The cafe where Tom and I decide to meet has a warm, inviting scent of freshly brewed coffee. The aroma of breakfast sandwiches and pastries wafts through the cafe, along with hints of baked goods and spices in the air. Tom waves at me from his seat and calls, “Cassie!” I smile at him and walk towards him. “Hi, Tom,” I greet. “I thought you wouldn’t come.” I sit in front of him and look into his eyes. His gaze quickly flits away as if ashamed. “I like you, Tom. I know you are aware of it already.” A blush creeps into his cheeks. “I like you too. Very much so.” He gulps before asking, “Which is why I’d like to ask why you didn’t meet me last night. I thought you changed your mind about us?” The smile fades from my face. “I couldn’t,” I answer. Tom reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just don’t understand.” I sigh. “I still have a husband, even if we are not really in love with each other.” He looks down, his hold on
Tom continues to invite me to his family events and as it continues, I find myself getting lost in my own thoughts. “I wonder what’s wrong with my wife?” Liam asks as he presses a kiss on my cheeks. I didn’t even notice him coming into the room. “Liam! Since when have you been there?” I ask, looking at him while he takes off his suit and tie. “Hmmm... a minute?” He moves towards me and places his hands on either side of my legs. “Let’s take a bath together?” My heart races and my mind stops thinking about Tom’s family events. I smile at him, nodding in agreement. We both head over to the bathroom and after playing around while giving each other a rub, we let ourselves into the bathtub. The warmth of the water is soothing and calming as I lay my back against Liam’s chest. He wraps his arms around me tightly and I can feel his breath on my neck. His lips brush against my skin and he traces soft kisses down to my collarbone. “Wait, Liam,” I say, pushing him away. My entire body shi
“I feel the same way, Cassie,” Tom says as he squeezes my hand. “I don’t want you to stop loving me. I don’t want you to tire of me. So, whenever you do, I will kiss you to remind you.” I take a deep breath. “Does that mean that we will continue to meet in secret?” “I am not meeting you in secret. Everyone from my family knows about it.” “So, we are going to steal kisses? Behind closed doors?” I ask. “I know,” he starts. “I know this won’t last, but tell me, and I can leave them already. I am just waiting for your decision.” My decision. However, I don’t know what I want anymore. If I choose Tom, I will hurt his family, but I will be comfortable with him. I will be safe, but I hate to leave Liam and the contract. But if I choose Liam, I know that the succeeding barrage of emotions will be too much for me. And if the contract ends, I will be left alone. I don’t want that! “In the meantime, you will get used to our setup. How about coming to my daughter’s school recognition? It wil
I push sharply at him. “What was that for?!” I hiss at him, breathless. “Your eyes are wandering,” he says, looking a bit angry. I glare back at him. Conscious of the surrounding people, I move closer to him and hiss, “Liam, I don’t like that. Don’t kiss me like that in front of other people!” “Why?” he asks, sounding hurt. “It’s normal between husband and wife.” “No, it’s too much,” I snap at him. He snorts. He leans back in his chair and says, “That’s it. We are going home.” “But—” “The celebration is about to be finished, anyway.” “Liam—” He cuts off my sentence with another dizzying kiss from him. “I want you now. Do you want me to take you here? Or back in the car?” “That’s not—” “Not what?” He leans closer to me and whispers, “Remember, the contract stipulates that you will meet my desires.” I purse my lips and push against his chest. He is using our contract again. I thought we are past that. Still, I make a forced smile. “Okay,” I say, and somehow, I see his feature
I feel Liam’s grip on me tighten as we step out of the car. His grip on my arm shows no signs of loosening as we make our way to our house. The drive has been a silent, oppressive one, and I know Liam heard the entire conversation between Tom and me. I feel embarrassed, exposed, and ashamed all at once. He pushes the key into the lock, turns it, and pushes the door open. His grip on me does not lessen as we make our way inside, and I know I must face the consequences of what I have done. My heart is pounding in my chest, and my mind races with thoughts of what could possibly happen next. The house is eerily quiet as we step inside, and it feels like a ghostly reminder of the love he used to tell me. Liam’s hand is on my shoulder, pulling me gently but firmly with him, and I know I have to face what is coming. He pulls me to our bedroom, and my anxiety rises as I watch the dark, brooding expression on his face. He stops in the center of the room, his hands still gripping my arms. He
I have stayed in the house since we returned from Yvette’s wedding. I can still remember the way Tom rejected me. Sometimes, the words slut and dirty still ring in my ears like a buzz of flies. I want to do something about it, but I know I can’t. It’s my fault, anyway, for trusting too much, for believing in his love. Screaming and hitting something for a sense of release is something that I do not deserve. “Oh god, Cassie, my wife...” Liam moans against my back as he pumps into me, and I am brought back to reality. Right, I remember. The instant he arrives, he’s done nothing but kiss and caress me. And as the slut I am, my body responds to him just as eagerly. But these last few days, I find myself getting lost in my own world, as if I am losing hold of my reality. I feel Liam’s release at the same time that tears stream down my cheeks. “Cassie?” Liam asks. He moves away from me and looks at my face. “Why are you crying? Did it hurt?” I shake my head. “No. I just remembered some
