The Billionaire’s Secret Wife(2)

The persona-non-grata treatment scraped his already shot nerves. He could still hear her moans, smell the sweat and sex on her skin when she’d come with his cock buried deep inside her the last time they’d met for a hook-up. The memory of her sweet, baked-pear scent sizzled through him like a potent drug, and she was standing so close to the other guy that Justin knew her date could smell her.

The man next to her smiled at Justin. “Hello, Mr. Sterling. Fancy running into you here.”

Justin gave him a warm, professional smile, while imagining breaking his nose. “Have we met?”

“No.” The other man flushed. “But I saw you at the firm. I’m Felix Peck. An associate.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Peck.”

“Please. Call me Felix.”

Justin nodded once.

Felix cleared his throat, shifting his weight. Vanessa put a hand on his sleeve. “If we don’t hurry, we’re going to be late.”

Justin reined in his temper. “Do you mind if I borrow Vanessa for a moment, Felix?”

“Sure.”

Justin pulled her away, none too gently, breaking the offending contact between her and Felix. She glared at him, but he didn’t give a damn right now. If they’d been in private, he might have done something far more glare-worthy than just moving her a few feet.

When they had a little distance from the associate, she hissed, “Stop. What’s wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me?” Justin almost snarled at her. “Don’t you know?”

“No. I can’t read your mind.” She yanked at her arm, but he didn’t let go.

“It hasn’t even been a month since you and I were fucking like bunnies, and you’re clinging to this guy Peck? Do you think he can give you what I gave you?”

Even in the dark, Justin could see her cheeks flush. “Don’t be nasty and weird. And hypocritical. It’s not like you’ve lived like a monk since then. I’ve seen more than one picture of you with a model on your arm.”

“Only because you didn’t want to go to any of those functions with me.”

“Justin…” She squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. “I like you, but it’s complicated.”

It suddenly hit him. The clarity of the situation—this messed up relationship he had with Vanessa—it was so obvious.

She was his Siren—the seductive, irresistible being that would lead him to his doom. Because no matter how much he wanted her, he couldn’t really have her. And what she did to him wasn’t healthy. By indulging her, he was letting her screw with his mind.

He slowly let go. “I understand how it is now.”

“Good,” she said, rubbing her arm. “Now if I can—”

“I’ve let you use me for far too long.”

She pulled up short. “Huh?”

“Because I liked you.” He swallowed a bitterness that threatened to suffocate him. “Good enough to fuck in private, but not good enough to be seen with in public? I get the message loud and clear.”

“What? No, that’s not it.” She took a step forward, her arm extending. “Justin—”

He pulled away, making sure they didn’t touch again. “Don’t even try. And don’t ever act like you know me.” The finality of what he was about to say burned his throat. “From now on, you’re dead to me.”

Then he spun and stalked away, blocking out Vanessa’s cry. He’d had enough of this emotional rollercoaster bullshit.





Chapter One




Present day

Vanessa let out a long breath as she and Felix walked out of the firm’s glitzy lobby to grab a latte from Starbucks. Her head throbbed, but she clenched her hands to avoid rubbing her temples. The client was guilty as hell, that was obvious, but she and other lawyers at the firm would spend endless billable hours to ensure a Desirable Outcome.

“You okay?” Felix lowered his voice. “You seemed really distracted in there.”

“I’m okay.” But she wasn’t. Her oldest brother Dane had texted her in the middle of the deposition: Parents are divorcing. And now the jerk wouldn’t answer her calls or texts.

“Miss Pryce!”

Vanessa stopped as two young girls ran toward her. Just like that the throbbing in her head started to dissipate, and she felt her mouth start to curl into a smile. They were clients from a previous case on which she’d worked pro bono. She turned to Felix. “Do you mind getting me a tall skinny latte? I’ll meet you back upstairs.”

He nodded and walked away, leaving her alone with the girls. “What are you two doing here?” she asked. “Does your dad know?”