drown me. I lift my gaze to Tristin’s face, my voice breaking. “ Is—Is that why you came to me? Is that why you slept with me? Because you know…Ethan didn’t…sleep with…me? ”His frown deepens, and I try to slip back on the bed, but he is faster. Tristin rolls to my side and wraps his arms around me. His grip tightens around me, holding me firm. His chest presses against mine, steady and warm, before he rests his forehead against mine. His breath is ragged.Tears blur my vision. I hate how easily they come now. One slips down my cheek before I can stop it. “ You didn’t care…” I whisper, my voice trembling with hurt. “ You didn’t care what this did to me. How it broke me. You only care if Ethan touched what’s yours. You left me alone when I needed you and you didn’t…care… ”Tristin sighs. He brushes a kiss over my damp cheek as if that could make this better. “ I was angry because he touched you. Beca
Grace“ Grace— ”“ Don’t call me that. ” I interrupt and press my forehead against his chest before his glare burns a hole into me. “ Please don’t start calling me that now. I hate it…but it’s true that I have had a very bad experience before, Tristin, and every time a problem arises, or you stop calling me by the nickname…I get scared. I can’t help it. It’s…rooted in my head that I am useless, that I am not worthy of anything good and… ”Before I can continue, Tristin grabs my hair, tilts my head back, and slams his lips over mine. I gasp, my breath whooshing out of my lungs. He doesn’t push his tongue in my mouth, but he presses our lips together so hard that a shudder runs down my spine. “ I love you. ” He pulls back and breathes. “ If I wanted an heiress, I would have married one. If I wanted someone else, I would have married someone else, Little Butterfly. But I married you. Because…you are you. And I love you for who you are. ”“ What is there to love— ”“ If you are going to
Grace“ Pathetic…isn’t it? ” Tristin drawls, his hand caressing my thigh as he continues to move on that easy rhythm, slowly bringing pleasure instead of rushing it. “ Pathetic because you don’t want to hurt me? ” My hand reaches for his face, fingers brushing his cheek.“ Pathetic because…you can say and do things to hurt me but I can’t do the same. ” He grunts, his eyes growing half-lidded with pleasure.I lick my lips, feeling the waves of pleasure hitting me in soothing waves. “ I…never want to hurt you, Tristin. I love you. ”“ And how many times have you really said it in our three years of marriage? ” He rolls his eyes, his pace picking up as we draw near ecstasy—a pleasure tinged with pain. “ it’s always been me. I move around you like a dog who is eager to wag his tail at someone who doesn’t give a damn about him. ”“ Don’t say that. ” I cup his cheek, my brows furrowing. “ I…am sorry. I love you. I can…say it every day. I will—I will make sure to— ”His lips press on mine b
Grace“ Sore? ” He rasps against my ear as I lie curled up on my side, my back facing him.I don’t know how many times we have done it. After he took me from behind, he turned me on my back and had his way with me again. Then, he laid me down flat on my stomach and kept driving in and out until I was begging him to stop.I never knew he had this side to him. He has always been so sweet and gentle and nice, always putting me first whenever we are in bed.“ On a scale of one to ten, how sore are you? ” Tristin asks when I don’t reply.My throat feels scratched after screaming so much and my legs ache as if they are going to fall off any moment. And my insides? I think something is rubbed raw in there, burning and satiated at the same time.I grumble under my breath. “ Hundred. ”“ Good. ” He whispers right away, and his hand grabs my bare hip to pull me back into him.“ Are you not done yet?! ” I scream before I can stop myself, my breaths growing labored again.I feel like crying becau