Page 53 of Hooked

“If it helps, you were my favorite.”

Oh, my god! Did he really just say that?

Before her brain exploded, or she punched him like she really wanted to, she twisted her arm to get free. But he held fast.

“Let me go, Vaughn.”

“So responsive, more than any submissive I’ve had before or since.” He said this as if she hadn’t spoken, but that didn’t surprise her. He often ignored her, preferring to hear himself speak. “But time marches on for all of us,” he continued, oblivious to her attempts to break free, “and things change.”

“You know, I have one big regret.”

Pretentious schmuck, as if he was God’s gift to the submissives of this world, he said smugly, “You loved me, I know. And the way it ended, I—”

She finally snapped, her voice rising to near a shout. “No, you arrogant prick. My regret is ever having met you.” She yanked her arm from his grasp, which had tightened painfully at her name-calling. “I rue that blackest of days. Do me a favor. If our paths ever cross again, have the courtesy to pretend we never met.”

Proud of herself for not breaking down, she turned, and with an air of composure she didn’t feel, walked to her car without looking back.

Once inside, she glanced in her rearview mirror and saw him looking after her. From this distance, she could see his anger, evident by the ruddiness of his cheeks. That she’d rattled him with the ugly scene gave her a small sense of satisfaction. With nervous fingers, she started her car and steered it toward home, seeing a large glass of alcohol in her imminent future.

Fifteen minutes later, she was pulling into Joseph’s drive when her phone rang. With a brief glance at the screen, she saw it was him and promptly ignored the call. If he knew, he’d be incensed. But she wasn’t calm enough to talk to him yet.

After a glass of wine, maybe two, she might be up to it, but not now. Her voice mail alert sounded as she pulled into the garage. A text soon followed.

Joseph:I’m at the gym and you are not. Court went very late and my phone died. My apologies, pet, but I’m glad you didn’t wait. I’m going to swim my laps and will be home directly after.

In a few minutes, after pouring the largest wineglass she could find full to the brim with a sweet red, she sent her reply.

Livia:Sounds like a stressful day. Enjoy your swim. I have a headache and am going straight to bed. See you in the morning.

She ended it with a heart emoji as always. After a large mouthful of wine, she topped off her glass, carrying it along with the rest of the bottle to the master bath to fill the Jacuzzi tub.

***

AWARM BODY AGAINSTher back, the gentle glide of a hand over the curve of her hip, and the prickle of sunlight against her eyelids pulled her from sleep. Livia arched into a long morning stretch, but the shooting pain in her head cut it short. Her hand flew to her forehead as she groaned.

“Did you drink the entire bottle?” His voice was gruff from sleep and not overly loud, but it was enough to hurt her alcohol-abused brain.

“No.” She whispered the denial.

“Livia,” he replied in a skeptical tone. “The empty bottle was on the counter.”

“The last bit I poured down the sink to prevent having another glass in a moment of inebriated weakness.”

“Because I was late? I’m sorry for that, but surely you understand—”

“No.” She twisted to face him. “When you were late, I was worried that something was wrong, but that wasn’t it. I had a terrible day.” Livia pressed her pounding forehead against his chest. “Today isn’t starting out so great, either.”

“A wine hangover is worse than anything. I’ll get you some aspirin and water.” He twisted to roll out of bed.

“Wait. Hold me a minute first?”

She knew she sounded pathetic, but having his arms around her would go further than aspirin ever could. As his long arms enveloped her, she let slip a ragged sigh.

“Tell me what happened.”

His order rumbled in his chest beneath her ear. She’d do anything to avoid talking about it and snuggled deeper into him, nuzzling against the warm, smooth skin beneath her cheek.

“No stalling,” he warned. Then, too damn perceptive for her own good, he added, “Remember our discussion about secrets and lies of omission.”

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