Ch. 46..50: My Husband Wants An Open Marriage Chapter 46-50
CHAPTER 046. On Your Side
My face flushes, and I roll my eyes. "Stop saying these things."
"What things?"
"These... things that mess with my head." I look away, trying to suppress the smile forming, but it's useless. He knows what he's doing.
"So the voodoo's working, then?" he murmurs, leaning even closer, his voice a low whisper that sends a shiver down my spine.
"Shut up."
"There's only one way to shut me up, Julie."
I don't have a chance to respond before his lips find mine, warm and soft, and the frustration and anger fade into something sweeter, something that makes my heart race and my mind blank. His hands are in my hair, his touch firm and sure, and it feels like every worry I've had tonight is melting away, one kiss at a
time.
He pulls away, resting his forehead against mine, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Still want me to shut up? I could do that right here."
I laugh, but I can't hide the blush in my cheeks. "I do. But I'm afraid Javier or Denise are going to walk out
at any moment.
"Want me to get rid of him?"
"Oh, I could never." I smile. "I like Javier. He makes me laugh."
Without warning, Luke hoists me over his shoulder, and starts carrying me up the stairs. "Guess I'll just have to take you somewhere no one can walk in on us."
"Luke!" I yelp, half-laughing, half-scolding, pounding my fists against his back. "Put me down! This is
ridiculous!"
"Oh, really? So you want me to take you back downstairs?" he asks with mock seriousness, spinning around as if he's about to turn back down the stairs.
"Don't you dare!" I gasp, gripping his shirt as the motion makes me dizzy. But secretly, I love the playful side of him, the way he doesn't care if we're being loud or if we look like a scene out of some bad
romance movie.
Finally, we reach my bedroom, and he sets me down, brushing a stray hair away from my face. For a moment, I let his touch calm me, let it wash over me like cool water on a hot day. But deep down, I want to be lit on fire by him.
I pull away, looking him in the eyes, feeling the courage I'd lost earlier. "I think now's the right moment for that shutting up thing."
Luke smiles, and the next second, his hand is in my hair as he kisses me.
His lips are rough and demanding, and I can feel the stubble on his cheeks scraping against my skin. I gasp, and his tongue pushes into my mouth, exploring every inch of it. I moan, and he deepens the kiss, hands moving down to my shoulders, then my arms, pulling me closer. Then he tears his mouth away from mine, leaving me breathless.
"You've been driving me crazy all right he grows is yes rating with a wild intensity. "I've been wanting to tear this dress off you since your cameras Hie hande move to the top of my dress, and he yanks it two with a harsh rip. The fabric splits and feat the cool air on my skin as it falls to
the floor
CHAPTER 047: Remember Me Better
He takes a step back, his eyes raking over me, and I can see the hunger there. "Fuck, you're beautiful, be says, his voice low and rough. "No matter how many times I've seen you naked, I still can't get used to the sight. I want to see and kiss every inch of you," He reaches out, running his fingers over my collarbone, then down to my breasts. I feel a jolt of electiony at his touch, and I shiver. "You're so perfect," he murmurs, his fingers tracing the curve of my nipple.
I try to speak, but he silences me with another rough kiss. I feel his hands moving down my body, cupping my ass, pulling me closer to him. I can feel his hardness pressing against me.
He breaks away from the kiss again, his eyes blazing with desire. "I'm going to take you so hard and fast" he growls. "You're going to scream my name."
I don't know if I can handle it, but I want it, need it, crave it. I nod, and he lifts me up, wrapping my legs around his waist. He carries me to the bed, throwing me down on the mattress with a rough thud.
He yanks his shirt off, revealing his taut, muscular chest. I reach out, running my fingers over his skin, feeling the hard muscles beneath. He grins, a feral, predatory smile, and I know I'm in trouble. He shoves his pants down, and I see his erection, long and thick and ready to take me. I swallow hard, feeling a wave of heat wash over me.
"Luke," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "I want you.
He doesn't say a word, just crawls onto the bed, pushing my legs apart with his knees. He positions himself between my thighs, and I feel the head of his erection pushing against me. "God," he groans, his eyes rolling back in his head. "You're so wet."
