last night

Genova didn't return home for the night.

That's the first thing I realised when I opened my eyes.

Was he scared of facing me? In the past, no matter what, he would still come back home after spending time with his mistress.

Was it because he realized that I was aware of his actions?

I didn't care anymore. Whether he came home or not wasn't my problem. He could even move in with his mistress and I wouldn't give a fuck.

My mind travelled to last night how. How Roman touched me, how he ordered me to …

I shook my head, dispelling those thoughts and headed for the bathroom.

After my morning routine, I walked downstairs.

I was halfway making my coffee when the door clicked open and Genova stepped inside.

He looked tired, not that I cared.

He stood in the kitchen doorway in yesterday's clothes and had the audacity to look almost sheepish when his eyes found mine.

"Tiana." He started carefully.

"Morning." I said it simply, wrapping both hands around my mug.

He moved further into the kitchen, rubbing the back of his neck.

"About last night." He began. "It's not what…” he started to explain but I cut him off.

"You don't need to explain yourself to me." I pointed out.

"There was never love between us, Genova. We both know that."

Our marriage…it was arranged and forced on us.

He needed a wife to keep appearances, a woman who was refined enough to stand by his side, a wife who understood his world.

I happened to be that woman for him.

As for me… well, my family needed his support to stay afloat.

It was a transactional marriage, probably why I wasn't going insane that my husband was cheating.

Genova blinked. He had expected more resistance from me. I could see that.

He had probably rehearsed this conversation on the drive home and my calm had left him not knowing what to say next.

"I— that doesn't mean…" he started but I cut him off.

"Say what you came to say." I said quietly. "I have things to do."

He exhaled, looked at the counter then looked back at me.

"I want an open marriage Tiana."

The words landed in the quiet kitchen and I looked at him for a long moment.

I almost wanted to laugh out loud but stopped myself.

This man who had married me and looked through me for two years.

He had moaned another woman's name while I stood on the other end of the line collecting every syllable.

And now…he wanted to give his cheating a respectable name.

"You've been fucking around for two years already." I said, making sure I knew that he had been cheating on me all along and not just last night.

“You don't need to give it a fancy name." I scoffed.

"Tiana…"

"Fine." I picked up my mug. "If that's what you want. An open marriage it is."

Genova stared at me, clearly not expecting me to agree so quickly.

What was the use of fighting though? He wouldn't stop seeing his mistress so why bother

Besides, it gave me the freedom to get cosy with Roman. Not that I wouldn't have done it anyway.

Genova was about to say something when Roman appeared in the kitchen doorway, hair still dishevelled from sleep.

His grey sweatpants sat indecently low on his hips, a white t-shirt that did nothing to hide the ink running down his arms.

Roman took in the scene before him with one unhurried glance.

"Is this a bad time?" He asked, moving toward the coffee maker without waiting for an answer.

“ I didn't mean to interrupt.

Are you two discussing bedroom matters?" He pressed and even with a straight face, I could hear the teasing behind his words.

Genova of course didn't or he preferred not to show it.

"Not at all." Genova replied, clearing his throat and visibly relieved at the interruption.

"Tiana and I were just talking."

"Talking." Roman repeated, pouring his coffee. He turned and leaned back against the counter, mug in hand and his eyes briefly finding mine before sliding away. "Funny. I wouldn't have thought of Tiana as much of a talker." He commented.

I kept my face perfectly still.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Genova asked, frowning slightly.

"I mean…" Roman lifted his mug and paused to look at me.

"I thought Tiana loves having her mouth stuffed rather than talking."

The kitchen went very quiet after those words.

I kept a straight face even when I was choking on my saliva.

Roman looked between us with an expression of innocence.

"Stuffed with food." He added simply. "She demolished half a loaf of bread last night.

Bro, your wife is an interesting woman.

She can eat so much and still keep her figure this perfect?”

His eyes found mine again, “We had a great time actually."

Genova laughed, the tension in his shoulders releasing. "You two hung out?" He asked, like he didn't expect that. I mean, I have always avoided Roman like a plague before.

"Mm." Roman hummed, sipping his coffee.

“ We kept each other company since you were out." He looked at his brother over the rim of his mug. "How was your night by the way?"

Genova laughed, his laugh coming out slightly strained.

“ It was good.” He replied and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at that.

Of course it was good since he was balls deep inside his mistress.

"That's good.

Some nights just end up being surprisingly satisfying.” He said and his eyes cut briefly to me.

“Like last night. It was worth the wait." He added.

I turned around, hiding my now blushing face.

I took a long sip of my coffee.

Genova's phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out, glancing at the screen. The slight change in his expression told me everything about who was on the other end.

"I need to take this." He said, already moving toward the hallway. "We'll talk more later Tiana." He added.

"Of course." I said pleasantly.

Genova disappeared around the corner and a moment later I heard his bedroom door close.

The kitchen settled into silence.

Roman didn't move an inch, he just stood there against the counter looking at me over his coffee with a calm expression.

"Open marriage." He said it quietly.

So, he heard about it huh?

"What an interesting morning.” He added without giving me the chance to reply.

Not like I had something to say anyway.

He pushed off the counter slowly and moved toward the kitchen doorway, pausing when he was standing next to me.

He was close enough that I could feel the warmth of him without any contact.

“ Is your pussy still aching from last night's denial, sister-in-law?” He asked in a low,sultry tone.

Then he walked out of the kitchen like he hadn't just reminded me how he left me frustrated last night.

I stared at my coffee and pressed my thighs together under the counter.

“ You are a bastard.” I murmured more to myself.