“I changed my mind about shopping,” I told him. “But I will need you to drive me somewhere else.”
He nodded, his dark gaze capturing mine. “Anywhere you need to go.”
My breath caught, and my face flushed. I knew I had to look like a real mess. Tears, anger, and heartbreak had left their marks.
“You know what? Never mind. I don’t need you.”
In my room, I texted my friends in a group chat. I had to dance and drink this anger out tonight.
The group chat was of five of us and two of them accepted my invitation. Sylvia and Rue couldn’t make it. We agreed to meet at Club Anex.
I took the time in the shower, too upset even to use my special waterproof toys. I blew out my hair and applied some careful makeup. Don said I was the most beautiful woman in the world. I didn’t feel like it right now.
I tried on a few different dresses before settling on a short backless dress that showed a lot of cleavage and leg. I had bought it to wear for my husband, but he had never seen me in it.
I pulled it on over fresh lace panties with a matching bra. I added a pair of my highest, sexiest heels, took my purse and headed out of the bedroom.
I was in no mood to obey him.
When I got to the living room, I saw Sebastian on the couch, his head between his hands, looking at the floor. When he saw me, he stood up straight.
Had he been waiting for me all this time?
“I told you I didn’t need you.” My voice came out hoarse from all the crying I’d done in the shower…and also at the sight of his tall, lean body towering over me.
“You’re going out. That means I go with you,” he said.
We squared off for a few seconds until my chin went up. “Fine. We’re going to the club.”
His eyes narrowed, and for a second, I thought he was going to refuse. My breath caught. I was going anyway, but what would I do if he tried to stop me? He wouldn’t dare.
“Okay. I’ll bring the car.”
In the few minutes while I waited, I couldn’t stop myself from trembling. The short dress let a breeze gust over my inner thighs, and the lace bra did nothing to hide the sharp points of my erect nipples.
My heart was breaking, but my body…ached.
Sebastian brought the car around. He got out and opened the back door for me. I got in. He looked at me in the rearview mirror.
“Which club, madam?”
“Club Anex. You know where it is?”
“Yes, madam.”
“If I tell you to call Elissa instead of madam, will you do that?”
“That would be unprofessional of me.”
I didn’t try to make conversation as we drove. I shifted in the back seat, crossing my legs. I saw him looking at me again in the mirror. Slowly, I uncrossed and crossed my legs again. I wanted him to look up my dress.
I felt bold. Reckless.
Unwanted, unloved, and abandoned.
I looked away, not wanting to see if Sebastian was watching me. I was making a fool of myself.
“You can just leave me,” I said as we pulled into the lot.
He parked the car. His eyes met mine in the mirror. “No, madam.”
Sebastian took my hand as I got out of the car. It felt so nice. I dropped it at once.
My friends were already in the club. When I spotted Angelika and Tamika, I immediately went to their table and hugged them. Sebastian took a seat at the table next to ours.
“Tell us, Lissa, why do you want to drink so badly today?” Tamika asked.
“It’s Don. He just left for another business trip.” I slid into the chair.
Angelika looked shocked. “Another one? Didn’t he just come home yesterday?”
“He did. I swear to God, Angelika, I feel like a single woman who happens to be married.”
“Yeah, we need to drink that away. Forget about that husband of yours today. Waiter! Waiter! Eight mimosas, please, two for each of us! And four for her, she needs it more!” Angelika pointed at me, and I chuckled.
“Have you told him about this? About how his constant leaving is affecting you?”
“I’ve tried, Tammy. I told him this morning, and he said he would work on it, only to leave two hours later. And just like those other days, I ain’t getting no dick in my marriage.” I lowered my voice so nobody could hear over the club’s thumping music.
I frowned. “Nothing.”
“Man, if you cheat on him, no one will blame you!” Angelika cried.
“Angelika, don’t say such things,” Tamika warned.
“Please, we both know Lissa is not going to leave him. If he can’t satisfy you, find someone who will. Whether he knows about it or not.”
I downed the drink and shuddered at the sting. “I must admit, I have thought about that.”
I took the second glass and tossed it back. I was already getting buzzed.
“Hey, slow down.” Tamika looked concerned. “And you don’t really mean you would cheat on Don. You love him.”
Did I? Had I ever? The alcohol was making it hard to remember.
I lifted my third glass. The world was blurring. I wanted that. I wanted to get obliterated and forget all about my stupid husband and his stupid tiny dick and my bodyguard’s rippling…abs…
“Hey, that’s not Frank.” Angelika pointed her chin at Sebastian.
I turned around to see Sebastian watching me. He had a drink in front of him, but it looked untouched.
“Fired,” I said. “That’s my new bodyguard. Sebastian.”
He didn’t say anything, but I could feel him watching me. I lifted my drink in his direction. He nodded.
“He wouldn’t leave me alone here,” I said. “I told him to, but there he is.”
It was hard to tell if I was slurring over the music, but the pretty colors were definitely starting to wave around me.
“He is hot, Lissa, too hot for his own good.” Angelika leaned closer to me. “He would make a good sneaky link.”
“I can’t believe you, Angelika! You’re encouraging her to cheat on her husband.”
“Calm down, Tammy. I will just flirt with him a little bit. I’ll be right back when I’m done.”
I tried to balance myself as I got up from my chair, but the floor felt slippery. I walked to Sebastian. He looked up at me, his dark eyes flashing from the neon lights.
“Are you really here to give me whatever I need?” I shouted over the bass beat.
He stood. Up, up, up, I let my head tip back to see his face. I tottered a little in my heels. The drinks were hitting hard.
Sebastian caught me as I fell.
