Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
Cliff remained silent, though his resolve was wearing thin.
Laney sighed softly. “Do you prefer mature women? Am I not sexy enough?”
Unable to resist, she leaned in to kiss him.
Having been kissed twice by her before, Cliff sensed her movement and opened his eyes just as their lips were about to meet.
Laney froze, caught in the intensity of his dark gaze. She stammered, her voice trembling, “Cliff… I… I was hungry… I called you, but you didn’t answer, so…”
Cliff cut her off, his tone dry. “And you decided to find food at my mouth?”
Laney’s face turned beet red.
When she didn’t move, Cliff pressed a hand to his temple, exasperated. “Are you glued to my lap? When do you plan to get up?”
Pouting, Laney slowly stood, reluctant to leave.
Once she was gone, Cliff let out a long breath, glancing at his private area. Grumbling to himself, he pulled the blanket over his lap and headed for a cold shower.
But the icy water only offered temporary relief.
That night, his dreams were filled with images of Laney, bolder than ever, climbing into his lap without hesitation and lifting her nightgown as if daring him to act.
Cliff jolted awake, his heart pounding as he lifted the blanket. A wave of embarrassment washed over him at his nocturnal emission.
A perplexing wet dream had invaded his sleep. In his dream, images of Laney’s alluring figure drew him in. Unable to hold back his desires, he had engaged her in intimacy.
Even after waking up, the scenes from his dream lingered in his mind, like morning mist-both hazy and crystal clear-clinging to him like an unwanted companion. A wave of vertigo washed over him for several moments before he managed to shake off the peculiar feelings, dragging himself to the bathroom for a much-needed shower.
In the dining room below, Laney sat perfectly poised, already dressed and waiting. “Good morning, Cliff,” she greeted him with a gentle smile as he descended the stairs.
Cliff maintained a stoic expression, deliberately avoiding her gaze. “Morning.”
The housekeeper had laid out their usual breakfast spread. Cliff nursed his coffee, his appetite nowhere to be found.
Laney assumed his sour mood stemmed from last night’s events and decided not to press her luck.
“I’ll be away for a few days,” Cliff announced abruptly, his voice tight.
“The housekeeper will stay here. Ask her if you need anything.”
A void opened in Laney’s chest. “Where are you going?”
“Out of town for work,” Cliff replied offhandedly, the excuse fabricated in the moment. “Don’t ask about it.”
His cool demeanor never wavered, though impatience seemed to simmer beneath the surface. Laney could only nod in response.
Cliff departed after barely touching his food.
Over the next few days, Cliff immersed himself in work, desperate to drown out memories of the dream. Though he stayed away from home, he regularly checked with the housekeeper about Laney’s daily routine and the condition of her foot. The housekeeper assured him all was well.
Once her injury healed, Laney intended to return to the theater. Though she longed to see Cliff again, fear of annoying him kept her silent.
Kailyn arrived to collect Laney, and noticing her friend’s dejected expression, wisely avoided any topics that might upset her further. Instead, Kailyn treated Laney to a comforting meal.
As Kailyn drove, Laney sat lost in a maze of questions. Was work truly keeping Cliff away? Why so suddenly? Could he be deliberately avoiding her, finding her presence too bothersome? The possibilities left her heart in turmoil.
Following Kailyn absentmindedly, Laney’s eyes widened when she realized they were in a bar. “Are we here to drink? I can’t. Cliff will scold me if he finds out.”
“No drinking,” Kailyn assured her with a warm smile. “They serve other beverages too. There’s a famous band performing tonight. I managed to get us seats. Let’s just enjoy ourselves.”
“Alright,” Laney exhaled softly.
Kailyn reached over and playfully pinched her friend’s soft cheek. “Cheer up. Sure, Cliff’s gorgeous to look at, but don’t let him dampen your spirits. Men should bring sunshine to your life, not storm clouds.”
Laney mustered a weak smile.
While Kailyn nursed her drink, Laney sipped her juice without enthusiasm. The band’s performance failed to capture her interest. Feeling restless, Laney excused herself to the restroom.
As Laney made her way back, a familiar silhouette caught her eye. Her heart lurched in her chest as she peered closer. There, in the booth across from her, sat Cliff.
Gerry lounged beside Cliff, their table adorned with two vibrant cocktails. The ambient lighting played across their features, highlighting their striking good looks.
Despite not seeing Cliff for days, Laney felt no joy at this chance encounter. He had claimed to be working out of town, so why was he here? The question tormented her. Was he truly avoiding her presence? Fighting back tears, Laney crept into the shadows and typed out a message to Cliff. “Are you still busy?”
Cliff exhaled a cloud of smoke before responding, “Yeah.”
“Haven’t returned to Warrington yet?”
“Is there something you need?” Cliff’s reply cut through her like ice.
Laney’s heart plummeted. She stood frozen, watching as Cliff crushed out his cigarette and clinked glasses with Gerry, his previously composed features now slightly somber. Had her two simple messages irritated him so deeply? Hot tears welled in her eyes.
Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she decided to leave his last message unanswered.
Cliff’s gaze lingered on his phone screen.
“What’s up?” Gerry asked, noticing the unusual tension in Cliff’s expression.
The peculiar sensation Cliff had buried for days came rushing back with Laney’s messages, leaving him with an inexplicable surge of irritation. “Nothing,” he muttered, unwilling to confide in Gerry, knowing his reputation as a gossipmonger.
Gerry didn’t push the issue, doubting someone as emotionally distant as Cliff could have any intriguing stories to share. “By the way, what happened to you lately? You’ve been spending a lot of time with me and Caden.”
Cliff shrugged. “I just have nothing much to do.”
“Don’t slack off. You’re the heir, remember? If you get lazy, our dad will come after me instead.”
“Shut up.”
Laney couldn’t bear to listen anymore. She hastily wiped her tears and fled the scene.
Cliff seemed to sense something and turned to look, but found only unfamiliar faces. The crowd was filled with nothing but strangers. After draining their last two drinks, Cliff announced, “Call a driver. I’m heading to the theater later to check on Laney.”
Gerry remarked, “I visited her yesterday. She seemed rather down. Did you upset her again?”
Cliff dismissed it. “I haven’t even been home. How could I possibly upset her?”
“You know exactly what I mean,” Gerry said with a knowing smirk. Cliff’s irritation flared, but he chose not to engage, reaching instead for another bottle of wine.
As the liquid drained away, a pleasant buzz settled over Cliff, and he made his way to the restroom.
The hallway resonated with gentle melodies, the ambient lights casting an ethereal glow across the walls.
After washing up, Cliff found a quiet corner to smoke. As wisps of smoke curled into the air, Kailyn emerged from around the corner, struggling to support an intoxicated Laney. His eyes fixed on Laney’s swaying form, his movements frozen mid-motion.
Kailyn’s eyes met Cliff’s for the first time, and she felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. Her mind scattered, and his name tumbled from her lips. “Cliff…”
“Did she drink?” Cliff’s voice rumbled low and dangerous as he extinguished his cigarette and walked over.
Kailyn stood paralyzed, words failing her.
With an unreadable expression, Cliff drew the unsteady Laney closer, tilting her chin to examine her face. Her usually porcelain complexion now bloomed with color, and tears glazed her eyes, making her appear both heartbreakingly vulnerable and irresistibly enchanting.
A storm of emotion surged through Cliff as he pulled Laney into his arms, dismissing Kailyn with a sharp glance.
Kailyn, trusting him, quickly said, “I brought her here. Don’t blame her.”
Cliff strode away with Laney cradled against him, never looking back.
Laney’s eyes fluttered open, struggling to focus through her alcohol-induced haze. Though her vision swam, she could tell she was with a handsome man. With a resigned smile, she murmured, “Yeah, Kailyn is right. The world is full of men. Why should I pine for just one?”
Cliff halted, his eyes boring into her. “Laney, look at me. Who am I?”
Steadying herself against the wall, Laney cupped his face, studying him intently. Then, as if seized by sudden courage, she pressed her lips to his.
Cliff’s pulse thundered in his ears. This wasn’t like her usual tentative kisses. This was raw desperation, wild and unrestrained. The alcohol buzzing through his system dulled his usual restraint, and to his own astonishment, he yielded to her touch.
“Aren’t my lips soft?” Laney whispered through tears. “Why did he scold and then avoid me after I kissed him?”
Cliff’s breath hitched in his throat. She’d kissed him without even recognizing him?
Cliff’s lips tingled as emotion blazed through his heart like wildfire. A part of him yearned to shake the drunken Laney awake, to force her to see him clearly and watch her crumble into panic-stricken apologies. He longed to see her transform back into her obedient self, whispering, “Cliff, I won’t dare again.”
But her eyes were clouded with alcohol’s haze, her long, damp lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, silently speaking of unspoken desires. This very look had completely bewitched him three years ago. He had showered her with endless indulgence.
After a while, Cliff swallowed his anger. With calculated coldness, he wiped away her tears and lifted her into his arms. “Did you eat anything tonight?”
His show of restraint only emboldened Laney further. She draped her soft arms around his neck once more, her gaze lingering on his lips. “You look so much like Cliff, but not quite. When I kiss him, he is never this compliant and never lets me have my way.”
Cliff fell silent, regretting that he hadn’t stopped her earlier. It would have spared him from these maddening words and her reckless actions.
Laney leaned over, her alcohol-glazed eyes dreamy. “Can I kiss you a little longer?”
“No,” Cliff replied icily.
Laney ignored his refusal. “I can, right?” she murmured before pressing her lips to his once more.
This kiss was gentler, but midway through, something shifted. A wave of sorrow crashed over her, tears sliding down to mingle with their kiss, leaving behind a bitter taste.
Laney broke away, her voice breaking into a soft sob. “Cliff…”
The tension in Cliff’s heart shattered like glass. Raw, consuming desire overwhelmed him, threatening to break his carefully maintained control.