Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

O n the way to the kitchen, June shares her relief that her father has accepted her decision not to continue studying law. However, she still hasn’t figured out what she wants to study instead, and I can already envision the subsequent battle between the two of them. Because Thomas won’t tolerate it idleness, and neither will I. I want her to find a direction for her life and become independent.

“June has until the next exam to find something new to study. I’ll support her if it’s a reasonable. That’s how we’re staying for now,” Thomas concludes her story.

My eyes fall on my husband, who has just entered the kitchen. I immediately pull my towel a little tighter around my body, overwhelmed with guilt. I would have cheated on my husband in the hot tub if June hadn’t disturbed us. Or worse still, Thomas might have caught Ezra and me, and the situation would have ended badly.

The fact is, I’m dying of guilt right now. Even though my husband has been acting like a complete jackass to me again the last few days… I’m not a cheater. I swore to be faithful to him when we got married, even if he hasn’t taken this promise very seriously in the past. Nevertheless, I don’t want to sink to the same level. We are married, and I chose to stay married for the sake of our daughter, so I duck my head a little when he covers me with his dark gaze. Even if he was entirely out of line before, I have overstepped a line I drew myself. I’m aware of that.

“I’m glad you could find an acceptable solution you’re both happy with. I’m going to go upstairs and shower,” I say a little meekly and retreat.

I can hear the two of them chatting as I enter the bedroom, trying to withstand the need to look at the neighboring house as best I can. But either way, it’s completely dark over there again, so there’s nothing to see, anyway. Involuntarily, I wonder if Ezra’s gone to one of his lovers to get what he didn’t get from me after the situation in the hot tub.

I try to ignore the pang in my chest at the thought as I step into the adjoining bathroom and take off my towel.

I loosen my bikini top and throw it into the laundry basket with the wet towel. A subtle smirk crosses my lips as I think about Ezra taking my panties while I’m getting into the shower. I’d love to enjoy our fling or whatever you’d want to call it. But I can’t. I made my decision a long time ago, and no matter who comes into my life, I’ll honor my promise. First and foremost, I’m a mother, and I’d do anything for my daughter.

After I’ve finished showering, I get out and dry off. Suddenly, I hear footsteps on the stairs. I feverishly think about what to do about the still noticeable hickey, as I have taken no clothes into the bathroom. Without further ado, I decided to cover up the reddish stain with some makeup, and not a second too late because as I’m washing my hands to hide what I’d done, my husband enters the bathroom.

“I hope everything will be back to normal now and that my wife is behaving properly again,” Thomas’s voice sounds behind me.

I turn to him with bated breath. My God! That was close. My heart is pounding, and I genuinely don’t want to back down. After all, he’s made a mistake. But as I’m not innocent myself and have risked June’s future and stability, I have to give in. Even though I certainly won’t tolerate him hitting me again!

“If my husband doesn’t fall back into old patterns from now on and treats me the way I deserve, then yes,” I reply, holding his gaze.

He frowns for a moment before pushing himself away from the door frame and walking toward me. He stands close and I try to ignore the fact that I’m completely naked. His hand finds my cheek, and he looks down at me with a gentle gaze.

“I’m sorry, Cora; I promise it won’t happen again,” he replies with a murmur and presses a delicate kiss to the corner of my mouth.

I nod and kiss him back—trying to block out the images clouding my mind as best I can. All of them filled with Ezra, after all. I have made my choice, and I need to cut Ezra King out of my life indefinitely. For my marriage. For my family. That’s why I let the kiss between me and my husband intensify.

When an excited growl erupts from his throat and he harshly grabs my breast, I gasp against his mouth. I try so hard not to think about Ezra’s touch when my husband touches me. Not to compare them. But it’s anything but easy when you have a man who’s only concerned about his own pleasure on one side and an incredibly attractive man who only cares about me and my pleasure on the other.

“June?” I ask as Thomas maneuvers us into the bedroom, our hands all over each other.

“Went to Linda’s,” he answers, grumbling, already wanting to push me onto the mattress to use my body for his pleasure once again.

But I can’t stand it today. Everything is still throbbing and tingling inside me. Even if it wasn’t triggered by my husband, he has to help me find relief myself.

