3 My Mistress
She took a step forward. Then another. Slow. Confident. Dangerous.
Her fingers found the collar of his shirt, trailing lightly over the fabric before sliding up to the back of his neck. She leaned in, her breath brushing his jaw. “You think your feelings are enough?” she whispered, lips barely grazing his skin.
Adrian didn’t move. Didn’t speak. His chest rose in a tight, shallow breath. Every muscle in him tensed, lit up with need. With hope.
She pressed her body against his, arms sliding up around his neck like she was giving in. Her fingers tangled into his hair, pulling just enough to make his breath hitch. Her eyes locked with his—taunting, unreadable, electric.
His hands gripped her waist, heart thundering in his chest. A rare smile flickered across his face, one that almost looked boyish. Raw relief poured through him.
But she wasn’t done.
Her hands slipped down, trailing over his chest, brushing the hard lines of his stomach, sliding lower until they reached his waist.
And then, in one swift move, she snatched the phone from his hand, spun away, and dropped it straight into the glass of water in the corner.
The splash was loud.
Adrian surged forward, instinctively reaching to grab it, but she was faster. The screen flickered once before disappearing into the depths.
He stood frozen, broad chest rising with each shallow breath. His jaw clenched tight, the veins in his neck throbbing.
“You only got close to me… to get those pictures?” His voice was low, hoarse with disbelief, and something darker.
She turned, eyes cold as steel. “Obviously. I’m not going to let you hurt my husband, Adrian. I’m married to him now. I won’t let you touch the people I love just because you suddenly think that you have some feelings for me.”
Adrian was trembling with fury. Every inch of him burned. The muscles in his arms flexed, tight with restraint. A storm raged behind his dark eyes—jealousy, rage, heartbreak all tangled together. The more she called another man her husband, the more it shredded him from the inside out.
‘When she was with me, she wouldn’t even spare another man a glance,’ he seethed with rage, jealousy consuming him. ‘But now, she is standing right in front of me, defending someone else without even acknowledging what it’s doing to me?’
“You love that fucking asshole so much,” he spat, “that you’ll let him sleep with other women in front of you and still defend him?”
She froze for a moment. Her fingers trembled, but she didn’t let the cold mask drop.
“What happens between my husband and me is none of your business.”
Her fingers clenched the fabric of her dress, nails digging into her skin as she struggled to hold back anything that would give her away.
“And as for our relationship,” she added, “Mr. Vaughn, don’t you know how modern relationships work for the wealthy now? It’s our private understanding. My husband can sleep with whoever he wants, and I can too. It’s our thing. You don’t have to bother yourself about it.”
She turned and stormed out of the changing room, still wearing the expensive dress, grabbing her old clothes on the way out.
Adrian couldn’t keep calm anymore. That wasn’t the Sienna he knew. She was always loyal— his . And now, she was telling this lie to protect that bastard?
Without a second thought, he followed her.
She walked out of the store, tossing a command over her shoulder: “Send the bill to the Montgomery House.”
“Yes, Mrs. Montgomery,” the receptionist replied quickly.
She stepped out of the boutique and into the mall.
Adrian stalked right right after her. He didn’t care who was watching, nor did he give a damn about his reputation or the whispers trailing in his wake.
He only wanted her. Even if it meant losing everything.
He caught up with her in a few powerful strides and grabbed her arm. Grabbing her wrist, he spun her around and pulled her toward a restroom tucked into the corner and dragged her inside. He slammed the door shut and locked it behind them, the sound echoing off the walls.
He pinned her against the wall, his eyes searching hers. His hand slipped to her waist. Her palms flattened against his chest, trying to push him away.
“Get off me!” she hissed. “Adrian, I’m married! If someone sees—”
His hand shot up, fingers wrapping around her jaw. Her words caught in her throat.
“If he can be with other people,” he said, voice low and gravelly, “then so can you.”
She blinked, confused.
“Be with me, Sienna.” His voice cracked ever so slightly—just enough to betray the pain underneath the dominance. “I don’t give a damn about Theo. I don’t care what you do with him. I just want you. In my arms. In my bed. Like before.”