“Why didn’t you fight back?” Liam asks the instant we enter our bedroom. I mumble something unintelligible and sit on the couch. I don’t want to answer because I am already on the edge as it is. He sits beside me and checks the bruises that Heidi caused. “I always thought you were a fighter, but now, it stumps me why you didn’t fight back,” he repeats, as if wanting to be cleared of his confusion. “Because I deserve it,” I finally answer while he checks the wound on the side of my neck. His eyes return to mine. “You deserve to be assaulted and humiliated in public?” I nod as I grab my arms. “She is right. I am well aware that Tom has a live-in partner and a child. I should have said no when he asked me to live with him.” “He asked you to live with him?!” “Actually, even before that… when he said he loved me, I shouldn’t have responded that I love him, too.” “You love him?!” “Come to think of it, when we were in San Francisco, I already knew what I was doing, but I was enjoying
Liam is pumping on top of me, my legs are on either side of him. His groans of pleasure echo across the bedroom. And all I am thinking is, until when he will make love to me. I am exhausted already. Suddenly, he takes hold of my face and makes me look at him. I shift my attention to him at the same time that liquid falls on my face. I blink as I look up and see him crying. “Cassie...” he whimpers. He buries his face in my shoulders as his body trembles. He embraces me, but each of his quivers is no longer because of pleasure. “You hate this now, don’t you?” he asks. “Making love to me... It doesn’t feel the same way for you anymore...” I didn’t answer. Rather, I shift my attention again to the same spot in the ceiling. “But I can’t let you go that easy. I need time to adjust without you. I need to make love to you as much as I can, so I won’t regret anything. These feelings… I need to rush these so they will all die down. But no matter how much we do it... I can’t seem to lower t
********* A FEW YEARS LATER *********** I run my hand over my bulging stomach, savoring the warmth of the afternoon sun as it filters through the living room window. I am close now. The doctor says that any day this week I will give birth to a boy. Nearby, Lukas and Alinn teach Andy how to play a new board game, while Liam hovers close by and places snacks and drinks on the table. “Are you okay? Anything you need?” Liam asks. I grin at him. “I need my husband to sit beside me and hold my hand.” Liam’s face softens, and he nods, quickly making his way over to the couch beside me. As he sits down, he takes my hand in his, his fingers lacing through mine. I lean into him, my head resting on his shoulder. He wraps an arm around me, holding me close and kissing my forehead. This time, I am not afraid. Because now, I feel safe and loved, surrounded by the people who mean the most to me. We will move forward, because we know now, that we are unstoppable together. ********* ANOTHER FEW
I chop vegetables for dinner as I note the instructions Lukas jotted down for our dinner. Liam enters the room, wraps his arms around my waist, and playfully nuzzles my neck. “Guess who?” he whispers, his breath tickling my skin. “Could it be... my handsome husband?” I tease. I turn in his embrace, meeting his lips with a sweet kiss before returning to my task. “Any updates on our lovebirds?” Liam asks, referring to Lukas and Alinn. “Actually, they went on a date yesterday evening,” I respond. “I think things are getting more serious between them.” “Good for them,” Liam says sincerely. He leans against the counter, watching me. “Remember how nervous we were when we first started dating?” “Of course,” I laugh. “We are so nervous that we shared a kiss during that same day and even made love when the evening came.” He laughs. “But look at us now. I want to ravish you every time I lay my eyes on you.” I caress his cheeks. “And we’ll do that once we are done with food and shower,” I
It’s already late in the afternoon when the four of us, Liam, Lukas, Andy and me, start the stroll through the bustling market in Morocco. All the vibrant colors, the tantalizing scents and cacophony of voices are overwhelming. Andy seems to enjoy everything, and she has become very curious. Once, she even asks what the two locals are doing. I explain to her that they are haggling over prices. And every time she sees some exotic wares, she will clap her hands in delight. Something that never fails to put a grin on Lukas’ face. “Mom! Stunning!” Andy exclaims as she points to a beautifully embroidered scarf. Liam chuckles. “It is. You can take what you like, Andy.” Andy squeals and pulls Lukas with her into the shop. On the other hand, Liam takes one scarf and drapes the fabric around my neck. He gazes at my face and whispers, “It really is stunning.” I blush, especially when last night was very hot—too passionate, in fact, that I wasn’t able to get up until it was close to lunch.
