One

Prologue

They say, "Cheating is a choice." That it’s never unintentional or an accident. I used to believe that—well, kind of… before.

But right now, I stand against whoever the hell came up with that saying.

Because cheating on my husband feels like the only way to survive—to feel alive again. A huge part of me feels dead. Something inside me has stopped breathing, lost its sense of… everything.

I don’t want to cheat. I never wanted to. I don’t want to become the kind of wife consumed by infidelity. I am married, and my life was perfect… until recently.

So, how did it come to this?

I don’t want to, and yet… I’m doing it. I’m cheating on my husband. Right now.

Not by choice, not by intent…

Or maybe it is? Maybe I am doing this by choice, with intention.

I’ve convinced myself this isn’t a choice, that this isn’t what I wanted. But maybe that’s just my way of protecting myself—a defense mechanism.

I don’t know anymore.

I’m lost in the chaos of my mind. I’m drowning in the pain consuming me from the inside. But the most unsettling part?

I’m lost in the temptation—and I’m liking it.

Chapter One

“Wrap your arms around my neck, Lila.”

The man’s sultry voice was a melody of seduction, playing directly into my ears.

I had always thought that being with another man—someone who’s now showering me with kisses—would never feel like being with Taylor, my husband.

Taylor was my first. He was my everything.

Then why?

Why am I feeling an even greater pleasure from a man I don’t even know?

I almost groaned in frustration when his lips left mine, but I obeyed his command. There’s something about his dominating, primal behavior that excites me. It ignites my core, filling my mind with a heady mix of thrill and fervor.

Danger signs blared in my mind, but not an ounce of retreat coursed through my veins.

The moment I circled my arms around his neck, I crushed my lips against his, devouring the thin, wet temptation I had started to crave. The man groaned, caught off guard, but quickly responded, matching the rhythm of my desperate kisses.

Damn! His kisses are so addicting. The way his tongue moves, how he nibbles and gently bites my lip—it’s intoxicating, clouding my mind with pure ecstasy.

I’ve never felt this good before. Not even with Taylor.

No. I can’t think about my husband right now. I won’t. I can’t let his memory ruin this fleeting moment—a moment I know I won’t have the courage to repeat.

Yes, this is just a one-night stand. That’s what they call it, right?

I won’t let thoughts of Taylor invade this. This is revenge. This is what I need—just to breathe again, to reignite the fire I lost somewhere along the way.

“Jump on me,” the man commanded between our fevered kisses.

Who are you again? I wanted to ask, but I was too consumed by desire to form a single word.

I’d only just met him at a bar, and I knew I shouldn’t be doing this. But did it really matter when he felt this good, this intoxicating?

I shivered as both his hands trailed from my back down to my butt, squeezing hard. A moan escaped me, unbidden.

“Move, baby,” he growled, his voice thick with excitement. The sound alone sent a jolt of heat through me, and I couldn’t help but mirror his eagerness with another moan of my own.

I jumped at the exact moment he lifted me, our lips never breaking their greedy connection. I’d never kissed like this before—like my entire body was being worshipped by nothing but his mouth.

Instinctively, my legs wrapped around his torso, and the moment I felt his hardness pressing against my wetness, still trapped behind those lucky pants, my arousal spiked even higher.

Damn, I didn’t think it was possible to feel this turned on!

His arms tightened around my waist as he carried me, moving purposefully through his flat. When my back sank into the softness of a mattress, I realized we were in his bedroom.

“Ahh…” I moaned as his lips traveled down to my neck, his teeth grazing my sensitive skin before biting gently. He’d found one of my weak spots, and the sensation sent a shiver straight through me. I felt like I might unravel at any moment.

His tongue followed, tracing up from where he’d bitten me, leaving a trail of heat as it moved toward my ear. When he nibbled and licked my earlobe, I couldn’t suppress the convulsions rippling through my core. It was electrifying—like sparks firing along every nerve in my body.

He pulled back, his gaze meeting mine. He knelt above me, positioned between my legs as I lay exposed on the bed.

The dim lighting made the moment feel surreal, but instead of discomfort, I felt an unexpected thrill. There was something exciting about this intimacy in shadows—something even more pleasurable.

“I love how responsive you are,” he said, his teasing voice making my cheeks flush with heat.

“I-I’m not—”

My words were cut off by a scream of pleasure as his fingers found my nipple, pinching the aching peak in a way that was both rough and gentle, the perfect balance of intensity and care.

“See what I mean?” he chuckled, leaning down to plant a quick kiss on my lips. Then, his mouth moved to my ear, his warm breath sending another shiver down my spine as he whispered.

“How about you try and please me next?” he said in a low, mind-blowing voice that made my eyes widen in surprise.

He chuckled at my reaction, clearly amused, while my cheeks burned like a teenager caught in an awkward moment.

“You haven’t tried seducing a man?”

I shook my head.

No, I never explored my sexual desires with Taylor. In fact, I wasn’t even sure what my desires truly were.

“Even with your husband?”

I bit my lip, feeling a wave of shame wash over me as I shook my head again. The realization hit me hard—I had been so naive.