He thrusts into me, hard and fast, and I cry out, pleasure coursing through me. He pounds into me, his hips bucking wildly, his eyes fixed on mine.
"You like that?" he says, his voice a rough rasp.
"Luke," I cry out, my voice hoarse with desire. "Luke, please! Put your hands around my neck."
He pauses, his eyes locked on mine, and I can see the struggle within him. He wants to obey my command, but he's hesitant, unsure of what I'm asking. If I'm being honest, I don't know what I'm asking for either, but being here with him right now makes me want to do things, things I wouldn't normally do. I feel the pressure, the restraint, and it sends a shiver of excitement down my spine.
"Oh, God," I moan. "Yes, like that."
He tightens his grip, and I know he's holding back, waiting for my cue to let go. But I don't want him to stop. I want him to keep going, to push me to the edge and beyond. "Harder," I whisper. "I want it harder."
He growls, his eyes flashing with desire, and he thrusts into me with renewed vigor. I feel the pressure build, the pleasure intensify, and I know I'm close.
"Luke," I gasp. "I'm close."
CHAPTER 047: Remember Me Better
He doesn't say a word, just keeps thrusting, his hands still around my throat. I feel the orgasm building, the waves crashing over me, and then I'm there, screaming his name as I come.
He follows soon after, his body shuddering with release, his hands still around my throat. We lie there, panting and sweating, our bodies still entwined, just enjoying the afterglow. Then, slowly, he releases his grip on my throat. "That was..." he says, "insane."
I smile, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over me. "I know, I think I needed that."
He nods, still catching his breath. "Me too," he says. "Me too. Though I have to ask...." He pauses, his eyebrows quirking in curiosity. "Is that... you know, is that something you're into? Some sort of... kink or something?"
I blink, caught off guard by the question. "What, being choked?" I laugh, feeling a heat rise to my cheeks. "1... I don't know. It's not like I've thought about it much before."
"Oh, so it just popped into your head tonight? I had you pegged for a lot of things, Julie, but secret kink queen wasn't one of them."
"Oh, stop." I roll my eyes, pushing his shoulder lightly. "It's not like that."
"Oh, really? I think there's a lot you're not telling me."
"What? You think I've been hiding a dark, mysterious world of 'kinks' from you this whole time?"
"Maybe," he says, looking too pleased with himself. "The quiet ones are always the wildest, after all. And if this was you just on a whim, I don't know if I'm ready for what you're really hiding."
I swat at him playfully, feeling laughter bubbling up. "Believe me, this is as wild as it gets."
"Oh, sure. Like you haven't been waiting for the right moment to show me your true wild side." He pulls me in, pressing a kiss against my neck, lingering just enough to make me shiver. "I'm just saying, you've got a way of surprising me." "Well, I'd like to keep you on your toes. Maybe that way, you'll remember me better."
He raises an eyebrow. "Remember you better?"
I swallow, feeling the weight of my own words. I can't help but imagine him lying here, alone, and it sends a strange ache through me. "I want this to be the most prominent thing in your mind every night when you go to bed," I say. "When I'm not there."
1
"When you're not there? What are you talking about?"
I take a deep breath. "I... I'll have to find somewhere else to live, Luke. Just until everything dies down."
CHAPTER 048: Are You No One?
The room feels thick with heat and tension. Luke is lying beside me, his arm still draped across my waist, and I can feel his heart pounding against my shoulder. I almost hate how steady it is compared to the wild pace of my own.
For a moment, he's silent, and I feel the urge to fill that silence, to somehow make him understand why this separation is necessary.
"I can't keep staying here," I say, staring up at the ceiling, willing myself to sound as composed as I can." Pretending things are fine when they're not."
His hand tightens around me. "No."
The word is small, quiet, but it hits me with a force that makes my chest ache.
"Luke..." I sigh, shifting to look at him, trying to gather my words into something that will break through his stubbornness. "I know you mean well, but it's time I take this seriously. Every day, it's something else-a new scandal, a new rumor-and I can't keep dragging you down with me."
He shakes his head. "Who says you can't be serious about it from here?"
"Be realistic. This is becoming a circus, and you're right in the middle of it with me. It's not fair to you."
