Page 94 of Betrayed

“Arturo,” she breathed, her heart near to bursting.

His lips stopped anything else she may have said with a fiery, breath-robbing kiss. Then he wiped the tears streaming from her eyes—from happiness now, not terror—as he told her more of his plan.

“Not tomorrow but soon. And I want you to live your life with me, not for me. You’ll have your shop, friends, your kids, and all the things that make life worth living. I want you to be happy, which will make me happy in return.”

“What about submission?”

“I want that, too, but in the bedroom, and the club, and within whatever additional boundaries we set together. We’ll discover those in time. What I don’t want is a 24/7 slave. I want you, the free spirit that is coming out of a twenty-year cocoon. It’s a beautiful sight to see,ma papillon.”

“I know that one. It means butterfly.”

“Oui,”he whispered with a brush of his lips across hers. “But I still want the masochist who happily lets me beat on her from time to time as part of her very contented new life.”

She beamed up at him. “I can live with that.”

“As can I,ma petite chérie. Happily ever after.”

Then, like the ending to a fairy tale—okay, maybe a naughty fairy tale—his fingers entwined in her hair, and he took her mouth passionately, with lots of tongue, in a very steamy, very French kiss.

Chapter 24

SITTING IN THE HARD, molded plastic chair, she stared through the thick, yellowed partition at the woman she once thought of as a friend. But no more. She had taken her husband, her dignity, and with all her manipulations, lies, and deceit had turned her world on its end. Arturo’s hand on her shoulder squeezed, communicating his love and support as he stood silently behind her, giving her his strength, and though she appreciated it, she realized she didn’t need it.

She wanted it, but thanks to him and indirectly, to Adri, she had grown enough through her ordeal to find an inner strength all her own. With Arturo, she was better, more fulfilled, and happy. He didn’t diminish her. Instead, he built her up and because of that, she could face anything, even an enemy’s scorn.

He didn’t want her to come. He said she could find out everything she needed to know at the trial. But she didn’t want to wait that long to get an answer to her one burning question. And though he worried it could get ugly, and wind up with more hurt feelings on her end, he had supported her, and driven her to the Harris County Jail where Adri was being held awaiting trial. He was even now standing behind her, and had her back, in more ways than one.

“Why Derek?” Mari asked with genuine curiosity.

“Because he was a gullible idiot and made the perfect patsy. But more so, because you were worse. Pathetic, weak, and clingy, you didn’t deserve him, or anything he gave you. You disgust me, Marilee, and aren’t worthy of my time or my breath.”

She felt the tension and anger like a wave of emotion coming at her from Arturo. His hand tightened, but he remained quiet for now, letting her handle Adri.

“If I’m so unworthy, why did you agree to meet with me?”

Her smug smile said it all.

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