I can’t remember the last time I laughed like that, laughed so hard my stomach muscles hurt from doing it. Getting out of bed I grab my sweater from my chair and wrap it around me then dig through my drawer to find a pair of my cashmere socks that go up to mid-thigh. When the door opens again, I steel myself from looking at Austin until he growls, “You’re not wearing those out there.”
My head swings to him, and I frown and ask, “What?”
“The socks.” He shakes his head and his mouth turns down in the corners. “You’re not wearing them out there.”
“Why?”
“Dick is still here.”
“I haven’t forgotten that, Austin.” I roll my eyes and stand up after adjusting the soft material.
“Take them off.”
“No.” I cross my arms over my chest, but then my body is moving backwards, my calves hitting the bed, and I fall back with a bounce. “What the hell are you doing?” I screech as my feet are pulled up. I try to kick out, but he grabs both my legs with one arm around my thighs and pulls off one sock then the other as I struggle, rolling and thrashing back and forth. “Give them back!” I shout.
“Fuck no. Wear normal socks.”
“Oh, my God, give them back now.”
“You’re not wearing the damn things, so get over it,” he snaps.
“You can’t tell me what to wear!” I practically shriek.
“Just did.” He says stepping away from me.
“Austin, so help me, God.” I lean my head back in frustration. “Give them back right this second or I’m going to kick your ass.”
“Try it, babe, and I’m spanking you,” he growls, leaning toward me.
“You did not just threaten to spank me.”
“Did, and will.” He crosses his arms over his bare chest and my socks dangle out of one hand.
“Please give me my socks.” I try a different tactic, hoping my softer tone will make him see how stupid this is.
“No.”
“Fine.” I shrug, go to my drawer, and find another pair in a different color. I think I’m in the clear, when his hand snatches them away from me, adding them to the other two he already has.
“Why are you being so ridiculous?”
“I already told you; the dick is out there.”
“So what does he have to do with you holding my socks hostage?”
“I walked into the room and the first thing I thought was I want you in those socks and nothing else, with your long legs wrapped around my waist as I fuck you,” he snarls.
My breath comes out in a sudden whoosh as the image of me underneath him, my legs around his hips, his face close to mine, our bodies in sync and sweaty fills my head. “Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.” He shoves the socks back in the drawer and slams it shut then picks up his shirt off the floor, pulling it on over his head. I watch this, still stunned by what he just said. I know he told me he kissed me back, and I know something is changing, but admitting to wanting me isn’t something I planned on hearing from him ever again.
“What’s going on?” I ask, not even sure if the words are loud enough to be heard. His eyes scan my face and he takes a step toward me, ducking his head to the side, causing his lips to brush my ear as he murmurs, “Something beautiful, Little Lamb,” before he steps back, presses his mouth to mine in the lightest of touches, opens the door, and walks out of the room, leaving me fighting to breathe. But for once, it doesn’t hurt.
It takes me a few minutes to build up the courage to leave the room, but when I do, I walk into the kitchen, seeing something I never, ever thought I would. Austin is pouring himself a cup of coffee in his jeans, t-shirt, and bare feet, and Ken is standing with his back to the counter, leaning on it, with a cup of coffee in his hand, wearing much the same as Austin. Looking between the two of them I want to turn around and leave the small space before either of them can notice me.
“You want coffee, baby?” Austin asks, and I look from him to Ken when I see his body go tight out of the corner of my eye. Turning my head our gazes connects, causing my insides to twist with unease. I don’t love him anymore. I honestly don’t even like him much as a person, but I did love him once. Maybe not with everything in me, but a part of me loved him enough to spend the rest of my life with him. But if I’m honest with myself, if things hadn’t happened the way they had, if he had been faithful to me I don’t know where we would be.
I feel my nails dig into my palms, almost like I’m trying to grasp onto the feeling I had minutes ago. Those few minutes of happiness I had with Austin are being washed away by the look in Ken’s eyes. A warm palm touches my cheek, curving up and around my ear. I lift my eyes to meet Austin’s blue ones and my eyes slide closed as I exhale a breath, not fully understanding how one look, one small touch from him, can make everything else fade to nothingness.
“Can I talk to you, Lea?” Ken asks, and my eyes squeeze shut before opening once more, but instead of seeing Ken, I see Austin, his concerned eyes searching my face.
“Please?” Ken asks impatiently.
“We have nothing to talk about. I spoke with Tom, and I’m filing a petition with the court.”
“I don’t want to talk about that. I’ll sign the goddamn papers.”
“Watch it,” Austin growls.
“Can I talk to my goddamn wife?” Ken roars, and Austin is standing in front of him before I can even blink, their bodies chest-to-chest.