Filed to story: When His Wife Can’t Forgive
“You really remind me of him,” Laney murmured, her voice tinged with bitterness. She pouted slightly.
“But he’s such a jerk.”
Cliff’s arms tightened protectively around her waist.
“Sleep, Laney,” he whispered.
Laney vaguely heard the voice, but her eyelids remained glued shut.
She had become accustomed to those phantom whispers, the echoes of Cliff’s voice haunting her sleep. It wasn’t surprising, not anymore. Cliff stayed right where he was, waiting patiently for Laney to drift into a deeper sleep.
At first, he watched her in silence, content with just being near her.
But as time passed, something within him began to change. His desire-he couldn’t stand the distance between them anymore. He wanted to pull her closer, to hold her tighter.
With that thought stirring in his chest, Cliff acted. He scooped her up and carried her to the VIP suite nearby.
This particular suite was reserved for special members, and today, Cliff was the first-and only-one there.
Meanwhile, Kailyn, knowing Laney was asleep, had kept an occasional eye on her while engrossed in her game.
But when Kailyn realized Laney was missing, she abandoned her game in a heartbeat and rushed to find her. Outside the suite, there was a bear head costume-something felt off.
Kailyn opened the door without a second thought, ready to charge in. What she saw made her freeze mid-step. Cliff had just shed his jacket and draped it gently over the sleeping Laney.
Kailyn stood there, rooted to the spot, her breath caught in her throat. Cliff stood up straight, meeting her gaze with calm.
“Go back to your game. I’ll take care of her.”
Kailyn’s tension ebbed away. Intimidated by the cool authority in his tone, she didn’t dare challenge him. She simply nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.
As Kailyn did, an apology formed in her mind, though she never spoke it aloud.
“Sorry, Laney. You’re on your own now. I can’t take on your cousin.”
Cliff took a moment to rid himself of the bear costume’s lingering scent before turning his full attention to Laney.
He studied her intently. Though it had only been about a month since their last meeting, he couldn’t help but feel she had changed in subtle but significant ways.
Her features were unchanged, her peaceful sleep unbroken. Her hands instinctively gripped the fabric of his clothes, and her body was relaxed in his arms.
Unable to resist, Cliff reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek.
Laney shifted ever so slightly, a soft squirm, as if the tickling sensation was coaxing her to burrow deeper into his embrace, all while keeping her eyes closed.
Cliff glanced around, his mind racing. This wasn’t the ideal place for her to sleep. After sending Kailyn a quick message, he carried Laney back to the hotel.
When Cliff laid her on the bed, Laney stirred from her dream, her hand reflexively reaching out to grip his as he tried to pull away.
He paused, watching as she slowly began to wake. Her eyes fluttered open, half-lidded, locking onto him in the dimly lit room.
The faint light painted Cliff’s figure with a dreamy haze-almost as if he weren’t real.
Laney thought she was dreaming.
For the first time, Cliff felt the inexplicable torment of being the center of her gaze, her silent observation cutting through him like a thousand needles.
“Laney,” he said, revealing himself fully to her.
Laney opened her mouth, speaking in a tone that didn’t quite sound like her.
“Cliff.”
Cliff swallowed, his throat tight, and answered, “Yes?”
He expected her to lash out, to yell or hit him.
Instead, she simply pouted, turning her head away as a soft sigh escaped her lips. Her eyes shut again.
“I hate you, Cliff,” she whispered with a frown.
A pang shot through Cliff’s chest. He couldn’t help it. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice clumsy and inadequate. He had no idea how to make it right.
After the kiss, something deeper within him stirred, and he couldn’t resist leaning closer, his lips grazing hers.
Laney, still only half-awake, opened her eyes to meet his gaze.
Frowning, she pushed him away.
“Don’t touch me!”
Her sleepy resistance felt like a gentle tease, not a real threat.
Yet, he pulled back.
As their distance grew, the shadow over her face lifted, revealing the tear-streaked path of her silent cry.
Unlike the past, when her sobs had been loud and guttural, this time the tears flowed in quiet streams.
Cliff’s breath caught in his chest as he realized just how deeply he had hurt her-this person who had never used to hide her emotions from him. Gently, he lifted her into his arms and placed her carefully on his lap.
Laney rested weakly against him, her head nestled against his neck. Still, she said nothing. The tears kept falling.
Cliff leaned down, brushing his lips softly over her tears. It wasn’t long before the quiet sobs escalated, her grief spilling over all at once. Laney clung to him, her sobs like jagged knives, each one cutting deeper into his heart.
He stroked her back, his movements slow and soothing, but nothing seemed to quiet her. In the end, Cliff couldn’t bear it any longer and sealed her lips with a kiss.
With her mouth closed off, Laney let out weak whimpers, her body trembling against his. Cliff kissed her deeper.
The crying slowly subsided, replaced by the sound of mingling breaths and soft moans. Laney, dazed and confused, began to respond to him, her senses starting to sharpen.
When her eyes met his again, they were clouded with recognition. She saw those familiar, deep eyes-calm and unblinking, yet filled with an intensity that seemed to pull her in.
As the fog of confusion began to lift, Laney instinctively tried to pull away, to escape his grasp.
But Cliff tightened his hold, his hand on her waist urging her back into him, his body pressing closer.
The feeling of being trapped, held captive by his embrace, overwhelmed Laney. She couldn’t tell if it was real or if she was still dreaming. In her desperation, she fought back, sinking her teeth into his lip.
Cliff flinched as pain shot through him, pulling away from her lips. He braced himself for her scolding, yet held onto her firmly, his eyes locked on hers.
Laney, her thoughts swirling in confusion, breathed in sharply, as if she were trying to recover the breath he had taken from her. Cliff softly rubbed her back.
“Take it slow. There’s no hurry.”
Laney stopped, her eyes fixed on him.
“Cliff?”
She had convinced herself it was a dream, which was why she had allowed herself to cry. But the firm hold and the lingering warmth on her skin were nothing like a dream.
Cliff asked, “What’s wrong?”
Hearing his voice snapped Laney out of her confusion, and her heart dropped. She asked stiffly, “Where are we? Why are you here?”
Cliff held her waist and explained slowly, “Room 1888. Don’t you remember? A few months back, when we visited Chesa Sea, we stayed in this hotel, in this exact suite.”
Laney was shocked. In the faint light, she scanned the familiar table and sofa, memories of their closeness flooding back. They had been deeply intimate, though not completely.
Those were thoughts Laney knew she shouldn’t entertain at the moment. She quickly shifted her focus and said firmly, “I booked this room. You can’t just walk in like that. Leave now, or I’ll call the police.”
Her voice was low but firm as she struggled to free herself from his grip.
Cliff held her gaze firmly.
“Why do you revisit the places we once enjoyed together?”
Laney answered, “How is that any of your concern?”
Cliff continued, “Are you trying to hold onto memories or erase me from them?”
Laney’s breathing quickened.
“Neither,” she replied.
“I just didn’t want to waste the plans you made. Cliff, I don’t hate you, nor do I love you. I’m just enjoying my time with my friends, so please leave me alone.”
Cliff understood her better than she realized, sensing that her words weren’t entirely honest. He looked at her and asked, “If you don’t love me, then who is it? Is it Merrick?”
Laney’s voice grew firmer.
“I’m starting to get used to him.”
Cliff responded instantly, “You won’t. You’ll never forget me.”
A surge of anger and bitterness shot through Laney’s heart.
“Why do you think so highly of yourself?” she snapped.
“I cared about you for a long time, but that was then.”