Chapter 2

Chloe instinctively dropped her gaze to Scott's crotch.

Scott took the chance to catch her hand. "Want to inspect the goods first?"

Now that she knew the reason, Chloe had nothing left to hesitate over.

Scott was right. Some random stranger could never be as cathartic as doing it with him.

If she was going to indulge, she might as well go all the way.

"Did you bring your ID?" Chloe asked. "You handle the booking. I'll pay."

At the hotel entrance, Chloe and Scott split up by unspoken agreement.

Scott went in first, crossed the lobby, and headed straight for the elevators, casually taking her bag up with him—so smooth and practiced he was clearly no stranger to this kind of thing.

Chloe waited a moment before strolling into the hotel on her heels, unhurried.

Warm amber light washed over the marble floors, a faint fragrance hanging in the air.

Chloe had barely stopped in front of the suite door, her fingers not yet on the handle, when Scott yanked her inside.

The heavy door thudded shut behind her.

Scott pressed her against the full-length mirror in the entryway, the cold glass meeting her back.

His warm lips grazed the shell of her ear, his breath scalding against her sensitive skin.

One hand slid slowly down the line of her waist, fingertips tracing suggestive circles over the fabric.

"Tell me," Scott said, his voice husky with undisguised want, "what position do you like best?"

Chloe's breathing had already lost its rhythm, her chest rising and falling faintly. "I don't have a preference... You decide."

"That won't do." Scott's hand kneaded the side of her waist with just enough pressure, the heat of his fingertips burning through the fabric. "Everything tonight has to be to your satisfaction."

"How do you and he usually... like to do it?" Scott chuckled low against her ear, unmistakably teasing.

Chloe was almost certain this jerk was doing it on purpose. Some people just loved the extra thrill at moments like this.

She pressed her lips together and didn't answer.

Her silence didn't rein him in. His hand wandered around to the front, fingertips deliberately grazing the sensitive fabric. "Ah, sorry," he laughed wickedly against her ear. "I almost forgot—he's probably spent all his energy elsewhere."

Chloe raised her eyes and met his in the mirror, ice-cold. "One more word of that crap and you can get out."

She saw Scott's eyes narrow slightly, a meaningful smile hooking the corner of his mouth, as if he were savoring her fury.

Before Chloe could even privately curse his perversion, Scott swept her up around the waist, strode to the big bed in the center of the room, and tossed her onto the soft mattress without an ounce of tenderness.

Everything after that happened fast and fierce, like dry kindling catching flame.

He bent down and kissed her hard, his hand pushing roughly under her clothes, expertly undoing every barrier.

Clothes fell scattered across the carpet, and when bare skin met bare skin, the heat of their bodies was scorching.

The air in the hotel room seemed to burn, thick with the mingled scent of sweat and desire.

When he pushed into her, the sudden fullness made Chloe bite down on his shoulder, leaving a ring of red marks.

A low groan rumbled from deep in Scott's throat, and he answered with even deeper force.

The glass on the nightstand got knocked to the floor, shattering with a crisp crack, water blooming dark across the dark carpet.

The wall mirror caught a blurred reflection of their tightly tangled bodies, the corners of Chloe's eyes flushed red, her long hair spilled in disarray across the pillow.

It was well past midnight by the time they finished. Chloe was so exhausted she was half unconscious; through the haze she saw Scott propped against the headboard lighting a cigarette, the orange ember flaring and dimming in the dark room, tracing the sharp lines of his profile.

Chloe peeled her sweat-damp body out of bed and dragged her aching limbs into the bathroom.

She stood under the spray, looking down at the kiss marks and finger bruises left on her body, the fierce images from earlier replaying in her mind beyond her control.

She'd always known Scott was practiced at this, but she'd never expected the two of them to be so in sync.

Body and mind alike, she was thoroughly satisfied.

Everyone harbors a dark thought or two. Like Scott said, he and Austin were best friends—which really did double the sweetness of revenge.

Still, she was a grown woman. She knew the difference between desire and feelings.

This night with Scott—she'd treat it as done and gone.

Chloe had no intention of staying the night.

