“I’ll tell you everything you want to know.” His eyes met mine and I could not look away.

“Do you still love her?” I asked, my voice shaking. He swallowed hard.

“I don’t know.” That was not the answer I had hoped for but I could not blame him for his honesty. I nodded, looking down at my feet. He stepped closer to me and I stiffened my back, not sure how close I wanted him to get. He slid the palm of his hand across my cheek and I leaned in to his touch, closing my eyes.

“I do know that I love you more.” My eyes shot open and I searched his face, not sure I had heard him correctly. “I love you. I wasn’t sure it was even possible for me to care about anyone else again, but I can’t deny how I feel about you.” I stared at him helplessly as I absorbed what he was saying. “Breathe” he whispered and I took a deep breath as he instructed. His face became worried when I did not say anything. “What else do you want to know?” He asked.

“I think you said all I needed to hear.” I whispered. He smiled and kissed me like he had never kissed me before. His hand lost in my hair as he pulled me against him. His other sliding down my back and over my bottom. I placed my hands on his chest and slid the up to his strong muscular shoulders. He did not pull away or try to stop me. “Make love to me.” I breathed into his mouth.

He picked me up and carried me into his room, laying me gently in the center of his bed. His mouth hovered above mine.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” He asked.

“Yes,sir” I moaned and his mouth crashed back into mine. We pulled at each others clothing, trying desperatly to get to one another.

“What do you want me to do to you?” his hot breath sending goosebumps over my skin.

“Kiss me…here” I moaned, tugging his hair gently and guiding his lips to my breast. I arched my back as he hungrily obliged. He had given me complete control and the feeling was overwhelming. His tongue slid in small cirlcles over my nipple. He let his teeth graze me and I moaned loudly in response.

“Where else?” he asked, practically panting. I tightened my grip on his hair and pushed him lower. His tongue trailed down my stomach, dipping into my belly button. I bit my lip and turned my head into the pillow as I pushed lower. I could feel his breath on me and it sent delicious waves of pleasure through me.

“Please” I begged, wanting to feel his touch. His mouth met the inside of my thigh and I arched my back in approval. His lips worked there wasy closer to my center I could barely hold on. His tongue dipped slowly against me and I felt my insides tighten in response. He continued to push against me at a slow steady rhythm as he slid one of his fingers inside of me. I rocked my hips with the motion of his finger, grabbing the blankets in my fists. He increased his speed, sliding another finger inside.

“Come for me” he whispered, as his fingers drove into me harder. I lost myself as the words left his mouth. My body tightened and responded to his touch sending waves of absolute bliss pulsating through me. He climbed on top of me, his eyes full of wanting. He grabbed a foil packet from beside the bed and quickly put the condom on himsef. I could feel him, hard against my entrance as his hand wrapped in my hair. “You belong to me Emma.” His hips gently rocked against me. I gasped at the sensation. “Tell me.” His eyes narrowed. He pushed harder against me, slowly entering me.

“I belong to you.” I whispered back. He pushed harder, sliding completely inside of me, leaving me feeling impossibly full.

“Good girl” He breathed in my ear as he nibbled at my earlobe with his teeth. I slid my hands down his back as his muscles flexed under my fingertips. He did not stop me. He pushed into me harder. I let my nails glide across his skin, coming to rest on his perfect backside. I found his ear with my lips. “ I love you” I whispered, letting my lips brush against him. His body bucked against mine causing all of my muscles to clentch onto him. My body rippled with pleasure as he came, spilling himself inside of me. He collapsed his weight on me as we both struggled to catch our breath.

Everything that had happened today didn’t matter. I didn’t care about William’s past. I only cared about right now and right now I couldn’t have been happier.

Chapter twenty-Six

I realized I must have fallen asleep. I awoke wrapped in a giant white comforter, alone. My body still felt incredibly exhausted but I wanted to find William. I grabbed a t- shirt from his drawar and slid it on, not bothering to put on panties. I walked out into the main living area. I stopped dead in my tracks as I noticed several pairs of eyes staring back at me. I looked at William who jumped to his feet.

