AllFreeNovel
Share Us
At night, I trace the bridle painted to look like a string of stars. The paint is still crisp. Before my father passed when I was seventeen, he had it repainted and sealed with varnish. It was his farewell gift.
After losing my farm and my freedom to Clint, all I have left is the painted mare.
I look up from my corner and he’s watching me again. Clint is by the file cabinet in the corner with his back to us. Gerard leans back in his chair, spreading his legs. My fingers clench in my lap.
What is he looking at?
“I have the paperwork here,” Clint says, turning and crossing back to the desk.
Gerard drags his cold eyes back to my husband as he holds out his hand and accepts the file folder. Something crackles between them, like they’d much rather be anywhere but in this room together. A tiny shiver moves up my spine. I’m fine-tuned to read my husband’s emotions and it’s very obvious he’s uncomfortable with Gerard.
Downstairs, a car door slams. Clint leans back and glances out the window.
“There’s Jay,” he says. “Keira, go down and bring him up.”
A muscle twitches in Gerard’s jaw. He snaps the folder shut with one hand and sets it down.
“I’ll go,” he says.
Clint frowns. “No, Keira’s fine.”
Gerard clears his throat. “I mistook her for your paid help with the way you treat her, Garrison.”
The room goes deadly silent again. Clint’s steel gaze snaps to me like I had something to do with Gerard’s words. Heart pounding, I curl back into the chair. Am I going to pay for this later when we’re alone?
Clint rises abruptly and crosses the room, yanking open the door.
“I’ll get him myself,” he snaps.
His footfalls echo down the hall and the room goes deadly quiet. Gerard’s lips part and his eyes drag over me. Starting at my feet tucked under the chair. Traveling up my thighs. Lingering on my breasts, throat, and mouth. Then our gazes clash.
The air crackles.
Beneath my dress, my nipples tighten. Heat stirs in my lower belly and curls down until I feel it between my thighs.
It’s quickly followed by shame. I’m married, I shouldn’t be looking at other men this way. And yet…I can’t stop looking at Gerard like I’m starving.
Iamstarving. Clint gives me crumbs of attention. He fucks me, but he doesn’t bother going down on me. Or even staying up while I use my vibrator. He says it’s not his problem that I can’t come while he’s fucking me. That’s not even the worst thing though. It’s the lack of emotional intimacy that really hurts. No hugs, no late night talks, no comforting me when I cry.
All that neglect means I’m left empty.
And Gerard Sovereign looks like an entire meal and then some.
“You’re going to get me in trouble,” I say, my voice cracking.
“I’m not afraid of your husband,” he says quietly.
Before I can stop myself, my mouth opens and I say the one thing I never admit to anyone else.
“No, but I am.”
His face goes hard. “Is your husband a mad dog?”
Confused, I glanced back at the door. Listening for footsteps. When I drag my attention back, he’s got me in his crosshairs. His eyes aren’t just blue as I previously thought. He’s got a darker ring edging his irises that makes his stare even more piercing.
“What?” I whisper.
“Mad dogs bite,” he says. “There’s no cure for it but a shotgun.”
