In response to one of my prompts with the same name as the title of this post, I found an amazing partner u/ScrittoreNotturno. Together we’ve written quite a few chapters about a man and his sugar-baby who left him years ago, but he’s now back in her life. This is the next chapter, and the first one can be found [here](https://redd.it/cibr01)
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Addie’s face was a whirlwind of emotions as she continued eating without speaking. Michael could sense the defeat she was struggling to accept under her calm exterior. When she finally rose to say she had lost her appetite, Michael hardly paid a glance at her as if it were of no consequence to him. He simply kept enjoying his steak.
By the time she came back, he had almost finished eating. He let the phone with the picture stay on the table, much in the same uncovered way as her panties, as he finished the last few bites of his meal. Only after he had downed all his wine did he pay any attention to her phone again, as if that were the least of his concerns then.
He picked up the phone and immediately had a smile of respect for Addie, as of a sportsman appreciating his rival’s skills. She had taken care of avoiding her face, a careful move on her part to prevent incriminating herself any further.
What caught his attention however, was how Addie’s fingers were spreading her pussy lips. More than the sweet spot Michael had yearned for all these years, the ring immediately next to it enticed Michael even more than he thought it would. The supposedly most valuable gift from her supposed lifelong partner in their supposedly ever-lasting marriage, was now complicit as a bystander, witnessing her betrayal to a supposedly life-long bond. The irony in the picture was palpable.
He simply looked up at Addie again, flipping the phone towards her and pointing to the ring with his thumb.
“Nice touch!” he commented.
He placed the phone, screen down, as he once again signaled the waiter, this time to bring his check. After he was done paying their bills, yet another evil idea formed in his mind.
As he stood up from the table, he extended his hand towards Addie, like a gentleman waiting for a lady. He said
“What does it say about my manners if I don’t drop you home? Come now, my car is waiting right outside”
Even though nothing in the words suggested that it was an order, the underlying message was implicit and shouted beyond anything that words could convey. She hardly had a choice but to follow him.
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Addie could taste the suspense as he continued eating, pretending she hadn’t just handed him a phone with a picture of her most intimate space. Her head was already foggy with the shade of alcohol, but she emptied the remainder of the bottle into her glass and chugged it anyway. She was desperate to numb the emotions that threatened to suffocate her.
She watched in silence as he lifted the phone, noting the way his smile spread broadly across his handsome face. Something within her stirred, the old, familiar feeling of pride at his approving gaze. Following closely behind was the shame.
His thumb gestured clearly to the ring on her finger. Something she had assumed would irritate him had actually pleased him, and she wasn’t sure how to take that. She waited patiently for him to pay, thanking him out of simple politeness once he had finished. Without thinking, her slender hand slipped into his, using his leverage to stand. But her body went cold with his next words.
Silently, she walked side-by-side with him until they reached the brisk night air. Finally, she broke the stillness. “Michael,” she murmured quietly, turning her small, lithe body to face him as they stood outside of his vehicle. “I have my car here. Just let me go home. I’ve done everything you’ve asked tonight. Please. Let me go home on my *own* terms.”
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The lack of resistance by Addie during the time she stood from her table to when they stepped out of the restaurant was taken as a yes by Michael. It seemed as if she was finally coming to terms with her new fate. Michael would dictate what she would do and she would obey without resistance.
However, the feeling of victory was short-lived. Before long, he heard Addie’s feeble attempts at regaining even a shred of control over her own life.
“Dear girl, when will you understand?” he said, without addressing her concerns at all and simply kept walking. He had already texted his driver to bring the car back from parking before he left the restaurant.
“*Your terms* don’t matter, sweetheart!” he said, with his voice a sweet contradiction of sorts – his words were gentle, but his message was nothing but sinister.
“Now get in. Either I come to your house, or your pictures. Which one would it be?” he said, as he opened the door for her.
