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Natalie
“Wow, the camera really does add ten pounds, doesn’t it?” Roger laughs as he slings his arm around me. “Present company excluded, of course.” I jab him lightly in the ribs and he flinches and laughs.
He’s not wrong. There’s something about the angle of the camera that makes Blake look especially frumpy. There’s an occasional scan to the back of my head, but at least my hair looks quite nice.
I never thought I’d be here, sitting in Roger’s amazing penthouse watching my ex-husband get raked over the coals at a TV trial. This is better than Judge Judy.
Blake’s profession made for quite a circus, and the news stations are eating it up.
Thanks to all the madness surrounding the trial, everyone has pretty much forgotten about Roger and my little ‘scandal’. I still don’t see what’s so scandalous about amazing sex, but I guess it sells papers. I nestle closer to Roger.
As much as I love seeing Blake and his entire Western Tabloid empire get completely dismantled, even just seeing him onscreen makes my skin crawl. But, at least, it’s a lot easier to see his smarmy face with Roger by my side.
“Oooh, this is my favorite part!” I point to the screen as I watch Blake tug at his collar. “He always does that when he’s pissed.” Moments later, Blake slams his hands down on the stand and launches out of his seat, looking especially purple.
“Good eyes,” Roger chuckles. “So, have you figured out any of my special ‘tells’? Do I scratch my face when I’m horny or something?” Roger scans me and makes a show of scratching his five o’clock shadow.
“I’ve got nothing,” I laugh and shrug. Roger smiles.
“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to find out.”
I can’t help but beam back at him. Roger wants me here, for a long time. Long enough to figure out his little quirks and for him to understand mine.
I already know plenty about what makes him happy in bed, so I feel like I’m halfway there. But, I definitely want to stick around to figure out the rest.
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of seeing this asshole to last a lifetime.”
I nod vigorously and reach for the remote. The giant flat screen shuts off with a satisfying blip.
“Wanna grab a bottle of wine for us?” Roger asks, jerking his thumb toward the kitchen. “I’ve got a built-in wine room just to the left of the fridge. It’s not huge, but holler if you get lost in there.” I roll my eyes.
“You can’t say ‘it’s not huge’, as if that somehow distracts from the fact you have a freaking walk-in wine fridge in your house!” I grumble as I stand. “But, I promise I’ll holler if I get lost.”
Roger slaps my ass as I get up, which sets me giggling.
I don’t care if I sound like a giddy schoolgirl, I’m happy.Completely, hopelessly happy. I hum to myself as I pass the fridge and push open the door.Wow,I mayactuallyget lost.
It looks like a miniature version of the boutique wine store downstairs! I peek my head down one of the aisles and wonder if he’s got a miniature version of the manager, tiny mustache and all. The coast is clear, so I step down an aisle to figure out what to grab.
We could sell this room and buy a whole new penthouse with all the cash from these bottles! He’s got everything. I feel like a princess in my own personal wine castle. I pick a particularly lovely blend and skip down the aisle, twirling like an idiot.
But, just as I make a princess-like pirouette, my feet trip over one another and I start falling into one of the shelves. I flail my arms out to stop myself, but only bring the entire room crashing down around me!
Red wine is everywhere — my clothes, my hair, the marble floor! I finally stand and look at the carnage. My clothes make me look like the victim of a horror flick, and as I scan for survivors, I realize the only ones that made it out alive are me and the bottle I’m holding.
I hear Roger calling my name as he rushes through the kitchen into the room. When he finally makes it to the door, he looks stricken. I stare at him, my eyes huge and pleading.Don’t leave me, don’t leave me, don’t leave me.
“I — Roger, I’m so sorry — I don’t know what —” But Roger isn’t mad at all. Instead, he doubles over laughing, bracing himself against the door frame to keep from falling over. I bite my lip, but start to laugh with him.
“Jeez, if you don’t like the selection, just say so!” Roger chuckles as he picks his way to me. “Excellent choice, by the way.” He says as he inspects my sole survivor.
“God, Roger, I am so sorry.” He waves me off.
“Don’t be. It reminds me of how we met.” He leans down and plants a soft kiss on my lips, sending my whole body alight. “How about you clean up and I’ll open the bottle, huh? I’ll have someone come and deal with the mess later.”
I nod sheepishly, and look down at my clothes. I really do look like I belong in a scary movie. We pick our way back through the flood of wine, and Roger sets me up in the shower. I can hardly speak, I’m so embarrassed.
When he finally leaves, and I’ve shut the door, I lean my head against the wall, and I squeeze my eyes shut.How could I be so stupid? After everything we’ve been through, I go and make a dope out of myself all over again.