“Adrian! I’m marri—”
“Then keep the goddamn marriage!” he snapped, desperation rising. “Stay with him. Be his wife. But take me too. I don’t care what you call it. Lover, friend, stranger, bed mate—I’ll take anything. Just don’t shut me out again.”
His hold on her waist tightened, gripping it like she was slipping through his fingers again. He was shaking, not with fear, but with the need to hold onto her before he shattered.
Her eyes flashed in surprise.
He leaned in, his forehead resting gently against hers. “I want to be yours again. Even if it’s not love... let it be something casual. Anything. Just let me stay close.”
She scoffed, voice dripping with ice. “So you want to be my mistress now?”
His eyes didn’t flinch. “I can be whatever you want as long as you’re the one I belong to.”
Her expression twisted. Fingers brushing his face, she gave him a cruel smirk.
"Being a kept man isn’t easy, Mr. Vaughn. Don’t fool yourself into hoping for more than a bedmate. You’ll never be my boyfriend, never my husband. You won’t exist to me in public. You’ll be at my beck and call. You won’t speak to me in front of my family, my friends, or even strangers. You won’t touch another woman, won’t even look at one. And above all, you’ll never do anything that dares to displease me."
Each word hit like a blade. But Adrian stood there, unblinking, jaw clenched, enduring the punishment like a man ready to burn for what he broke.
Then his voice dropped, deep and quiet. “Those words sound familiar.”
She smiled.
“That’s exactly what I told you,” he murmured.
Her mask cracked. The smile vanished from her face. Her hand clutched his collar and yanked him closer, fury in her eyes.
“Exactly,” she snapped. “The first night you slept with me, you warned me never to dream of being your wife. You warned me never to look at another man. And now you feel small hearing the same words?”
She shoved him, hard, making him stumble back on his feet. “Don’t come near me again, Adrian. I remember every single word of the humiliation you put me through like I was worthless, just because I fell in love with you.”
Then she yanked open the door, and turned to leave.
But he moved. Fast.
He caught her arm again, pulling her into his chest, holding her tightly. Desperately.
“I’ll do it.”
Her breath caught.
His hands pressed to the door behind her, locking her in without hurting her. His eyes searched hers, wild with emotion.
“I know I ruined everything,” he whispered. “I hurt you in the past. I know that. And I’ll pay for it. I’ll be anything you want. Just let me be near you. Please.”
Her heart pounded in her chest.
“You’re out of your mind,” she muttered.
She shoved him back again and turned around. She threw open the door and walked out without a second glance.
She walked straight to the elevator, stepping in just before he reached her. The doors slid closed on his unreadable expression.
Sienna’s heart was racing. She stepped out on the ground floor and walked briskly to her car. She flung the door open, tossed in her bag, and collapsed in the driver’s seat.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.
“What the hell is he trying to do?”
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her body still buzzing from the confrontation. His touch, his voice, his scent all wrapped around her like chains.
‘He wants to be with me? That’s impossible. He’s Adrian Vaughn. He never even thought of me as his girlfriend. He’s not in love—’
She stopped herself.
Gritting her teeth, she started the engine.
‘He’s just jealous that his toy slipped through his fingers before he could toss it away. Adrian Vaughn can’t love anyone but himself. I left first. That bruised his ego. And now he’s chasing me just to see if I’ll fall again, just like before, madly in love with him.’
Her jaw clenched.
She drove off without sparing the mall a second glance.
***
The Montgomery House was silent, save for the soft rustling of a few maids moving around. It wasn’t grand or huge—Sienna and Theo had chosen a more private life, with fewer people and minimal staff. The house was sleek and modern, with gentle cream interiors designed by one of the most expensive interior designers in the country, handpicked for them two years ago when they moved in after their marriage.
Sienna headed straight for the bedroom and took a quick, hot bath. But no amount of water could rinse away the thoughts that consumed her mind. The incident at the mall refused to fade, circling her like a ghost she couldn’t shake off.
