Page 100 of Dex

Like cold water over my thoughts, I look through my diary and discover, with great dismay, that I have a call scheduled with my father.Knowing him, he’s probably poking his nose where it doesn’t belong.

The day passes.It’s too hot, and I don’t have lunch, but cold pressed juices.Then I have a quick call with the old man.The conversation is businesslike and formal, with him asking about some deal I inked last month.He doesn’t even ask how things are, how Daniela is.I don’t know why I thought he might.

I stop working late in the afternoon, and by the time I’ve showered and gotten changed and headed back outside, Daniela is stretched out on a four-poster cabana on the sand, near the sea.Waves lap gently along the shore.I can’t take my eyes off my wife.

She’s lying on her stomach, face down, resting on her hands.Her back bare and her skin glowing as a masseur works along her body.Wearing only her bikini bottoms, she looks too comfortable.Too at ease in this temporary paradise.

Too damn tempting.

I should walk away, but I can’t.The sand shifts under my feet as I stare down at her.“Hey, sweetheart.”My shadow looms over her and she lifts her head slightly, shielding her eyes with her hand.

I suppress a groan.

“Hey,darling.”Her eyes twinkle with amusement and I wonder if she’s having a laugh at my expense.“Hard day at work?”

I clench my jaw.Again.She seems unbothered, like this isn’t affecting her, but me?I had to jerk off before I came out just now, because after the call with my father, and the subsequent emails and pesky matters I had to deal with after, I couldn’t focus.

Couldn’t get the image of Daniela in her bikini out of my head.And now, my bottled-up frustration ratchets even higher as the man’s hands knead Daniela’s bare back.

I don’t like another man’s hands on my wife.In my head, it’smyhands that bracket her back and skim the length of her spine.My hands that knead, and slide over her bikini bottoms and move between the apex of her thighs ...

“Is that too hard, ma’am?”the masseur asks.

“No, no,” Daniela murmurs.“You could go harder still.”She lifts her face and her gaze drops to my crotch.

Jesus.My cock stiffens as she blinks.

“Would you like a massage, darling?Something to ease out the knots of tension.”

I shift, turn to the side, trying to hide the boner that’s tenting my pants.It infuriates me, how easy this is for her.How she doesn’t feel anything.How she has no clue of the effect she’s having on me.I should tell her to cover up.I should tell her she’s taking this too far.Instead, I say, “No.”

Then my mind blanks because I can’t think of anything else to say.My brain is processing images, not words, and the image I have is of Daniela sitting up, topless.Daring me to make a move.

She laughs.“Are you okay, darling?You’re not suffering from sunstroke, are you?”

“Overwork, if anything,” I manage to say, wondering how I’ve gone from being in control of my thoughts and feelings, tothis.A weak man who can’t take his eyes off this woman, my gaze inching over her body.“Just wanted to check in and make sure you weren’t feeling lonely.”

Daniela hums in response, then lifts her shoulders as if she’s stretching them out.Then, to my utter delight and shock, she starts to push up on her elbows.If she lifts any higher, I’ll see everything.

“Don’t,” I caution, my erection fighting to escape my ever-tightening pants.

She halts, blinking up at me.Then, slowly, she moves up a fraction.Barely an inch.Not enough to reveal anything.But enough to remind me of the threat of what could be.

“I’ll leave you in peace,” I manage to say, before turning around to find mine.

Chapter 25

DANI

Dexter has spent the second day of our honeymoon working away, cooped up inside, while I made the most of the weather, the time to rest and think, and the cocktails.

The massage was sheer bliss and now I’m so relaxed, I feel loose all over.Being at this beautiful resort, has me more upbeat than I expected and I’m determined to make the most of this time because I don’t know what to expect once I’m in New York, living in Dexter’s apartment, encroaching on his territory.

Him being sullen, and pretending to work all day long, makes it easy for me.I understand that he’s a businessman, and the Knights have a global empire, but still ...I would have expected him to make more time than he currently does.

Which leads me to believe he’s avoiding me.

I like that.

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