Forget about it. It never happened.

Cassie's Pov. 

I stare up at his face. Strong jaw, flawless skin, lips I already know the taste of. My eyes trail the line of his shoulders, his chest, every sharp muscle and I hate myself for the way my body responds to the sight of him.

Before his mouth can descend on mine I wrench back. "No. Mark." My eyes search his face. "I don't want this. This isn't—"

"You don't want this." He cuts me off, voice quiet and precise. "Or you hate that you want it?"

I don't answer.

"Are you not tired," he says slowly, "of being treated like a second option?"

The words hit somewhere tender. So he'd seen it too. I'd spent years convincing myself it was my imagination — that David simply had a lot on his plate, that the business and the pressure and our mothers' expectations made him distracted. Not indifferent. Never indifferent.

"Yes," I say, teeth gritting. "I hate being treated that way. But I would never hurt David. You took advantage of me and you know it."

Surprisingly, he releases me. Steps back with that infuriating grin, giving me room I no longer know what to do with. "Lie to yourself all you wish. It won't change what's real."

***

I stumble into the kitchen, my head pounding. Every step reminds me of his hands. I tell myself what I need to tell myself — that he's my brother-in-law, that last night was a mistake, that the champagne is to blame.

I need coffee. Something normal.

I brew the coffee fast, pour a cup and take a long slow sip. The heat does nothing. His cologne still clings to my skin like it belongs there. My thighs press together on their own and the guilt only makes it worse. My husband has never made me feel this way. That thought brings a sting behind my eyes I wasn't expecting.

I set the cup down. My fingers slip under the hem of my nightgown without my full permission, and the fabric is so thin in the morning light it's nearly nothing. My fingers meet slick heat and a helpless moan slips out before I can catch it.

"Enjoying yourself?"

I spin. Mark stands in the doorway wearing only shorts, a towel draped over his neck, sweat trailing down his chest and abs. Steam still rises off his skin. That same expensive cologne mixes with something warmer underneath and hits me before I can brace for it.

The dark color of his tattoos catch my eyes and I can't help but savor the danger it radiates. It ran through his arm stretching to his left wrist. 

"Leave." My voice shakes. "David will be home soon. Please just leave."

He steps closer, moving like he owns the room. I turn back to the counter, pretending to pour more coffee. He steps up directly behind me. I feel his heat before I feel anything else.

His chest presses to my back. One large hand slides down my side, slow and deliberate. I bite my lip hard enough to hurt.

I spin to face him, my mouth opening without words. He's closer than I thought. He tilts my chin up with two fingers like it's the most natural thing in the world. "What were you going to say?"

"Stop. See." I lift my hand, my diamond catching the light between us. "I am married. To your brother."

He glances at the ring and chuckles. "I can get you as many of those as you want. You just have to ask."

He cages me against the counter, one hand braced on the wall beside my head. "Look at you. Very beautiful, smart," he stops briefly, eyes searching mine. "Yet, you let yourself cry over my little undeserving brother…I intend to change that."

His fingers trail down my stomach, then under the hem of my gown. He hooks my underwear and drags it down slowly. Cool air hits me and I gasp.

"You just have to ask."

"Mark." I slip sideways out of the cage of his arms. "Do you want to ruin everything? My marriage. Our families. Our companies—"

"Yes." His eyes don't move from my face. "I want to ruin all of you."

"Is this a game to you? You took advantage of me. This is forbidden. This is—"

"You called my attention, Cassie." His voice drops. "You did. Don't rewrite it. This isn't forbidden. It isn't even close to dangerous. It's just me finally taking what's mine." His jaw tightens. "Do you have any idea how long I've watched?"

I swallow at the way he says my name.

"You knew I was drunk," I say, forcing my voice flat. "You watched me love your brother for years and one drunken night made you think that would change anything?"

"It changed everything."

I step back until the counter stops me, shaking my head. "You're a monster."

"I am."

"And a cheat."

"I am." He doesn't even blink. "But I own your secret now. And you know it."

"Screw you."

"You tugged at my shirt," he says, quieter now, almost gentle and that's worse. "You kept tugging. You wanted to make him disappear. You wanted it — and seeing that beautiful ruin, how could I refuse?"

"Shut up."

"You were touching yourself to me just now. Right here in this kitchen." His eyes hold mine. "You can keep lying. But your body hasn't lied once since last night."

"I love David." My voice comes out smaller than I want. "It's always going to be him."

Something shifts in his face. And, I swear my last words did something to him. "Do you feel indebted to him?"

"Who wouldn't?" I scream. David has held things together in ways I can't always explain — financially, structurally, in ways that reach further than the two of us. He couldn't satisfy me but that doesn't make him less of a man.

"You want me though." Mark takes one step closer. "There's no hiding that."

I surge forward and slap him hard. The sound cracks through the kitchen. He doesn't flinch and his smirk only widens.

I hit him again. Then again, each one weaker, my arm going heavy. He just watches me, very calm and patient, like he expected every single one. And when I raise my hand a final time he turns his face deliberately, offering his cheek. A red mark designed his face once my hands left. 

I turn to storm out, legs unsteady, and stop dead in the doorway.

David stands there, suitcase in hand, staring straight at me.