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The bitter sweet tone of his voice hit her ear painfully. Addie set her jaw, anger flashing in her eyes as he patronized her. After a moment of debate, she sighed, watching him open the door. “Of course my terms don’t matter. What I want, what I *need*… that is inconsequential to you. The desires of my heart simply don’t matter. ” She stepped closer, pausing outside of the car. Carefully, she placed her hand over his hand that held the door. She looked even more petite with the size comparison, her chin even tilting up just to make eye contact.
“They never did. Did they?” she asked rhetorically. Michael had been about control from the very beginning. It had both drawn her in, and pushed her away. While she had loved pleasing him, her soul thirsted for freedom. It had been the only reason she left the way she had. Yet here he was, stripping that freedom and more from her.
Breaking eye contact, she ducked into the car, sliding in and situating herself. Dizzy, she leaned her head back against her seat and stared pointedly out the window.
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Michael let Addie have her rant with nothing but an amused look on his face, as if a teacher watching his student finally grasp some difficult concept. As she went on and on about her wants and needs and desires, he tilted his head and when she finished, he responded
“Finally, you understand!”
He stepped into the car after Addie. Michael gave Addie’s address to the driver without having to ask her, for he already knew much about her that he hadn’t told her about yet. The driver didn’t need to be told to raise the slider up, an opaque partition that took care of not only what could be seen but also what could be heard from behind them.
“Now, little girl, it’s time to prove to me once again how dedicated you are to please me. Are you ready?” he said, once the car hit the road again.
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She cringed at his last comment. Somewhere, hidden well in the depths of her soul, she had always craved his love. His reaction, however, made it abundantly clear that it had always been a childish wish. She showed no shock when he offered her address to the driver, knowing that if he had found her, he knew everything about her, including the intricate details of her life. Her stomach dropped, though, as the driver raised the partition.
Addie tore her eyes away from the window to look at him, taking in his smug form in the dim lighting of the car. She could feel her pulse pounding in her throat, her heart beating against her rib cage. “No, sir,” she answered truthfully. She wasn’t ready. She was terrified and ashamed. But she knew she had no choice, which is why she offered her respect. Her eyes had stopped their begging, and simply held raw pain now. She remained silent, watching him, spine rigid as she awaited his next demand.
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Michael’s eyebrows raised with a surprise at Addie’s honest answer. Her mouth said no, yet her eyes made no attempt to hide the obvious helplessness which told him that her words didn’t reflect a strong desire to disobey him any longer; rather they were just an inconvenience that she couldn’t hide. Michael dismissed her answer rather inconsequentially.
“Doesn’t matter.” he replied.
His hand rested on her thigh, over the smooth material of her pencil skirt, rubbing the cloth without any hurry to get under it. He was savoring all that he once devoured years ago, all that he had been yearning for in his hours of solitude. Addie was with him again, by his side, at his mercy. He could do anything he wanted to her, and she would even let him, but he wouldn’t waste it so easily.
No. He would enjoy every single moment of it. This time, he wasn’t simply interested in her body. He would chip away at her sense of self. He would make her face the hard truth of what happens to those who betray him. He would make her betray, not only herself, but also her marriage. One step at a time.
“Spread your legs” came the whispered command.
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His next words held no shock for her. She knew it didn’t matter whether she was ready or not; he was going to take what he wanted, and he would do it in such a way that her walls would be destroyed. Addie’s thigh trembled beneath his touch, and she set her teeth hard enough to cause a muscle to twitch in her jaw. She blinked at his request, but her facial expression did not change. Her spine stiffened, and her hands curled themselves into determined fists at her side. Boldly, she turned enough to see him fully, making eye contact. As she spread her knees apart, her skirt slid slowly up her thighs, responding to the pressure from her legs. Watching him for any micro reaction, she openly displayed her pussy to him. If she was going to go against everything she now stood for, she would at least do it right.
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“Look at me.”
They were the first words to leave his lips after she lifted her skirt. He had watched her, read the dilemma of her face and seen her hands and body obey. He did notice she was still clinging on to modesty, averting his gaze; not fully surrendering to him. There was still enough to be broken.
