*Shelby*“Just for tonight,” I whispered, biting my bottom lip. Sleeping with Michael even for just one night was probably a bad decision, but I didn’t care at the moment. I was so caught up in the emotions he sent spiraling through me, I couldn’t bring myself to say no. At his touch, my skin was on fire, and the taste of him lingered on my lips even after he pulled away.It was all the invitation that he needed to pick me up and kiss me again and again. He trailed a soft touch up my side and my skin prickled at his wandering hand. He laid me back against the soft cushions, and I caught a brief glimpse of his skin as his shirt billowed. I couldn’t help but run my hand up his stomach feeling each well-defined ripple of muscle. Goosebumps appeared in waves along my body as the heat of his chest traveled up my arms.I helped him out of his shirt as the firelight sent dancing shadows across his skin. His linen shirt fell to the floor in an unwanted pile.Mi
*Shelby*When I woke up, it took me a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the morning light streaming through the skylight. I was at Michael’s house, in his bed. The smell of his sandalwood cologne lingered on my skin and the silky sheets. I rolled to my side and realized that I was alone.I sat straight upright, holding the sheets to my bare chest, as I looked around the room. The door was cracked open, and I could hear the clinking of dishes coming from down the hall. I draped my legs over the side of the bed, scanning the floor. After an unsuccessful search, I realized my clothes were still on the balcony. I made my way into what I assumed was Michael’s ensuite, pulled one of his shirts from the closet, and slipped it over my shoulders.After rinsing my face in the sink, washing away yesterday’s makeup, I silently made my way down the hall back to the kitchen.Michael was humming a light tune while he was scrambling eggs in a frying pan. I stood and watc
*Michael*Everything about Shelby had been so wonderful, and I couldn’t get the memory of our intimacy out of my head. I sighed, resting my cheek on my fist as I rode along in silence, anticipating a busy meeting with investors. Vultures, all of them, but they were a necessary evil. The only thoughts I wanted to have today were of Shelby. Unfortunately, I didn’t always get what I wanted.I watched as buildings whizzed by, the scent of street vendors and car exhaust was heavy in the air. People wandered along the sidewalks, chatting happily with one another, arms full of shopping bags. He watched a couple lean forward and lock lips, a sadness stabbing into his gut. ‘That could be us,’ I thought to myself, letting out a sigh and shaking my head. Things had to be so complicated. Money could solve most, if not all problems, so why not this?We pulled into the building, and the door was opened for me so I could make my way inside. Bland colors like muted whites, g
*Shelby*My heart pounded with anxiety as I waited on the sidewalk, leaning against a brick wall and shuddering despite being under the sun.My reputation, as of right now, was majorly at risk. My stomach clenched, swirling with negative emotions and sheer, utter fear. I worked so hard to get to where I was so that I could lead a successful life. Now, this could ruin it. I didn’t want to be stuck in a low-paying job, barely scraping by! Was Michael a curse or blessing, at this point? No, I couldn’t think that way. Blaine was the one causing issues not Michael.The kissing and sex had felt so good, and I really felt like Michael cared about me. I licked my lips, recalling the memory of him ravaging me in bed, allowing my eyelids to droop just a little. For just a second, a cap was put on the fear, but that only lasted for a brief moment before the wave of negative emotions crashed into me. I began to pace, trying to assure myself that everything would wo
*Shelby*I managed to calm myself down at my apartment, telling Lin and Aubrey that I really couldn’t talk right then, because my head wasn’t in the best spot. I drowned myself in books, particularly those of law, to remind myself just how important this was to me. I couldn’t let some lovestruck incident stop me from chasing my dreams. When I finally looked at the clock, it was 11:03 PM. I gasped, surprised at just how well losing myself in rounding out my studies had worked to eat up time. Tossing and turning in my bed, I couldn’t get Michael’s expression out of my head. Everything about that situation made me feel horrible.Had I made the right decision? I still felt that strong urge to contact Michael again and apologize for how I behaved. Running back would achieve the opposite of what I wanted, though. I had to let this all go. I could do that, right? Judging by how closely I clutched my pillow that night, imagining it was Michael, I wasn’t
*Michael*Seeing her again, so gorgeous in every way, brought back painful memories that, just hours before, I had said goodbye to. Yet here I was, staring her down with likely an incredibly pleading expression. A pit formed in my stomach as I wondered if this was disrespecting her wishes about space. I did not walk any closer to her, even though I very much wanted to take her into my arms and hold her close. I swallowed and let out a soft sigh, opening my mouth to start. “Shelby, I–”“Michael, what are you doing here? You–”“I know, it–”“Seeing you here again, I–”“I wanted to talk about–”We stopped, getting nowhere given our words were being tangled by talking over one another. I had the delight of seeing an amused glint to her eyes. She brought her hand up to her lips, covering her mouth for a moment in amusement before clearing her throat and letting out a sigh. Her expression hardened as, no doubt, she decided to stand her ground.