“This is Emma.” He said. The man beside him rose to his feet. I tugged at my t-shirt trying desperatly to cover myself. “Emma, this is Mayor Locklin.” My mouth feel open as I suddenly realised why he looked so familiar.

“Pleasure” The mayor nodded and I could see him trying to hide his smirk.

“I’m gonna…” I was too flustered to even form a sentence. I ducked back into the bedroom and pulled on my clothing. After I was dressed I debated crawling out of the window but we were on the second story and I didn’t feel like a hospital visit. I slowly peered around the doorway.

“Emma” William called for me.

“Shit” I muttered under my breath and made my way across the room. I bit my lip as I rounded the large dark brown leather couches. William took his thumb and tugged my lip from my teeth.

“Sit” he said and I sat down on the couch facing the Mayor.

“Emma” The Mayor nodded his head to greet me.

“Mayor Locklin” I replied, trying to hide my embarrassment.

“Please, call me Stephen.” He replied and I let myself relax a little.

“Stephen” I repeated, looking over at William who had taken a seat next to me, placing his hand on my knee.

“Stephen is an old friend of mine from college. He also owes me a favor, which makes him trustworthy.” William grinned.

“Now, how do you propose we get rid of your ex-wife?” The Mayor asked as if he was asking for directions to the mall. The room began to spin around me and I felt myself grow lightheaded as their words grew muffled and distant. This is not what I had pictured as my happily ever after.

“Emma!” William was shaking me from my sleep.

“What happened?” I rubbed my eyes, noting someone had spashed water on my face.

“Are you narcaleptic?” The Mayor asked, and I wasn’t sure it was an attempt at a joke or if he was genuinly worried.

“No” I sat up and pulled at my shirt. William placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Abby, we didn’t mean ‘get rid of her’ like that.” I could hear his amusement in his words. “We just need to figure out how to make her not come back again and again once she has been paid.” He put his hand on my knee to comfort me. I looked up at the Mayor who was looking back at me as if I was an imbecile.

“Right, well, we need to negotiate terms and have your lawyer speak with her. Are you sure this is about the money and not about some sort of revenge?” He asked, his eyes glued to William.

“No, no. She’s the one who broke my heart, remember?” William shook his head at the idea.

“Yea, I know. I just needed to make sure their was nothing else that would come out later.” He stood up and William rose from the couch. “Should be a pretty straight forward arrangement. Are you sure you want to pay her off? You could always let her say what she wants. It’s not like you need the teaching job.” William ran his hands through his hair and nodded.

“You know I can’t let this come out. I would never hear the end of it from my father.”

“I’ll help as much as I can. I owe you that much.” Stephen replied, holding out his hand. The shook and the mayor nodded at me politely before leaving. William followed after him and locked the door.

“You could have warned me that you had company!” I smacked him playfully on the arm.

“You could have warned me that you passed out so easily. Had that happened in the bedroom I would have thought I killed you.” He joked, but I knew I had genuinly scared him.

“Sorry” I looked down at the ground wishing it would swallow me whole. William stepped closer to me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.

“Can I ask you something?” I mummbled into his chest. He took a deep breath.

“Ask away.” I had so many guestions running through my mind but I didn’t know if it was appropriate for me to ask.

“What did you do for the mayor that he feels he owes you?” I looked up at him and he smiled.

“If it wasn’t for me he would have never made it through college. I tutored him, helped keep him on track.” He hugged me a little tighter and I smiled back at him.

“Here I thought you helped him bury a hooker or something.” I joked. He let out a deep hearty laugh.

“No, the dead hookers didn’t start to pile up until after he became mayor.” I slapped him playfully on the chest and bit my lip. I had a million more questions.

“Where are you going to come up with the kind of money she is asking for on a teacher’s salary?” I asked. He sighed and let go of me, running his hands through his messy hair.