When she came out of the bathroom freshly showered, Scott was already changed into a hotel robe, sitting at the small dining table.

Two salads and two steaming cups of coffee were set out on the table.

"Didn't know if you'd eaten, so I ordered two." Scott jerked his chin at the chair across from him.

Chloe really hadn't eaten dinner, and after that vigorous workout, her stomach was achingly empty.

She sat down across from Scott and looked at the plate—a Caesar salad with grilled chicken breast, Parmesan, and croutons.

The one in front of Scott was identical.

He ate with an unhurried air, every movement elegant and well-mannered.

He really was handsome. No wonder so many women fell for him.

Chloe pushed the salad around with her fork, left the pretty latte untouched, and twisted open a bottle of Perrier instead.

"Not to your taste?" Scott looked up, his gaze skimming the cup by her hand. "It's an award-winning recipe from the barista downstairs."

Chloe glanced at her phone screen. "I'll pass. Coffee at this hour, I'll be staring at the ceiling till sunrise."

The words were barely out of her mouth when her screen lit up with an incoming call labeled "Hubby."

Chloe hit mute. A text followed quickly: [Baby, I miss you. Send me your flight number. I'll take tomorrow afternoon off and pick you up at the airport.]

Chloe finished reading and gave a snort of laughter too soft to hear.

Men really did love this self-serving performance after cheating—as if one text could wash a guilty conscience clean.

Her fingertips flew across the screen: [No need. I already made plans with Emilia. She's picking me up.]

Austin replied quickly: [You're still up this late?]

Chloe: [Just finished some emails. Heading to bed.]

Having fobbed off her husband, she set the phone down and found Scott across the table watching her with keen interest, chin propped on his hand.

He pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose and said with certainty, "You're planning a divorce."

Chloe's breath caught. Scott's sharpness sent a chill down her spine.

He'd glimpsed a couple of messages on her screen and already guessed her plan.

"Why that face?" Amusement curved Scott's lips. "Afraid I'll rat you out to Austin?"

Chloe steadied herself. "This stays between us. You never heard it."

Just then, Scott's phone buzzed at the corner of the table, its screen casting a faint glow over the dark wood.

He glanced at the caller ID, didn't pick up, and slid the phone across to Chloe instead.

Chloe raised a puzzled eyebrow.

"Take care of this little problem for me," Scott said with a nod at the phone, "and I'll pretend I never heard what you just said."

Chloe picked up the phone. The screen showed a local number with no name saved.

It didn't take a genius to figure out Scott wanted her to handle a woman.

It was only a few words. Chloe nodded, hit answer, and put the phone to her ear.

A gentle female voice came through the receiver, hesitant. "Can we meet? There are some things... I'd rather say in person."

Chloe's red lips curved faintly, her tone careless but with unmistakable distance. "I'm afraid that's not convenient. He doesn't want to see you."

Two seconds of silence on the line. "May I ask who—"

"The woman who's still with him at one thirty in the morning. Who do you think?" Chloe cut her off before she could finish, the tone pitched to perfection—just like the catty supporting actress in a TV drama.

A soft sigh came through the phone. "...Sorry to bother you."

Call ended. Chloe handed the phone back to Scott, and his fingers brushed casually across the back of her hand as he took it.

Chloe said, "Remember what you promised."

Scott didn't pick up the thread. "So you've really made up your mind to divorce him?"

Chloe said, "Relax. Even when it's final, I won't latch onto you."

Scott smiled. "Good."

He got up and went to the bedside to change, letting the robe drop to the carpet. Chloe caught a glimpse of his bare back and frowned slightly.

"Stay here tonight. I've got something to take care of, so I'm heading out." Scott grabbed the shirt off the chair back and pulled it on, all brisk efficiency.

Chloe just hummed in response and tapped at her phone a few times. "Just sent you the hotel money."

Scott's hands paused on the buttons. "You're actually paying me?"

Chloe said, "For the room, that's all."

Scott laughed under his breath and picked up his car keys from the nightstand. "Fine. Next time, it's on me."

Chloe didn't answer.

Next time? There was never going to be a next time for them.