*Shelby*I may have second-guessed myself at first regarding this decision, but that was all down the drain when I got into the jet. The inside was decorated with black leathers, and there was a room with a hot tub in it. Yes, a hot tub on a jet! Only two passengers could fit, but that was just right for Michael and I. There was a drink cabinet with listings of the most expensive alcohol I’d ever seen. I gawked at the extravagance, taking everything in. My heart pounded in my chest as I locked eyes with Michael. “This is beautiful,” I breathed, giving a wonderfully bright smile. I threw my arms around him, much to his surprise I’m sure, and hugged him tightly. I held him there for a moment, burying my face into his chest before pulling away, my cheeks flushing. “Thank you, Michael. I’m so excited,” I said, energy rushing through my veins. We got settled, sitting together as the jet took off, conscious of safety. When we were given permission to move about t
*Shelby*“Do you have a plan, Michael?” I asked in a hushed voice, swallowing hard. My heart was pounding in my ears, and I needed to take a few steps back, turning to collapse onto the couch. I was so tired of feeling this way, but I couldn’t help it. My reputation was going to be ruined, that much was clear. The past pictures were not as obvious, but this one? Completely earth shattering. How was I going to get a handle on this? All of my fears were staring me in the face, but after last night, I didn’t want to leave Michael. Honestly, I didn’t think I could at this point. No matter how much I knew I needed to. Michael followed me to the couch, taking me on his lap and wrapping his arms around me. I didn’t realize tears were flowing down my cheeks until he reached over and wiped away some of the warm wetness, as I stared up into his eyes. For a moment, everything was okay. I was drawn into his gaze, starstruck, and completely out of it. My negative emotio
*Shelby**Five Months later*I sat staring out the small window in my office. It was nowhere near as impressive a view as Michael's top-floor CEO office, but I liked the fact that it was mine. I’d been an attorney at Stockton and Associates for five months now, and just last month, I was promoted from my tiny cubicle in the corner to my very own office.I’d framed photographs of Michael and me at our wedding, at a castle in Ireland on our honeymoon, and of us in Greece from our most recent vacation. I couldn't help but imagine another picture frame of a beautiful little baby, swaddled up tight in a hospital bassinet sitting next to the rest. Michael and I had taken a more active approach to try to have a baby. I took my temperature every morning to track my fertility window, and our bathroom was littered with boxes and boxes of ovulation tests. It seemed like the majority of my free time I now spent thinking of our future family. I even had an entire nursery planne
*Shelby***One Year Later**“To you, my amazingly talented, intelligent, and beautiful wife,” Michael said, holding a glass of wine in the air over our cozy two-person table.I clinked my glass on his and took a small sip of the wine as I looked out over the dark blue sky littered with thousands of tiny bits of starlight. The lights of the city shone brightly below, illuminating the blue dome roofs over the buildings. The waves crashed against the cliff faces below, sending bits of seawater into the air, making everything smell like salt.We’d been in Greece for the last few days and were currently eating dinner in a quaint little restaurant toward the top of the city, with an amazing view. For the past month, we’d been touring Italy and Greece on our yacht. I’d recently graduated from NYU with my law degree, and Michael planned the trip as a way to celebrate. I’d been interning at a law firm called Stockton and Associates, and I was surprised by their o
*Shelby*I woke up and stretched across the king-size bed. It felt so strange to be in such a large bed all by myself. I lay there, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings of the hotel room. Then the realization hit me; it was my wedding day. The day I was going to become Mrs. Shelby Astor.I sat bolt upright, and let my feet hit the floor. In one swift motion, I was up and taking leaps across the room with a little squeal. I swung open the door and rushed into the main room of the hotel suite.“Aubs! Lin! Get up! I’m getting married today!” I squealed.Within a few seconds, Aubrey was up, rubbing her eyes as she opened the door to her private room. All we heard from Lin’s room was a sleepy moan, which made me laugh loudly.“I know that some brides get cold feet on their wedding day, but something tells me we don’t have to worry about that with you,” Aubrey said, yawning a little.“I can’t believe it’s actually here, Aubs. I mean, after all that we’ve gone t
