Page 60 of Craving Dahlia

In the morning, I still can’t reconcile anything about what happened last night. In the light of day, it feels like a blur—everything from chasing Alek down to Salty Sal’s to the fight in the parking lot, to him bringing me home and fucking me. And I can’t even be angry with him for the last part, because I wanted it every bit as badly as he did.

I was desperate to write over the feeling of that other man grabbing me, aching for the pleasure of Alek’s touch—his fingers and tongue and cock. That tension has been building between us since the day he found me talking to Evelyn in the living room, and after what happened, it seems like neither of us could dodge it any longer.

When he kissed me, it was with that same starving hunger that I’ve felt every time he’s touched me. And last night, I was too weak to say no. Too weak to say no to any of it, when it all felt so fucking good.

Four times. He made me come four times.I laid in bed after he left, still throbbing with the aftershocks, angry and heartsick over how he left and confused in every part of me. I’d never beenmore satisfied sexually in my entire life, and I’d never been more confused emotionally.

One minute he ravages me like he can’t get enough, and the next he runs from me like he can’t stand to be in the same room.I let out a frustrated sigh as I get up, feeling the soreness in every muscle. I don’t have time to think about it this morning. I took a short leave of absence from work to deal with all of this, but this is my first morning back, and the last thing I need is to be focused on Alek when I need to be focused on my job.

I take a hot shower to deal with some of the soreness, hesitating when I reach between my thighs and feel the slick remnants of Alek’s cum, desire shivering down my spine. I’ve never let a man come inside of me before. I told him not to last night—and yet, when he did it anyway, it made me come so fucking hard, too.

It felt so good. All of it felt incredible. I drag my slick fingers up to my clit, leaning back against the cool tiles as I circle the sensitive flesh, Alek’s cum wet on my fingertips. I close my eyes, and I picture his face as he filled me up last night until I shudder, an orgasm rippling through me as I stand under the steamy spray.

It doesn’t clear my head as much as I hoped. I dry off and get dressed, choosing a pair of slim black pants and a lavender silk blouse with long bishop sleeves, to avoid anyone seeing the bruises on my upper arm. My boss and co-workers are aware I got married, and the last thing I want is for them to suspect that Alek left those bruises on my arm.

He’s rough, but not like that. Not in any way I don’t enjoy…

Another shudder runs down my spine as I slip on my heels and jewelry, glancing at my wedding band as I head down to where the driver will be waiting to take me to work. Alek still doesn’t have his on, and I don’t know why it bothers me. Just like I don’t know why I don’t take mine off.

Once I’m at work, it’s a little easier to focus. The familiar sights and smells calm me as I go to my office, sitting at my desk for the first time in weeks with my decaf coffee and a long list of tasks to catch up on. For the first several hours of the morning, I’m lost in my to-do list, all thoughts of my husband, my new—temporary—home, and my pregnancy blissfully dissolved into the fog of work. It feels good to be back in my domain, in a place where other people answer to me, where I feel capable.

It makes me glad all over again, too, that I refused to marry Jude. This situation might not be ideal, either, but at least I’m still here in New York, withmyjob and most of the life I chose for myself still intact.It could be worse,I remind myself, trying not to think of the man who came up to me at the bar or the fight in the parking lot of Sal’s last night. Those are both things I hadn’t anticipated being a part of my marriage to Alek, and I’m still upset that he won’t give me answers.

Don’t think about it right now,I remind myself, but my to-do list is no longer distracting me as well as it was before. I get up, stretching slightly, and go to oversee the new display of Norse artifacts that is being shown off this weekend, and make sure it’s been set up correctly.

I’m in the dimly blue-lit room, checking off the sketch of the plan for the display when I hear footsteps behind me—and a moment later, a throat clearing.

“Dahlia.” The sound of Alek saying my name startles me, and I spin, eyes wide.

“What are you doing here?” It comes out sharper than I meant for it to, but I never anticipated him showing up at my work. “How did you find me?”

“It was easy enough to ask where you were at, or where I might find you.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, that lazily self-satisfied look that I’ve seen before crossing his face. “A lot of the employees are female, so it was especially easy.”

I glare at him, unsure why the thought of him flirting with any of the museum employees makes jealousy slice through me, hot and unwelcome. He must see it flicker across my face, because I see that twitch at the corners of his mouth, closer to a smile than anything else I’ve seen before.

“I’m working,” I bite out. “Whatever you need, I don’t have time for it.”

Alek moves closer, with that slow, almost predatory stride. Like a big cat, or a wolf, that knows its prey is in sight and can’t possibly escape—a predator enjoying the hunt instead of fearing losing its quarry.

“I see that,” he says calmly. “That’s part of why I’m here. Why are you at work, after what happened yesterday?”

I blink at him. “I took leave to deal with—everything that’s happened, the last couple of weeks. Today was my first day back. Which you would know, if you ever talked to me other than to argue or fuck,” I add acidly.

Alek’s mouth twitches again. “Well, we’re already arguing,zhena. I’m happy to oblige with the second half. Especially after last night.” He steps closer still, his gaze dropping to my mouth. “I’ve never fucked in a museum before. And now that we’ve consummated our marriage?—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” I step back rapidly, my breathing quickening despite myself and my skin flushing hot, and I nearly bump into one of the glass cases. My heart leaps with alarm, and I press my hand to my chest, trying to calm down as I put space between us. “Did you just come here to interrupt my day?”

“I came here to find out why you would be at work after being attacked last night. You should be home, recovering?—”

I laugh out loud at that. I can’t help it. “Recovering? Is that what you call what we did last night?”

Alek’s gaze turns dangerous. “You’re avoiding the question,zhena.”

“I’d rather be at work than at home, with nothing to do other than think about what happened,” I snap. “Happy? There’s your answer. Work gives me something to do. This ismyplace. My career, that I built, and I have control over it. That’s why I wanted to be here.”

Alek looks at me for a long moment, his gaze resting on my face, and I shift uncomfortably. “What? You think that’s stupid?”

He shakes his head. “No. I’m impressed, Dahlia.” My name sounds like honey on his lips, and I try to ignore the slither of arousal that runs through me. “Most people would let what happened get to them far more than you have.”

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