I enter through the side entrance, not wanting to be noticed, but Rocky has me on radar. Nikki is across the room, talking with Kate, eyeing me with caution.
“Dude, seriously, what the fuck is going on? Are you banging Montana? You’re a fucking mess. I swear that chick looks nice and tight… but fuck you if you are ‘cause I love Charlie like a sister.”
“Rocky… I’m not, okay? In fact, she is no longer my assistant.”
“All right, what happened? She sucked your dick, is that it?”
“Listen—”
“Dude.” His tone softens. “I know you wouldn’t do that to Charlie. I mean, purposely fuck around, but you gotta fix your marriage. Whatever the hell is bugging you, fix it now because if you look over there…” he points to the dance floor where Charlotte is in Julian’s embrace, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, “… you are gonna lose your woman forever.” He pats me on the back before walking away.
The temperature in the room is rising, my blood pressure ready to blow as I remain fixated on how she is dancing with him. He whispers words in her ear, my heart beating out of my fucking chest. I’m trapped in my own mistakes, bleeding profusely, yet I’m the one holding the knife, tearing us apart.
She’s parading my weakness in front of me and the world, the one thing I can’t control no matter how hard I try. Julian Baker will forever be the man who proposed marriage first to Charlotte, who offered her a life when I didn’t. He’s touched her in ways only I should have fucking touched her. And despite it all, they will always have that bond, and nothing I do will ever change that.
Charlotte is my fucking wife, yet I stand absolutely paralyzed with anger until her eyes search the room and focus on me.
Don’t leave me, Charlotte.
I love you, baby.
Don’t listen to him, I’m good for you.
I watch her pull away from him. I watch as he grasps onto her for dear life without a doubt making promises to give her everything I haven’t because I’m a fucking selfish dickhead ambushed by my own insecurities.
She walks over, and it’s impossible to be immune to her beauty as she stands before me in a strapless black evening dress that hugs her body in all the right places, the places I want to roll my tongue over.
Hold onto her, Edwards.
Don’t let him steal her from you.
Charlotte says the words that need to be said after I allow my emotions to ravage her with accusations. Knowing I’m completely out of control, I pull her along to the exit, needing to get out of there and get her alone. I need answers. I need her to know she’s mine, I’m finally finding my balls and putting up a fight, hoping it’s not too late, and I haven’t lost her forever.
The desperation has consumed me. I pull her forcefully, pushing her onto the hood of my car taking back what has been mine all along. I need to claim what belongs to me, it conquers all rational thought, and I know I’m hurting her. I know she is crying, yet the minute my cock buries itself within her, I’m falling into a beautiful abyss, one full of light, blinding me, yet calming my senses all at the same time. It’s only a few thrusts, but my body has ignited into a roaring flame, and I can only hold out for so long before it’s all over.
I remind her again who she belongs to, and even in her pleas, I feel her body sink into me. Her walls tighten, and knowing my beautiful wife will explode all over my cock within seconds is enough to slam into her one more time until my walls shatter, and every single nerve is overcome by a pleasurable finish.
In the cool of the night, I gulp in the fresh air, trying to calm my racing heart. I reluctantly pull away, and then she tells me she can no longer do this.
“Please let me go…” she begs.
We planned our future, our lives as one. We brought a child into this world and talked about expanding our family again one day.
With my heart broken and in despair, I beg her to stay with me.
I’m a fucking idiot. I have the best thing in the world and almost lost it, caught up in my old greedy and selfish ways.
And I thought she would forgive me, but instead, she walked away.
She asked for time, but time to me meant more reasoning to leave our marriage. I panicked, saying words, bringing up Julian, until she disappeared back into the ballroom and I’m left to stand on my own.
For once, I allowed my jealousy and controlling nature to take a back seat. Charlotte made herself perfectly clear and in order to gain her trust, I need not to push her.
I kept my distance towards the back of the room, watching her as she spoke so confidently. I was so damn proud of her, amazed by her talent and strength, making the effort to tell her that when we got back home.
I slept in the guest room, despite my body craving her touch. In the morning when I woke, I’m surprised to find her working. I knew her well enough to know her need to bury herself in work is to distract from my presence. So again, I didn’t push just offered to help with numbers. Trying my best not to control the situation as I do every day in the office, I offer some suggestions which she welcomed with gratitude.
As hard it was, I left her to work and spent the day with Amelia. I took her to the park, then a long walk along the beach as she slept in her pram. By the time we got home, it was the usual routine of dinner, bath time then bed.