The lush garden surrounds an elegant white gazebo. There are cascading floral arrangements that are draped gracefully over the lattices. Not to mention the sweet scent in the warm air. And beneath the canopy of flowers, I stand with Liam. We are gazing into each other’s eyes as our family and friends gather around us. Everyone is dressed at their finest, chattering excitedly amongst themselves while sipping champagne and nibbling on mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres. My mother is wiping away a tear as she looks at us. My father is beaming proudly at her side. With all our relatives around us, this is a far cry from when we had our first wedding. “Ready?” Liam asks beside me, his voice full of tender reassurance. I nod, my eyes shining with happiness and love. “Friends and family,” the officiant begins. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the love and commitment of Liam and Cassie. Today, they choose to renew their vows, solidifying their bond and reaffirming their devotion to on
Suddenly, a waiter approaches us and clears his throat. Liam and I look at him. There is an awkward smile on his face. “Apologies for disturbing you, ma’am, sir, but your food is ready. Should I... ahm, send it here? Or should I pack it up or something?” he asks. Given the time to breathe, I reach for my wineglass and take a slow, deliberate sip. As the rich liquid warms my throat, I resolve to face my emotions head-on. “We are going to continue our date night here,” Liam answers while staring hard at me. The waiter gestures for the others to come closer. They set down plates and bowls in front of the table while Liam fixes himself and sits across me. When the waiters leave, Liam reaches for my hand again. “You see, Cassie. You might have forgotten, but this is the anniversary of when we met at that police station. The first time you kissed me.” “Oh.” “You also think that you were not pretty enough back then. That you are undeserving of love.” I purse my lips again. I glance at
I arrive at the elegant restaurant alone, my heart heavy with the weight of agreeing to Scarlet’s request. Even the soft glow of the candlelight that dances against the polished silverware and crystal glasses on the tables do not improve my mood. The atmosphere is intimate, and it could have been a perfect night with Liam. I take a deep breath, inhaling the rich aroma of seared scallops and garlic butter that fill the air. “Reservation for two under Mr. Chapman?” I ask the hostess who has come to assist me. “Of course,” the hostess replies, leading me to a secluded table by the window. “Your server will be with you shortly.” “Thank you,” I murmur, taking my seat while noting the crisp, white linen napkin and the glasses on the table. I glance around the room. Couples are sharing tender smiles and stealing kisses from each other. The sight only deepens the ache in my chest, reminding me of my earlier decision. “Good evening, ma’am,” a friendly server greets me as he approaches the
I stand in front of a full-length mirror, my reflection framed by the delicate curve of the gilded edges. I watch the way the smooth silk of my midnight blue dress clings to my body, accentuating my curves and cascading until my knees. Then I adjust the thin straps over my shoulders. The anticipation of my romantic date with Liam is making my heart race. There is a knock on the door and I say, “Come in,” my voice sounding happier. The soft click of heels makes my hand pause on the fabric of my dress. I turn my attention to the guest and see Scarlet looking me up and down. I purse my lips at her beauty. She is definitely a sight in yet another red dress–a contrast to her creamy skin. Scarlet’s eyes take in every inch of me, appraising me like a predator sizing up its prey. “Hmmm,” she mutters. “You are starting to look the part of being Liam Chapman’s wife.” “I am his wife,” I tell her. I am just not sure until when. “It’s a pity, really,” she says, her voice dripping with sacchar
Last night, I was dreaming about Lukas and Liam’s laughter again and I woke up with a mix of love and fear. I sigh. This is just fine. I know that my decision to distance myself is for the best. “Momma, Lukas?” Andy asks, still stuttering. “Tomorrow, dear, okay? Your brother will come here to play with you.” She nods and takes hold of a doll. Lukas has gone to the beach with Scarlet. As for Liam, he decided to finish his work in the office. “For today, it’s just you and me...” I whisper. “And probably, in the future too.” I settle in the chair and my gaze lingers on the family photos adorning the walls. Most of it are pictures of Lukas and Andy, but there is also Alinn, Liam, and me. I really do miss doing activities with them. When my eyes fill with tears, I blink them away. I chose this. I should not be sad about this. I have to be stronger than this. More unfeeling than this. I can walk away, just like how I escaped from all the men and drama around me before. They said it bef
“Are you okay, love?” Liam asks. He is on top of me, still panting from the pleasure we just shared. I smile at him, attempting to hide the turmoil raging within me–anxiety that I only feel every time we stop drowning in our pleasure. “I am fine,” I lie. Liam’s piercing eyes search mine, but instead of pressing further, he brushes a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. “I am not such a skilled conversationalist, but please know that I will listen to you, any time you want to talk about something.” I beam at him and I hook my arms around his neck. “I always see you as a great communicator, though.” “Maybe I communicate my love for you in bed? Where you will feel it the most?” he asks, playful now. “I think we should wear our clothes and pause from communicating in bed. I need to check up on Andy.” He presses a kiss on my neck. “Lukas and the nanny are here. Stay a little more in my arms.” I giggle, but then I push him away from me. Sitting up and retrieving my clothes, my min