"Fair?" He lets out a laugh, but it's empty, hollow. "Since when have I cared about fairness, Julie? I knew what I was signing up for. I don't want you anywhere else."
I close my eyes for a moment, collecting my thoughts, searching for a way to make him understand.* Look, it's just temporary," I say, almost pleading. "Just until things calm down."
His eyes hold a quiet storm as he looks at me, and I know he's searching for the right words, something that will make me stay. "And what if they don't calm down?" His voice is low, almost a whisper. "What if this keeps going on for weeks, months? Are you just going to keep running?"
I sit up, frustration pulling me to the edge of the bed. "I'm not running." I hate that it sounds defensive, but I can't help it. "I'm just trying to be... considerate."
"Considerate?" He sits up, too, and the closeness, the intimacy, feels like a weight between us now, something heavy and unyielding. "Julie, I don't need you to protect me. I don't need you to keep me out of the line of fire. I want to be right there with you, for whatever this
is."
"Right," I scoff, feeling my heart tighten. "Until it starts affecting your business, your reputation. Then what? You'll be forced to choose between me and your company, and Ldon't want to be that person,
Luke."
His eyes soften, and he reaches out, pulling me back to face him, his hands resting on my shoulders." Julie, I would choose you every time."
"Luke, that's not realistic! You don't know what you're saying. I'm a scandal waiting to happen. And if you're with me, you're right there in the headlines, every single day. Your life isn't a game, and I won't be responsible for ruining it."
He looks at me with an intensity that feels almost overwhelming, his grip tightening just enough to keep me from pulling away. "You're not ruining anything. You're giving me something real, something worth CHAPTER 648 Are Youtioner
fighting for," he says. "And if you think I'm going to let you just walk away to protect me, then you don't know me at all."
The sincerity in his words is like a punch to my gut, and I close my eyes, trying to control the whirlwind of emotions inside me. He's making this sound so easy, so effortless, when I know it's not. "Luke, this isn't a fairy tale," "Who says I need a fairy tale? Maybe I just want you here, with me, in whatever mess we end up in."
"I wish I could believe that. I really do."
"Then believe it." His hand moves up to cup my face, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "Stay, Fight
this with me."
I can feel my heart aching, torn between the urge to trust him and the fear that this will all end in heartbreak. But his touch is warm, grounding, and I feel my defenses slipping, just a little.
"Luke..." I whisper. "I don't want to drag you down with me. I wouldn't live with myself if I did. This is my fight. I plan to win it, but I don't want you caught in the crossfire."
"You're not dragging me down. You're giving me something to fight for, something worth holding onto. Don't take that away from me."
For a long moment, we just sit there, our gazes locked, and his words settle into the space between us, filling it with a raw, unspoken understanding. Almost without realizing it, I lean into his touch, letting myself believe, just for a moment, that maybe he's right. But that's fantasy, and he knows it.
"Stop being unreasonable, Luke. Which is funny because you were calling me the unreasonable one some minutes ago. Is this a pot-and-kettle situation? We'll still see each other a couple of days a month. It's not like I'm disappearing forever. Stop being a big baby and support my decision."
He raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Alright. I'm sorry. I just got carried away, Meeting you somewhere vs sharing a house with you. Those are two different things."
"Maybe they are. But you should be happy that your girlfriend is a fighter."
"Trust me," he says, pulling me close, his lips brushing against mine. "I like this version of you. So so much. The difference between you and the Julie I met at the bar is glaring."
I let out a sigh, melting against him, feeling his warmth wrap around me like a balm, a momentary reprieve from the chaos outside these walls. "Right," I say. "But still expect you to speak in at least once a week. I'm not that strong when it comes to being starved of you." "Oh, you want me to sneak in?" His eyes spark with amusement. "Risk my entire reputation just to see you?"
"Think of it as a little adventure. And besides," I tease, running my fingers along his jaw, "the sex will be better if it's a little forbidden, don't you think?"
He lets out a low chuckle, pulling me closer until I'm flush against him. "You're a dangerous woman, Julie."
"Maybe. But I'm your dangerous woman."
