Uncomplicated(12)

He stood in the corner of the room, watching me. His harsh gaze stalked me like a lion would stalk their prey in the wild.

My heart hammered against my chest as I pushed the door closed and locked it.

Am I really hiding behind a locked bathroom door? I let out a sigh and  turned the shower on. That was when I heard it. A faint knock on the  door. Without acknowledging him, I quietly padded my feet across the  bathroom and listened to the other side of the door.

"Jenny, please open the door. I am sorry." His voice was quiet. If I  wasn't listening carefully, I would have never heard him. But I didn't  answer. I just listened.

Another, louder knock echoed through the bathroom. I continued to ignore him.

"Jennifer, please. I am begging you. Open the door, let's talk."

I could hear a muffled sniffle. Is he crying?

Every rational thought told me not to open the door, but I found my hand  turning the lock to let him in. I took a step back and reached for a  towel since the fact that I was naked had slipped my mind. But before I  could cover my body, his arms were tightly around me.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it all to come out like that." His nose  nuzzled into my neck as his embrace tightened. "I want you by my side  for everything, Jenny. I mean that. Work, home, pleasure. Everything."  He slowly pulled away and cupped my face in his hands. "I'm sorry if I  scared you. The thought of another man with you ever again drives me  mad."

"It's okay. But, Mathis, I have to get ready. My parents are going to be  here in twenty minutes." I let out a light laugh and he pulled away. As  he turned to leave the bathroom, I spoke. "And Mathis? I don't want to  think of you with anyone else either." I winked at him, but even the  thought of another woman fawning over him like they were the night we  met in his nightclub made me want to vomit all over these perfect tile  floors. Maybe I was in as deep as he was?

"Don't think about it, because it will never happen again, Jennifer. Never."







The short black cocktail dress Mathis picked out for dinner was perfect.  It was long enough to be considered appropriate for a business dinner,  but short enough to show off my sexy legs. I was pretty sure we were  going to be late when he hoisted me up on the bathroom counter, tugged  my panties down and fucked me till he left his come deep inside me.  Marking me before he paraded his new trophy for his associates to see.

I shouldn't be turned on by it. I shouldn't want to be treated like a  possession of his, but if I was being completely honest; it was the  hottest thing that had ever happened to me. My chest swelled with pride,  and love for my stranger of a husband.

My attention bounced around the fancy restaurant as we walked through  the rows of tables. It wasn't until we came to a stop that my heart  stopped beating altogether. The floor fell out from under me, and if  Mathis wasn't holding on tightly to my arm, I probably would have  collapsed on the floor.

"Jennifer, I would like you to meet my business partner in a new project-"

"Jude Emerson," I finished for him. My heart jumped into my throat and my grip on Mathis' hand tightened.

"Jennifer?" Jude asked as his eyes jumped from Mathis to me and back to  Mathis repeatedly. He was just as confused as I was. Was that hurt  behind his cold stare? I couldn't make out the emotions, but I knew I  wanted to flee.         

     



 

My fight or flight instinct kicked in and my feet started moving in the direction of the exit when my husband's hand stopped me.

"What are you doing, Jenny?" His voice was quiet, a whisper in my ear. Clearly trying to mask the oncoming quarrel.

Jude continued to watch across the table, looking like a deer in  headlights, while Lily, the voluptuous brunette from a few nights ago  clung tightly to his side.

"Mathis, I have to go. I can't do this right now." I tried to tug my hand from his grip, but it wasn't working.

"Jenny, speak." His tone was clipped and harsh. I was pissing him off.

I guessed honesty was the best policy in a situation like this, because  it was all going to come out soon enough. "I fucked them both. Jude and  his lady of the week. Jude has been my client for years, Mathis. I have  to go."

I could only hope my presence didn't just ruin whatever business deal my husband had on the table.





Chapter Twelve

MINE

Mathis





Fuck. Me.

