9. Masaccio
CHAPTER NINE
Masaccio
I toss the file of papers across my desk. The file skids across the surface and the papers spill out onto the floor. Floating to the ground.
I’m at the office in my warehouse on the docks. I had to get out of the house. Leaning back in my chair I run my hands through my hair. My mood has been terrible lately.
My patience is gone, my frustration levels are high - I’m really struggling.
It’s all because of her . Leora is driving me crazy.
She paraded around during our honeymoon in the sexiest, skimpiest outfits. She has been taunting me and teasing me since we got married. Her tight little body and that forward feisty attitude of her is making it harder and harder for me to say no.
But I know the moment I give in to her she will assume it’s an emotional connection and that will be even more draining for me. I can’t handle her. I’ve never lived with a woman. I’ve never had one spend this much time in such close proximity to me.
I don’t know what to do with her.
I have to keep saying no.
But how?
I, really need her to stop looking so fucking sexy all the time.
Fuck .
I’m annoyed.
Tuomo walks into my office. He looks me up and down, frowning.
“Dude, what the hell is your problem? You look furious.”
“My wife.” I snap. “She won’t leave me alone.”
“What do you mean? Like she’s nagging at you all the time or something? Complaining about things?”
“No, she wants sex. She throws herself at me. She won’t stop.”
“You mean—you haven’t—” he looks shocked as he drags the other chair over to my desk and slumps down into it.
“Not a chance.”
“But she’s your wife . I don’t get it. It’s default - isn’t it?”
“She’s not like an actual wife, man. We are supposed to just live together. Our lives aren’t intertwined or anything. It was forced on me. You know that.”
“Ok, but you can still fuck her?”
“It’s more trouble than it’s worth. I don’t want that from her.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t believe you for a second. She’s hot man.”
“Yeah, sure. She’s gorgeous. But if I give in once she’ll expect it all the time, plus other kinds of intimacy. And to make matters worse - she’s a fucking virgin.”
Tuomo sits dead straight in his chair.
“Your wife is a virgin , and she’s throwing herself at you and you keep turning her down?”
I nod.
“Fuck. What I would give to be you for one night.” He chuckles, looking down at his hands and then pressing his palm against his knuckles to click them.
I watch him, my thoughts bolting off in random directions.
Be me for one night.
He could. He could be me. He looks identical to me.
Maybe she’s just desperate to lose her virginity and then she’ll drop this whole fucking issue. Losing your virginity is kind of part of the whole marriage ceremony. It could be why she’s been acting the way she has.
Maybe she just needs to be fucked - and then she’ll get over it.
I clench and unclench my jaw, my brows knotting as I find myself lost in thought.
Tuomo is speaking to me - I wasn’t listening.
“Hey, asshole, I’m talking to you - did you finish up with the spreadsheet—”
“Why don’t you be me for one night?” I blurt out.
“Huh?” he looks blankly at me, as though I’m speaking a different language.
“Come over to my place, be me, give her what she wants, then leave.”
“Funny man. Good one.”
“I’m not joking.” I say.
He looks up at me, his eyes piercing into mine.
“You are fucking serious. What the hell do you hope to achieve by doing this?”
“I recon - she’s desperate to lose her virginity right. Like she waited, dreaming about her wedding night - blah blah blah - and now it hasn’t happened. I don’t think this is about me at all. I think she just wants to lose her virginity and then she might calm the fuck down.”
Tuomo chuckles, shaking his head as his eyes narrow towards me. He folds his arms across his chest. “You’re nuts.”
“Yeah, well at this point I’m willing to try anything to get her off my back.”
He leans into the chair, thinking hard. I wait, patiently.
“Alright. I’ll do it.” He smiles.
I stare at him for a few seconds. Wondering if this is the right choice. But like I said. I’m willing to try anything.
That night Tuomo arrives after Leora has gotten ready for bed. I can hear soft music coming from her room. I open the front door for him as quietly as I can.
He’s wearing a black suit as I told him too because that’s what I was wearing all day today.
My stomach knots when he walks in.
Again, I wonder if I am making the right choice, but I know I am.
She can have what she wants - and then I can get back to my life without being pestered the whole time.
Tuomo nods towards me, he doesn’t say a word.
I stay downstairs as he walks up towards her bedroom.
I wait, listening, but I can’t hear anything.
Curiosity gets the better of me and I make my way to the upstairs landing, standing in the hallway just outside her open door.
“Oh, Mas. Did you need something?” I hear her voice over the soft music.
I hear a shuffle and then she gasps.
“Oh.” She murmurs.
I hear something get knocked over and her giggles drift out towards me.
Again, curiosity gets the better of me as I peak around the door frame, doing my best to stay out of sight, but wanting to see what’s going on.
Tuomo has her lifted in his arms, her ass on the dresser, her legs wrapped around his waist. His hand is behind her neck as he kisses her with fierce passion.
Her nightie is creeping up her thighs and I can see she isn’t wearing anything underneath it. A low growl rumbles through my chest.
I’ve made a mistake. But now it’s too late to stop what’s happening.
She is my wife.
I wasn’t thinking when I made this choice.
I hear her giggle again and then my twin brother says something in a deep tone.
Every muscle in my body is tense.
Do I storm in there and stop this?
Will I make it worse if I do?
I should just walk away.
I should just forget about this.
“What the hell is going on?” Leora shouts angrily.
I hear something crashing and Tuomo repeating. “Hey, ok, ok, calm down.”
“I will not calm down. Get out of here. You can’t do this.” She’s horrified, but I don’t know why.
I turn back towards the door, wondering why she would be so angry with ‘me’ for trying to sleep with her after she’s been throwing herself at me for weeks.
But then she screams my name.
“Masaccio.” She shouts it loudly.
“Jeez woman. Calm down. There’s no need to shout, I’m right here.” Tuomo says.
“How stupid do you think I am? I know you’re not him. Tuomo. ” She’s angry. And it seems - she somehow knew -
“What the fuck?” He stammers.
She throws something, and it flies through the open door, missing him. “Get out.” She screams.
Tuomo comes marching out of the bedroom door. His face like thunder. His shirt unbuttoned and his jacket in his hand.
“She’s all yours.” He snaps as he storms past, down the stairs towards the front door.
I step into her room as I hear the front door slam.
“Mas—” she says, looking terrified. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know—I thought it was you—I kissed your brother —I’m so—” Her expression is one of absolute distress. She is clutching at her nightie against her body - he took it off her.
I am both fascinated and turned on by this scene.
“How did you know it was my brother?”
“Because I know you.” She whimpers. “Will you ever forgive me? I promise you I stopped as soon as I realized.”
“But what was it that gave it away?” I ask curiously. I still can’t drag my eyes off her as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. The small piece of fabric that she has pressed against her chest is hardly covering anything.