With that, he closes the distance between us, his lips finding mine, and everything else fades away. All the 2/3
CHAPTER 048: Are You No One
doubts, the fears-they're replaced by this one, undeniable truth: I want him here, now, and I don't want to
let go.
The next morning, the world feels a little less daunting. I'm sitting cross-legged on the bed, laptop balanced on my knees, going through my resignation letter for the third time, wondering if there's any way to make it sound more final.
A knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts, and I look up to see Luke standing in the doorway, fully dressed for work, looking every bit the part of the man know, and... well, it feels too early to say "love," but there's something powerful about him that pulls me in. He tosses something toward me, and I catch it reflexively. His car keys glint in my hand.
"Nice catch," he says.
I stare at the keys, then at him. "Why are you giving me these?"
"I won't be available to take you where you need to go," he replies, his tone casual. "So that's the key to the car."
Iraise an eyebrow. "I thought you said no one touches your car."
"Are you no one?"
CHAPTER 049: U-turn
I can't explain how Luke's words make me feel. The only thing I can do is laugh and say, "What are you going to drive, then?"
He shrugs, coming closer. "Have you seen my driveway? I have a good number of options. I just prefer the Aston Martin because it's small and fast."
"Thank you for trusting me with it. I'll try not to wreck it."
"Please don't," he murmurs, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch lingering. "And send your location as soon as you get wherever you decide to go."
As he leans down and kisses my forehead, a pang of sadness hits me, unexpected and sharp. He starts to walk away, but just before reaching the door, he pauses, turning back. He crosses the room in a couple of strides, capturing my face in his hands and kissing me hard.
When he finally pulls back, his voice is rough. "That should keep me in your memory."
As he steps back, a smile plays at the corner of his mouth, but I see something deeper in his eyes- something raw and unguarded that makes my heart twist. He straightens his suit jacket, smoothing down the lapels, a little ritual I've seen him do a thousand times, but today, for some reason, it feels final. Like he's bracing himself for something.
I swallow, the weight of this moment settling over me like a thick fog. It's silly, really-I'm just leaving his house. This shouldn't feel like a goodbye, but it does. And I don't know why.
He reaches the door, hand resting on the frame, and for a moment, I think he's going to say it, going to tell me not to go. There's that look in his eyes, a hesitation I rarely see in him, and I hold my breath, waiting.
"When you have the time," he says, his voice low, almost casual. "Can you send me an updated resume?"
I blink, thrown by the request. "Resume?"
"Your resume," he clarifies.
"Want me to come work for you?"
He chuckles, finally meeting my gaze. "From experience, you should know that's a bad idea."
The tension between us eases just a bit, and I feel a strange warmth bloom in my chest. There's something comforting about the teasing, something grounding. It feels like a lifeline in the midst of this shitstorm of uncertainty.
He tilts his head, eyes softening. "Call me as soon as you get there."
And with that, he's gone, the soft click of the door closing behind him echoing in the stillness.
I sit there, keys in hand, my thoughts swirling. This should be easier-leaving, putting distance between us to protect him from the fallout of my mess. I should be relieved, grateful for the clarity, for the clean break I'd promised myself. But all I feel is a deep, hollow ache. Hours later, I make my way down the stairs, dragging a heavy bag behind me. I can't believe I came here
CHAPTER 049 Utum
with an overnight bag, and in just a couple of days, I've filled up a travel-sized bag.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I see Javier in his usual spot, his eyes glued to a rerun of some old Western, looking as sharp and stubborn as ever. He glances up, one brow raised. "Going somewhere?" he says.
I pause, my hand tightening around the handle of my bag, as if letting go would make this decision even harder than it already feels. "Just... heading out for a couple of weeks, maybe more."
"A couple of weeks, huh? That's bound to give Lucas a heart attack."
I roll my eyes, a half-hearted smile tugging at my lips despite the ache in my chest. "You're impossible."
"And you're just figuring that out now?"
I laugh despite myself, and for a moment, the tension in my shoulders eases. Javier's presence has always been grounding. And in some strange way, it feels like he's one of the last pieces of what I'll miss most here.
"By the way," I add, glancing around, "is there a printer somewhere in this house?"
"A printer?" He squints at me like I've just asked him for a spaceship.
