Page 79 of The Temporary Bride

I make a sound against the glass and grip the window frame tighter to stay upright, my pussy clenching so hard that more cum drips out of me. Tristan makes a sound that’s almost animalistic, a deep growl of appreciation, and I realize he’s watching.

Another whimper escapes me, my heart kicking against my ribs.

Jesus, this man is going to wreck me.

Tristan’s hands slide around my waist, steadying me as he helps me straighten and turn around, and I’m grateful for the solid feel of his palms because my legs aren’t entirely reliable right now.

Cupping the back of my head, he leans down and kisses me.

It’s nothing like what just happened. It’s slow and soft and very thorough, his mouth moving against mine as his tongue darts out to taste me. Coming right on the heels of how hard he just fucked me against that window, it catches me completely off guard. I lean into him, my fingers curling into the front of his shirt, and kiss him back.

There are a mess of emotions in my chest that I don’t quite know how to untangle, so I just focus on the contact between our lips and the way I can feel his heart thudding heavily behind his shirt.

He pulls back slowly, his thumb brushing along my cheekbone, and looks at me for a moment with an expression I can’t quite pin down before he nods once.

Then we both start getting ourselves back together.

I find my panties on the floor and step back into them, tugging my dress back into place and smoothing my hair with my fingers as best I can. When I make the mistake of turning to look at my reflection in the window, I wince.

My lipstick is smeared, my hair is a disaster, and I’m flushed and unsteady, probably reeking of sex. Unless he left the building entirely, there’s no way Russell doesn’t know exactly what happened in this room. He must’ve heard everything. The walls are bare concrete, there’s no furniture to absorb any of it, and I wasn’t quiet. I was spectacularly, embarrassingly not quiet.

“I can’t go back out there,” I hiss.

Tristan, who’s straightening his tie, glances over at me. “Why not?”

“Because…” I gesture to myself, as if that explains everything.

He chuckles, shaking his head. “I don’t see a problem at all. You look beautiful.”

There’s something about the way he says it that cuts through my embarrassment a little. I get the feeling that he’s looking forward to walking out of this room beside me, with me looking exactly the way I do.

Chewing on my lip, I consider my options.

Well, what am I supposed to do? Hide in here forever?

That’s not really a great option, so when Tristan holds out his arm to me, I take it, letting him lead me out of the room.

He pushes the door open and escorts me out into the hallway, his hand moving to the small of my back as we walk. I keep my chin up and my expression as neutral as I can make it—which, given the current state of my face, isn’t very neutral at all.

Russell is at the far end of the hall with his back to us, his attention fixed on his clipboard in a way that seems designed to make it seem like he’s been very distracted and hasn’t been listening. He turns when he hears our footsteps, and his eyes land on me for less than a second before darting away, focusing somewhere over my left shoulder. A flush sits high on his cheekbones. He clears his throat, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

“We like the space,” Tristan tells him, seeming completely at ease. He nods back down the hall. “That office in particular. The view is exceptional. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

His voice drops on that last bit, and heat shoots up my face.

Oh my god.

Russell stammers something in response, but I barely pay attention to it. My focus is entirely on Tristan—and I’m starting to realize that’s exactly where he wants it.

Chapter 27

Chloe

Later that night, I find myself in the sanctuary of Tristan’s—our—en suite bathroom, the tension of the day slowly melting away into warm water. The room is spacious, with a large shower and a deep, inviting tub that I’ve been meaning to use ever since I moved in.

I lean back, closing my eyes, and let the warmth envelop me. The soft scent of lavender from the bath salts mingles with the ocean breeze that floats in from outside. I take deep, slow breaths, trying to let go of the shitty feeling that’s been knotting my gut since seeing that stupid picture.

As I let my hands float and my mind wander, my thoughts keep drifting back to the sex.