Chapter 33

Alex

4 MONTHS AGO

Alex stroked his cock as a familiar feeling built in his stomach. His balls tightened, and with a groan of pleasure, he came, staring the screen. There she was in all her glory, spread-eagled on the bed and staring into the camera as he fucked her furiously.

Erica.

God, he missed her. Every day, he missed her and longed for her. Now, all he had were a handful of pictures and this tape they made, which he could only watch muted in case Sophie was lingering.

He'd give anything to have her again. To fuck her again.

The high from his orgasm quickly left him, his previously pleasured groan becoming a sob as it occurred to him once again exactly what he had lost. He was the biggest fool of all.

Hearing footsteps coming up the stairs, he wiped his hand on a nearby towel, grabbed the remote, and shut the TV off hastily. Sophie entered the room, already smiling, approaching the bed like a predator.

"You took far too long up here," she purred, stripping her clothes as she walked. "I got lonely."

He ran his gaze over her body, grabbing his cock once more and stroking his length as he felt the familiar stirrings of stimulation.

She may not be who he wanted right now, but at least she could still get him hard. And after everything he had done to Erica, he had no choice but to take what he could get.

PRESENT DAY

Alex groaned as he emptied himself inside Sophie, her legs wrapping around him and holding him inside her. Once, her cries of pleasure were the most exciting sound he could imagine. But they did nothing for him now as his climax ended as quickly as it came.

Tapping her leg, he pulled out of her, rolling into the space next to her.

"That was amazing," she breathed, curling up against his side, her hand resting lightly on his chest.

"Mm," he replied, squeezing her shoulder. If amazing to her was a quick fumble with minimal foreplay, then she had low standards. More likely, she was lying through her teeth like he was. Their sex life had quickly become stale and fucking her felt more like a chore than a desire to be inside her.

For him, this was another orgasm, just a step up from his hand.

Sex had lost almost all its appeal.

"We should get some sleep," he said, already pulling away. She tugged on his arm, holding him in place.

"Five minutes won't hurt," she reasoned. "I like snuggling with you, and we barely talk anymore."

He could argue they had never really talked. They said all the right things to one another and made it seem like they were compatible, but in reality, they fucked and flirted. And for all that, he'd lost his marriage with a woman who was his equal in every way.

Well, that wasn't accurate.

He knew now that Erica was too good for him. But at least with her, he had something to strive for, a goal in mind. Everything he did was to make himself worthy of her. He thought he had been doing a good job until Sophie came into his life.

"I need a good sleep for the meeting tomorrow," he said. "Look, Soph. I don't mean to be an ass, but I need my game face on. We're so close to losing the London group, and I don't know why. "

"You won't lose them," she said, in what he imagined she thought was a soothing tone. "They love you!"

That wasn't true. They used to love him when he was a respectable man in a happy marriage. Now, shacked up with his mistress, rumours were flying about inappropriate behaviour in the office.

Admittedly, they were not unfounded rumours.

Sophie was obsessed with fucking in his office and making sure everyone knew it. He'd learned it was quicker to get it over with than try to turn her down. That just led to pouting and distractions, so he couldn't focus on his work. A quick shag shut her up and let him concentrate.

Only that attitude was catching up to him.

The London group did not want to be associated with a playboy businessman who couldn't keep it in his pants. Hell, he wouldn't want to be associated with someone like him, either.

It didn't help that Sophie lacked certain social graces that came naturally to Erica. She was a people person and possessed a natural ability to put anyone at ease. When speaking with Erica, she made a person feel valued and heard. Over the years, clients had warmed to her immediately, and he had been proud to have her on his arm, charming people effortlessly.

When Sophie looked at his clients, she saw nothing more than a paycheck. It was almost as though you could see the pound signs in her eyes. With her on his arm, it had forced him to develop an awkward chuckle to cover her lapses in judgment. It made him appreciate how little he used to have to do to win over a new client.

Damn, when had he become such a pussy?

He used to have a backbone.

"You know this is important to me, Soph. Why are you being a pest about this?"

"I thought I was important to you?" Scoffing, she tossed the covers aside and climbed out of bed. He watched her tits bounce as she crossed the room. He held back a frustrated groan and sat up.

"Where are you going? "

"I'll sleep in the spare room," she said, pulling the door open with more force than necessary. "Since I'm that much of a pest!"

"Sophie!" His tone was sharp and commanding. It might as well have been a whisper as she left the room without so much as a backward glance.

This was the part where he should roll over and go to sleep. She had given him exactly what he asked for—peace and quiet to prepare for the coming day. He would be a fool to give in to her and chase after her.

He cursed his foolish ass as he tossed the covers aside, grabbing a robe and shrugging it on as he left the room. "Sophie, come on. Don't be like that."