"Yes, Javier, a printer. Like a machine that prints things? For documents?" I try to keep a straight face, but it's hard not to laugh at the way he's looking at me.
"Of course, there's a printer," he says, waving his hand in the direction of the stairs. "Library's over there. Ask Lucas why a man needs that many books sometime."
I follow his gesture toward a part of the house I hadn't noticed before. Luke's library. Somehow, in my days here, I hadn't even known it existed. When I walk in, I'm struck by the overwhelming smell of leather and old paper, the walls lined floor to ceiling with volumes I doubt anyone's opened in years. It's beautiful -warm, in a way. Luke's little sanctuary.
After a minute of admiring it, I set up my laptop and connect it to the printer, taking a deep breath as I hit print on my resignation letter. The hum of the machine fills the silence, and the sound feels oddly like the finality of the words I'll be handing over soon. When the letter is done, I take a last look around the room, then head back to the living room with the paper clutched in my hand.
"What's that?" Javier asks, as I step back into the living room.
"My resignation letter." I hold it up, letting the paper flap in the air.
"It's quite long, isn't it?"
I laugh, brushing a thumb over the printed lines. "I was going to email it, but... there are some things that deserve a bit more closure. Besides, I have a few things to get from my office."
He watches me for a moment, something in his gaze softening in a way I've never seen. There's a strange look in his eyes, one I can't quite place, and for the first time, I realize how much I'll miss him. I step closer and lean down, pressing a light kiss to his cheek "I'll miss you, old man."
He smirks, his voice gruff. "Give them hell, you hear me?" His eyes harden, that fire I've come to respect
CHAPTER 049: U-turn
flashing. "And stop defending yourself. Fight, Julie. Fight."
I nod. "I will."
With that, I take a last look around, grab my bag, and head out the door. But as I step into the crisp morning air, I realize my vision is blurred. I blink hard, surprised by the sting of tears. Why does leaving feel so final? Why does it feel like I'm closing a door I won't be able to open again?
With a shaky breath, I toss my bag into the back of Luke's Aston Martin, the one he'd handed over with such ease this morning. When I slide into the driver's seat and start the engine, the speakers burst to life with an absurdly peppy tune. The chorus blares with lines that I'm almost sure are deliberate: "You can run, but you can't hide, I'll be there when you're sleeping at night!"
I groan, laughing despite myself. Of course, I think, my heart warming a little at the ridiculousness of it all. Luke's handiwork, no doubt. I leave the song on, letting the absurdity lift my spirits as I pull out onto the road.
But as I drive, something nags at me. My hands are steady on the wheel, and I tell myself it's because I'm being cautious with Luke's "baby", his car. Yet, I know that's only half the truth. It feels like I'm leaving more than just a house. Leaving Luke feels like leaving... home. A home I didn't know I needed until now.
As the city skyline rolls past, I pull out my phone, glancing down at the maps to search for nearby hotels. I've made sure to transfer all my funds out of my joint account with Ryan into a new one. I've even ordered a new card, so there won't be any surprises this time-no chance for Ryan or his cronies to leave me high and dry.
But the thought lingers, and suddenly, some
CHAPTER 050: Showtime I'm at Ryan's gate.
I lean on the horn, letting the sound echo off the high walls. A place that used to be home. Used to be familiar. Used to be... safe. And now? Just a twisted reminder of everything I'd rather forget.
I'm still sitting there, waiting, when it hits me: the gate doesn't automatically open. It's the first time I've ever sat here without the smooth, silent glide of that gate making way for me, like it did every other time I'd pull up. Every time... before I left Ryan. Before I left all of this.
Of course, the electric tag needed for the gate to open is glued to my Bentley, the one I left with Ryan on my way out of his life. And the gate's sensor doesn't recognize Luke's car.
I honk again.
A crackle fills the silence, and a muffled voice cuts through. "Hello? Could you... um, could you pull down the window, ma'am? Look into the camera?"
I tug the window down with a deliberate slowness, staring straight into the tiny, blinking camera above the intercom, daring it to deny me. I don't say a word. Just a steely stare, lips pressed tight.
