Chapter 13

Where once myhusband hardly sought me, now he never goes a day between visits.

Perhaps it’s the crushing weight of his inheritance that has him seeking me out.

I’m inclined to believe it’s more.

“Open your mouth,” he instructs.

I obey, wondering what he’s about to put in it.

“How would you describe this?”

A sweet, salty flavor assaults my tastebuds, followed by a sharp bitterness.

“Emmm,” I moan as I work the chocolate-soaked morsel, sucking and twirling it around in my mouth.

“Well?”

I swallow and lick my lips clean. “Water?”

A cold rim presses against my lower lips, and I bring my hand up to hold the glass, taking a sip to cleanse my palate.

“It’s like the bitterness slapped me out of nowhere, but not in a bad way. I like it.”

“It’s a salted caramel coffee blend I threw together. Perhaps I should have used milk chocolate instead of dark.”

“It was fine.”

He takes my cup and I hear him set it down, but with the silk tie wrapped around my eyes, I see nothing.

“How about this?”

This time when I open my mouth, I’m greeted by creamy sweetness that transforms as it melts on my tongue. As the fork leaves my mouth, it smears my lips.

Then his tongue presses against me, licking my lips clean.

“Um, delicious,” he whispers.

I blush, though I don’t know why I should. My lips are hardly scandalous. Still, heat rises in my cheeks as I think of his tongue elsewhere, between my thighs, moaning as he savors my flavor.

My desire for him is as obscene as it is undeniable, and it grows with every scandalous interaction.

His lips leave mine, and he sighs. “I can’t wait to taste you again.”

“Then do,” I tell him, spreading my legs to tempt him.

He chuckles. “Look how greedy you are.”

“I wouldn’t be so greedy if you didn’t spoil me.”

“Should I stop coming around so much?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then tell me, wife, how am I to stop spoiling you?”

“I never said you should stop.”

“I suppose you didn’t. Now tell me what you think of the flavor.”

“It grows as it melts. There’s a sweetness, almost too sweet. There’s nothing to break it up.”

“It’s white chocolate mixed with strawberries and cream.”

He brings the cup to my lips again, and I take a sip of water.

“Try this.”

This time, I taste peanut butter first, chased by a familiar bitterness. Too bitter.

“I like this one less.”

“Describe it.”

“It’s a trick, like when you drink iced tea only to find out there’s no sugar. Not that the peanut butter is terrible. It’s just…as a whole, disappointing.”

“It’s called peanut butter tiramisu.”

Mateo pulls the soft silk from my eyes, allowing me to see again.

“And that, my good wife, is fondue.”

“It was delicious.”

“Which did you like more: the cheese, chocolate, seafood, or meat?”

I look over at the table, which is a mess of pots, utensils, plates, and bite-sized morsels. I’ve sampled at least five cheeses, twenty main courses, and ten chocolates, all of them delicious.

“I like the Swiss cheese with the Granny Smith apple and the popcorn moose crunch for dessert.”

“Fine choices.”

“Which do you like most?” I ask.

He grabs a spoon and swirls it in a vat of milk chocolate.

Pull your head back and open your mouth.

I obey and he holds the spoon over me, drizzling some on my lip and down my neck.

My body responds obscenely to the promise of his hungry mouth.

He doesn’t disappoint.

My mind turns to jelly as he plunders me. I moan against his mouth, my hands grabbing at his chest, but just as his teeth graze my jaw, Jade wheels the cart into the room.

I bring my head forward and look her in the eyes, completely unabashed. I don’t know exactly what happened between her and Mateo after the ill-fated lunch I had with his mother, but it certainly humbled her.

“I’ll come back,” she says, pivoting on her whore heels.

Mateo pulls away. “No, it’s fine,” he mutters before bringing his eager mouth back to my neck.

She sighs and wheels the kitchen cart over to the table, gathering the dishes atop it. The entire time, I watch her, the corners of my mouth curling into a smirk when she dares to glance at me.

Is it mean? Perhaps. But with women like her, it’s necessary.

Of course, I know from my training that Mateo would eventually go back to Jade, given time, but the likelihood that he’ll be dead before that ever happens is high.

And with that thought, my mood sours.

The thought of Mateo’s demise does not bring with it the satisfaction it once had, but the ball is already in motion, and there’s precious little I can do to stop it.

First husbands are doomed, because The Web needs insurance, and that only comes when a Sister takes her first mark.

Jade finishes cleaning and wheels the cart away.

“Next, I’ll introduce you to hot pot, but I can’t guarantee that will go as smoothly.”

“Hot pot?”

“Asian cuisine. It’s like…making your own soup. You choose what flavors the broth, which vegetables to use, and the protein.”

Feeling bold, I bring my foot to his clothed cock and arc a brow. “Protein.”

He blinks at me, his mouth falling open, but before he can say anything, his phone pings.

Grumbling, he pulls it from his pocket and frowns. “It’s my sister.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“She’s stopped by.”

“So?”

“With her kids.”

“And?”

“I’m not kid friendly.”

“Funny thing to say, considering you’re trying to become a dad.”

“In order to keep my inheritance,” he deadpans.

I nod and get up from my seat. “I take it you’ll be entertaining them on another level of the building?”

“I will be, but do think of me when I’m gone.”

“I always do.”

It’s not a lie.