Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“Oh, come on.” Kailyn chuckled. “You shiver from the slightest touch. With how sensitive you are, you wouldn’t be able to resist.”
“I’m just responsive to touch,” Laney protested weakly.
“Oh? Remember that time at the bar when you kissed someone? When you came back, I had to help you change your underwear…” Kailyn teased mercilessly.
“Ah! Stop it!” Laney squeaked in mortification.
Kailyn dissolved into laughter.
Years in the military had exposed Cliff to plenty of crude humor. He understood perfectly well what Kailyn was implying. A wave of discomfort washed over him.
Thankfully, Laney finished her snack shortly after and departed, completely oblivious to Cliff’s presence.
The following morning, Laney climbed into Cliff’s car, acting as if nothing had transpired.
Cliff noticed her spreading a towel across the seat. “Worried about dirt? The car gets cleaned every day.”
Laney wouldn’t think so. “No,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “I just worry you’ll find my dress childish and be disgusted.”
Cliff suppressed a chuckle.
Clutching her seatbelt, Laney kept her gaze down. “I understood what you said at dinner yesterday. Don’t worry. I won’t bother you anymore.”
“Explain what you mean,” Cliff said, glancing her way.
Laney’s hand trembled slightly as she whispered, “I won’t have feelings for you anymore. You can celebrate.”
Cliff’s face remained impassive. “That’s impossible. You’ve attached your seatbelt to my seat.”
Laney fumbled awkwardly to unbuckle and refasten it correctly.
Later that day, rehearsals ran long again. The studio had emptied, but Laney, being the principal dancer, had to put in extra work.
As Laney moved through her routine, her earlier words to Cliff echoed in her mind. She’d tried to provoke a reaction by claiming she was over him, but he hadn’t even flinched.
Shaking her head vigorously to clear thoughts of that captivating man, Laney engaged her core, rose en pointe, and began her turns with renewed focus. She lost herself in the choreography, moving with the music.
As she finished, slightly breathless and standing beneath the bright lights, she lowered her gaze and there was Cliff. He stood there, towering and statuesque, his gaze fixed intently upon her.
The harsh stage lights dazzled her vision, making it impossible to read whether it was admiration or something deeper burning in his eyes.
Cliff extended his hand toward her.
As if drawn by an invisible force, Laney moved toward him.
True to form, his first concern was for her well-being. “Do your feet hurt from all those turns?”
Laney gazed up at his striking features and shook her head. “What brings you here?”
“To take you home.”
She settled onto his lap, pressing close against him, personal space forgotten as if even the smallest gap between them was unbearable.
Cliff looked up at her. Their breaths intermingled, yet his voice remained steady as he asked, “Is this your piece for next month’s competition?”
Laney’s heart thundered in her chest. “Yes. Did you like it?”
“It’s beautiful.” His fingers worked gently at her aching ankles, his deep voice resonating with warmth. “Today’s performance is most remarkable because it felt as though you were dancing for my eyes alone.”
Laney had conflicting feelings about Cliff. She admired the care and attention he had shown her over the past three years. No matter how many mistakes she made, he never truly scolded her, offering only gentle guidance instead. His kindness toward her had never wavered. If anything, it had grown. Yet, she couldn’t ignore the resentment simmering inside her. He was kind, yes-but without love. In the past, he’d at least maintained a certain distance. Now, he was blurring the lines, teasing her in ways that left her unsettled, but never with ill intent.
Laney bit her lip, her voice trembling with quiet frustration. “How could you say so?” His words about her dancing as if just for his eyes alone seemed like a veiled confession of love.
Cliff’s expression remained calm, his tone even. “What exactly did I say that was inappropriate?”
Laney didn’t respond. Instead, she leaned tentatively into his embrace. To her surprise, he didn’t push her away. Instead, he slid an arm under her legs and effortlessly lifted her into his arms.
Laney clung to him instinctively, breathing in the clean, masculine scent that was uniquely his. She shivered slightly as the subtle fragrance filled her senses, leaving her lightheaded. Kailyn had been so wrong. How could anyone resist a man like Cliff? Laney knew herself too well-if she truly had been intimate with him, she’d only fall deeper, unable to let go.
The quiet corridor seemed to stretch endlessly as Cliff carried Laney toward the dressing rooms.
“Why are we going further in? Aren’t we heading home?” Laney asked, breaking the silence.
Cliff glanced down at her. “You’re sweaty and need to change first. Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
Laney blinked, suddenly aware of the faint sheen of sweat from her earlier dancing. Her cheeks flushed as she squirmed in his arms. “I can handle it myself.”
By then, they had reached the dressing room.