She threw herself onto the bed, eyes shut tightly, trying to force sleep. Just as the darkness began to pull her under, the shrill buzz of her phone jolted her awake.
Groaning, she kept her eyes closed as she reached for it lazily. Her lashes fluttered open, and she cracked open her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the name flashing on the screen, her heart skipped a beat.
A video call. From Adrian.
Her brows pinched into a frown. Biting her lip, she hesitated before flipping onto her stomach and picking up the call.
The screen lit up.
Adrian appeared before her—shirtless, fresh out of the shower, his wet hair slicked back.
The phone was propped on his dresser, the angle perfect enough to reveal every line and cut of his body. A towel clung low on his hips, water still dripping down his sculpted torso. His chest glistened, powerful and lean, each muscle carved with intention. His hair was damp and tousled, falling slightly over his sharp brows as he ran a hand through it, slicking it back.
Her lips parted slightly as her breath caught. He was a living, breathing sin.
Sienna blinked, dumbfounded. “What the hell are you doing?”
Adrian leaned closer, his forearms resting on the dresser, bending forward with deliberate grace. His obsidian eyes locked onto hers through the screen, sharp and impossibly intense.
“Have you thought about my proposal yet, Ms. Donovan?” His voice was low, deep, and dangerous—like a slow-burning fire.
“It’s Mrs. Montgomery now,” she replied stiffly, though her voice wavered. Her throat dried at the sight of him, her body reacting before her mind could fight it. A light tremble traced down her spine.
“And whatever you want from me, it’s not going to happen. I want nothing to do with you,” she snapped, trying to sound cold, distant. “It’s time you stopped trying and stayed out of my life. Just like you have for the past two years.”
Adrian’s dark brows furrowed slightly, but his stare didn’t falter. He looked every bit the man he was, commanding, stubborn, used to getting what he wanted. His sharp eyes narrowed, gaze burning through the screen with raw intensity. His strong, sculpted face was unreadable, making it hard for her to breathe.
"Why don’t you just try it first?" he said lowly, his voice a smooth grumble that sent a shiver down her spine. He stood up straight, his hand dragging slowly from his neck down across his abs, leaving a trail of water in its path.
Her thighs pressed together involuntarily. Her mouth went dry.
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to seduce me right now?”
He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he licked his lips and tugged playfully at the towel around his waist. The edge loosened, threatening to fall.
“Do you like it?” he asked, a hint of wickedness in his voice.
Sienna’s heart pounded in her chest. Every inch of him was sculpted like a god—hard muscles, golden skin, and a raw masculinity that made her blood rush. She rolled onto her back, holding the phone above her face, pretending to stay composed.
“It’s alright,” she muttered, shrugging. “Not too attractive. But not bad for passing time.”
But even she could hear the weakness in her voice. She swallowed hard. The hunger, the urge to touch him again, was unbearable. Hiding it was becoming impossible.
Her stomach coiled with heat, and her grip on the phone tightened.
Adrian chuckled, a rich, masculine sound that stirred her gut. He picked up the phone, bringing it closer to his body, then lowered it deliberately to his hard abs before raising it again to his face.
“I’m yours, Sienna,” he said, voice deep, slow. “As long as you want me, I’ll be yours.”
Sienna bit her nail, eyes betraying her restraint as they roamed shamelessly over every inch of the skin she once scratched, kissed, and claimed. Her heart thudded in protest, her mind a mess of temptation and denial. Her heart thudded hot and fast. ‘As much as I want to hate him, he really does have a godly body,’ she thought, her gaze trailing over the skin she’d clawed at so many times in the past.
‘What’s wrong with having a relationship just for sex with him?’ she thought. ‘I don’t have feelings anymore. So what difference would it make?’
Adrian noticed the way her eyes burned into every inch of him, and his lips twitched into a knowing smirk. Then, as if rewarding her gaze, he slowly began to unwrap the towel, revealing more skin. Just as he was about to let it drop completely—
The door flew open.
“Sienna, what are you doing?” Theo's voice cut through the silence.
Sienna jolted upright, nearly throwing the phone in panic. She slammed it face-down on the bed, heart racing.