His right hand went to her knee once more, as it had done before. The difference was that there was no skirt this time between his strong hand and her flesh. His thumb stroked her knee again as he slowly applied pressure, spreading her legs softly…as if he had all the time in the world.
“Keep looking at me!”
His voice was stricter now….more demanding. It now became obvious why he had seated her at his right side …so his right hand could roam her. That hand was the dominant one and was far more skilled and able to bring pleasure…and pain.
The hand opened her legs even more, moving as if she had no choice. It moved on the inside of her knee and kept going towards her. He traveled so painfully slow, exploring so thoroughly. He was planting flags on every inch of her skin, claiming more of her with every heart beat. He kept moving until he encountered her hand. The stubborn hand He caressed her fingers with his for a few moments, as storms began to form within him, clouding his mind and filling his breath with thunder. He felt his heart beat faster; louder at this sick dance between them. His left hand reached out, pulling her right hand away from her, interlacing his fingers with hers as his right hand now had a free path to her. It was his index finger that went first. Michael was a patient bastard. He slowly touched her, tracing the outline of her lips first. He felt her slowly as his eyes kept claiming hers.
“Don’t you dare look away.”
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Addie winced at his first words. But she complied, moving her eyes up to meet his. His touch made her breath hitch in her throat, and she could feel the fogginess of the alcohol clouding her ability to think. The next words held a tone that she immediately recognized, and after a sharp inhale, she instinctively offered a whispered, “Yes, sir,” her wide eyes locking to his.
She swallowed hard, her jaw twitching against her set teeth, but she remained obediently watching him. Addie could feel the lump in her throat threatening to suffocate her, but still, she remained obedient. Thoughts of Roman raced through her mind’s eye, making the moment all the more painful. *Oh, Ro… I’m so sorry…* She nearly shut her eyes as she felt his hand on hers, but instead, hot tears filled them, and she kept her gaze steady as he laced their fingers together. Her full lower lip trembled, and in her last attempt at sympathy, she breathed his name. “Michael…”
It was then she felt his finger teasing her. She drew a breath and let it out in a whimper before her teeth sunk into her bottom lip. She offered a single nod to portray her understanding at his command, but offered nothing more. After years of faithfully serving her husband, he had annihilated her track record in a matter of seconds.
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His eyes kept claiming hers as much as his finger kept exploring. When he had made a full circle his hand moved in. He cupped her pussy, spreading the warmth…applying soft pressure as now his thumb took over. His thumb too did not enter her yet, just was perfectly content tracing and teasing her lips.
“Just keep looking at me like a good girl”
He said as he took her right hand further from her sex, never letting go, now letting both their hands rest on her upper leg.
She felt so good!
His thumb already felt exactly what Michael wanted. The soft whisper of wetness was upon her….it was an automated process but he knew that it could spark all sorts of reactions. His smile shone through his eyes, telling her that he knew she was wet…and who made her so.
His thumb now slowly parted her lips. He chose not to enter her just yet , kept feeling her…kept exploring and corrupting her more. He was learning all about her as he did. He was beyond dangerous… He kept track of where she was most sensitive… where her breath changed…where her eyes widened as he touched her and even the subtle shift of her body would not go unnoticed. Michael kept playing with her, making sure to spread her wetness all over her delicious pussy.
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Her entire body was shaking next to him, the fingers laced between his squeezing lightly as his other hand explored. Her lips parted to respond, but no sound occured. Instead, she simply nodded again, the tears filling spilling over. She could taste the salty liquid trickle down her lips as he moved between her legs, making it clear to her that whether she liked it or not, her body immediately responded to him.
Addie began to feel sick as she watched his eyes, recognizing his knowing expression. He had known her body well, and although she had grown and changed, he still knew the way she moved. He knew the way she breathed, the way she shifted. He knew it all, and he was studying her closely, cementing his knowledge and thus his control.
