Illicit Affair With My Husband's Brother

When Megan woke up, her head was pounding with a dull, rhythmic throb. She tried to sit up, but the weight of the heavy duvet pinned her down. When she peeked underneath, the cool air hit her skin and she realized she was completely naked.

“Holy shit!” she yelled. Her heart raced as she scrambled out of bed, dragging the duvet with her to cover up. The sudden movement left the man sleeping next to her totally exposed.

Megan screamed again at the sight of him. “W-Who are you?! What are you doing in this room?!” she asked, her voice trembling.

Her mind was a blur of hazy neon lights and loud music. What happened last night? Why was she in this hotel? And why was she in bed with a stranger?

The man on the bed woke up instantly, moving with a grace that suggested he wasn't as hungover as she was. He raised an eye at her, then looked down at himself. Realizing he was bare, he jumped up and pulled on his boxers without a hint of embarrassment.

Megan let out a dry, nervous laugh. She felt an urge to pinch herself, desperate to wake up from this nightmare, but the plush carpet under her feet and the sharp sunlight streaming through the window felt too real.

The man didn't say a word, so Megan snapped at him again. “Answer me! Who are you? What did you do to me last night?” She rubbed her temples, trying to quiet the noise in her head.

“Seriously? You’re going to act like you don't remember any of it? Stop kidding yourself. You had a great time,” he said, his voice deep and calm. Before he could finish, Megan cut him off.

“That’s a lie! You’re talking total nonsense!”

She shook her head hard, trying to piece together the night. It was her bachelorette party. She had been wasted. Her friend Tuesday was supposed to be watching her, but the last thing she remembered was falling into a guy’s arms—and a kiss so intense it still made her lips tingle. That guy was the man standing right here.

She groaned as the memories of their night together started to hit her like a freight train. “You jerk! You totally took advantage of me because I was drunk!” she yelled while he started putting on his clothes.

He didn't smile. He looked completely serious, his eyes locking onto hers. “Stop stressing out and get your stuff. We’re leaving Vegas,” he said coldly.

Megan pushed her messy hair out of her face and screamed again. “Will you explain who the hell you are and why you're barking orders at me?”

As she lowered her hand, she caught a glimpse of something gold and sparkling on her finger. She knew for a fact she wasn't wearing that when she got to the city.

Oh my god!

She marched up to him, holding her hand out. “Tell me what happened. Why am I wearing a wedding ring? What is this?”

The man ignored her and kept getting dressed, his movements methodical. Losing her patience, she screamed, “Answer me! Why are you being so quiet?”

He stopped and turned to face her. He walked toward her until he was hovering just inches away. “That ring actually means something.”

They locked eyes, and his intense stare made her skin crawl. “It’s the symbol of our marriage. We got married last night.”

Megan let out a loud, long laugh. It was a sound born of pure disbelief. The man stood there with his arms crossed, watching her lose it.

When she finally stopped laughing, her face went cold. “You’re crazy! How can you say something so ridiculous? When did we get married? Where?”

The man grabbed her hand firmly, his grip like iron. “Don’t mess with me—”

Megan shoved him away with all her strength. “Last night was just a hookup! Nothing more. I don’t care what you say, we are not married!”

The man stepped back toward her, his jaw tight. “You should have thought about that before you threw yourself at me. Everything comes with a price. Stop playing around and get it through your head, we are officially married.”

Megan snapped. She slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing in the quiet room. She was gasping for air, her chest heaving with rage. Every word out of his mouth felt like an insult to who she was.

“Watch me leave. And just so you know, I’m already engaged to someone else. There is nothing you or anyone else can do about it. You are not my husband.”

She glared at him, her eyes burning with tears she refused to shed. The stranger stayed silent, clenching his fists as he watched Megan disappear into the dressing room to change.

When she came out, he finally spoke. “Do I really have to tell you that this is my place and you’re my wife?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Megan* asked, grabbing her bag.

“You aren't going anywhere,” he answered.

“Watch me!” Megan laughed sarcastically. She turned her back on him and walked toward the door without looking back.

“You can’t just walk away from this marriage,” he called out. “Do you think I’m lying to you?”

Megan kept going. To her, last night was a blur, a mistake fueled by too many drinks. She was leaving Las Vegas and heading back to the Hamptons. She turned around at the door one last time and smiled while putting on her sunglasses. “Watch me leave, Mr. Stranger.”

She walked straight out. Left alone and fuming, the man threw his phone against the wall, the screen shattering. “Dammit!” he yelled, his face turning red with fury.

“This isn't over, Megan. I’ll get you back no matter what it costs.”

He pulled out a backup phone and dialed a number. “Get the private jet ready. We’re heading to the Hamptons tonight.”

Megan spent the flight trying to block out the man’s voice. She needed to focus on her wedding to Clark. Her parents had always pushed for him, and though she never understood their obsession with the match, she wanted the stability he offered. She loved him, and she wasn't going to throw her future away for a Vegas mistake.

But no matter how hard she tried to forget the stranger, the weight of the ring in her pocket felt like a lead weight.

She was in a daze during the ride home. When the taxi pulled up to her house, she tried to convince herself that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. She took a few deep breaths, smoothed her clothes, and opened the front door.

But before she could even step inside, a hand flew out and slapped her hard across the face.

“Have what you done? Look at this video!”