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By the time their entrees arrived, Bri and Markus’s conversation skills had somewhat returned to normal, giving her a brief respite from her dark memories. Yet each time she looked for an opportunity to turn their discussion toward their sex life, or more specifically her darker sexual desires, she couldn’t say the words.
By the end of the meal and two strong cocktails, Bri needed the ladies’ room. Pushing to her feet, she felt wobbly on her heels. The alcohol was definitely helping ease her guilt. It made her ask, “Can you have David bring me one more Cosmo while I’m gone?”
Markus looked her over before asking, “You sure about that? I don’t want you to faceplant on me before the night’s over. I have plans for this body.”
She loved the feel of his hands roaming up and down her back as he loosely hugged her to him. “I’m sure I can handle one more. But be warned, I plan on keeping my body close to yours all night when we’re dancing at the club.”
“Oh, I’m counting on it, sweetheart.”
She saw a carnal darkness in his eyes. While it excited her, it was out of place for her husband in a public place.
Maybe he’s had too much to drink himself.
Bri took off for the ladies’ room, grateful for a few moments alone to regroup. She was exhausted from holding her guilt at bay—from keeping their conversation bouncing along in the safe zone, away from any topics that would bring her shame to light. It had taken her weeks to get back to normal the previous fall when Jake had first visited her. Without a doubt, she knew it would take even longer this time because she felt so foolish and angry at herself for being duped again.
By the time she felt steady again, she’d been gone for ten minutes and knew she couldn’t stall any longer after she finished reapplying her lipstick and powdering her nose.
Speaking to her own reflection in the mirror, Brianna gave herself a pep talk. “Go out there and drink that Cosmo. Get tipsy and seduce your husband. Confess at least one thing it is you need from him.”
But when she returned to their table, Markus was settling up their bill with their server.
“What, no Cosmo? No flourless chocolate cake for dessert?”
Markus glanced up after signing his name to the bill. “And here I thought you were trying to get back on track.”
Instead of letting her slide back into the booth, he reached over to grab the shawl she’d worn to fend off the spring cool air.
“What’s the rush?” she asked as he helped wrap her shawl around her shoulders, preparing to leave.
“We need to get to the club before nine,” he answered, holding her elbow and moving them toward the exit.
“Since when do we need to hit a club that early?” She looked at her watch. “And how far away is it?”
“Not far,” he answered as he handed his parking ticket stub to the uniformed valet just outside the restaurant door. Once the kid ran off in the direction of a nearby parking garage, Markus pulled her into his arms, hugging her to help keep the chill at bay. “I just want to get there early enough to get a good seat.”
Seat? At a club? When Bri went dancing with Tiffany, they never sat down, but it had been forever since she’d been out on the town with her hubby. They were normally attending a stuffy law firm event or a wedding party.
She heard her husband’s very expensive car before she saw the sporty Porsche come shooting out of the garage into traffic. Apparently, the valet dude was appreciating her husband’s ride. When he pulled to a quick stop in front of them, Markus helped hold open the passenger door for Bri as she navigated her way into the low seat without flashing those passing on the sidewalk.
Markus gunned the engine as he pulled out into the Friday night traffic. They were close to the river, only blocks from Markus’s office, so when he turned to head south and then west, Brianna was confused.
“Is the club in the suburbs?” she asked. Every dance club she’d ever been to in town was north, up in the nightlife district.
“Naw, but it’s a bit farther out of the loop, in an up and coming neighborhood the city is revitalizing.”
“That sounds like fun,” Bri answered, trying to figure out how to jumpstart the difficult conversation they needed to have now that they had more privacy.
Go for broke. Just say it, Bri.
Taking a chance, she added softly, “Maybe if I dance too dirty, you can take me home and spank me.”
She’d hoped he’d tease her about her uncharacteristic request. She’d have been happy with an inquiry back, asking why she’d said something like that. What she hadn’t expected was silence as her husband stared straight ahead, navigating the traffic.
“Markus?” she prompted, reaching out to brush his arm. She could feel his muscles tensing under his dress shirt. He’d taken his suit jacket off and thrown it in the minuscule back seat.
“Why would you say something like that, Brianna? After all the abuse you went through before I met you, why the fuck would you joke about something like that?”
Stay calm. This is good. He’s talking.
