Chasing Heartbreak (Dark Love #6) - Kat T. Masen Page 0,17
and my generous executive salary, including bonuses Lex awards me based on company performance, money is something I don’t have to worry about, and this apartment soon became all mine.
I finished furnishing it all plus decorating it to my taste. All in all, it has become my sanctuary and a beautiful one at that.
After putting away the items bought, I draw a bath with candles surrounding me and hit shuffle on my music. Sliding into the tub, the hot water is heaven-sent against my aching muscles. I sprinkle some salts and add a luxurious bath product given to me as a Christmas gift last year from a client of ours.
As my body relaxes, my eyelids begin to close—the thoughts consuming me earlier become a distant memory. The sounds of John Legend play softly in the confined space. There’s always something about his voice that evokes emotion or teleports me to a time in my life when my heart conquered, and parts of me were caught up in the tidal wave of being infatuated with a man.
I see Dominic lying on the bed beside me, his weighted gaze etched with desire. The caress of his hands against my skin ignites passion only he can awake within me. When we’re alone, nothing is off-limits.
And I’d be a fool to ignore that his words do not affect me.
Long ago, I fantasized about us being more than what we are, but fantasies are just that. Sometimes, we’re fortunate, and they come to life. Other times, they bring heartache and more pain than we’d ever care to admit.
I allow myself a moment to wonder, imagining Dominic as more than just a lover. Yet something blocks the daydream, something unknown which doesn’t make sense to me.
My eyes spring open, steam clouding my vision. Taking a deep breath, I immerse myself in the water and rid myself of the guilt. How dare he make me feel anything but what I should feel.
I climb out of the bath in a huff, annoyed at myself for overthinking this. Grabbing my silk pajamas, I place them on and plop myself on the sofa with my laptop open.
The familiar ping is continuous, email after email, all needing my attention. Work has always been my solace, and this time will be no different. Time begins to pass, my head starts to clear, and when I begin to feel somewhat better with my thoughts, I switch on the television and start binge-watching Ghost Hunters—the perfect distraction on this lazy Saturday night.
Somewhere during an episode of a haunted place in Scotland, my phone begins to ring, causing me to jump with fear. Taking a deep breath, my heart rate runs a million miles as I lift the phone to see Dominic flashing on the screen.
“Hello,” I answer relatively short. “Bored in Paris already?”
“Can we talk now?”
Squeezing my eyes shut momentarily, I release them with a sigh. “If we must.”
“It’s not working out.”
“I know, I heard you.”
“Well, you must have thoughts?”
“Of course, I have thoughts. But it doesn’t matter what I think,” I tell him, my voice slightly raised. “This is your marriage. Make your decision based on what you want.”
Silence falls between us, forcing me to check my phone to see if the call is still connected.
“I want what we have,” he murmurs. “I don’t want that to change.”
“Things will have to change one day whether you like it or not, Dominic,” I remind him, frustrated.
“Why… why would they have to change?”
“Well, for starters, affairs like ours never work long term. Sooner or later, Allegra will catch on.” The truth is finally out, and perhaps this may be the straw to finally break the camel’s back. “And, what if I meet someone and want a relationship? It wouldn’t be fair for us to continue with another man involved.”
“Is there another man involved?” he questions rudely, raising his tone.
“There isn’t. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“It is my business,” he grates.
“Um… how so?” I sit up, straightening my posture while crossing my arms in frustration. “We agreed to keep our lives separate. We agreed to have sex when you visited Paris. That’s all. Don’t expect anything more than what we agreed to.”
“This isn’t a business deal, Kate.”
Anger ripples through me as I bite my lip, trying to restrain my thoughts. The sheer nerve of him to throw careless words around and cloud our agreement.
“We had an agreement,” I repeat, more so for me than him. “This is what we both wanted.”