Chapter 39

The first day without Easton was odd.

The second day was rough.

The rest is a blur; I no longer know what day we’re on because they’ve all bled together.

My phone rings and I roll over in bed to answer the FaceTime call.

“Good morning, my pretty girl,” he says, smiling. “How’d you sleep?”

I’m on my side, barely awake. “Morning. Better when you’re pressed against me. How’s your day?”

He seems tired and I wish I could hold him through the phone. That perfect smile returns.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, and I see he has a pen in his other hand.

“Are you drawing me?” I ask.

“Yes, you’re the highlight of my day.” His eyes sparkle. “Every fucking day since I met you.”

I stretch in bed. “I feel special.”

“Because you are.” He continues to sketch.

The worry I saw seconds earlier has already faded. His jaw is no longer clenched.

Easton’s voice falls to a whisper. “I miss you so fucking much; it hurts.”

“Two weeks should be easy,” I say. “It’s not.”

“It’s been the hardest nine days I’ve had in recent years.”

Nine days. Of course he’s keeping track.

After a few minutes, he shows me the drawing. The pillow is squished under my head, and I’m smiling like I am now.

“Doesn’t do you justice,” he says.

A few minutes later, I blow him kisses bye.

“I’ll call you as soon as possible,” he promises.

We study one another and the continuous silence lingers for a few extra seconds. It’s the I love you silence, where I know he wants to say it, but doesn’t because he’s waiting for me. But I refuse to say something so significant over the phone.

He smirks. “Have a wonderful day, darling.”

“You too,” I say.

The call ends.

I roll over, pulling the comforter over my head, and somehow fall back asleep.

When my eyes flutter open again, it’s just past nine. I take a shower and go downstairs. Each morning, I make a shot of espresso, then enjoy the sunshine on the balcony. Today is no different.

The doorbell rings as I’m about to gulp down the rest of my coffee. I jog through the living room and check the peephole. A delivery person holds a box wrapped in white paper with a red bow tied around it and a bouquet of white roses.

I open the door.

“Lexi Calloway?” the person asks.

His words have my face breaking into a smile.

“Yes.”

I sign for it and the goodies are handed over.

Once I close the door, I glance at the camera in the corner of the room. “Easton, what have you done?”

I’ve been chatting with him throughout the day like he’s here, knowing he’ll go back and watch the video like I’m vlogging for him. He mentioned it’s his entertainment before bed, so I’ve tried to make it fun.

I’ve even worked in some corny jokes, hoping they’ll make him laugh. It’s the least I can do because I know he’s stressed. I can see it on his face and hear it in his tone.

“The flowers are gorgeous,” I say, setting them in the middle of the breakfast nook. I pull the edge of the silk red ribbon tied around the box, and it falls to the floor. Carefully, I peel off the paper. “Gotta give it to you; you’re the king of surprises.”

I glance inside, and it’s a bunch of individually wrapped gifts. On top is a card with my name on it, and it’s in his handwriting.

This man.

“You’re so sneaky,” I say, smiling at the camera. “How do you continue to pull it off?”

It’s not hard to imagine that sexy smirk on his lips.

I read the note.

Dear Wife,

Our marriage has officially outlasted every relationship I have had in nearly twenty years. Happy day fifteen.

—Your Already-Obsessed Husband

I place each gift on the counter, picking up the largest one first. I unwrap the paper and see a laptop. A note is taped to the front.

For your screenplay writing. I can’t wait to read it, darling.

—Your Biggest Fan

I slide open the box, and my name is etched on the front—Lexi Calloway. The smile on my lips is undeniable.

“Thank you. I’ll let you read it first. I can’t wait to get started.” I rub my finger across my name. “I’m so lucky.”

The next one is smaller. I squish it, then peel off the note.

Because it’s the truth.

—Better than every Book Boyfriend

I tear open the paper and lift a black shirt with white text—Belongs to Easton Calloway.

Laughter escapes me. “If this didn’t give it away, I don’t know what will.” I point to my neck, where the faded marks of his lips and teeth are still visible.

The tabloids loved it.

The very last one is a … sex toy.

I continue reading.

My very bad girl,

It’s a long-distance vibrator. Text me an eggplant emoji once it’s connected to the app and you’re wearing it.

—Your Lover, Near or Far

I stare at the camera and shake my head. “I’ll play. I look forward to it.”

I study the bright pink toy and read the instruction manual. “Clit pleasure. To bridge the intimacy gap.”

I go upstairs, and minutes later, I text him.

LEXI

🍆

ASSHOLE

😏

Three hours later, I leave to meet Carlee at our little hole-in-the-wall a few blocks away. They still have the best salmon bagels in the city.

The vibrator randomly clicks on and off at varied speeds. Easton has brought me to the edge at least once an hour since I texted him earlier, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon.

When I walk in, I smell freshly baked bread and spices.

Carlee glances at my shirt. “Do you have any idea how many people are going to make those?”

“I know.” I chuckle. “It wasn’t my idea.”

Her brow pops up. “Mmm. Really? He really does have a sense of humor.”

I snort. “You have no idea.”

We order and sit at a dirty table by the window with our food in hand. Neither of us cares because the place is full, so we take what we can get. Chatter fills the area, and I see a man with a camera across the way.

“Thanks for this,” she says, taking a bite. “It’s amazing.”

“I always told you that if one of us found a sugar daddy, we all win,” I say, giggling. “I honestly thought you would first though.”

“Girl, me too.” Carlee holds up her hand, and we exchange a high five. “The difference is, you’re not with him for the money.”

