THIRTY-THREE | Free Fall | Tinsley
THIRTY-THREE
Free Fall
Tinsley
D ays had passed by since the Black-Tie Charity Event, and everything had been a raging success. The night made front-page headlines. We raised millions of dollars, and everyone in New York City raved about me. My spirits were soaring high, and my business had a full schedule for the next two years. I had to hire extra help, arrange multiple meetings, and manage tasks I had only dreamed of. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was, but I wasn’t born with a horseshoe stuck up my ass, and I knew why I was in this position.
My husband.
If Mitt hadn’t exceeded expectations that evening, everything would have disappeared. My dream career had taken off ten times over thanks to the man I met under the mistletoe and kissed until I was breathless. He had changed my life, not to mention he had toned down his grumpy side to the point he scared me.
Mitt was acting strangely. He kept me closer than normal, called me to check in, and kept Albert at my side when he wasn’t there. His chauffeur followed me around like he was my biggest fan. Except Mitt paid him for his time. This new side to my husband threw me for a loop, but his added affection made my heart swoon, and I couldn’t deny how much I loved all the attention.
Today, Mitt wanted to come with me to shop. It had been a long day, and I needed some retail therapy after the shift I had pulled. Nothing cured a hard day at work like Chanel, Prada, and Gucci.
“I want you to come somewhere with me,” Mitt said as he glanced down at his wristwatch and back at me.
“Where?” I asked curiously.
Mitt replied, “A restaurant about another block from here.”
We had already been to several stores, and Mitt had carried all the bags. The trunk was almost full, but I still had more places I wanted to go. I didn’t want to stop, but it was half past noon, and my stomach was rumbling. I guess I could use a bite to eat.
“All right,” I agreed as I sped up at the green light and glanced at Mitt. “They better have something good on the menu.”
My husband sat in the passenger seat of my brand-new Rolls-Royce and let me take the steering wheel. The car was far too nice to speed in, and I had maintained the speed limit through the streets. I loved the way the engine purred but was silent when at a complete stop. The vehicle drove like a dream, and I was thankful he let me keep it.
“Oh, I think you will be happy with their selection,” Mitt breathed as he smiled at me and pointed ahead. “It’s just up here on your side, but park at the curve in this direction.”
“So, many orders, Mr. Morgan,” I teased him with a grin. “I almost missed your constant demands this week.”
Mitt chuckled.
The deep sound was rich and filled my ears. He touched my arm, resting on the central console with a storage compartment underneath the fine leather material. The pad of his thumb caressed the sleeve of my jacket and even with the fabric in the way, I got goosebumps. He moved down toward my wrist, where he flipped over my hand and stroked my palm. Shivers of want sizzled through me, and I had the urge to pull over. I wanted to kiss him silly, but I refrained since I was only a minute away from our next destination.
Slowly, I inched the car forward with my indicator on to signal my need to pull over while Mitt instructed me on where to park. I let go of his hand because I needed to concentrate on the road, and he distracted me. I might end up in the snowbank.
The snowfall had let up after a storm had rolled through the night before and piles of shoveled snow were on the sidewalk. Sunshine had showed up, grazing the skyline and melting some of the icy snow. The street was bustling with lots of people out for lunch, and I placed my hand on the door handle, ready to get out.
Mitt squeezed my arm. “Wait. Roll down your window.”
Another instruction.
I muttered with confusion, “What? Why?”
“Just do it. Don’t argue with me, angel.”
I pressed the button to roll down the glass. “This is ridiculous. It’s freezing outside and—”
“Do you see anyone you recognize?” Mitt interrupted my ramblings with a question.
“You,” I answered.
Mitt chuckled.
God, his laugh was infectious.
“Anyone else?” he asked as he peered out my driver’s side window, and I followed his gaze.
I searched the people walking into the restaurant and the satisfied customers exiting the establishment. I couldn’t identify one familiar face, and my hungry stomach only growled louder. I was sure Mitt could hear it as he leaned over and gazed out my window. He was too close with his breath lingering on my neck as I felt the nip of the chilly air, which should leave me chilled to the bone. But the cold didn’t bother me because Mitt kept me warm.
All hot like chestnuts roasted on an open fire while Jack Frost nipped at my nose.
I was distracted again, unable to focus until my eyes found someone I knew through a window facing the street. He was seated above the entrance, and he wasn’t alone. He was sitting with a woman, but I didn’t recognize her.
Bewildered, a hand flew up to my mouth. “It’s Beau!”
My asshole ex was in the restaurant holding hands with a woman who wasn’t the mother of his child—his secretary—whom he had proposed to after the news broke of their surprise pregnancy. He was in there with another woman after he had just tried to get back with me!
Scumbag! No. Beau Kingston was much bigger than a scumbag. He was a three-timing, no good asshole who deserved a massive kick to his junk. No woman should deck his balls because he had earned an enormous lump of coal.
“Asshole!” I whisper shouted.
I opened the car door while the truck beside me honked when I had room to leave my vehicle. My mind reeled as I took a couple of small steps forward. I was in an outraged trance. I paid no attention to the truck as it roared past because I was too engrossed at the sight of my ex as he kissed his date’s hand. I didn’t even notice Mitt beside me until he grabbed me and pulled me back from oncoming traffic.
“Be careful, Wife,” Mitt warned.
But I couldn’t turn away.
“I can’t believe Beau! He’s got a baby on the way, and he’s out having lunch with another woman?” I rambled with shock. “This madness has to end.”
I took a step forward, but Mitt grabbed my wrist. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to stop this.” I glared and tried to pull away from Mitt, but he was too strong. “Let me go, Mitt.”
