Page 62 of Loved By You

“Holy shit, you are rich, rich, rich.”

I smile, knowing exactly what has her gasping like that, and it’s the very reason I bought this apartment. The entire back wall of my apartment is glass, looking out at the New York skyline.

"Can I get you a drink?" I ask, heading toward the open plan kitchen, but she's too entranced by the view to answer me.

Taking two bottles of water from the fridge, I watch as she runs a hand along the back of my dark leather couches, taking in the room.

“What’s down there?” she asks, pointing down the hall.

“Bedrooms and the bathrooms.”

“And that way?” She points to the opposite side of the apartment where another hallway is.

“My office and home gym.”

“Oooh fancy,” she mocks, kicking off her shoes, stumbling slightly as she walks towards me.

“I'll take a tequila slammer, please, action man.” She giggles.

“I was thinking a water or a tea,” I deadpan.

“Sorry, Daddy, didn't realize I wasn't allowed to drink,” she mocks.

I don’t miss the way my dick twitches when she calls me daddy, but now is not the time to unpack that.

“You will thank me in the morning if you take the water,” I say, handing her a cold bottle.

“I'd be thanking you a whole lot more if you gave me a tequila and a screaming orgasm,” she replies, slightly slurring while leaning over the island, causing her breasts to push together creating a cleavage I would very much like to bury my face in. But I will be a gentleman. I'm not sleeping with her when she's this intoxicated, no matter how badly I want her.

“I will happily treat you to all the orgasms you want… after the water and some sleep. I circle round the kitchen island and come toe to toe with her. She reaches out to grab my shirt and pulls me towards her.

“Come on,” she slurs. “I’ll suck your dick again.” She fumbles at my buttons. I place my hands over hers, stalling her.

“Tell me what's going on in that head of yours, sweetheart.” Anxiety is brewing in my stomach. I know something is wrong.

“Are you telling me you don’t wanna fuck me?” She stares at me with no emotion on her face.

This isn't my Ria.

“I very much want to fuck you, more than you know, but not like this, Ri. You’re drunk and that’s not how I want our first time to be. You need to sleep it off.” I stroke her cheek, but she yanks my wrist away before storming away.

“Why does everyone think they have a right to tell me what to fucking do, or what I need? I’m a grown woman. I can do what the hell I want, when I want,” she rages, as she collapses onto my count, cradling her head in her lap.

I walk over and sit beside her, placing a light hand to her lower back. “Ri… Who’s upset you? Tell me. Let me help.” My chest constricts at the idea of her hurting like this. She lets out an exhale, swiping her hair away from her face and wiping her eyes. Tears I didn’t realize were falling stain her cheeks. She looks so fragile and broken.

She closes her eyes as if it's too painful to look at me while she speaks. “It was Alex. One of his asshole work buddies was at the party tonight an clearly didn't know we are getting divorced, as he called him to tell him that his ‘wife’ was all over some guy.”

My stomach sinks, guilt hitting me. Not because what we did was wrong, but for Ria.

“He texted me to call him immediately, made it sound like the girls were sick or something, but when he answered he just went off at me, told me to act like a mother and not a slut, that I was an embarrassment and to hurry up and get this life crisis I am having over with and come home where I belong. He said I am still his wife and I should behave like it.” I can hear the disgust in her voice and feel her body tremble, visibly angry.

“That piece of shit I'm gonna fucking rip him apart,” I spit. I wrap my arm around her and press my lips to her temple, hoping my touch will comfort her.

“He’s not worth it, but I am so angry. He’s never going to let me go, never going to let me live my life. I spent so long being the good wife and doing as I was told, but tonight I just thought no, screw him. I’m not listening. I wanted to block out the noise. Forget his words and do what I wanted to do, not what I was told to do. So I had those shots and just wanted to get lost in it… to get lost in you.” She sniffs back her emotions, and I just want to fix everything for her. Take away all her pain.

“Ri, sweetheart, you should've told me.”

“Why?” she asks. “So you can pity me. Poor Ria. Can't get her life together. Poor Ria, too weak to take care of herself.”