She could feel her wetness spread across every inch of her trembling sex, and shame flooded her as she felt the anticipation of him continuing. The color had drained from her face at her realization, but she knew full well that he had her, hook, line, and sinker. It was an old, automatic response. The same she had had so many years ago.
Helpless, she shifted, swallowing again before she spoke his name. “Michael.” This time, it was not sympathy she searched for. It was not anger or a plea for pity in her eyes. The single word embodied the anticipation that was clear in her gaze, her natural response to his achingly slow teasing. Roman may not have been forgotten, but Michael had become her sole focus.
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Michael’s name echoing from Addie’s mouth made it clear that he was slowly penetrating the inner walls of her soul; the body was merely a means to an end. Her wet lips made him want to devour her, take her, then and there and he knew he had all the power to do so if he wanted. Yet, her eyes and the streams that flowed between them gave him a strange sense of power over her he knew not he desired. In all those years past, he had always had control over her actions, her habits, and her body. This was the first time ever he truly felt himself breaking her walls and taking control over her mind.
His thumb now grew at a steady pace, touching all her spots and pushing all her buttons just enough to excite her, and yet not enough to overwhelm. For a while he drew his thumb as if curving the letter ‘M’ in a twisted gesture of asserting how much he owned her, as a way of marking her most intimate parts with his name. Given everything that Michael did, he still did not consider a primal desire to flag his territory beneath him.
“You will only cum with my permission!” he whispered his next command, which in the silence roared louder than any thunderstorm ever could.
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Addie had forgotten. In her years with Roman, who happened to be a truly affectionate partner, she had repressed all thoughts about the man beside her now. She had forgotten that he knew her body. She had forgotten that he knew when to be achingly slow and gentle, and when to play rough. She had forgotten that his gaze enveloped her mind, erasing all surroundings and focusing her mind on him alone. She had forgotten that he knew precisely what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. She had forgotten that, despite the fact that she had been chosen for his pleasure, Michael knew better than anyone how to please her; including her husband.
His intention was clear as his thumb traced the first letter of his name, staking his claim and debilitating her defenses as she whimpered. As hard as she tried to keep her wits about her, Addie’s body trembled from head to toe, the walls of her sex constricting in desire with every button he expertly pressed.
Michael’s words were her undoing. With his whisper, her shoulders rounded forward, her hips writhing beneath her as a thirsty moan rumbled from her deep within her chest, dripping from her trembling lips. She squeezed his hand in a silent plea for reprieve, knowing that it would take all of her focus not to give in to the climax he was baiting. The old habit of begging entered her mind, but she bit back a moan and winced, knowing that was exactly what he wanted; the last bit of her self control.
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As much as Addie tried to stifle her moans, as much as she tried not to look away from him, as much as she tried to feel not excited by what was happening to her, one simple gesture of hers betrayed her inner machinations to him. The most involuntary reactions and reflexes do not heed conscious commands, and act as if they have a mind of their own. And it was her sudden squeezing of hand that told Michael that no matter what appearances his dear Addie put up, she was finding it hard to control her body’s natural reaction.
Michael let go of her hand, while the other one still patiently played with her sex. His free hand now climbed up towards her chin, and his fingers found themselves wrapped around her jaw. His thumb from the other side threatened to press harder, yet he did not want to disfigure her or otherwise ruin her beauty. No. All he wanted was to break her mind, not her body.
With gentle pressure, yet firm decisiveness, his thumb was now replaced with his index and middle fingers. As they traveled through her soft inner cave, his thumb positioned itself on her clit. While his fingers found and gently massaged her g-spot from inside, his thumb was paying attention to her outer sensitive organs perfectly in sync. This was a dance Michael had mastered ages ago, and yet had not been able to practice ever since he last saw Addie. Tonight, the climax would be hers, but the release would be his and his alone.
“Don’t you dare disobey!”