“My father. In fact, he is the reason she and I didn’t last in the first place.” He shook his head and the hurtful memory. “Abby started turtoring me senior year. I was more into hanging out with my friends and getting in trouble. I dind’t take my grades seriously. One night on thing lead to another. I’ll spare you the details but my father found out that we were seeing each other. He went to Abby and offered her money to stay away from me.” His eyes looked sad as he stared off into the distance. “She took it and never looked back. To add insult to injury she began flaunting some new guy around town. Everywhere I went I saw them together. It wasn’t until college when she called me and begged for me to come see her. We dated for a few months.” He looked down at the floor, “ We ran off to vegas on a whim and got married. Everything was perfect again until I found out my father had paid her. She begged for me to stay with her but I couldn’t. Now she wants to make my life miserable.” His eyes locked onto mine.

“I’m so sorry.” I took a step closer to him and he held up his hand.

“I don’t want to be pittied, Emma. It was a long time ago. I just want this bitch out of my life once and for all.” I decided to change the subject.

“So, if your father is rich, why are you working as a teacher?” I asked. He smiled a lopsided grin.

“I don’t know. I tutored all through college and I really enjoyed it. There was something really fulfilling about seeing that look on someone’s face when they understand something new.” His mood had shifted now and he was happier. “Plus, I like to be in control, but I’m sure you noticed that. I don’t want to ever get hurt like that again.” He ran his fingers down the length of my jaw and smacked me playfully on my bottom with his other hand.

“Ouch!” I jumped as he pulled my body flush against his.

“I think I answered enough questions for one day.” His mouth hovered above mine. I looked to his lips and back to his eyes, begging him silently to kiss me. He ran his thumb over my lower lip.

We spent the rest of the day in bed together. I was exhausted and starving.

“Go take a nice long bath. I’ll make us something to eat.” He kissed me quickly on the forehead and I made my way to the stark white bathroom. I soaked in the tub until the water turned cold.

“That smells delicious!” I said as I sat down at the kitchen island and twirled my wet hair into a bun.

“Thanks.” He smiled sitting a plate down in front of me. He had made cheese ravioli with a mushroom sauce. I ate every bite on my plate as he watched me, barely touching his food.

“Not hungry?” I cocked my head to the side.

“I was just thinking about how money changes people.” My eyebrows pulled together as he looked at me. It finally registered that he was worried I would take a payoff if I was was offered and the possiblity was there. I could tarnish his family’s reputation if anyone found out about us.

“I wouldn’t do that to you. I’m not that kind of person. I’m not her.” I reassured him, reaching out and putting my hand on his. He stared out my hand for a moment before lacing his fingers in mine and squeezing gently. He nodded his head but didn’t say anything. I understood why it was hard for him to trust. I would just have to prove to him that I won’t break his heart. I pulled my hand back from his and walked in to the bedroom to grab my phone. I came back out to the island and sat back down with it pressed to my ear. He looked confused for a moment.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Aunt Judy? I won’t be home tonight.” I glanced up at William who was looking a little happier. I sat the phone down on the counter top and raised an eyebrow at him. I got up from my seat and walked over to the elevator, swaying my hips slightly. I couldn’t pull the smile from my face as I stepped inside and rode up to the next floor. It was dark and smelled of leather. I walked out into the expansive space, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. I ran my hands over the different contraptions as I contemplated which one to choose.

I slid my clothes off and climbed on top of the cold metal table. I wrapped the leather straps around my ankles, securing them to each corner, leaving my legs spread open. I laid back and stretched my body as far as I could to reach the handcuffs at the top center. I slipped them over my wrists and clicked them into place. I took a few deep breaths and waited for him to arrive. I heard the elevator being called back the the second floor and my heart began to race. A few minutes passed and the doors opened again. I resisted the urge to lift my head and look at him. The steady thudding of his footsteps crept closer and I held my breath when the sound stopped at the foot of the table. I heard the sound of leather sliding against itself as he undid his belt.