Page 52 of Rim Job

From where I'm standing, yes; it appears he does.

How could he not?

They have history; their families have history. She has the pedigree his family expects of any woman involved with him.

I can't hear what they are saying but it seems heated, passionate.

She takes a step closer into him.

Oh, God…

No.

She tilts her head and mumbles something soft. I can't see her face, but I can see his. He looks deep into her eyes, his breath, ragged and fast.

Oh, God, I don't want to watch this, but I can't turn away.

Feelings are involved now. My stupid feelings.

How did I think this would turn out?

He doesn't know me. Not really. We are only married because we were wasted. It isn't love that ties us together, it's booze and a promise of sticking it to his dad. Rim and Isadora have years between them.

How could I be so dumb?

He isn't going to pick me. He'd never pick me. I'm an arrangement. I'm not his wife, no matter how badly I might want it to be true. It shouldn't hurt this badly, but it does. It fucking hurts.

White hot needles of pain stab at my chest.

Everything I want, and if I'm honest with myself, everything I need, disintegrates before me.

Tears sting my eyes as Isadora nods her head in agreement to something Rim says. His face softens, just a touch. He looks sad almost. Then, Isadora moves in and presses her lips to his.

My heart shatters. I gasp, and my hand shoots to my mouth to keep a sob in. Red hot agony rushes through my veins.

I've seen everything I need to see.

Rim turns his head and looks right at me. He heard my gasp.

Our eyes lock, and realization that their private moment wasn't nearly as private as he'd thought splashes across his face.

I can't look away from him as I begin to slowly step backward into the shadows.

“Christina!”

I don't stop. I turn and run. His steps sound out behind me as he gives chase.

Isadora must be following him. She shouts his name and theclack, clack, clackof her heels echoes mine through the hall.

We must look a hot mess. Three grown adults in formal attire chasing one another through a castle in the most fucked-up game of tag I've ever participated in. If my heart weren't breaking, this would almost be comical.

Fucking hilarious.

I slide around the corner and shoot straight for our bedroom,our bedroom. I'm so stupid. I slam the door closed and lock it. Childish, but I can't listen to anything he has to say right now, or ever. I'm a fucking fool. I believed our lies. I thought this arrangement had turned into something real.

Pathetic. I am pathetic.

I let his cock monster get in the way of clear-headed thinking.

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