“No,” he disagreed through clenched teeth.
“Beau can’t get away with this.” I argued.
I tugged repeatedly, and Mitt held on tight. My hand beat against his arm as I saw them kiss, and Beau escorted her away from the table. They were about to leave, and I’d miss my shot to destroy him while setting this poor unsuspecting woman free. Maybe she wasn’t so innocent herself and knew about Beau’s endless affairs, but it didn’t matter. All that counted was that I knew. I understood the truth and lived through the embarrassment. I walked through the pain my ex had dealt me, and he needed to pay the price.
“He won’t. I promise,” Mitt assured me.
“But you’re letting him get away!” I shouted.
“Cut the bratty attitude, Wife...” Mitt groaned as he pulled me up against him, puffing in my ear. He turned me to face the restaurant. “Look at what I did for you.”
A crowd of people were gathered outside of the entrance, but this mob wasn’t the customers waiting in line. Paparazzi waited outside. As soon as the unsuspecting couple walked into their hungry grasp, the paparazzi swallowed them whole with endless questions. Their voices were obnoxiously loud, endlessly asking about their secret love affair and bombarded with flashes from cameras. The press was hot on Beau’s ass as he hissed threats at them and threw a tantrum for all to see. His outburst was at the level of a two-year-old as he grabbed a camera and threw it into the street. A car horn blared after the camera shattered a windshield and caused damage.
I couldn’t believe everything going down in front of me, and I didn’t even have to do a thing. Mitt had called in a tip to the paparazzi, and Beau had acted like his true self. A rich, spoiled jerk unable to get his own way, but now he could take his rotten behavior and cry for daddy’s help behind bars.
Beau Kingston’s arrest would make front-page news and take me out of the limelight. I had gotten the attention I had wanted and now Beau would get his. Except he’d hate every moment, and I was thrilled.
“Serves Beau right. I’m sure his father won’t be happy, and his career will go down in flames.” I nodded with a content smile as I turned to Mitt after the police cruiser drove off and sirens blared.
“Yep,” Mitt agreed and popped the P with a sigh. “What a shame.”
I gazed up at Mitt with amazement and breathed, “Why?”
“After everything that man did to you, Wife, you deserved payback, and I already told you...” Mitt expressed as he touched my cheek, and I leaned into his caress. “I won’t have anyone interfering in my fucking marriage.”
My heart fluttered. The organ did a complete one-eighty as it pounded against my chest. I could die right here, right now, and go to heaven as a lucky woman.
“Thank you,” I whispered with a small smile.
I touched the back of Mitt’s hand and moved it toward my mouth. My lips left a soft kiss on the palm of his hand, and I heard him groan. The sound was exciting. He thrilled me like no other man ever could and made me want things I knew I shouldn’t.
I was sunshine, and he was the grump. Light versus dark. Opposites who shouldn’t attract, but we had collided—spun out of control and were a total wreck.
Mitt gulped. “I’ll drive.”
“Okay,” I whispered and let him go as I made my way to the passenger side door.
As our eyes met from over the top of the car, I found myself trapped in a spellbound trance that never wavered. Even after we found ourselves in opposite seats, we couldn’t tear our gazes away. Mitt’s eyes swirled with passion, and I was sure my emerald eyes flashed with desire. Heat seared through me from my foggy head, all the way down to my toes. Arousal soaked my panties between my legs, and I pressed my thighs together, trying to soothe the ache Mitt had created. I had a hungry lust for him, and I no longer craved food. I only wanted my husband with his thick, big dick deep inside of me until I screamed for him.
Mitt caught on quickly. His eyes left mine for a split second only to peer at me shifting in my seat and when he looked back at me, I saw his inner beast. He was as ready for me as I was for him. I took my turn, staring at his erection bulging at the zipper of his jeans, and my mouth watered.
“Drive, Mitt,” I ordered, but he only stared at me.
All the temptations we had pent up had led us here—in the car he had given me shit for purchasing, only for him to let me keep it after he proved his point. Mitt owned me, but with ownership came advantages, and he allowed me to drive this expensive vehicle until we had parked on the side of the street. People moved around us. Anyone could peer in and see the heat igniting between us.
“Are you sure?” Mitt asked as he placed his hand to switch gears and raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not sure of anything anymore,” I answered breathlessly.
Before Mitt changed from park to drive, I touched him. My hand had a mind of its own and caressed his hand. His nostrils flared with heated desire as he let go of the gear shift and took my hand in his. He brought the palm of my hand to his lips, their softness swiping over my skin, and I closed my eyes. A soft whimper escaped me as his lips traveled to my wrist. I was quivering for him. My husband was the man I desired more than anything else in this world, and I needed him desperately. I needed him so badly, I did the one thing I shouldn’t do. I grazed the side of his face and brought him closer to me.
“Wife. Do you understand what you do to me?” Mitt asked, his breath hot against my lips.
“No,” I admitted.
Why?
Because Mitt was all over the place.
One minute he hated my guts and the next he saved me from ruin. He treated me as his, but not as property and as an angel—free to fly through the sky and do as I please because deep down, he cared about me. Even when he tried to hide the truth from his father.
“Fuck. I want to take you right here in this car and not give a damn who sees,” Mitt whispered as he touched my cheek, and I melted into him.
My eyes popped open.
“Then what’s stopping you?” I asked, my hand creeping up his inner thigh.
“Nothing,” he groaned as his eyes shot to my mouth. “Fuck it.”
Mitt crashed his lips down on mine.