Page 42 of Under the Influence

––––––––

The hotel is the nicest one in Dunphey. The view is pretty. The room smells clean. The pink roses are lovely. Of course, Duke looks absolutely gorgeous. He’s wearing black jeans, a gray T-shirt, and black boots. His dark hair is a little messy from his ride to town. I always get aroused when I think of him on his motorcycle.

Everything about this moment is great, yet I’m out of sorts. My chest feels heavy, and my stomach bounces with anxiety. I imagine sex hurting and me crying. Everything is going to get ruined.

Being out of sorts is likely why I sabotage our fun evening by blurting out, “What are your dealbreakers?”

“With you?” Duke asks as we stand across the king-sized bed from each other.

“Yes,” I say and step closer. “What is there about me or us that will end things?”

“Why do you assume I know the answer to that question? Do you imagine I sit around considering reasons to stop seeing you?”

“I think you know yourself and what you need to be happy.”

Duke rubs at his clean-shaven jaw and looks around. “Well, obviously, I can’t have you behaving cruel toward my family.”

“Of course. We both have that line.”

“What are you looking for here?” he asks as if we’re business people working out a deal. “Are you asking if I’d be willing to live in Tumbling Rock? I think we both know that won’t happen.”

My heart sinks, even while I shrug. “I think that’s obvious.”

“What are your dealbreakers?”

“Well, I can’t be with a cheater. I’m too violently inclined to share your dick.”

Duke grins at my words. I think he likes it when I get possessive and a little homicidal.

“That one is easy. You already know I don’t cheat.”

“Well, I don’treallyknow that.”

“You know I said I didn’t.”

“All men say that.”

Losing his amusement, Duke frowns. “Do you not believe me?”

“I do, but I might not be thinking straight. Since the engagement party, I can’t see past the fog of my lust. Your good looks have shredded all my good girl self-control.”

Duke smirks and explains, “I didn’t cheat on Kerrie, and our marriage was a business agreement. People didn’t know that, though, and Basin Rock is a small town. If I got caught cheating, it would have disrespected her. People would have thought less of us.”

“Were you sexually satisfied during your marriage?”

“Not really, no.”

His honesty startles me. My mouth pops open. I cover it with my hand, but Duke still grins at my response.

“Kerrie is a beautiful woman. We had fun in bed, but we were together for a long time. There was never any real spark between us.”

“Maybe it’s the virgin in me, but I don’t get how sex can be fun without a spark,” I mumble before asking, “Did you ever tell Kerrie that you were bored?”

“Of course not.”

“Honesty is important.”

“Sure, but so is not pissing off the wife.”

---