"Uh, Mrs. O'Brien?" The guard's voice-Grant-softens, suddenly aware. "Sorry, Mrs. O'Brien! I didn't recognize-well, I mean... I'm opening the gate now!"
With a loud click, the gates begin to part, and I feel a strange satisfaction watching them give way to me. I ease Luke's Aston Martin forward, through the gates, up the long drive.
The house is as pristine as always. I park the car, and for a moment, I just sit there. My fingers drum the wheel, my heart hammering in my chest. It's strange, feeling like a stranger in a place that was supposed to be mine. A place that is mine. But then I shake it off, step out of the car, and grab my bag. I've got a mission.
Inside, I'm hit by the too-familiar scent of everything expensive-polished wood, imported leather, and that damn cologne Ryan used to practically bathe in. I can almost taste the memories, some sweet and others... bitter.
My heels click on the marble floor as I head straight for the stairs, my eyes scanning everything, catching glimpses of things I once treasured, reminders of a life I'd left. But I'm not here to reminisce. Not really. I'm here for something else.
I reach the master bedroom.
I can still see them. In my mind, there's Ryan with that smirk, his hands on Emily's waist. I remember walking in on them-Emily's triumphant sneer, Ryan's stupidly smug look, like he'd done something clever. And me? Too shocked to move. And then, too angry to care. stand there, eyeing the bed with a look I'd probably reserve for roadkill. I want to strip every fiber of it, every single damn thread. I reach for the sheets, the ones tainted with their betrayal, and pull them off with a fierce yank.
"Disgusting," I mutter, tossing them onto the floor. As if I want any reminder of what's been happening in this room. I give the bed a hard stare. Though I do like this bed...
CHAPTER 650 Shofime
I laugh to myself, half-mad, shaking my head. "You idiots don't deserve a Texas king, but I do."
The bed stays. I'm reclaiming it.
One by one, I grab the pillows, the blankets, stripping the bed bare, tossing everything into the laundry basket. I imagine the satisfaction of hurling it all into a bonfire later, watching their memories turn to ash. And honestly? That thought keeps me going. When I finally turn to the closet, I throw open the doors, faced with row upon row of Ryan's designer shirts, his tailored suits. Then there's the mess of Emily's clothes too, spilling into my side. My side.
"Oh, Emily, you've made yourself at home, haven't you?" I sneer, grabbing at her things without mercy. Into the basket goes her silk blouse, the one with the ridiculous ruffles. Her tiny dresses, her neon pumps-all of it, piling up, like I'm purging the very air she's polluted. As I fling another dress onto the pile, my phone rings. I glance at the screen, trained by experience not to answer before knowing who it is. And when I see Luke's name pop up, a warm thrill runs through me. A smile stretches across my lips, more natural than anything I've felt in a long time.
I hit answer, propping the phone between my ear and shoulder as I resume my rampage.
"Hi, runaway girlfriend," Luke says,
"Hi, left-behind boyfriend," I reply, grinning as I yank a hideous purple scarf off its hanger.
"Was just checking to see if you'd changed your mind about leaving."
"Nope." I toss Ryan's ties into the growing mess. "Found the perfect place. And guess what? It's free."
"Free?"
"Mm-hmm." I smirk, imagining his look of confusion. "Let's just say it has some... emotional value."
"Emotional value, huh?" He laughs. "You better tell me all about it later. Promise?"
"Promise," I say, shaking out another shirt and adding it to the chaos. "Now let me go. I've got a lot to do here."
"Alright. I'll miss you," he says. "And don't forget the resume stuff."
"I won't. Talk soon." I end the call, smiling harder than can help. It's strange how someone's voice can lift you like that. And right now, I feel like I could take on the world.
When the closet is sufficiently ravaged, I pick up the laundry basket, which is now overflowing with the first batch of clothes, sheets, and every trace of Ryan and Emily that I could grab. I start down the stairs, my steps lighter than I'd expected, almost as if every item I've chucked out has lifted a weight off my shoulders. The grill machine sits outside, one of Ryan's pride and joys, and as I approach it, I can't resist the grin spreading across my face. I pop it open, ready to set everything on fire.
Strange. Why does today feel like the best day of my life?
After a long day of dumping Ryan and Emily's things by the grill and lighting a match on anything