Page 39 of Paddy

“But it meanteverythingto me. So, for you to walk around this house ignoring me, you cannot imagine the hurt and rejection I feel,” she admitted, as she cast her gaze downward and began playing with her nails. Packaging up the mini sandwiches. I turned to face her, crossing my arms at my chest.

“You're clever in the way you picked up on my ignoring you, but it ain't for the sake of me being able to turn off my feelings. It's for the sanctity of our own sanities. If I lay another hand on you, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself. I’ll want you all the time. The shitty thing about my curse is that it takes away all my guilt, my remorse in any situation. I don't care if you're someone's wife or mother. All I think about is how to make you mine. I never let myself getthiswrapped up with a woman before, but there was just something about you that made mechange my mind, and that terrifies me. You make me do things I told myself I would never do,” I confessed, only to see the light leave her eyes.

“This isn't easy for me. I've never done this before. I don't know how to navigate how I’m feeling, especially because I'm doing it on my own. If it was a misstep on your end, I can handle that. It'll take me some time, but I'll survive. But the way we've been handling things just makes me feel so confused, especially when you say you want me.” Lifting her chin with my fingers, her teary gaze meant mine.

“That's the thing. It wasn't a misstep for me. Wrong? Yes. But furthest from a misstep. And like I said, you make me do things I told myself I would never do. Like this...” Without warning, I leaned in and kissed her, the presence of her beautiful tears making her lips taste salty.

Our mouths moved and melded, devouring our lust for one another in deep gasps and light moans. I knew kissing her was a bad idea, but I was fucking hard headed, so when Vernon made his way into the kitchen and found us eating each other's faces, I almost didn't see him until he shouted bloody murder.

“What the fuck are you doing with my wife?” Backing away anxiously, we separated, the tension in the room high with rage and anger.

“This isn't what it looks like,” I blurted.

“You sure? Because itlookslike you were just kissing mywife.” Pretty jumped in between us, the act of getting caught making her a panicked mess.

“Vernon, baby, if you just took a minute to calm down and let me explain.”

“Pretty, I don't want to hear nothing leave your mouth right now. Go upstairs, and I'll deal with you later. I want to talk to Mr. Sullivan, man to fuckin man.” I know I was preparing myself for a fight, but I didn't think it would end well for him.

Me? I was totally in the wrong, but I wasn't gonna sit around andletsomeone kick my arse. My hope was that this man could scrap so I wouldn't feel bad about the damage I planned to do.

“It's all right, Pretty. We're just going to talk,” I assured with a nod, and quietly she excused herself, her heeled steps loud as she flew up the steps. Vernon's fist met my face in a punch not even fit enough to be a certified challenge but I fixed my face and rose my fists.

“The first one's free. But if we got to do this, then so be it.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the idea, surprising me when he poured himself a drink.

“Oh, put yourdamnfist down. I wasn't lying when I said I just wanted to talk to you. That punch was more off my initial anger, but now I'm ready to just be civil. So…” he paused to take a sip.

“How long have you been fucking my wife?” It felt like a trick question, but considering what he just walked in on, it didn't make sense to lie.

“We were only together once. And trust me, I understand that if at this point in time, you’ll no longer need my services. Just give me some time to pack my things and I'll be out of your hair.” He got another glass, surprising me by pouring me a drink and sliding it over.

“I neversaidI would no longer be requiring your services. Now, drink up. I have another proposal for you.” If I hadn't seen him pour and drink it himself, I wouldn't have put it past him that he was trying to poison me. He was strangely calm for a man who just walked in on his wife kissing another man.

“Truth is, I'm not even mad about catching you and her. Aside from initial reaction, Pretty and I haven't been happy for a long time. I know I can't be what she needs right now, but maybe you can.” I choked on my drink.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I'm always away for work. When she’s here, it’s always by herself. What I'm saying is, I wouldn't stand in the way of what you both got. So long as it didn't interfere with our lives at home. Solongas the two of you are being discreet. I want to protect my son and I want to protect our family’s image. I know, with you being a man, you understand what I'm talking about?” Oh, I understood, all right. If he was allowing this while asking forourdiscretion, it meant that he was already doing the same. All while Pretty sat around here moping, wondering why their marriage was falling apart.

“Do yougetwhat I'm saying?” He asked again, a knowing look in his eyes.

“Loud and clear, lad,” I said, taking the last swig of my drink.

“So, how do you like fucking Pretty?” My brow lifted, puzzled by the question.

“Did I hear that correctly, mate? You want to know how I liked fucking your wife? You sure you want to bark up that tree, lad? Because, truth be warned, you might get your feelings hurt.” Did I like fucking her?Likewas an insult to that regard. I wasobsessedwith fucking her. In fact, I hadn't stopped thinking about fucking her since the first and only time.

“You know, I've always had this fantasy after she had Elijah, and her body started changing. That I would bring home other men and watch them fuck her brains out,” he admitted, making me question if he did put something in this drink after all.

I was into some fucked up shite but never had I ever been asked to fuck a man's wife right in front of him. The idea of it sounded like my kind of debauchery. One to add to the playbooks, but I didn't think she'd go for it. She was too classy, too cautious, too modest. Made me wonder, did he even know his wife well enough to know that.

“Definitely something to add to the bucket list, but I don't think she'd do it. She's not that kind of woman.” And yet, she hadspread her legs forme. She had crawled forme. She had even taken a spanking forme. Maybe she could only be that woman for me, but I knew she certainly couldn’t be it for him.

“She would do it if she knew thatthatwas the only way I'd let her have you,” he challenged, as he poured another drink for the both of us.

“Do you think that I can discuss it with her first? Even if she agrees to it, I can't say that it would be an everyday thing. I care about her comfort.” Something he likely couldn’t say the same for.

“I leave for Baltimore in the morning. I could get my sister to take Elijah for the night to keep things…for grown folk.”