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The sensation his hand on her jaw brought forth was familiar and intoxicating. Even if she had wanted to look away from him, she knew she wasn’t going anywhere. And regardless of what she might claim, she didn’t want to. Her body had longed for his touch, an ache she had since long since locked away in the corners of her mind. For only a moment, she shut her eyes against the thoughts, helplessly reopening them to his steady gaze once more.
Addie’s lips parted the very next moment, though no sound came. She gave a sharp inhale, and finally let it out in a boisterous moan as he pressed all her sweet spots at once. She felt dizzy. This time, though, it was not the alcohol; it was the fire that he had ignited within her, slowly fanning the flame until it overwhelmed her.
“Yes, sir,” she managed to gasp, eyelids half mast but still steady on his. However, her spine had stiffened and arched, her legs were shaking uncontrollably, and both hands had gripped the seat just in an attempt to remain upright. He was breaking her. She was close.
Between muffled moans and quiet whimpers, she brought one hand up to his chest, tangling her slender fingers in the fabric of his shirt. “Michael, please…” Unlike earlier in the night, it was not a plea for mercy. Her eyes showed no signs of anger or pain, but rather pleasure. Instead, the words were laced with a desire she had been sure was dead, a desire that raged within her now. Her lithe frame leaned into him as she moaned, his fingers causing a particularly sensitive spasm. All the reasons she had fought him were suddenly nonexistent. In this moment, it was only them. In this moment, she couldn’t help but to give in. “Please let me cum for you.”
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“Yes, Sir”
The two words that Michael loved to hear. The two words that had once symbolized her obedience, her loyalty, her devotion. Everything changed when she vanished out of his life. Yet the words were still there, only this time symbolizing something much more sinister. Addie was no longer a carefree college girl. She was a woman now, a wife, and a mother. And she was sitting with her legs parted for him, his fingers inside her, and her body moaning in pleasure for him. The words symbolized now not her obedience to Michael, but her rebellion to herself. Not her loyalty to Michael, but rather her betrayal of her family. Not her devotion to Michael, but her infidelity to the man she vowed to spend her life with. This was victory.
His fingers now took an aggressive route. He had been gentle so far, bringing her close to the edge. Now was the time to push her off. To make her lose all abandon and have her throw herself into blissful oblivion. As his thumb and fingers worked in tandem, he could feel the effect it was having on her body. The list of things that she no longer had control over was lengthening. Her body and pleasure being the latest, and most prized addition.
Michael closed in on her jaw, his lips threatening to touch hers at any moment now. At the last moment, just before pushing her beyond the point of no return, he gave her his permission.
“You may” he said.
Without waiting for an answer, he closed in on her lips, everywhere at once. His hand was now demanding from her that which she had so carefully hidden away from him for all these years, while his mouth yearned for the taste of her love. His tongue relished hers in a twisted dance as he kissed her over her orgasm, while his free hand held her jaw still in place making it impossible for her to retract.
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She could feel her body fighting for control, and it took every last drop of willpower she had not to climax before he allowed her to. He had always been and remained expertly skilled, making it difficult not to give in before the green light, particularly when his movements became more aggressive.
Addie was certain she would break her obedience, and her hips tilted in failed attempts to escape his grasp. Panic rose within her as she felt her body heat to the point of no return, his lips skimming hers furthering the desire within her. And then, he finally spoke. You may.
There was no hesitation. The walls of her warm, wet pussy tightened and relaxed repeatedly against his fingers, her abdomen spasming violently enough to push her closer to him. Her groan was muffled only by his mouth, her tongue greedily absorbing his familiar taste as she rode the high of her orgasm. Without thinking, the hand at his chest moved up and behind his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair as she desperately held the kiss.
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At long last, Addie was giving in completely. Her hand had moved from once protecting her modesty, to now clutching him close to herself. Michael could no longer feel any resistance. Rather, the only thing he could feel within Addie now was complete abandon as she let herself go. She was not just obeying him for the sake of it, but also actively enjoying the kiss.
