Page 11 of Dirty Temptation

No wonder he sent my stoned, dunk ass home.

I shouldn’t have done that.

Did he have to say that right after having his tongue in my pussy, making me come harder than any man ever has?

If that wasn’t embarrassing enough, the fact that his words triggered me was almost sobering. They were the same words my ex-fiancé said to me after breaking off our engagement.

While he was already married.

No wait. Don’t judge. I didn’t know. That’s the horror of this entire story. For a year I had no idea Steve was married.

The shame I felt then echoes how I felt when Atlas showed me his regret.

While my juices glistened on his lips.

Goddamn him. Why do I choose the wrong men, time after time?

It was impossible to not be attracted to Atlas. He’s tall, extremely gorgeous with his dark mussed hair and a permanent shadow on his jawline. And those damn blue eyes.

But I think it’s his strong solid shoulders that had me weak in the knees from the moment he blasted me with his billion-dollar smirk.

I blame his friends for getting me stoned.

I probably could have left with my pride intact. Instead of dropping my damn knees open. For the record that’s not how I usually behave. I’ve tried dating since Steve, but normally I don’t want to see them again.

I know I have trust issues.

Trusting myself is the hardest part.

How could I have not known Steve was married? It’s a question my mom and dad have asked me several times and I don’t blame them. He embarrassed all of us.

You see, Steve didn’t want an engagement party. I know why now, but at the time he told me it was because he was busy with work and would rather wait a year.

At twenty-four, I thought that was reasonable.

I was in no hurry to walk down the aisle and we’d only been dating for a year.

Steve has a big job—which was a cover for his wife and kids (yup, and he has fucking kids!)—so one day when Momand I were out shopping she was asking me when we would be announcing our engagement.

“He’s busy, Mom. Don’t pressure him.”

“Then why did he propose?” She side-eyed me.

“Maybe because he loves me. Not everyone has to have an engagement party. Maybe we will elope.”

“You will not,” she cried, stopping in the street.

Guilt sliced through me, and I realized this wasn’t just about me, but my parents too. I’m their only child and they deserved to celebrate the engagement of their daughter.

“What if—” I started.

“Let’s surprise him,” Mom finished, reading my mind. “We’ll do all the planning and Steve can just show up. I know he travels a lot.”

She was beaming and the thought of being able to share my news and wear my ring—which I’d been expecting any day...but spoiler, it never arrived —was exciting.

So I agreed.

Between the two of us, we created a gorgeous event and treated it like a surprise birthday party.