“You’re right,” I admit. “I wouldn’t care if he was broke. We’d make it work.”

She nods and laughs. “I’m such a good matchmaker.”

“You know, Weston also says that. You two will have to fight it out when you officially meet.” As I open my mouth to speak, the toy vibrates inside of me. My eyes widen and I grab my iced coffee and drink.

“You okay?” she asks, studying me.

I nod. “Mmhmm.”

The toy slowly pulses, and I regain my composure as the agonizing pleasure begins to take over.

“I’m still kinda pissed at you for not inviting me to your wedding. You robbed me of the only opportunity I will ever have of being a maid of honor,” she says. “Always the bridesmaid.”

“Oh, hush, you’ll find someone who doesn’t say I love you within the first thirty days,” I tell her.

“Have you and Easton?”

I study her, wanting to share this truth with her. “Not yet.”

She knows I’m weird about it as well. Every man I’ve ever said those three words to has left me.

She glares at me like I have a nipple on my head. “You do though.”

“You’re right,” I whisper. “So damn much. I was planning to tell him after thirty days because I didn’t want it to be cursed. You’re so vehemently against it, and there’s a reason for that.”

She bursts into laughter, but she nods. “It’s different when you say it first to someone who you know loves you. These fuckboys just toss it around.”

I place my hand on my upper thigh and squeeze as the vibrator continues to pulse. I imagine him in another country, pressing random buttons on an app.

Carlee meets my eyes. “Have you been reading what the gossip blogs have been saying?”

“Not really,” I say as the droning inside of my pussy continues.

“Well, the pregnancy rumors have started,” she admits, knowing my past, knowing it’s nearly impossible for me to get pregnant.

I groan. “I think they’ll be disappointed in nine months.”

My muscles tense and I swallow hard. If Easton keeps this up, I’ll be melting under his control in this dining room full of people trying to enjoy their bagels.

My phone buzzes on the table and I see it’s Easton FaceTiming me. He usually does when he leaves for the day, and it’s around six p.m. there, so he’s right on time.

“Answer it,” she says, seeing ASSHOLE displayed on the screen.

“I’ll be right back,” I whisper, happy for the temporary escape.

I rush to the one-person restroom down the hallway and answer. I lean against the cool wood door, knowing I’ll lose myself in less than a minute if this continues. I’m so fucking close.

“My wife,” he mischievously says, wearing that delicious smirk.

I tuck my lips into my mouth as my heart rate increases.

“Easton,” I whisper, and a whimper escapes me.

“Seems I called at the right time. Where are you, darling?”

My eyes slam shut as the world fades away. “Eating lunch with …”

A deep rumble of sexy laughter releases from his lips. He’s still dressed in business attire.

“Are you going to come for me?” His voice dips down to a gravelly tone.

I nod, knowing my panties are dripping wet for this man.

The locked door handle jiggles, followed by a knock.

I clear my throat. “Almost done,” I say.

“No, you’re not,” Easton tells me, and the vibrations stop.

My eyes bolt open.

“Easton. I need to,” I whisper. “Please.”

“Not yet,” he tells me. “And you said you loved being edged.”

“Not all damn day.”

I’m so sexually frustrated, and he knows it. He also knows exactly how much to give me before pulling away.

“I’m in control, babe. FaceTime me when you’re lying in our bed, naked. Until then, have a fucking incredible day. It’ll be worth it. Trust me.”

The call ends.

“He’s an asshole,” I say with a huff. By the smirk on his face when he ended the call, he knew it too.

The knock on the door startles me back to reality. I flush the toilet and wash my hands so that it seems like I was in here for a reason other than the toy buzzing against my pleasure button.

The vibrating stops, but I know it’s only temporary. Easton’s like a tiger. He waits, knowing when my body has calmed before he restarts his long-distance war on my pussy.

I take another minute, and the guy gives me a dirty look when I open the door, but I ignore him. When I return to Carlee, we chat about life and I fill her in with everything that happened from the Grand Teton to Fiji. She listens with a proud smile, gobbling up all the details, and doesn’t pressure me to share anything besides what I give.

We grab our coffees and walk our usual route to the subway through Central Park.

I hug her. “Let’s do this again.”

“Sooner rather than later,” she says, and I agree.

As I head toward the diamond in the sky, the vibrating kicks on and I drop my coffee. It spills across the ground.

“Alexis, are you okay?” Moments later, I hear my name from behind.

I turn to see Brody.

“Have you been following me all day?”

“All week.”

“Shit,” I hiss. “Okay. I gotta go. Tell your boss to calm down, and I’ll be fine.”

Unable to stand there any longer, I rush down the sidewalk and enter our high-rise. As I step onto the elevator, the buzzing begins every twenty seconds and lasts for three. There’s no escaping the pleasure that builds.

When I walk inside the penthouse, I close the door, the buzzing erratic, and I know he won’t let me come until I’m home and naked in our bed.

I peel off my shirt as I walk toward the stairs, and the moment my foot touches the first step step, a guttural groan releases from my throat.

It’s more intense as I unhook my bra and drop it on the floor. As I take the second flight of stairs to our bedroom, I kick off my shoes, then slide off my jeans and wiggle out of my soaked panties.

With my phone in my hand, I push open the door, ready to FaceTime him, but I stop. Easton’s standing in front of me, freshly showered, wearing a pair of black joggers. His cock is hard and I nearly fall to my knees when I meet his eyes.

“Surprise, darling.”