Page 72 of Misguided Vows

She tastes like peppermint and all the bad things I want to devour in this world.

Her being the main one.

Her lips part for my tongue, and her legs open wider to allow me whatever access I want as I touch her folds, sliding my fingers over her clit and rubbing it slowly.

She lets out a soft moan, and I can’t help but slip my fingers straight into her while still rubbing her clit. She stops kissing me, but I can’t stop kissing her. Even though I know she’s concentrating on where my hand is, I still can’t stop kissing her.

The car slows down, and I reluctantly remove my fingers. She moans at the loss of my touch and her eyes open again.

“I guess we’ll have to finish this later, love,” I say as the car comes to a complete stop.

She smirks as she adjusts herself. “How unlike you. I mean, we could just skip the event all together.”

I kiss her one more time. “Not this one. You chose a hell of a weekend to visit your mother.”

Her eyebrows furrow in confusion, and I don’t blame her for not understanding. Hell, nobody from New York knows my connections to this town. I find it strange, as much it is coincidental, that this is the town she grew up in.

I walk around the back of the car to open the door for her, then hold out my hand expectantly, and she slips hers into mine. I don’t know at what point it was that we fell into such an easiness around one another. But I can’t keep my eyes off her. I wonder if, in another life, had she come first… before my wife… if…

I cut that startling thought off, loathing that I even had the thought. I couldn’t betray Hayley or our vows like that.

It’s been seven years since she passed. I usually don’t come to these things, but I had to visit when I saw the invite and knew it was close to where Alina was staying.

For Hayley.

For Alina.

For myself.

I’ve been having withdrawals from Alina, and although it doesn’t dim the fire or loyalty I had to my wife, I notice the telltale signs of how my body and mind are wavering. I haven’t touched or even looked at another woman since crossing paths with Alina.

It’s like she has me under some spell.

One that I have to break free from soon because I won’t be able to accept the repercussions if I don’t.

I can’t replace Hayley.

Never.

But neither can I look away from Alina.

CHAPTER 40

Alina

His hand finds my lower back as he guides me into the event. It’s local to where I grew up and went to school, so I’m kind of hoping I don’t see anyone I know. It’s equally strange that Will has any type of association with my hometown. I really hope I don’t run into anyone from my past. I haven’t really kept in touch with anyone I went to school with, and the few friends I have are through my work.

The moment we step into the hospital, I quickly scan around to make sure I don’t recognize anyone. I then notice Will watching me carefully.

It’s not that I don’t like anyone from here; it’s just that when I moved to LA, I got caught up in the wrong crowd, and after that wanted an entirely different start.

It feels strange to return, especially with someone like Will on my arm. I don’t really understand what’s going on between us, but I also don’t want to complicate things by asking. I don’t want to feel like a silly woman seeing things that might not be there, but some of the stuff he says and does… This is more than just a booty call, right? I shove that thought down. If I don’t ask, I don’t have to know. And I think that’s better for both of us.

That’s probably not the most honest way to look at things, but it’s the way I’m going to go, considering I leave for London in less than two weeks, and this—whateverthisis—will be in the past. While Will is attractive, funny, and even rich, he’s also had his great love. And while it’s selfish, I don’t ever want to be someone’s second.

Maybe that’s why I’ve never settled down.

Maybe it’s a me issue.

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