Page 67 of Bittersweet Addiction

“What?”

“How many times did you sleep with each of them?”

“Just one time each. I was trying to forget you, Charlotte. They didn’t mean anything.”

“Just twice?” she grits out as we make our way to my car. “Why?”

“Charley, I don’t want to do this.”

“Why? You know why Matt and I stopped having sex. Why weren’t you?”

“Trust me, not by choice,” I snort.

“Uhhhh,” she says sarcastically. “No one made you do anything. You took our case, you agreed to counsel us. You could have gotten out at any time. So, I’m asking, why did you stop?” she asks as she leans against my car.

I place my arms on either side of her, pinning her to my Beamer. “Charlotte Pierce.”

“What, Will?” She crosses her arms and looks away from me.

I grip her jaw hard and pull her face to look at me. “You’re sexy when you’re jealous.”

“This isn’t funny, and you can’t fuck your way out of this.”

“I know that. But there’s no need to talk about any of the women before you.”

“Why? Are you hiding something?”

“No, Charley. Because they didn’t mean anything. You were in a relationship for eight years and married for five. You’d need to discuss that with any new relationship. I dated women casually for a few months here and there. You’re my first, real relationship, Charlotte. So, no, it’s not necessary to talk about.”

“How many were there?” she whispers, and it’s the million-dollar question I was hoping she wouldn’t ask. “Audrey made it seem like there were quite a few.” I sigh sending a hand through my hair and wondering how much I should downplay this number. “Don’t lie to me, Montgomery.”

“Ever in my life?”

She shrugs and I can see the insecurities of me being the second man that she’s been with written all over her beautiful face. “I guess it’s a lot, huh?” She looks up at me sadly, and I feel my heart constrict. “I don’t mean to act so crazy. I just…never really thought about you and other women.”

“It’s not a lot, baby,” I whisper. “Comparative to you, yes. But…not a lot.”

“More than ten?” she asks, and I press my lips to hers hoping that will suffice as an answer for now.

“I’ve only ever made love to you, Charley. I didn’t haveearth moving, soul shattering, hot, passionate, amazing sexuntil you.”

“We should go,” she whispers and although she’s letting this go from now, I have a feeling this conversation is far from over.

SHE KICKS HER SHOES OFFas soon as we cross the threshold to my townhouse and her hands find the back of her pencil skirt, unzipping it and sending it down her legs. She walks to the kitchen, leaving her shoes and skirt scattered across the floor before beelining for the refrigerator. She pulls out a bottle of wine that she’d opened last night at dinner.It was the first time probably ever that I didn’t join her, but I was preparing to tell her the truth and I needed to start weaning myself off of alcohol.

I’m not sure if she’s trying to seduce me or torture me with her lack of clothes but she leans over the bar as she sips her wine before handing me a glass. “Sit,” she demands.

Fuck.

She sighs. “How much time was there between you having sex with them and with me?” She freezes momentarily. “If you say something like two days, I will throw this wine in your face. So, if it’s that close, I suggest youlie.”

I sigh and move around the counter so I can be within arm’s reach of what seems to be my very wary fiancée. She takes a step back and raises her eyebrows as if to say,answer first.

“I started seeing you in January. We slept together in May. I realized in late February, early March that I was attracted to you and it was growing by the day. I’d gone out one night with my brother, had far too many drinks. I slept with a woman that night. That was in March.” I rub the back of my neck. “I did use her to try and fill the void of not being able to have you. I fantasized that it was you, when I fucked her.I said your namewhen I fucked her. It was the beginning of April when I cut it off. My feelings for you were so strong at this point and getting more intense. Every time I came when I was alone, I said your name. I tried it again a few weeks later, still the same. I couldn’t get you out of my head. So, in short, a month,” I tell her, and hope she’s pleased enough with my answer to let it go.

She swallows before she nods once and takes another healthy sip. “Was there anyone else besides Audrey and me? I mean…is that your thing? Sleeping with women you can’t have?”

“Audrey is a bitch for putting that in your head. And she’s a fucking counselor.” I shake my head as I wrap my arms around her, grateful that she’s letting me touch her. “It was just you. There’s nothing that said I couldn’t be with Audrey. I just didn’t want to be.”

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