Page 23 of Carnal Desire
“Fuck,” I say.
Laila’s laugh sounds over the line.
“Let him explain, then accept your punishment,” she says, ending the call without waiting for my response.
I toss my phone on the coffee table and rush to my door. I pull it open right when he gets to the number three. “What the hell is wrong with you!” I whisper yell, looking down the hallway in both directions, hoping none of the neighbors have come out to see what the commotion is. “Do you want the neighbors calling the cops?” I ask, as I pull him inside my apartment, then close the door and bolt it behind him.
“All you had to do was answer your phone, Cadence and all this could have been avoided.”
I walk around him and go to my living room. “Well, I didn’t want to talk to you, Brian. If I did, I would have answered the damn phone.”
He grabs me by my hand, whips me around and pulls me into his arms. To my disgust my body melts into his. “You’ve been ignoring me for almost a week. You’re fucking lucky I haven’t shown up before now. I deserve a chance to explain.”
I sigh and look into his eyes. I want him. I actually really like him probably more than I should, but I don’t want to be hurt again. I’ve been through enough hurt and pain to last a lifetime from someone I trusted.
“Please,” he says.
I run my hand through my hair. “Okay,” I say, reluctantly agreeing.
“Would you like anything to drink?” I ask. “I think alcohol is going to be needed for this conversation.”
He laughs and it hits me straight to my core. “No, I’m good.”
There’s just something about Brian that calls to my body. Tonight, he’s wearing black slacks, a black button-down shirt undone at the collar with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows giving me a view of his tattoos.
I pour me another glass of wine then sit on my couch. He takes the seat next to me, leans back, and throws his arm over the back of the chair. For this to be a such serious conversation where I’m pissed, he looks relaxed instead of being riddled with anxiousness like me.
I face him, pull my feet underneath me, then take a sip of my wine. “You wanted to explain so talk.”
“First off, lets get one thing straight. I’m not a liar, Cadence. When I signed that contract with you saying we would be exclusive, that’s what I meant. And I resent the fact that you think I’m a liar.”
“Well, what do you expect me to believe when I overhear some shit like that, Brian?”
“I expect for you to give me the fucking respect as your Dom. We’ve been doing this for a while, and I at least deserve for you to answer my calls to explain something you misunderstood.”
“What did I misunderstand Brian?” I sit my wine glass on the table then face him. “The fact that the woman asked how she could be of service or maybe the fact that she missed you?”
He sighs and leans forward, planting his forearms on his thighs. “No, that part you heard right.”
“So, I didn’t misunderstand!”
He sighs. “This is the part where you let me explain, Cadence.”
I roll my eyes. “Go ahead and explain.”
“Thank you. The woman you heard was Angela. My former secretary. Yes, we had a sexual relationship before I signed the contract with you. Along with a few other women. I’m not a priest. I’m not celibate. I like to fuck, Cadence.”
I know he isn’t a saint, but I didn’t expect for it to bother me as much as it did.
“She used to work for you?” I ask.
“Yes. I got rid of her because I didn’t want any confusion on where I stand with you. If you would have answered my calls, I would have explained all this to you. There may be times I run up with women I’ve been with but that doesn’t mean I’m still fucking them. Once again, I’m not a priest but I’m not a liar either. I made a commitment to you.”
“I overreacted, huh?”
He chuckles. “I would say so. I’m not him, Angel. I’d appreciate it if you stop treating me like I am.”
I cover my face with my hands. “I’m so sorry, Brian.” I take in a deep breath and release it trying to ease the embarrassment. “It’s just hard to trust sometimes and when I heard her, I automatically jumped to conclusions.”
