Before I could answer, the man rushed into the bathroom and turned his back to me to relieve himself.

"Long time no see," he said casually. "I'm surprised to find a goody-two-shoes like you in a place like this. Is Caspian here? No? I haven't seen him in a hot minute; I kind of miss him!"

Realization dawned on me—he was my husband's friend, Jason Laurier. I had only met him once, on the day of our wedding, when he had served as the best man.

"Oh, he had something to do tonight, so he couldn't come. I came here with a friend."

Before I knew it, he had closed in on me. His hand brushed against my rear, and despite myself, a soft cry escaped me. In an instant, silence settled in the cramped space.

He watched me with keen interest, and I found myself stealing glances at him as well. He was tanned and ripped. His form-fitting shirt constantly accentuated his solid pectorals, and his thick, muscular arms looked incredibly strong.

I couldn't help but fantasize. I imagined that he must be formidable in bed.

A few seconds later, Jason looked at me with concern. "Lorelei, are you okay? Your face is so red."

He closed the distance between us and pressed his hand on my forehead to check my temperature. "You're quite warm. You aren't coming down with something, are you?"

When I heard that, I tilted my head back, only to realize his height gave him an unobstructed view of my chest every time he looked down.

Right as my mind was racing, he abruptly seized my waist and hoisted me up, carrying me back into the restroom. He leaned in, inhaling deeply. "You smell incredible, Lorelei. I wonder, does Caspian know how little you're wearing right now?"

Part of me was terrified, yet another part was secretly hoping that something would actually happen between us.

I shook my head repeatedly. "S-Stay back! If Caspian finds out, he'll never forgive you!"

Instead of getting mad, Jason chuckled. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. "I wonder if your body is as stubborn as your mouth is, Lorelei."

"Stop it!" I yelled.

At that moment, Sophia's voice drifted in from outside. "Lori? Lori, are you in there?"

Without a second thought, I called out, "I'm in here!"

Right after saying that, I gave Jason a meaningful look. He calmly released his grip, a faint smile curling at his lips as he said lowly in a voice that only the two of us could hear. "Don't worry, we'll be seeing each other again!"

When I emerged from the restroom, I lied to Sophia, claiming I had an upset stomach, and I ran home like a woman possessed.

When I passed through an alleyway, I ran into a group of hoodlums who whistled at my retreating figure.

"Hey, beautiful, are you looking for some company? Hold on a second. I'm sure at least one of us is your type!"

Those crude remarks made me tremble with fear, yet it felt as though the repressed little demon inside me was being stirred into life, slowly beginning to grow. At that very moment, I made up my mind; I had to have a proper talk with Caspian.

The moment I pushed open the front door, I realized he was already home, wearing an apron and simmering soup in the kitchen. He looked at me, surprised, before taking a few glances at the clock on the wall.

He sat across from me, his eyes filled with affection as he smiled. "Honey, I apologize for how I acted last night. I hope you won't hold it against me. Here, take this card and buy yourself something nice. Think of it as my way of making amends."

Furious, I shot to my feet and raised my voice. "Why on earth can't you just listen to me and go get yourself checked, Caspian Birch?"

The moment the words left my mouth, I saw the veins on his forehead bulge, and his open hands clenched into tight fists. He stared at me coldly, as if I weren't his wife but a complete stranger.

"Do you want a divorce?" he asked sharply. "You had better keep my secret safe, or else… you and your family will have hell to pay!"

With that, he stormed back to the guest bedroom and slammed the door shut.

…

Caspian and I remained at odds for the next few weeks. He was hardly ever home, and on the rare occasion he returned, it was usually well past midnight, and he'd be gone again before I even woke up.

I reveled in the peace and quiet, spending my days getting spa treatments or doing yoga with Sophia every other day.

One night, just after I had gone to bed, I heard someone pounding on the front door over and over again. "Mrs. Birch, Mr. Birch has had too much to drink…"

The moment I opened the door and saw who it was, I couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing here?"

Jason smirked before scanning the interior of our house. "I'm Caspian's driver now, Lorelei. It looks like we'll be seeing each other more often from now on."

His words sent a chill down my spine, reminding me of what he had said that night at the club. With no time to dwell on anything, I heaved my intoxicated husband toward the bedroom, using a damp towel to wipe him down.

After settling him into bed, it suddenly hit me that Jason was still in our house. I hurried into the living room, only to find it empty.

Had he already left? Oddly enough, that realization set my mind at ease.

The very next second, I pricked up my ears and was surprised to hear a shuffling sound from the direction of the study. Barefoot, I crept toward it and cautiously pushed the door open.

Without warning, a large hand snared me, yanking me into the room. I was pinned against him in the dark, caught in a crushing embrace.

We were flush against each other, skin to skin. My back was wedged against his groin, and I could feel his hardness forcing its way toward my most sensitive spot.

A single door was all that separated us. If Caspian regained even a shred of consciousness and opened it, he'd find us locked in each other's arms. Perhaps he'd even see our bodies glued together, leaving zero room for air between us.

I lowered my voice, terrified of waking Caspian and even more afraid that Jason would use my past against me.

"What the hell are you doing?" I hissed. "I told you to let go of me! Do you not hear me?"

My protests fell on deaf ears. His hands roamed over my body as he took whatever he wanted with reckless abandon. I was forced to be a silent witness to my own violation, allowing his hands to knead and explore my body.

His hands cupped the swell of my breasts, filling his palms as he kneaded and squeezed with varying intensity. The slight pain and pleasure from his caress coiled together, sending a furious blush to my cheeks.

My traitorous body bloomed under his hands, and in a matter of seconds, I was sopping wet between my legs.

I shook my head frantically, but I was utterly at his mercy. He snagged the edge of my lace, baring me to his feverish touch as his palm pressed firmly against my heat. Only after I let out a shameful moan did he press his lips against my earlobe.

"I know you've been lonely, Lorelei. Let me take care of you."