Page 54 of Wicked Scandal

I can see the situation finally settling in for him, but it’s like he thinks he can take on the whole world for me, and that’s not what I need. I need to keep Troy happy until I can leave. I almost have the right amount of cash saved up and if he can have another work trip soon then maybe I’ll be able to disappear.

I shake my head at his question, not ready to give in. He’ll try to fight this battle for me and I am so close to escaping on my own. I just need a few more weeks.

But if Troy comes home and sees Wilder’s car in this driveway, there is no telling how violent his outburst might be for either of us. We need to get the hell out of here and I have to hope he doesn’t come over to this house before I have a chance to clean it up.

Wilder is standing there, a concerned look fixed on his face. I want to be the person he needs right now, but I can’t.

“Just slow down, Cat. Please.”

“There is no time,” I snap at him unintentionally as I pull him toward the front door. I stop us in front of it, the realization of what’s happening hitting all at once. Who knows when Wilder and I will have another opportunity to watch movies while snuggled on the couch, make breakfast together with limited ingredients, or dunk powdered donuts in overly-sweetened vanilla coffee. I run my hand down his arm. “This weekend was everything to me, so thank you.”

“Hey.” He puts a hand on my cheek, thumb stroking my skin. I lean into his touch and close my eyes. “This isn’t goodbye, Cat. It’s just goodbye for now. We always have CatEyes and WildMisfit. And I’ll drop anything, anytime to see you. Just name the place.”

He’s right. This isn’t over. In fact, it’s only just begun.

I push myself up on my tiptoes and kiss him goodbye—for now.

CHAPTER 16

CATHERINE

After ripping off my clothes frantically and tossing them to the floor, I step into the hot shower. Steam rolls out of the opening and I rest my head back under the cascading water, letting it run over my tense muscles.

Troy will be home any minute. Knowing him, he’ll try to sniff out another man on me so I have to wash off Wilder’s scent, along with the proof of my orgasm sticking between my thighs.

I’m running a sudsy loofah up and down my body when I hear the bathroom door creak open. My heart jumps into my throat and I brace myself for the moment I’ve been dreading—the return of my own personal nightmare—my husband.

Long fingers grip the side of the shower curtain and he pokes his head in. “I was wondering where you were hiding. I see you’re getting nice and clean for me.”

“Mmhmm.” I force a smile on my face. “Just for you.”

God, he makes me want to vomit. Now, more than ever. I tolerated Troy and his behavior for the longest time, but now that I know what it’s like to be treated with respect and adoration, I loathe the sight of him. It only cements my plan in my mind. I will leave him.

Troy disappears from my view and I find myself holding my breath because my gut tells me he didn’t leave the bathroom. When the curtain comes back open and his naked body appears, I choke down the bile rising in my throat.

He nudges me to the left, taking the space under the running water, and I flash him a shrewd smile. “I was just finishing up anyways,” I tell him as I move to the end of the bathtub to get out. “It’s all yours.”

Just as I grip the curtain, ready to pull it open, Troy grabs my arm. “Not so fast. I want you to stay with me.”

He’s always like this after he’s been gone. He wants to be sweet and clingy and remind me of the man he used to be. It just makes the moments when he finally hurts me again worse because I fall for it every damn time.

Not this time. Not now that I have Wilder.

I shoot a thumb behind me. “I’m not feeling the best. I think the heat got to me. It’s been a busy day.”

He looks at me with a fixed gaze. “It’s the weekend.” His voice rises with each word that comes out of his mouth. “What could have possibly kept you so busy that you need to leave me and go to sleep when I just got home.”

I hate that I feel the need to explain myself to him, even if everything I’m about to say is a lie. “I did a lot of gardening today. Went for a jog around the lake. Stuff, Troy.” I scoff as I jerk my slippery arm away from him. “I stayed busy.”

Before he can stop me, I step out of the bathtub. I tried. I really tried to fake my excitement of him coming home, but I’m ready to run like hell from this man. Even if I’m only going as far as our bedroom.

Troy always stays up late watching television in the living room, and more times than not, he falls asleep out there. Once in a while I wake up to him in the bed, or he wakes me because he’s horny, but for the most part, he spends his nights away from me.

Thank God for that.

I grab my towel off the hook and wrap it around my body, tucking the corner so it stays put. Then the water goes off and the shower curtain is tugged open with a force that has it nearly ripping from the hooks.

Taking a step back, I hit the wall, feeling the towel hook gyrate against my spine. One look at his face and I know he’s furious. I should have just stayed in there and endured the misery of one quick shower with him. Now, I’m going to have to pay for my mistake with my body.

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