Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Faint red scratches and bite marks marred his skin-evidence of their earlier passion.
The deeper the marks, the harder Caden had thrust himself inside her.
She leaned against the wall, biting her lip as memories from just hours ago flooded her mind.
The same uncomfortable wave of embarrassment washed over her.
How could she still be so inexperienced, so hopelessly sensitive to his touch? No matter how many times it happened, she never seemed to toughen up.
Seeming to sense her presence, Caden turned his head toward her, his dark eyes meeting hers with that same unreadable intensity.
“You’re awake,” he murmured, his voice low.
Alicia swallowed her discomfort, trying to mask the awkwardness by pretending it hadn’t happened. “So… where’s the thing you were going to give me?” she asked stiffly.
“The USB drive?” Caden replied casually. “It’s damaged. I’ll get it to you the day after tomorrow.”
He sent a quick message on his phone before rising from his seat.
His sudden movement made her pulse quicken involuntarily, a flash of fear flickering through her as he approached. “D-don’t tell me you’re not planning to hand it over,” she stammered, more out of nervousness than defiance.
“With your attitude, do you think I’d lie to you?” Caden, ever composed, filled his glass with warm water and handed it to her. “Accidents happen. How about this? If you don’t have it by the day after tomorrow, feel free to burn my company to the ground.”
She scowled, speechless.
She wasn’t some kind of ruthless monster capable of such destruction.
Reluctantly, she accepted the glass, since she was indeed thirsty.
She took a long drink, nearly draining the glass in one go. “How’d you know I was thirsty?” she asked, her voice softer now.
Caden smirked slightly, leaning closer as his words slid smoothly from his lips. “Don’t you remember how wet you were earlier?”
Heat rushed to her cheeks, her face flushing crimson. She clamped her mouth shut, too embarrassed to make a sound.
As the warm water settled in her stomach, it triggered a low rumble, making her realize just how hungry she was.
Caden barely batted an eyelash. “The food will be here soon,” he announced flatly.
Alicia set down her glass with a sharp clink. “You can eat alone. Just looking at you killed my appetite.”
He smirked, his expression sly. “Really? That’s a shame. I was just about to tell you something about Joshua’s company.”
At this, her cool demeanor instantly cracked, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Why, what happened?”
“There’s a problem,” he replied, letting a deliberate pause hang in the air. “His cash flow has dried up.”
Alicia’s lips curled into a slow, almost wicked smile. Karma certainly hadn’t wasted any time.
“So, how’s he taking it?” she asked, her tone bright with amusement.
Caden casually sank into the chair, crossing his legs as if he had all the time in the world.
“I’m starving,” he said lazily, “and too tired to talk. Let’s eat first, and then we’ll chat.”
Alicia stared at him, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
Was this really how he wanted to play it?
Sighing, she plopped down into the chair opposite him.
“Do I suddenly look appetizing to you now?” Caden teased, arching an eyebrow.
She went silent for a beat, then drawled, “Sure, whatever you say.”
As if on cue, the arrival of their meal broke the tension. The elegant containers, sealed tight, still managed to release tantalizing aromas that filled the room. Despite herself, Alicia swallowed involuntarily and reached for her utensils.
She dug in, and without even taking a bite, Caden leaned forward slightly and told her everything she wanted to hear.
Alicia’s eyes gleamed with interest, the corners of her mouth lifting ever so slightly. “So, if Joshua wants to keep his little empire from crumbling, he’s going to have to swallow his pride and beg for help-anywhere he can find it. Correct?”
Caden nodded, watching her closely.
Something in her shifting mood stirred a flicker of unexpected sympathy within him.
“Feeling better now?”
Alicia, unable to hide the sparkle in her eye, clearly wasn’t in a sour mood anymore.
She picked up a piece of chicken, struggling to hide her growing smile. “I guess.”
He leaned in with a knowing grin. “Want to feel even better?”
She blinked, curiosity piqued. “You’re planning to make your move now, aren’t you?”
Caden hesitated, considering.
It was tempting-very tempting. A few well-placed moves and Joshua would be cornered. But ending things now would also cut their little agreement short.
At this, her cool demeanor instantly cracked, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Why, what happened?”
“There’s a problem,” he replied, letting a deliberate pause hang in the air. “His cash flow has dried up.”
Alicia’s lips curled into a slow, almost wicked smile. Karma certainly hadn’t wasted any time.
“So, how’s he taking it?” she asked, her tone bright with amusement.
Caden casually sank into the chair, crossing his legs as if he had all the time in the world.
“I’m starving,” he said lazily, “and too tired to talk. Let’s eat first, and then we’ll chat.”
Alicia stared at him, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
Was this really how he wanted to play it?
Sighing, she plopped down into the chair opposite him.
“Do I suddenly look appetizing to you now?” Caden teased, arching an eyebrow.
She went silent for a beat, then drawled, “Sure, whatever you say.”
As if on cue, the arrival of their meal broke the tension. The elegant containers, sealed tight, still managed to release tantalizing aromas that filled the room. Despite herself, Alicia swallowed involuntarily and reached for her utensils.
She dug in, and without even taking a bite, Caden leaned forward slightly and told her everything she wanted to hear.
Alicia’s eyes gleamed with interest, the corners of her mouth lifting ever so slightly. “So, if Joshua wants to keep his little empire from crumbling, he’s going to have to swallow his pride and beg for help-anywhere he can find it. Correct?”
Caden nodded, watching her closely.
Something in her shifting mood stirred a flicker of unexpected sympathy within him.
“Feeling better now?”
Alicia, unable to hide the sparkle in her eye, clearly wasn’t in a sour mood anymore.
She picked up a piece of chicken, struggling to hide her growing smile. “I guess.”
He leaned in with a knowing grin. “Want to feel even better?”
She blinked, curiosity piqued. “You’re planning to make your move now, aren’t you?”
Caden hesitated, considering.
It was tempting-very tempting. A few well-placed moves and Joshua would be cornered. But ending things now would also cut their little agreement short.
She leaned forward instinctively, her lips glistening softly in the dim light, a subtle sheen making them all the more inviting. For Caden, they were far more tempting than the food laid out before him.
His gaze dropped, lingering on them for a moment too long.
Alicia noticed.
Her expression stiffened, though she tried to mask it. She silently placed the half-eaten chicken wing onto his plate.
Caden blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. He could do it-he could show more care, especially since she was still recovering from their earlier intimacy. “I’m not interested in your chicken wing,” he said, his voice low. “I’m interested in your lips.”
Now, it was Alicia’s turn to be speechless.
His implication wasn’t lost on her.
She fought the urge to roll her eyes, silently complaining to herself. Hadn’t they kissed enough earlier?
Why was he still so fixated on her?
What was the big deal about lips anyway?
With a quick, deliberate motion, she snatched back the chicken wing she’d just surrendered.
Caden raised his brows, once again baffled by her unapologetic behavior.
But instead of teasing her further, he steered the conversation back on track. “I’m taking you to a banquet later this month. Start preparing now.”
Alicia’s curiosity piqued. “What’s the occasion?”