Page 38 of The Broker

The tension inside me was so taut, I worried I was going to snap, but instead I turned and finally faced him. He was dressed now, wearing a pair of shorts, a dark green t-shirt, and an unreadable expression.

I was suddenly irrationally angry at everything. With Brianna for canceling the dress fitting. Myself for not going home when he didn’t answer my text. With Noah for what he’d just been doing and who he’d been doing it with.

And most of all, because despite everything, he still looked so damn sexy to me.

My tone was harsher than any chemical in my cleaning arsenal. “You think her husband likes that you’re fucking his wife?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation and no guilt. “He’s the one who asked me to.”

A needle dragged across a record in my brain. “Wait. What?”

He rubbed a hand over his jaw, making his whiskers brush quietly against his fingertips. “You remember how I told you I don’t do traditional relationships?”

I didn’t get a chance to answer because the woman, who was now dressed, appeared. She strolled over to stand beside Noah and flashed a friendly, reassuring smile.

It made my face burn even hotter, only this time with embarrassment. My gaze dropped to the island countertop. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, “for walking in on you. I didn’t think anyone was home.”

Her laugh was light and warm. “Oh, honey, don’t worry about it.” Her casual tone drew my focus up, and when my gaze met hers, she pulled her lips into a provocative smile. “I don’t mind being watched. In fact, I love it.” She glanced over at him. “Maybe Patrick could watch next time.”

Was that her husband? The one who’d asked Noah to sleep with his wife?

He didn’t look like he knew what to say, so the only acknowledgement he gave was a tight nod.

With that settled, the woman glanced at the screen of her phone. “He’s about to pull up out front.” She put a hand onNoah’s shoulder. “Thanks. You were great.” And then she leaned in and dropped a chaste kiss on his cheek. “You’ll definitely be hearing from us again.”

I stood, dumbfounded. Was she going to climb into her husband’s car and then rate her afternoon with Noah?

Performance was great! Five stars.

He continued to look at a loss for words and stood motionless, his gaze locked on me. When she turned to leave, he came back to life.

“I’ll walk you out,” he said.

While I was alone in the kitchen, I stared at my bucket of cleaning supplies and urged myself to move. This was my chance to escape this awkward situation, and yet, I didn’t want to. I had so many questions I was dying to ask.

So I remained by the sink, waiting for his return. I heard the front door open and then close, and the slow footsteps that led him back to the kitchen. When he reappeared, he seemed unsettled and raked his hand through his already messy hair.

I did my best to keep my tone light and teasing. “For a guy who just got laid, you look really uncomfortable.”

He set his hands wide on the island and leaned over it as he considered something. His expression abruptly shifted to one that loudly readfuck it. “Have you heard the term ‘bull’ before?”

Was this a stockbroker thing? “As in, a bull market?”

He shook his head. “As in, a single male swinger.”

My breath caught.

“Swinger,” I repeated.

“Do you know what that means?” He asked it earnestly.

“I think so.” The tension inside me tightened like a screw get another full turn of a screwdriver. “It’s, uh, couple swapping. And maybe group stuff.”

The moment the words were out, it charged the air between us. Heat smoldered in his eyes. “Yes.”

“But you don’t have anyone to swap.” I’d blurted it without thought, and it came out sounding like I was sad about that. As if I was about to volunteer myself.

He gave a faint smile. “I don’t have to have a partner. Anyone who enjoys casual sex, with multiple people, can call themselves a swinger. And any of those people can be inside or outside of a relationship.”

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