*Shelby*After a hasty breakfast, Lauren’s words still lingered in my mind. The click of the coffee pot being pulled off of the warmer snapped me back to reality. I set my phone down on the counter and flashed Michael a soft smile. He grabbed a travel mug from the cupboard and poured the remainder of the dark liquid into his cup. While he screwed the lid into place, he leaned over and kissed me quickly on the lips.“I’m so sorry I don’t have time to say much in the way of a goodbye, but thank you for breakfast. I had an emergency meeting with investors pop up last minute,” Michael said, slipping his arms through his sport coat.“That’s okay, I understand. Will I see you for dinner?” I asked.“Yes, you will. I’ll make sure I’m home by five at the latest. What are your plans for the day?” Michael asked.“I’m going to the country club to make sure everything is ready for tomorrow,” I answered.A huge smile took over Michael’s face, “Well, that sounds like a great way to spend
*Shelby*Lauren looked… humbled.Even her clothes were telling. She wore a long, demure skirt and a blouse that didn’t show a hint of cleavage and covered her arms down to her elbows. No big brand names or luxurious accessories. Her hair also needed a wash.I’d never seen her dress so modestly or look so run-down, and I had an inkling of what she was trying to accomplish by coming here. I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do. I wasn’t sure Michael would want to see her, and part of me didn’t want Michael’s day to start off with a fight. On the other hand, I couldn’t make those decisions for him.“Come in,” I said, stepping aside to let her pass. I closed the door and gestured for her to sit in the adjacent living room, just as I heard Michael’s quick steps running down the stairs. “What smells so good? My mouth is watering! Shelby, honey—” He froze when he saw Lauren sitting on the couch. She gave him a smile and a quick wave.Michael’s eyes focused on me,
*Shelby*Ever since that kiss in the elevator, my body ached for Michael. When he whispered into my ear, a shudder ran down my spine, turning me on.He gave me a taunting look, and his eyes wandered around the park. “Michael…” I said, “what’s going on in your head?”He chuckled and leaned closer to me. “It wouldn’t be the first time we made love out in the open,” he said in a low voice.I almost spit out the coffee I’d just sipped.“But we were alone on the beach! Well, the second time, anyway. This place is full of people.”“There are some dark places…” He smiled mischievously at me. “And you’re not making it easier for me.”His eyes wandered to my chest, where my dress hung really low and gave him a great view of my breasts thanks to the way I was leaning toward him.I felt his leg caressing mine under the table, and I pretended to scowl at him.“You aren’t making it easier either,” I said. He took his phone out of his pocket and grinned, informing me that the
*Michael*When Shelby walked into the office, I could tell she was dying to tell me something. Her excitement was written all over her face.“I suppose the hunt for a dress went well?” I said, and she immediately ran around the desk and gave me a kiss. “I’ll take that as a yes,” smiling at the joy on her face.“I found the perfect one,” she said as she sat in the chair across from me. “I just wish I could show you or tell you about it, but you know how that goes.” “You could wear a T-shirt and jeans, and you’d still be the most beautiful bride to walk this earth,” I said dramatically, eliciting a giggle from Shelby. I would never tire of hearing her laugh.“I thought your lawyer would be here already,” she said, looking at her watch.“Aren’t we going home?” I had no idea what she was talking about.“Did you really forget?” Shelby laughed. “Only you could forget that we’re going to sign our prenup today.”The truth was that it had completely slipped my mind. Shelby was
*Shelby**One Month Later*“I can’t believe it’s the end of the summer already,” Lin said with a sigh.I pushed open the door to the salon and was instantly enveloped with the smell of cucumbers and ocean salt.“I know. It seems like it went so fast, but I’m so glad we get to spend more time together before you have to go back to Cambridge,” I said.“Damn, this place is so posh,” Lin said rather loudly.I chuckled, “Shush, Lin. Just pretend that we come to places like this all the time.”“Oh, right,” she responded, a small smirk on her lips.We walked up to the front desk where a woman with purple hair greeted us. Once she found our appointments, she took us back to a private room to get our pedicures. The lights were dimmed and soft piano music played from an indistinguishable place in the room. She handed us each a glass of champagne before leaving us to wait for the nail artists.“So what are we having done today?” Lin asked me as we slip
*Shelby*I’d just slid the baking tray, with two salmon filets and vegetables, into the oven when I heard the front door open. It abruptly closed with a shutter that echoed through the house.“Michael?” I called down the hallway.“It’s me, Shelby,” he called back, and my heartbeat slowed at the sound of his voice.“You’re just in time. I just put dinner in the oven, and it should be ready soon,” I said as Michael walked into the kitchen.I looked up to see him wearing a very serious expression on his face. The corners of his mouth were tugged down in concern, and there was a strange expression in his eyes—a mix of sadness and anger.“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” I asked, my heartbeat speeding up again. “Is Bruce okay? Lucille?”“Everyone’s fine. I just had a very unpleasant conversation is all,” Michael said, sliding onto one of the barstools.“With who?” I asked, picking up and folding a dish towel with nervous anticipation.“I went