Cliff set her down gently and stepped back, maintaining a polite distance. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Laney hesitated, taking a quick breath. She sniffed discreetly, detecting no unpleasant odor. Looking up at him, she asked boldly, “Do I smell?”
Cliff caught a faint whiff of her natural scent mixed with traces of perfume. At twenty-two, she carried a youthful vibrancy that needed no enhancement. “You do. Now hurry up. It’s late,” he replied, his expression unreadable.
Laney pouted, muttering under her breath, “Can’t you lie to me just once?”
Nearly twenty minutes passed before Laney emerged, her hair slightly damp and her cheeks glowing from a quick shower. Cliff noticed immediately, a soft chuckle escaping him.
Laney extended her hand toward his nose, asking, “Well? Do I still smell bad?”
He frowned slightly. Besides the fresh scent of soap, there was a faint trace of perfume, one he recognized from the female employees in the office. He didn’t like it.
“Don’t wear perfume anymore,” he said simply, leading her back into the room to dry her hair completely.
Laney tilted her head, confused. “You don’t like it?”
“It doesn’t suit you.”
She blinked, interpreting his response in a completely different way. With a sly grin, she teased, “Oh, I see. You prefer something sultrier-like a ‘decisive businesswoman’ vibe.”
Cliff, amused, played with her silky hair. “I give off the businessman vibe. Isn’t that your type?”
Laney huffed, “Who likes it? I hate it.”
“You’re always claiming to hate me,” he murmured, setting the hairdryer aside and tying her hair into a loose knot.
His fingers brushed lightly against her neck, making her flinch and giggle. “That tickles!”
Cliff’s gaze darkened, his tone dropping an octave. “So sensitive, aren’t you?”
Laney shivered at his words, her scalp tingling from his touch. She turned abruptly and wrapped her arms around him. Her face, tilted up toward his, was both bold and innocent-a childlike mischief shining in her eyes. “Cliff, I want a kiss,” she demanded, her voice soft but resolute.
Cliff studied her closely, his thoughts lingering on how bold she’d become lately. What had he done to make her so unruly? “You swore you didn’t like me this morning. And now you’re asking for a kiss? Does that make sense?”
Laney tugged at his collar, pulling him closer, her smile playful. “I can kiss you even if I don’t like you.”
Cliff’s jaw tightened, his tone firm. “You’re being naughty.”
Before he could move, Laney stood on her tiptoes and captured his lips in a kiss.
It wasn’t the clumsy, hesitant kiss of before. She had grown confident, and the warmth of her lips left him momentarily dazed. He wanted more.
When they pulled apart, Laney’s face was flushed, her breathing uneven. Her furrowed brows and slightly clenched jaw betrayed her discomfort.
Cliff’s voice dropped, a hint of concern lacing his words. “What’s wrong?”
Laney’s voice came out soft and strained, almost a whisper. “Cliff, I don’t feel well.”
“Where?” Concern flashed across Cliff’s face as he quickly regained his composure. His eyes instinctively dropped to her legs. “Is it your legs? Are they sore from dancing? Or is it your stomach?”
Laney hesitated, her eyes watery as she guided his hand beneath her dress. “Here,” she whispered, her voice soft but urgent.
Cliff froze, his pulse quickening.
Laney continued, her tone tinged with frustration, “It feels strange, and I can’t explain it.”
Cliff quickly withdrew his hand, his voice sharp. “Laney, that’s enough.”
Cliff had extremely underestimated Laney. How was she able to act so boldly, guiding his hand beneath her dress? He hated himself for allowing it. Even though he knew what lay beneath her innocent facade, he was still fooled by her pitiful act. He never seemed to learn from his previous mistakes.
Cliff clenched his teeth and pushed her aside to clean his hands. As he washed, he felt a sense of regret, though he couldn’t quite place the reason.
Laney had left marks on his suit pants as well. A single look made his breath stop, so he forced himself to look away and quickly left the bathroom.
Laney sat quietly, her expression showing complete defeat.
With a serious look, Cliff said, “Put on your underpants before going back to your apartment.”
Laney looked even more frustrated. Without a word, she opened the wardrobe, grabbed a pair of underwear, and headed to the changing room.
Cliff’s displeasure deepened. “You keep your personal clothes here?”
Laney’s voice came muffled through the door. “I sometimes need to shower, so I store a few sets here.”
“Don’t shower here anymore. Shower at your apartment.”
“But everyone showers here. What’s the problem?”
“My word is final,” he declared, his voice stern. “If not, I’ll take you home each time you need to shower.”
Laney replied defensively, “There are no men here!”