Treachery

Luca

I first met Ta

A hot commodity, Ta

It goes without saying that none of those women were up to the challenge. For the short time I knew Ta

Nine ruthless men. Nine unrepentant si

One doesn’t deal with the Inferno without getting burned. And I will soon be the idiot who goes straight to the ninth circle to make a bargain with Treachery himself.

“I don’t think I need to point out you’re in the women’s restroom.”

He grins, a seductive slide of the corner of his mouth daring me to do something about it. Thick black lashes dust his skin as he blinks slowly, his moss green gaze locking me in place when his eyes are open again.

“Are you going to throw me out?”

Stretching his neck from side to side, he rests his head against the wall. He’s still as solid as I remember from Yale. Tall and broad, toned and muscular in all the right places.

How many good women have drowned beneath the temptation of his body?

“Might not be a good idea considering the sticky situation you appear to be in.”

Yanking the handle of the faucet, I raise my voice over the stream of water, glaring at Ta

“A sticky situation no doubt thanks to you.”

A negligent shrug of his shoulder.

“What can I say? I’m an expert at making situations sticky.”

Ignoring the double entendre as well as the wicked gleam in his gaze, I splash water on my face to clean my skin.

My makeup is already a mess thanks to the vomiting and crying, the water only managing to cool the hint of red on my cheeks and rinse away the lines of ru

Slapping my hand over the handle, I shut off the water.

“What do you want from me, Ta

My gaze is trained to the sink basin, my palms splayed over the counter. It’s the only thing keeping me on my feet at the moment. Had I been alone at home, I would have curled into a ball on the bathroom floor.

“I think you know what I want.”

Quiet steps approach me, his large, strong hands engulfing mine over the counter. The wall of heat at my back makes me shiver at his close proximity, makes me remember what it felt like to be this close to him at Yale.

“The question is: Are you willing to give it to me?”

Indignant laughter bubbles from my throat.

“You can’t be serious. After all this time, and you’re still upset about what I did?”

Three years. In the time since I last saw Ta

Yes, I knew Ta

If he’s still upset I refused to play by his rules, what does that say about him?

Why would a man who can have any woman he wants go through all of this just to get me back?

His chest shakes with quiet laughter at my response, his hips brushing my ass in the most tantalizing of promises. It’s too bad for him I’d erected a wall around me years ago that is impervious to his charms.

“I have you between a rock and a hard place, Luca. A scurrying mouse trapped beneath my paw. Our witness will attest to the fact that you’ve been fucking him for the past five months. Twice a week, during hours I know you can’t verify your whereabouts.”

Recognition hits me, - hot, fat tears stinging my eyes to realize that Ta

Twice a week.

I know he means the Tuesday and Thursdays nights I spend several hours seated on a bench by my parents’ graves.

Pure rage filters in to mix with my sorrow. How dare he?

Leaning forward, Ta

“Our witness will describe what you sound like in bed. He’ll tell all about the kinks you prefer, the hours you spend sweaty and breathless beneath his bulging belly just begging him to give it to you harder. The small noises you make, or how you roar when you come. He’ll explain how enjoyable it is to feel you tremble when your body comes down from being pushed over the edge into a breathless orgasm.”

Pausing, he presses his body tighter to mine, the evidence of his arousal hard against my ass.

In a low voice that is barely a whisper, he speaks against my ear.

“He’ll even describe the heart shaped birthmark on the left cheek of your supple ass. A birthmark, by the way, that I have missed seeing for myself.”

The tears stinging my eyes slip free to roll over my cheeks. Glancing into the mirror, my eyes meet Ta

“Why are you doing this to me?”

A soft nip on my earlobe precedes his response.

“Why not?”

Releasing my hands to grip my hips, Ta

“Three point seven million dollars, Luca. That’s what you stand to lose if I let that man testify. But...”

His hands squeeze my hips, his arms drawing me tighter against his body.

“If you play this game right, I can make it all go away. I can destroy your worm of a husband. I’ll enjoy destroying him, and I’ll make sure you enjoy it just as much.”

Clenching my eyes shut, I shake my head in disbelief.

“You would do that to your own client? How will that affect your career as an attorney?”

“You let me worry about that. What do you say? Will you meet me tonight to discuss my terms?”

What choice do I have? If I say no, I’ll walk into that courtroom to get slaughtered. I’ll watch three years of being the perfect wife to a disgusting, prick of man go down the drain with nothing to show for it.

I’ve given up everything for Clayton. I’ve stayed home and played housewife and di

I have nothing left except the money I helped Clayton earn by managing his entire life outside of his business. And I deserve that money. I deserve what he owes me for the years he cheated and lied.

“Fine. I’ll meet you to discuss your terms. But that doesn’t mean I’ll say yes to them. I still have a sliver of pride left in me, and I won’t let you take that away.”

Another soft laugh.

“It’s not your pride I want.”

Letting go of my hips, Ta