So I take the initiative and gently push against his chest to lead him toward the cushioned windowsill until the back of his knees bump against it. I immediately grab his belt and undo it, pull down his pants, and push him onto the bench.

He looks up at me with a surprised grin. I glance briefly at Ezra’s house to see if it’s still dark, confirming he’s really not at home. Because I don’t want to hurt him on purpose. I want to save my marriage—and therefore June’s future—and I’m starting today by having sex with my husband. Tomorrow, I’ll talk to Ezra to end this with us once and for all.

Years of struggle can’t be for nothing, wasted on an adventure that will only hurt me and, at worst, make me lose everyone I care about.

“Cora, what’s gotten into you?” Thomas asks me with a grin as I sit astride his naked lap and rub myself against his erection.

Gasping, I grab his face and kiss him greedily.

“Isn’t a wife allowed to seduce her husband?” I ask him teasingly as I grind my core on his lap, rubbing his hardness back and forth between my wet folds.

We both moan in response before he grabs my behind and squeezes it even tighter as I unbutton his shirt to feel the warmth of his chest.

“Fuck me, Cora,” Thomas moans roughly, making me grin because I’m sure he’s never said that to me before in all these years.

But I enjoy taking the lead. I’ve often tried to attempt something new and lead him to a change. But like the other day, Thomas quickly gets impatient and only thinks about his lust until I come up empty again. But not today.

I lift myself slightly so that I can sink down on his length. When his tip touches my entrance, we moan at the same time. I need this now. I need to find release and get rid of you, Ezra King!

As I sink down and Thomas fills me completely, I stay still for a moment, whimpering. Thomas kisses his way down my neck to my breasts and thrusts inside me. When he sucks my nipple, I throw my head back with a moan before opening my eyes again. But suddenly, I freeze when I see someone standing at the window right across from me. Ezra .

He’s standing in his dark bedroom right in front of his window, looking over at us. I can’t quite make out the look on his face, but I’m sure he doesn’t look happy.

I tense up, and yet, somehow, I still try to enjoy sex with my husband. You need to get out of my head!

I close my eyes and try to give myself completely to Thomas. I can feel his hands firmly on my ass and how he pushes himself into me repeatedly. His lips and tongue play with my breasts and give me goosebumps. There you go…

But when I open my fluttering eyelids again and can still see the dark shadow standing at the window, I can no longer push back the images in my head. They roll over me like a freight train and drag me along with them. Suddenly, it’s no longer Thomas’s hands that are kneading my ass, but I can feel Ezra’s thumb pushing between my cheeks again and pressing against my anus. I remember this incredibly intoxicating feeling again, moaning even louder and riding Thomas harder.

My eyes are fixed on Ezra’s shadow as I move faster, and Thomas thrusts himself deeper into me. I can’t help but feel more aroused by this utterly bizarre situation than ever before. I claw hard into Thomas’s back and leave reddish marks because I’m so caught up in this scene right now.

“God, Cora!” Thomas moans and I can feel him move uncontrollably, knowing he’s about to come.

This burning hot feeling also rushes through my belly and announces my approaching orgasm. I still maintain eye contact with Ezra. Even though his sharp-cut face is more in the dark, I know he won’t take his eyes off me for a second. As I groan loudly because Thomas has hit the right angle, I see Ezra rest his hands on the glass and literally stare over at us. At that exact moment, I come explosively and scream out my pleasure without restraint, as does my husband, who comes in the exact second and spills himself inside me.

My heart is racing and beating so hard against my ribs that I’m worried it might jump out of my chest. We catch our breath for a moment. I close my eyes briefly and slump against Thomas’s shoulder to catch my breath and allow my pulse to normalize. When I open my eyes again, Ezra has disappeared, and I wonder whether I’ve imagined him again or whether he really was watching us.

“Cora… that was incredible,” my husband murmurs against my neck, kissing his way to my lips.

I smile back at him with satisfaction as I slowly lift myself off him. Yes, it was…

Without being able to stop it, my gaze wanders once more to the neighboring house. But I can’t recognize Ezra anywhere. Even if I’ve only imagined it, I still must talk to him tomorrow. This can’t go further between us, so I must end it, and he has to accept it.