Chapter 1: Introduction
Tom checked his tight grip of Emily's hand and pushed his curls of dark hair off of his forehead, glancing nervously left and then right. The hotel bar he was ushering her towards looked like it belonged in a castle library, with its dark wood paneling and bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes. At least the scotch would be good amongst this opulence.
"You're sure you wanna do this?" Tom whispered, running his free hand down Emily's bare arm, giving her goosebumps.
He glanced nervously at the outline of her perfect cleavage visible through the deep V-neck of her red dress. "We don't have to-"
Emily turned to look up at Tom, her hazel eyes shining with excitement and anticipation. "Yes, we do. I want to live a little more, and this is adventure."
Tom smiled back at her, his insecurities dissipating at her reassurance. He took a deep breath and squeezed her hand.
"Okay, let's do this."
As they made their way to the bar, Tom noticed a tall, attractive blonde man, standing in the corner. He had a sculpted jawline and piercing green eyes that immediately made Tom nervous. He pulled Emily closer in a protective gesture, who glanced at him with a knowing smirk.
The handsome stranger caught Tom's eye and flashed him a confident smile. Tom couldn't help but feel intimidated.
Emily leaned in to whisper in Tom's ear. "Relax, tiger.
I've got this," Emily murmured, barely containing her laughter at his discomfort. "Besides, you wanted to have some fun tonight, right?"
Tom couldn't deny that. After ten years of marriage, the spark had dimmed slightly, and they were both eager to reignite the passion they once shared.
Emily sashayed towards the man at the bar, while Tom couldn't help but watch her hips sway as she moved. She leaned against the mahogany bar and ordered them a round of shots.
The man's eyes never left her face as he introduced himself as David. Emily responded with ease and grace.
Tom observed them quietly from a distance, admiring Emily's confidence and the way David seemed to hang on every word she spoke. Tom couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by the handsome stranger, but he quickly shook off those feelings. He was here to support Emily, to make her feel desired and loved. And if that meant bringing another person into their bedroom, then Tom was willing to try.
As Emily laughed at something David said, Tom made his way towards them. Emily's eyes sparkled with delight as she spotted him, her hand reaching out to grasp Tom's, pulling him closer.
"Tom, I'd like you to meet David," Emily introduced them, a seductive glint in her eyes. "David, this is my husband, Tom."
David extended his hand, giving Tom a firm handshake before backing away, offering them a drink. Tom accepted, still trying to quell the nerves swimming in his stomach.
He cleared his throat before speaking. "Nice to meet you, David. Emily's told me a bit about you."
Lies. She hadn't told him anything about David aside from the fact that he was attractive and charming. The rest Tom had surmised on his own.
David replied with a raised eyebrow. "Oh? What kind of things has she been saying about me?"
Emily giggled, the flush of excitement creeping up her cheeks. "Nothing bad, I promise.