Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 144979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
That’s exactly what Angelo said the night we married.
Maybe I should have believed him.
26
ANGELO
“Good evening, Mr. Vitale,” the stewardess greets me as I step onto the jet. “Would you care for any drinks or meals once we’re in the air?”
“No. I’ll wait until morning.”
It’s late, and we’ll be flying all night to reach Seattle.
Abella chooses the chair adjacent to mine, while Genevieve sits across from me. The two women glance at each other briefly, and Nicky raises his eyebrows. Wisely, he chooses a seat away from the powder keg at the front of the cabin.
I could have sent Genevieve commercial, but it doesn’t align with my plans. It’s an issue for Abella that Genevieve wants to climb on my dick the first opportunity she gets. Admittedly, that spark of jealousy is the only thing getting me through this cold war.
Having Abella so close and not fucking her out of principle is getting tiresome. I need to see how far I can push her before she finally snaps. Only then will she begin to understand a fraction of what I felt for the past six years.
After a brief delay, we set off into the night. Abella settles into her chair with a book while Genevieve and I work. I have no need to work right now, and even less reason to involve Genevieve. She’s a lousy assistant, but it wasn’t her qualifications that got her the job. In truth, I can’t stand the woman. But she’s had it out for Abella for years, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to throw in her face.
I won’t lose sleep over using her as a pawn. She made her bed when she chose to fuck with my wife’s feelings the first time. For now, she’s bait on a hook—useful for reeling in what I really want.
We go over a few contracts, and I have her dictate some notes that serve no real purpose. She plays her part, requiring no encouragement from me. Between her fawning and flattery, she lays it on so thick I’m tempted to put a bullet in my own head if Abella doesn’t end this soon.
After thirty minutes or so, when the stewardess gives the all clear, Abella gets up and heads for the suite in the back of the plane. The door clicks shut behind her, and it irritates the fuck out of me.
She just left me out here…with this?
“Oh.” Genevieve pouts when I rise from my seat. “Are we done already?”
“Yes.” I glance at my watch. “I’m going to go fuck my wife. See you in twelve hours.”
I leave her there, speechless, and head for the suite. When I enter, Abella’s standing with her back turned, shoulders trembling as she cries quietly.
I should be satisfied with her tears. It’s exactly what I said I wanted. Forever, until the end of time. So I don’t know why I have this uncomfortable ache in my chest every time I see them.
She lied to me. She’s still fucking lying to me. I can’t fuck her secrets out of her. And apparently, I can’t scare them out of her either. But she has to know whatever it is, I’ll get to the bottom of it eventually.
“What did I tell you about this?” I close in behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist as I wipe her tears away.
“Why are you in here?” she rasps.
“Where would you rather have me?”
She doesn’t answer.
I bury my face against the curve of her neck and breathe her in. It goes straight to my dick, and I press it against her spine so she knows it.
“I’m surprised you didn’t drag her in here to take care of that for you,” she says, some of the bite returning to her voice.
My lips graze her ear as frustration spills out of me in a rough breath. “Are you, or are you not, the Vitale queen?”
“What significance is that title when you flaunt her in front of me?” she asks.
“Oh, cara.” I grind against her. “I thought you were stronger than that. If you don’t like the situation, fix it.”
She glances up at me, trying to interpret the meaning behind those words, and I let her stew on it.
“You should be ovulating right now.”
It’s a lie, but fuck it. Every day is ovulation day in my book.
She sinks back against me and responds in kind. “So do something about it.”
I bite at her earlobe, and she sucks in a sharp breath.
“Take off your clothes,” I murmur.
I catch a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes before she does as I ask. It tugs at something in my chest, and I make a point to ignore it as she peels off her clothes. I can’t be too soft with her, but I suppose I can level the playing field—for tonight.
I strip off my clothes and toss them into the same pile as hers. When she glances back and sees me naked, she stills.