This was not happening. Not fucking happening. Right now. Before my  eyes. I thought I had it made. Thought tonight would be perfect, but as I  watched my wife look at Jude Emerson with horror, I caught something  else in her gaze. Her eyes heated, slightly, but it was obvious enough  that it made my skin crawl. My bones vibrated in my body at the thought  of her fucking another man. I knew it happened. Knew I would probably  meet one of them someday, but for it to be Jude fuckin' Emerson made me  want to dive across the table and break his face.

I wasn't even upset over the fact that she fucked both him and his girl.  It was him. Him. It irritated the shit out of me. He knew what Jennifer  liked. Knew the sounds of ecstasy that left her lips. Knew what she  fucking looked like when she came. He was a dirt ball. Good business  man, but that was it. I couldn't stand the fucker, even more so now  since finding out he fucked my wife.

"Mathis. Please, let me go," Jennifer whispered, interrupting my thoughts.

"Why?" Was she ashamed? Did she have feelings for the asshole? My jaw  clenched, sensing that Jude was drilling holes into the back of my head.

"Because … I … " She chewed her bottom lip, her gaze darting behind me.

I pinched her chin. "Look at me."

She swallowed and tried shoving her head out of my grip, but I wasn't  having any of it. I gripped her jaw and leaned into her face.

Jennifer frowned. "I..."

"Talk," I snapped. I didn't mean to have it come out so harsh, but my  thoughts were fucked up. If this was the Stone Age or if we were  animals, I would push her to the ground and fuck her into next week,  letting Jude know that she was mine.

My body stirred. Shit! Later. I would show her later.

She licked her lips. "Mathis."

I shook my head, ridding myself of those thoughts. "Talk to me. Please."

"I don't want to ruin your business dinner."

"If you leave, it will be ruined," I said, placing a soft kiss on her mouth.

She sighed, relaxing against me. "I know my place. I-"

"You're place is with me. By my side. I don't care who you fucked before  me." That was a lie, but she didn't need to know that at the moment.  "We both have ex-lovers, but that's what they are, exes. You are mine,  Jennifer."

She nodded.

"Now join me." I pulled away and entwined our fingers before turning back to Jude and his date.

Jennifer gripped my arm, standing a few feet behind me.

I frowned and pulled her beside me. "I said, by my side, love," I whispered in her ear.

"Well now, I never thought I would see this fucking day. Jenny Sunshine  settling down or is he another one of your clients?" Jude teased,  leaning back in the seat as he wrapped a hand around his Lily.

My body buzzed. What I wouldn't do to punch that smug smile off of his  too pretty face. "This is a business meeting," I said, sitting across  from him. "You will only address me, not my wife."

Jude's eyes widened. "Wife? What the fuck, Jenny? I thought you would be single forever."

Jennifer bristled as she sat down beside me. She looked away, her cheeks  reddening, but not before she placed her hand on my knee.

That small touch soothed the racing adrenaline that was soaring through me and I took a breath.

"I can't-"

"Hey!" I slapped the table, making the glasses bounce.

The women jumped and I could feel eyes on me, but I didn't fucking care.  I wasn't dealing with this guy's shithead attitude. I didn't need the  business deal that badly.

Jude's gaze shot to mine, the corners of his lips turning up.         

     



 

"You want to talk to her? You go through me. Don't look at her. Don't  even fucking breathe the same air as her or I will break your fucking  face. You hear me?" I said, lowering my voice enough that the people  around us wouldn't hear.

"I got pull. I don't need this business deal just like you don't need  it, Mathis. But if you want future dealings with my father, I suggest  playing nice."

Before I could respond, Jude motioned for the waiter. "Yes, I'd like to  order a bottle of your finest red wine. We have something to celebrate."

Shit.







I watched as Jennifer interacted with Jude while I stood from the  bathroom hallway. Call it stalker-ish on my part, but I needed to see if  there was anything that I had to worry about when it came to them. Did  they still talk? Did she miss him? Was she in love with him? No, she  told you she loved you, asshole.

I huffed and leaned against the wall.

Jennifer had moved into my chair, so she was closer to him and when he put his hand on her knee, she stiffened.