“This is far more than a convenient arrangement, wife.”
She frowns. “So what are you going to do? Rip off my dress, toss me on the bed, and fuck me to prove it?”
Sloan is itching for a fight. Not only did her father upset her but I think she’s scared of me. Of us. Challenging me is her way of keeping emotional distance.
Too bad for her it’s not going to work. “No.”
She watches me strip off my suit coat and waits for me to declare myself.
I’ve played hundreds of corporate games. I’ve BSed to schmooze clients. I’ve bluffed my way through negotiations. I’ve gone hard and aggressive to close deals.
But Sloan isn’t a game to me. This is my future. She is my forever. Since she’s not ready to hear that, I need to approach her carefully, keep her off guard, leave her guessing.
“Then what?” she challenges me.
I don’t answer, simply meander to the corner where I see a gift basket.
Enjoy your first night as a married couple. We wish you the best. Congratulations!
Evan and Nia
I sift through the goodies they left us. A bottle of very nice champagne—still cold—Godiva chocolates in one wineglass and some lux caramels in its matching stem. A sandalwood and coconut scented candle. Lip balm, mouthwash, and bath beads. Some bougie shower gel, massage oil, a thumb drive in a plastic case marked Sensual Classics, and, of course, a whole bunch of condoms. There’s also an oblong box marked For Sloan, From Nia, which I hand to her, and a door hanger that says Do Not Disturb.
As I saunter to install that helpful piece of hardware on the knob, I catch sight of a box on one of the nightstands. Is this from Evan and Nia, too?
“Maybe you shouldn’t open that,” Sloan blurts as I lift the box.
“Why?” I ask as I untie the red bow, then notice a little card tucked underneath and open it.
Enjoy this perfect gift on our wedding night.
Sloan
She doesn’t reply, just gnaws her lip like she’s second-guessing whatever she left me to unwrap.
I lift the lid and peel back white tissue paper to find a bottle of hand lotion and a towel, wrapped tightly with a pristine bow.
Despite everything, I laugh. My wife is always full of fight. But she’s about to find out I am, too. And I can be both more subtle and more effective in getting what I want.
I toss the box on the bed. “So, what were you planning to do while I was getting busy with myself? Watch?”
She flushes. “No. It was a prank.”
But I think she meant it at the time. It was another way to pick a fight, and I’m not taking the bait.
“Come here.” I loosen my tie.
She sends me a wary glance. “Why?”
“I want to talk to you.” I crook my finger at her.
“We can talk from across the room.”
“I won’t bite.” Not right away…
Warily, Sloan approaches. “What? I wanted to see what’s in the box from Nia first.”
“Then do it.” Her stalling won’t stop what I have planned.