“I didn’t want you to know,” he pleads.

I clutch my chest, covering the ache. “You were going to lie to me? I don’t know which is worse, your willingness to deceive me or your last minute honesty.” I close my eyes and shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts of how many women he’s brought here. What else is he lying about?

“I was going to have it remodeled. I have no need for it now... I…” he stops, realizing how crass what he just said sounded, “I thought I was protecting you by not telling you. But, I can feel how betrayed and deceived you feel, and I know I was wrong.” He crowds me with his big body inching closer. “I’d never do anything to hurt you on purpose, Sophia. Please believe that. Don’t let my mistakes make you feel like this. Nothing has changed. All this is just details, details that will never matter unless we let them. I love you so much! Please, please,” he begs. In my head, I hear, I’ll take it. I’ll take it, over and over like a chant. He wants to take the pain away.

I touch his frowning face. “You’re right.” The bond we share simplifies things greatly. I can feel his remorse. “Nothing has changed. I knew there were other women, but it still hurts. Thank you for understanding why I’m upset. I love you, too, so so much. I feel like I’ve never not loved you. What we have is worth more than my jealousy, but please, don’t keep something like this from me again. I deserve to deal with it privately.”

Masen lets out a deep breath and nods his head. He wraps his arms around me, lifts me up, and buries his face in my neck. I feel his wide chest expand as he drags in deep breaths, scenting me. Too soon, he sets me down and brushes his lips across mine, kissing me softly. Then, he turns and places a large key into the elevator panel. He turns the keys and removes it quickly. Lifting my hand, he opens it, placing the keys in my palm. “Only two of the elevators are capable of reaching my floor; even then these keys are required to access it.”

The ride to the next floor is short. When the doors peel open, I see a small lobby much like the one below us, but this one is lacking Doris’s smiling face. Instead, I find Roxanne wearing what I would consider closer to a nighty than business attire. The green satin material has black lace at the hem and bust line. The thin material leaves no questions as to her braless state. It’s so short I’m sure if she were to bend over in the slightest we would see her flat skinny ass. I refuse to give her the satisfaction of knowing how her being here affects me. Her face is smug. She’s happy about something, and it makes me nervous.