Chapter One
NORA
One touch.
One touch was all it took for me to know that something was wrong. To know that my husband was acting strange today.
Even though I prepared this to seduce him, I didn't quite expect this reaction from him.
You see, Duncan has always been a calm gentleman. He wouldn't kiss me until our first date, and certainly didn't touch me till we were married. Even now as a married couple our s*x life is barely existent.
That brings us to why I prepared a little surprise. Just something to put him in the mood and get his s****l attention.
The instant he walked through the room, I rushed to him and kissed him hard. I half expected him to push me away like he always does.
But that is certainly not what happened. He buried his hand in my hair, pinned me to the wall and devoured my lips like a starving man.
I'm still trying to process his recent actions when he tears his lips from mine and sucks on my neck.
“f**k," he breathes. “I always knew you'll look pretty in red."
What the…
Duncan hates the color red on me. He always says it makes me look awful. But for some reason tonight, I decided to put on red lingerie.
Now he's staring at me like I'm the most beautiful person he has set his eyes on.
“Did you do this for me, princess?" His voice comes out low and husky. Quite different from how he usually sounds.
I pull away a little and stare at his face. He looks different tonight. His hair is messier than usual and longer too. His green eyes are hooded like he's been on drugs.
“Duncan, are you doing drugs again?" I ask, my voice sharp.
He chuckles, and somehow it makes wetness pool at the center of my legs. “I'm certainly not on drugs, baby.”
" You are different tonight.”
He runs his fingers along the hem of the lingerie. " Good or bad different?”
I'm about to respond when he slips a finger into me without warning. The sudden intrusion has a scream leaving my lungs. It's been ages since I had a finger inside me.
All the times I've had s*x with my husband, the lights were off and just missionary style. No foreplay or after s*x cuddling.
Having him take his time to worship my body like this is something I can't comprehend.
His fingers move with a confidence that doesn't belong to my husband. As if he's trying to map out every bit of me into his memory.
I should pull away. I should ask what's wrong.
But the feel of his fingers inside me and his hands trailing my t**s is just too good to think about anything else. As he quickens his pace, I feel my release building up.
“Duncan…” I whisper.
" Shhh," he whispers. “You have no idea how crazy you drive me."
He quickens his pace, and my release crashes into me with unexpected force. I would have fallen if not for his hands holding me in place.
I don't know if it will last, but I love this side of my husband.
~~~
A sharp pain be between my legs is what wakes me up the next morning. I ache all over. I doubt I'll be going to work today.
Duncan was unbelievable last night.
I actually enjoyed s*x for the first time ever since we got married. It was almost like a beast was unleashed in him.
He barely let me sleep, waking me up in the middle of the night to go for another round.
I turn around in bed and find his space empty and cold, like he woke up hours ago.
I throw on a shirt that stops mid thigh, still dizzy from the thought, and step out of the bedroom. Everywhere is still so quiet. Everyone must still be asleep.
I head downstairs and I'm about to turn and go towards the kitchen when the front door opens .
“Morning, sweetheart.”
I freeze.
Duncan’s voice. Calm. Normal. Too normal.
He drops his keys on the counter, smiles , and leans in to kiss my lips. His lips are soft, polite, and not rough and demanding like last night.
“You’re up early,” he says, reaching for the coffee pot.
My mind blanks as I stare at him. He's dressed in the same outfit he wore yesterday while leaving the house. He's also carrying his briefcase used just for business meetings.
“Did you forget anything?" I ask and he looks at me surprised. “You are going on a business trip, right?"
“No, Nora. I just got home from the airport. Remember I told you yesterday evening, I was going out of town for some family matters?"
My mind spins, as I try to make sense out of what he's saying. “ So…you're just getting home?”
" Yes. The plane got delayed. I'm sorry I didn't call to inform you.” He smiles and hugs me. “I'll go change."
I watch him climb the stairs, too confused to form a sentence.
No, that can’t be right.
If Duncan just got home from the airport… then who…
I shake my head hard, pressing my palms against my temples. Maybe I’m misunderstanding. Maybe I’m still half-asleep.
I rush upstairs. Our bedroom door is open, the sheets tangled and stained with proof of what happened. I stare at the bed, at the pillow still dented where he slept beside me.
The sound of the shower running tells me my husband is in the bathroom.
As I pass by the mirror, I see it. My neck is marked, bruised, kissed raw.
Duncan would never do that.
But then again, Duncan would never do most of the things he did last night.
I must be losing my mind. If it wasn't Duncan then who was it?
I decide to go find Sara, my mother-in-law. Maybe some talk about shopping will ease my mind.
I find her in the lawn, sitting in her favorite rocking chair sipping a cup of coffee. A man stands in front of her, with his back towards me. Her eyes light up when she sees me.
“Nora, you should come meet Duncan's twin brother, Nathan."
Duncan's twin brother?
The man slowly turns his back to me, and it's like suddenly all the air is knocked out of my lungs.
“Hello, princess."