Moments of passionate kissing passed, which might have seemed like hours. Like a long lost couple ultimately embracing each other’s company once more, Michael held Addie firmly in his arms as he enjoyed the touch of her soft lips on his own. She was as delicious as ever, and as much as he would have loved to go on for the night, he had to pull back.
Lowering his window, he took in a glimpse of the world outside. From what it looked like, and from what he remembered about this part of town, they were barely a couple of blocks away from their destination. He turned to Addie and asked for confirmation
“How close?”
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As she came down off her high, she could feel his arms around her, safe and secure just as they had been before. For the briefest of moments, she was his, and all was right in the world.
Then he broke the kiss. The cool night air awoke her senses, sobering her just enough as they both took in their quickly passing surroundings. Addie felt numb. Thoughts of Roman and Greyson flooded her mind, and she slapped a hand over her mouth as reality, and powerful nausea, overtook her.
It was a full thirty seconds before she contained herself and found her voice. “3 minutes. Tops.” Her volume was so soft that it was barely audible over the wind coming through the window. She had nothing else to say. She simply sat there, arms at her sides, the satisfaction her body felt warring with the shame that strangled her.
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Michael could see that the walls that were broken were quickly being brought back up, as Addie’s behavior changed with the realization of being closer to home. But that was fine with him. He had promised her that she could be everything that she was in her personal life. Only when she was with him, *she was his and his alone…*
Within a few minutes, the driver stopped the car in front of a large apartment complex. Michael stepped out of the car, and walked over to Addie’s side. Holding the door open for her, he waited until she stepped out. However, instead of simply letting her go, he had yet another surprise planned for her.
“Wait here, Robert. I’ll be back soon” he told the driver, then turned to Addie again.
His hand extended towards the building, as if asking her to lead the way, he said
“Shall we?”
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Silence filled the rest of the car ride to her place, and she was grateful that he gave her a moment to breathe and compose herself before they arrived. She waited patiently when he exited the vehicle, knowing better than to get out before he opened the door for her. When she slid out of the car, she could still feel the wetness between her legs from their adventure just minutes ago, and her stomach turned.
His words drained all color from her freckled face, and she stared at him. She shut her eyes and opened them, almost as if she expected him to disappear. But, alas, he remained standing proudly in front of her, waiting for her to lead the way. “Oh, God…” she breathed, one hand on her abdomen as the nausea threatened again.
An argument would not keep him away, and so she conceded. Though her legs were unsteady now, her stride was long and sure, as it usually was, doing her best to keep distance between them. Quickly, they approached a large, red front door. Intricate glass crowned the door, a doorbell to the left and a sign reading The *Beaumonts* hung on the right. Pausing on the doorstep, she twisted around to face Michael. “This is me. Thank you for walking me to the door.” It was a simple statement, relaying not only appreciation, but a clear end to the night; she didn’t want him anywhere near her family.
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The Addie that had been squirming with his touch had long been buried under the skin that the woman in front of Michael was wearing right now. Her expression, her body language, everything about her conveyed that she had once again turned into Addison Beaumont, and wasn’t Addie any longer. Michael patiently followed her up the small distance between his car to her door, admiring the decorations outside her home.
Once they stopped, Addie spoke to him. Instead of replying to her, Michael simply turned and pressed the doorbell, then looked back at her. He said nothing, yet his eyes carried the clear message that this wouldn’t end when *she* wanted it to, but when *he* did.
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Addie was certain she was going to black out. She could hear the muffled *ding* of the doorbell within her home, and then Roman’s familiar, bare footsteps hurrying to the door. Although she said nothing, she looked Michael dead in the eye and mouthed the words, “too far.”
The door opened in the next moment, and Roman’s 6’2” frame stood backlit before them. He was in a pair of simple grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt, clearly ready for bed. But his auburn hair was in a meticulous high fade and textured quiff, almost looking out of place with his outfit. Addie forced a weak smile and a pitiful laugh at the confused expression on his handsome face. “Forgot my keys,” she shrugged simply, and breathed in relief as his deep, booming voice laughed at her.
