THE DEVOTED ‘LAPDOG’ HUSBAND
1053 Words
The apartment was a disaster.
Clothes scattered everywhere, empty bottles, bodies sprawled across the leather sofa and the floor. The table was dusted with white powder residue, and the air, thick with s*x and sweat and expensive cologne.
It was an aftermath of a night that would have destroyed Jax's carefully constructed image and Silver’s portfolio if anyone had witnessed it.
I was curled in my chair, wrapped in Jax's discarded shirt, watching the Romano brothers sleep tangled together on my sofa.
Silver's arm was draped possessively across Jax's chest, their breathing synchronized in post orgasmic exhaustion.
My clock showed 3:47 AM.
And then Jax's phone, which was abandoned on the floor near his jeans, started ringing.
He stirred, groaning, fumbling for it with barely opened eyes.
He could barely focus when he looked at the screen, but he answered it anyway
"f**k," he muttered. "Hello?" Jax’s voice was hoarse.
I couldn't hear the exact words on the other end, but I saw his face change.
“Baby?” Now it was audible.
I knew that voice. That tearful, desperate voice.
Emilia.
"Baby, I'm sorry for how I reacted." Her voice was barely audible, but I could hear the tears in it even from across the room.
“Emilia.” Awareness started to creep back in and Jax sat up slowly, carefully extracting himself from his brother's embrace. Silver mumbled something incoherent but didn't wake up.
I stayed perfectly still, watching.
He rubbed his face, and raked a hand through his hair “Emilia, you've caused a terrible situation in the press for me and my brand."
"I know, and I'm sorry. Let me fix this."
"How?" He stood up butt naked, walking toward my windows. Paris city was sprawled below us, the Eiffel Tower lit up in the distance. "How are you going to fix this, Emilia?"
"Take me back. Please?" She was sobbing now. "I love you, and I made a mistake. I should have trusted you. Please, Jax. Please take me back."
He was silent for a long moment, staring out at the city.
I watched his face in the reflection of the window.
I could see the calculation in his posture, in the set of his shoulders. He was thinking business, damage control, image management.
"Where are you?" His voice softened, taking on that gentle quality he used to manipulate her.
"At my mother's place."
"I'm coming to pick you up. Right now." The lies came so easily. "We're going to fix this together, baby. We're going to make this right."
This was Jax Romano playing the role of devoted husband while his brother's c*m was still drying on his skin.
I heard her sob with relief through the phone. "Thank you. Thank you, Jax. I love you so much."
"I love you too." His words were automatic. They sounded empty. "Stay there. I'll be there in thirty minutes."
He ended the call and stood there for another moment, naked and covered in evidence of his betrayal, preparing to go collect his wife and play the faithful husband.
Then he turned and started hunting for his clothes. He pulled on his jeans. Put on Silver’s shirt. His jacket was somewhere near the door.
Silver stirred on the sofa, his arm reaching out for the warm body that was no longer there. His eyes opened slightly. "Jax? Where are you going?"
"Out. Go back to sleep." He said and kissed Silver on the forehead. His brother returned to sleep without another question.
He moved with efficient speed as he grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter.
Here comes the devoted husband springing into action.
He was almost to the door, shoes in hand, when the snap of my lighter stopped him cold.
Jax turned slowly to see me watching him from the chair, cigarette between my fingers, smoke curling in the red light.
"Delilah, I…" He searched for words. For an explanation. Justification for his sudden departure.
I raised one finger, stopping him. Then I took a long drag of my cigarette and smiled.
"Go," I said softly. "As long as you always come back to me."
Something shifted in his expression. And an understanding passing between us without words.
He smiled and it was beautiful.
It felt like a reward for everything I'd orchestrated.
"I will, baby." His voice was a promise and a confession. "I'll always come back to you."
Then he was gone, the door closed softly behind him, leaving me alone with his sleeping brother, and the remnants of his affair scattered across my Parisian living room.
I took another drag of my cigarettes, watching the smoke curl toward my ceiling.
Perfect.
Phase two: complete.
Emilia thought she'd won. She thought her tearful apology and declaration of love had brought her husband home.
She had no idea what she was taking back. No idea what her husband had become in just three days of freedom.
No idea that every time she touched him, kissed him, made love to him, she'd be touching a body that I had totally claimed. She’d be sucking a c**k his brother had made to c*m, repeatedly.
I stubbed out my cigarette and stood, stretching. Silver was still passed out and snoring softly on my sofa, one arm still reaching for his brother.
I left him there, gathering my dress and shoes to keep aside. I'd clean up the rest in the morning. Right now, I need to sleep.
As I climbed into my bed—the bed Jax had helped me choose, in the apartment he was paying for—I smiled at the ceiling.
By now, Jax would be driving back to his wife. Back to playing the loving husband while the taste of his brother and his assistant still on his lips.
And Emilia would take him back. She would believe his lies. She would make that press conference clearing his name, apologizing for her "overreaction," and taking full responsibility for the damages and the scene she caused at his studio.
She would humiliate herself publicly to save his reputation.
And when she was done, I would have him back exactly where I wanted him. Sexually dependent. Loyal lapdog. And wholly mine.
I laughed into my pillow, already planning phase three.
This was going to be so much fun.
- Writer
