His Call Read Online Free Page A

pretty.
    Nothing good will come of our next conversation. Nothing will be salvaged.
    I hope for a different outcome. Optimistically and perhaps naïvely, I hope.
    She walks into the suite, the door clicking quietly behind her, and I find her stunning profile. She pauses but ignores me, turning toward the bedroom instead of speaking to me. Taking the easy way out.
    I know all about taking the easy way out.
    “Are you going to ignore me?” I ask, following her into the bedroom.
    She drops the bag next to her suitcase and glances at the black dress I laid out earlier for her. “Are you going to talk to me like I deserve to be spoken to, or am I still your outlet for your annoyance?”
    The pain that sneaks through into her voice cuts through me , and I walk to her. I fold her into my arms, bringing her close to my body, savoring the feel of her against me. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I was wrong to take it out on you.”
    “Fucking right you were.” She wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head against my chest. My heart thumps beneath her ear. “Don’t do it again.”
    “Ever?”
    “ Ever. Next time I won’t be so nice to you, nor will I walk away. Talk to me like crap again, Mr. Stone, and I’m going to tear you a new asshole. Got it?”
    I bend down, bringing my mouth close to hers. “Got it,” I whisper, taking her sweet lips with mine.
    This could be the last time I kiss her. I linger on that thought, unwilling to let the kiss break. Damn if I don’t need this woman.
    “Are you going to tell me who has you in a bad mood yet?” Dayton pulls away, flicking her hair over her shoulder, and tugs her sports bra over her head. My cock twitches at the blue bra she slips on, more so when she adjusts her tits inside it.
    “Someone from my past who delights in making my life incredibly hard.” I discard my shirt on the chair and take a freshly laundered one from the closet, sliding it over my shoulders. I button it up, focusing on them instead of her. I’m a fucking coward. “If there were a way to get out of this tonight, you can bet I’d find it.”
    “Wow. I can’t imagine disliking someone that much.” Dayton steps into the dress and reaches behind her, struggling with the zipper. “Who is it?”
    I step up to her and knock her hand away. With my fingers clasped around the zipper pull, I slide it upward smoothly and take a deep breath. I know this is it.
    This could be the last time I get to brush my fingers against her skin, get to touch her, get to be anywhere fucking near her.
    “Aaron?” she repeats, apprehension tingeing her tone.
    I take a second deep breath and close my eyes resignedly. “The person organizing tonight is my wife.”

The One Where She Walks Away

    She moves from me suddenly, her sharp jump a punch in my gut. It’s what you were expecting, I remind myself. I knew this would happen.
    “Wife?” Her voice is barely more than whisper, tinged with accusation and disbelief. Her hands are clasped in front of her slightly bent-over body, shaking so discreetly that no one but I would ever notice it.
    But I do. I know her so fucking well my next word cuts as much as the last seven did.
    “Yes.”
    She covers her mouth with her hand, turning away from me with closed eyes. Jesus. I can feel the pain emanating from her and wrapping around me in a suffocating blanket. Fuck. I can’t feel this —the pain I’m causing her. I have to explain, to somehow justify my decision to keep her a secret.
    “She’s my ex-wife, actually. We’d be divorced if she didn’t keep stalling on the agreement,” I ramble, my eyes following her.
    “You’re still married. She’s still your wife.”
    “We’ve been separated for two years.”
    She shakes her head, her eyes still closed. “And you never thought to tell me?”
    “I didn’t know how to. I kept putting it off until it became impossible. I wanted to, Day.” I move to her and gently rest my hands on her arms. Shit. I wish she’d