“Again, huh?” he asked, stepping aside and holding the door open. “Come in! Who’s this, Ads?” Her nickname leaving his lips made her head spin, but she stepped inside, carefully avoiding close proximity with him out of simple obedience. “This is Michael. He’s…” she trailed off, lips pressed together for a moment. “He’s an old friend.” Her husband gave her a quizzical look, but made no other inquiries. He stuck a hand out to Michael, his green eyes steadily meeting the other man’s gaze. “Good to meet you, Michael. I’m Addie’s husband, Roman.” Addison fully turned and walked a few paces away, her panic constricting her lungs. She had never given him reason to doubt her, and his trust was still in tact. He didn’t even bother to question the late hour, or showing up with another man. Addie remained flawless and faultless in his eyes. And it was killing her.
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So this was the man who had won his Addie’s heart. This was the guy for whom Addie was willing to go to such dark depths, in order to not lose him. This was the man whose wife was Michael’s sugar-baby…
“The pleasure is mine”
Michael replied as he extended his hand in response to Roman’s invitation for a handshake. He wondered if Roman could sense the wetness still present in Michael’s hand, his own wife’s wetness. Here he was, sleeping and without a care in the world while his dear wife was ready to sacrifice so much to keep him, and their marriage, safe. He was clueless!
“I apologize for *stealing* your wife tonight” Michael said with a casual smile, choosing his words carefully to have just the effect he wanted on Addie without giving away anything to Roman.
“I was in town after a long while, and just wanted to catch up. And hey, though Addie never invited me to your wedding, I finally got to meet you!” Michael said, playing off the charming ‘friend’, lulling Roman into comfort.
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Behind Roman, Addie spun around and glared pointedly at Michael as he spoke. Stealing. He certainly was a sick son of a bitch. Roman noted what appeared to be his sweaty hand, but gave a chuckle, shaking his head in dismissal at Michael’s next words. “It was more of an intimate get-together,” he offered, turning to look at Addie with a fond smile. In return, she offered her own weak smile, nodding silently in agreement.
“If you’re in town for a while, you should let us cook for you one night!” Roman’s words caused Addie to sway on her feet. “Ads makes the *best* salmon. When are you fr-”
Addison cut him off then, stepping close to the pair. “Ro, I’m sure Michael is booked with all the business meetings he’s in town for. And I’m swamped at the office, honestly. I don’t think a dinner is workable right now…” She trailed off at the glare her husband gave her, making it clear that he thought she was being rude. “Nonsense. Take the time you need at work. I can just make steaks instead. When are you free, Michael?” His smile lit up his features, and his green eyes glinted, silently apologizing for his wife’s crude behavior. Beside him, Addie pleaded with Michael, slowly shaking her head. *Please, God, no…*
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Was he always such a trusting person, or did he see something special in Michael?
He wondered as Roman shook his hand without skipping a beat. Did Addie ever mention such an old friend as his that she had suddenly wanted to meet for dinner one night? Did it not ring any bells in his mind when she came home at such a late hour with him? That his hands were wet with Addie’s nectar?
Michael could see the obvious pain with which Addie was pleading Roman to call it off, and yet Roman seemed intent to have Michael over for dinner. Giving the impression of thinking for a long time, Michael finally spoke.
“How could I reject such a polite invitation? Let’s see, I should be free this coming weekend if that works for you. I don’t want to *invade your privacy* ofcourse…” Michael said, his eyes keenly focused on Addie as he spoke, only the two of them understanding the full depth behind those last words.
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She couldn’t help it. She fully rolled her eyes at Michael like a petulant teenager when he spoke about invading privacy. “Perfect!” Roman exclaimed, smiling down at Addie, who dwarfed in his presence with her 5’ frame. He moved to snake an arm around her waist, and suddenly, she jumped. “It’s late,” she blurted, stepping away to readjust the throw pillows on the couch. Roman frowned momentarily, looking between the two of them but saying nothing at first.
