Page 49 of Arranged

He probably had a point.

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

NOURA

For some reason I could not fathom why my husband drove back with me to my apartment. I even got past my helpless rage enough to speak to him once. “Will you be staying at my apartment tonight?” Because why the hell else was he in my car?

He didn’t bother to look at me. “No. I’m going home. I need sleep. I haven’t had a solid night of rest for days, and I know I’ll sleep better in my own bed.”

Fair enough. Good riddance. I wanted free of his company ASAP. It was nothing but a relief.

It was also a relief to catch him letting loose that hateful tirade at my expense, I told myself. I’d been going a little soft for him. Can’t have that. I knew deep in my gut that I couldn’t show him an ounce of weakness. Showing your belly to your enemy was always a stupid move.

I bid him a cursory goodnight. He didn’t bother to respond or so much as look my way. Asshole.

Chester escorted me up to my apartment in silence. I knew he had opinions about my husband and my marriage, but he always had the grace to keep them to himself. I knew there had to be some conflict of interest there.

Jovie was still awake. I let her coax me out of my foul mood. It didn’t take long. She braided my hair while we watched an episode of our latest K-drama and told me a story about a runway show she’d done where they’d made all of the models dress like terrifying clowns.

Eventually the tension in my shoulders and the clenching of my fists eased enough that I warmed up enough to share. I gave her an edited version of the night. I left out my jerk of a husband’s words and all the things not fit for fourteen-year-old ears. She agreed that my husband’s privileged rich girl friends were all skanky bitches and hoes. Her company was just what the doctor ordered. I reflected, not for the first time, how lucky it was that we’d found each other.

We called it quits after about an hour. I felt worlds better, courtesy of my newly adopted baby model. Jovie had acclimated to sleeping by herself, mostly, and she gave me a big hug before skipping to my spare room which was now firmly her room. I wondered to myself how long she’d stay with me and secretly hoped it was indefinitely. Sometimes you don’t realize how lonely you are until you find just the right company.

I went to bed alone and with a smile on my face.

I woke up in the dead of night, hot and bothered.

And I wasn’t alone.

Calder’s large form was stretched out on top of me, his arms bracing tightly outside of mine, bracketing me in. The thin T-shirt I’d gone to bed in was gone. My panties were gone, too. I was completely bare.

One of his muscular thighs was shoved high between my legs. I was rubbing wantonly against it.

“I thought you were staying at your own place.” The words came out of me in soft, unwanted pants.

“I tried,” he murmured into my ear.

“I thought you needed sleep,” I said.

“Forget what I need.” His mouth slid along my jaw and down my throat. “Give me what I want.” As he spoke he pressed his palm low on my belly, touching my clit oh so softly with his thumb. I pushed myself against it.

He fingered my sex with the softest whisper of a touch and purred his approval into my ear. “Good girl. Already wet for me. I could slip my cock inside you right now, but I won’t. Not just yet.” His words were low, soft puffs against my flesh. “First, I’m going to make you come. I need to taste you again. I’m going to eat you out before I fuck you. And not like the first time. This time I’m going to fuck you right. You’re going to be ready this time. More than ready. You’re going to beg me for it. I’m going to show you that you love having my cock buried balls deep inside you.”

“Oh, God,” I breathed, embarrassed and aroused.

I opened my mouth to say I don’t know what, but words were not what escaped me as he started to push one of his big fingers into me. It entered me slowly, carefully.

My eyes shut at the aching sensations pulsing through me. It was sobering, how vulnerable I felt as he invaded me with just that one thick, curious finger.

He took his time feeling me, testing my cunt.

“You’re squeezing me like a vise. This is just my finger, Noura.” His breath was ragged in my ear. “Imagine how tight you’re going to hug my cock.”

I didn’t whimper, but it was a close thing. I didn’t know if it was his dirty talk, his touch, or my name on his lips, but he was getting to me good. How could I let someone who held such disdain for me affect me so? I hated it and loved it all at once. Everything I felt only added to my arousal.

He tugged his finger out of me abruptly, moving to stand.