Fool.

"Be like what?" She asked, leaning against the wall further down the hallway. She hadn't even made it to the spare room. So confident he'd chase her, she didn't bother.

Fucking hell, what had he become?

"Storming out like that," he said, gesturing behind him to their now-empty room. "Come back to bed."

"Well, what else am I supposed to do when you're calling me a pest?"

"I'm sorry, okay?" He wasn't sorry. He had nothing to apologise for but now was not the time. "Look, I'm just wound up, and I need to sleep. I spoke out of turn."

"You care more about your clients than you do about me."

True. But again, now was not the time.

For a moment, Alex considered telling her exactly what was on his mind. He'd tell her that the affair was the biggest mistake of his life. Aside from her looks, he valued nothing else about her. She'd finally know that she was only slightly more preferable than his hand and that sex with her was becoming a source of dread for him. More than anything, he'd tell her he wanted her out of his house, out of his business and out of his life.

But then, the thought of his clients finding out that he was even more drama than they already believed him to be kept him quiet .

In his line of work, he needed to look as though he was in control of every aspect of his life. Better they believe him a love-sick fool who could not resist the attention of his pretty receptionist than a cheating asshole ruled by his dick.

Ironically, Sophie was both the cause of their doubt and the reason they stayed.

It shouldn't be this way.

His work ethic and the results he produced should be proof of his worth. But appearances were everything. If Alex couldn't prove that he was an excellent investment, no one would trust him to represent their company.

"That's not true," he said, taking a step toward her. "It's because I care about you so much that this is so important."

"Don't play me for a fool, Alex," Sophie said, slapping away his outstretched hand. "That doesn't even make sense."

"Doesn't it?" He chuckled without humour. "Sophie, if the London group pulls out of this deal, do you know how much money I stand to lose?"

She shook her head. "No. But I don't care about that!"

"Don't you?" He asked. "Because I seem to remember you complaining about the ‘crappy flat' you lived in with Marcus. I definitely recall you mentioning, on more than one occasion, how you wished he was more like me and could provide you a life you deserved."

"But that was different," she insisted.

"Not from where I'm standing." He leaned over her, his hand resting on the wall above her head. "Sophie, once we've settled the divorce, I'm already going to lose a chunk of money. If the London group goes, the other clients will get spooked, and before you know it, you and I will be in our own crappy flat."

"I don't care—"

"Yes. You do." Brushing his finger over her lip, he sighed as though she were causing him pain. Thank God he still remembered some tips from high school drama lessons. This was acting worthy of the big screen!

"And I'm okay with you wanting a life of luxury. So do I. But for us to have that, to have everything we want, I need to be on top of my game. You need to let me do that. "

She stayed silent for a moment, her eyes searching his. He forced himself not to look away, hoping he was pulling this off.

"Are you really doing this for me? Because you haven't even seemed really interested in me lately."

"Sophie," he sighed and pulled away. "God, I'm sorry. I've been such a bastard." He ran his hand through his hair, not daring to look at her. He needed to sell this. "This is for you, but I can see why that's hard to believe. Why else would I work so hard? I just… God. I'm so stressed. All the time."

"But why? I mean, things aren't that bad, are they?"

"They are." He looked back finally, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just didn't want to worry you or make you think we were doing anything wrong. But my reputation is everything. Getting divorced after an affair isn't a good look. Screwing you all over the office—not a good look."

"But that's no one's business but our own!"

He nodded in agreement. "True. But that's the way it is. If I can't stay committed to my wife, how can they trust me to commit to their company? If I am more interested in fucking you than doing my work, how can I offer them my time and prove I'll give them my full effort?"

"Why is this only coming up now? Why haven't you mentioned it before?"

"Because I want to give you the world, Sophie." God, that sounded good. "I don't like to deny you or make you play by the rules. So, I overindulged and lost sight for a moment."

"Are you really screwed?" She asked, her eyes looking worried. He shook his head and bit back a smirk. He'd already won this game. No need to drive the point home.

"Not really screwed. But I will be if I don't buck up my ideas." Silence fell between them as each of them reflected on the conversation. Sophie stared over his shoulder, chewing her lip. He wondered what it was she was thinking about. Finally, he broke the peace. "Will you come back to bed now, love?"

She refocused her attention on him. "Yes. But I have one request."

"Of course. Shoot. "

"When we make love, you don't just roll off and go to sleep. Just… be in the moment with me, Alex. Even for five minutes."

He looked contrite, nodding solemnly. "I will. Sorry. I will."

With a soft sigh, she took his hand and leaned to kiss his cheek. "Come on, you, let's get you to bed. You have a company to run."