Chapter Four: Just once

Charles' POV

"Wh-what?" She asked with a voice that was barely above a whisper.

I nodded. The thrill of having her wrapped around my finger tips excited me.

"You heard me right, didn't you?" I asked, "You cheated on your husband, and don't expect me to be silent about it."

She broke into a cough, "So, you'll tell him that we f*cked?"

This was getting more interesting, I thought. There was a blank expression on my face as I fixed a stare on her.

"Technically..but, you will pose everything you've built with him. He's my brother, and he'd believe me if I tell him that you manipulated everything." I said.

The shock on her face slowly turned into a glare, causing her to twist her lips in a snarl.

Without another word, she pulled the car out of the parking lot. Silence hung in the car on the drive back home, as neither of us spoke to each other again.

Two weeks went by. The tension between Bianca and I got more intense, with how we both put up an act in front of Gideon, as though nothing was wrong. I never mentioned anything about the night at the club, because Bianca found a sleek way of avoiding me whenever her husband wasn't at home.

That didn't bother me. I had my ways, and I was sure that one day, she'd be at my control.

~~~~~

I leaned on my crutch, scanning the well decorated room. Pink balloons hung from the ceiling, and red rose petals were littered all over the floor. There was a beautiful birthday cake on the table, and several expensive gifts.

It was Bianca's birthday, and my brother had pleaded with me to help him through a surprise birthday party for his wife. It was expected to be more of a private, intimate themed party between the two of them, and Bianca had absolutely no idea about what was going on.

Gideon had been out of town for almost a week, with the plans of returning on her birthday.

He made sure Bianca left the house that morning, as he paid for her to get the best treatment at a luxury spa house.

I was to ensure that the house was well decorated, just before Gideon returned home. This way, it would be easy for Bianca to get surprised when she walked into the house later in the evening.

The event planners who helped me to set up the room and everything else, had just left, leaving me alone in the house.

I let out a long sigh as I glanced at my phone's screen. I had texted my brother to let him know that everything was set, and also know if his flight had landed, but there was no response yet.

Soon, my phone rang out, startling me.

"Hey, Gideon?" I said into the phone.

"Man, something's come up." He groaned.

"You need to be home now, you know it won't make any sense for Bianca to arrive here before you."

"That's the point." He said. His voice was low, and an alarm rang in my head, "I won't be able to make it in time, because something came up. So, I missed my flight."

"You did what? You gotta be kidding me man!" I hissed, eying the decorations in the room.

"Look, I need you to pull this off for my woman, please. She still doesn't know of the birthday surprise and—"

"No-No!" I cut into his words, "I don't—"

"I don't want her to miss me too much. Please, I need you to keep her company tonight..."

Gideon's voice zoned out in my head, as a realization hit me.

This was it!

This was a chance for me to spend time with Bianca, and have her do everything I wanted her to do.

"Alright. We'll watch a movie or something after she unwraps the gift box. Will you call her before she gets home or wait until she's here?"

"I'll call her much later." He sighed.

That was how it all played out.

I limped downstairs, and cleared up everything that left any trace of the surprise.

The plan was to have Bianca walk into the decorated room—the same room which she shared with Gideon.

I went back upstairs, switched off the light switch before I sat on a chair in the corner of the room, waiting.

A tight knot formed at the pit of my stomach as I raced. What if she didn't like the effort I put into everything? What if she chose to not spend the night here, just because her husband was not here?

It wasn't long before I heard the front door get unlocked. I stiffened waiting.

She came up the staircase, and the bedroom door opened.

Within seconds, bright lights flooded the room as she switched on the bulb.

"Gideon!" She yelled with a gasp. Her eyes widened with surprise as she walked towards the bed, and picked up the large-sized teddy bear which I had gotten for her as part of the surprise gifts.

She was yet to see me at the corner of the room. I swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in my throat.

Her hands wrapped around the teddy bear, as she stood with her back to me.

I cleared my throat softly, and in an instant, she swung around.

Her mouth dropped open as she met my eyes.

"Charles, what the hell are you doing here?" She asked.

I smiled at her, "Happy Birthday, Bianca."

She shook her head, "Where's Gideon? I thought he planned this all out for me. I've tried calling his number, but it has not been connecting"

"I did. I planned everything." I said, still planning.

A look of disgust formed on her face as she flung the teddy on the bed and edged backwards.

"Your husband made me to do this." I said.

Her phone rang out, and she answered it, still watching me.

"Baby, where are you?" She asked, speaking into the phone.

I waited in silence as I heard my brother's voice from the other end of the call, as he told her that I would have to keep her company because he was unable to make it in time for her birthday celebrations.

The call ended and she slipped her phone into her bag. "Do you think I'd allow myself to spend time with—"

"Bianca..." I said, pushing myself up to lean on my crutch. I slowly limped over to her. A blush crept up her face.

"Make a birthday wish." I said, my face barely a few inches away from hers.

Her breathing was heavy, "I wish that your legs would heal faster so you'd get the hell out of our lives for good."

Her words hit me with a surprise, but I didn't let it show.

Rather, I smiled. "You made the wrong wish."

"Huh?"

"The only reason you're still married to my brother is because I am yet to expose how you cheated on him. A better wish to make is that I don't ever blow your cover up."

Her eyes softened as tears welled up in them.

"Please" She whispered.

I cupped her face with one of my hands. A rush of adrenaline coursed through me.

"The only thing that will make me keep my lips shut is if we recreate that night again. Now."

"Please" She muttered. I could see her resolve melting away. I touched her trembling lips with one finger.

"We do this or you lose Gideon." I said, my face was a few inches away from hers.

"Just once?" She asked, looking away.

I tipped her chin towards me, forcing her eyes to meet mine, "Maybe." Without thinking, I crashed my lips onto hers, as my free hand snaked around her waist, pulling her close to my chest.

Her lips opened, letting my tongue to flicker in. Our lips were still locked in a kiss, and she pressed against me.

Good sign.

She let out a soft moan into my mouth. My trousers grew tight as I became hard.

I briefly pulled away from her, "Bianca, you seem to want this as much as I do."

"Oh shit. I do" She muttered before our lips met again.