Finally, he worked a grin back onto his face and turned back to Michael. “She gets bitchy when she’s tired,” he chuckled, gesturing towards her over his shoulder with a thumb. Addie ignored the quip, happy to use it as an excuse. “I need to get her to bed. But I’ll have Addie get in touch with you tomorrow to set up the plans.” His body language was clear as he moved back towards the door, holding it wide. He wanted his moment alone with his wife. And near the couch, Addie stood watching them, arms folded over her abdomen in agonized silence.
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No matter how much Addie wanted to avoid Michael and his control over her life, he could see that she was somehow subconsciously wired to obey his commands. It was apparent when she, not at all subtly, pushed away from Roman as he touched her even a little. *Good girl*. But she should have been careful and never positioned herself so close to him in the first place.
He waved a hand casually as Roman bantered about Addie getting bitchy. He almost wanted to add ‘*I know*’ but refrained from doing so. Instead, he simply reinforced it with
“All women!” and a harmless chuckle
Having Roman think he was not just Addie’s friend but also his was a far more effective way of getting what he wanted.
This time, he did not mind being subtly asked to leave the house. He got what he wanted. He had met her husband, and the fool believed he was a friend. Good for him.
“I won’t keep you any longer. Once again, nice to meet you Roman. Have a good night! Addie, see you later!”
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Once Michael was back in his car, the driver pulled the car out of the driveway and began towards Michael’s apartment. Michael pulled
out his phone and found Addie’s number, and sent her a text.
“Send me the picture to keep me company when I miss you”
He knew she was smart enough that he wouldn’t have to specify which picture he was talking about. He could have as well asked her for it far sooner, while they were still in the restaurant, or during their car ride, but he deliberately waited for this moment. He wanted her to send it from her own home, in presence of Roman. Such was his wicked game.
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The moment the door shut, Roman’s demeanor changed. He turned on his heel and walked slowly towards her, his eyes alone bringing color to her cheeks with their intensity. “The next time you plan to meet up with an ex, the least you could do is give me a warning, Addison.” His words struck her harder than any hand ever had, and she quickly shook her head.
“I told you, Michael’s just a frie–”
“I can smell the alcohol on your breath.”
“It was a drink with dinner–”
“A dinner you should’ve told me about.”
“It was last minute, and I–”
“And you *lied*. You said you were staying late at work.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry, I should’ve–”
“But you didn’t, Addison. You didn’t. And then you both show up on our doorstep? What am I supposed to think?”
“It wasn’t a big deal, Ro, I swear, it–”
“*ENOUGH!*” Roman’s voice boomed through the living room, echoing off the walls and eliciting a shocked gasp from Addie. He lowered his voice, acutely aware that another shout would wake their sleeping son. “I could smell you the second you came near me, Ads.” The words were soft. Broken. Addie stared up at him, stunned, words failing her. “You’ve never given me reason not to trust you. But the chemistry was palpable.” He paused, cringing as she averted her gaze. “You *will not* keep things from me. Understand? You are my wife. We don’t keep things from each other.” Addie nodded once, fighting to stand on her own two feet. She wasn’t sure whether to be panicked that he could sense the chemistry, or relieved that he didn’t think anything had happened. “If something is going on, I’d rather be there to call you out on it. Make damn sure he comes to that dinner.” With that, he walked away from her, storming up the stairs and leaving standing dumbfounded in the living room.
*Bzz, bzz.* Through tears, Addie lifted her phone, glaring at the text message that popped up on her screen. He had flipped her world upside down. Roman was suspicious, hurt, and angry, and she was at the receiving end of his ire. Yet, still, she found the picture in her phone from the restaurant and obediently sent it to Michael. Following the picture, she sent a single text. “If Roman puts me out, I will *never* forgive you.”
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(More chapters coming up. )
Source: reddit.com/r/eroticliterature/comments/cqdo0p/the_past_never_forgets_ch_2_the_handshake