“I said, I want to-”
“I heard what you said, you- you…ugh!” I stand abruptly, one hand balling into a fist and the other tightening enough to practically shatter the phone.
As much as I want to - and do - hate her, Lisa doesn’t deserve this. Whatever horrible mess of three people happened, the result was her having a child with him. However shitty it was for her to hook up with an engaged man in the first place, the situation is bigger than that now. He has a family with this woman, and very suddenly, I know I need to get off the phone or I’m going to put it and my fist through the window.
“You’re disgusting, David.”
“Baby-”
“Don’t ever call me again.”
“Serena-”
I drop the phone down onto the bed so I won’t destroy it. Instead, it’s the minibar wine glass on my bedside table that gets my wrath, hurling across the room to shatter against the far wall. Wine drips like blood down the ubiquitous beige wallpaper. I slowly drop to the edge of the bed.
Goddamnit.
Goddamn him.
I stand again, whirling and stalking back and forth across the room, my blood roaring in my ears. I want to destroy something more. I want to consume. I want to feel something other than this.
I freeze.
“You’ll be the one asking me nicely.”
And suddenly, I know exactly what I need.
I know exactly what I want.
We’re adults, and there’s no reason we can’t do adult things. He’s gorgeous, he’s unavailable, and he’s clearly interested. Why the hell not?
I let the thought mull over in my head as I stalk over to the minibar and grab another half bottle of wine. I fill up the second, un-smashed glass sitting on top of it and bring it to my lips.
I want to tell myself that this is a terrible idea, but it just won’t go away. In fact, the longer I let it simmer in my head, the more the idea of walking right up to Landon’s front door and fucking his brains out - or rather, letting him fuck my brains out - seems like the best damn idea I’ve had in a long time.
Live it up, as I always tell London.
And I plan on it.
The shower is hot and quick, and I let my fingers linger just enough over my skin to keep the fire going before I slip out and poke through my suitcases. I step into the sheer black panties and pull them up before reaching for the matching bra as well. I start to look for the perfect skirt and top combo to go with them when I stop.
A wicked grin spreads over my face.
No, screw it. Go big or go home, as they say. I toss the skirt away and dig deep in my suitcase for the black, thigh-high stockings, the black stilettos, and the black, mid-thigh length trench coat.
Lydia, Landon’s secretary, answers on the third ring.
“Serena?”
“Hi, Lydia, I’m so sorry to buzz you at home like this, but I’ve got some papers for him to look over before work tomorrow. Do you have his home address?”
Deep breath.
I pull the ties of the trench coat a little tighter as I pause outside the front door of Landon’s impressive house.
Apparently, early player retirement and working for Sam’s board of directors hasn’t exactly put him in the poor-house.
I’m lingering.
Just do it.
We’re adults after all, and we’re not doing bad here. It’s not like there’s any sort of clause in our contracts against this, and I sincerely doubt Sam Horn has anything in his will about us not hooking up. Risky? Possibly jeopardizing to our workplace relationship? Possibly. But I’m also fairly sure we’re both mature enough to get what this is, and what me showing up here tonight means.
This is just sex.
Very meaningless, very no-strings-attached, very necessary sex.
The fact that it happens to be with someone I’ve slept with before just means I know what I’m getting into.
I swallow, the shiver tingling up my back as the heat blooms deep inside of me.
Yeah, I know exactly what I’m getting into, and it’s that very thought that’s had me on edge and wanting this the whole cab ride over. And he wants this as much as I do, there’s no denying that.
I bring my hand up and rap loudly on the door.
I can hear music playing faintly inside - something that might be Ella Fitzgerald. Over the sound of the music, I can hear a man laughing loudly at something.
Landon.
Maybe he’s watching a movie or something?
I knock again, louder this time, and the music suddenly drops dramatically in volume. I hear footsteps coming closer, until suddenly, the door swings open.
Landon’s eyes go wide.
“Serena-”
“Okay, okay,” I bite my lip as I grin at him. “You win, okay? Here I am.”
He clears his throat, his hand gripping the door tightly as his eyes glance over me.