004: NO ONE HAS TO KNOW.

CAIN'S POV

I walked toward Ciara, but Simon quickly intercepted, running his hands all over her body and inquiring if she'd be okay.

I step back. I had greeted my dad earlier and my mother wasn't even there. I think I'm done with this party too.

I head downstairs to the first floor—still crowded enough that no one notices me slip out to the side terrace for a quick smoke. The nicotine does nothing to dull the ache in my cock or the memory of her taste. I crush the cigarette under my heel when I see Ciara coming.

She stared at me. My jawline, my eyes. Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out at first, just a soft exhalation.

"You—" Her voice cracks, barely above a whisper. She glanced wildly around the corridor.

I don't move. I just watched her with a half-smile playing at his lips.

"You knew," she hisses, stepping forward on trembling legs. "You knew exactly who I was. You let me," she pauses. "You let me spread my legs for you like some desperate slut thinking it was my husband."

My smile fades. Is that how she sees it? She didn't know it was me? "You didn’t ask for names back there, Ciara. You just moaned ‘more’ like you were dying for it."

Her cheeks burn bright red and her hands shake so badly she has to fist them at her sides. "Shut up. Just—shut your fucking mouth." She lunged forward and shoved me.

I don't react.

"You violated me," she screamed, her voice rising despite the risk of being overheard. "You made me come hard, and you enjoyed the lie."

I catch her wrists before she can shove me again. Her sweet rose scent fills my nostrils and mixes with the faint, musky trace of her arousal. "I didn’t force you," I say quietly, eyes locked on hers.

"You blew that kiss. You smacked your own ass and led me down here. You hooked your panties on your heels and spread wider when I teased your clit. Don’t pretend you didn’t want every second of it."

She wrenches free, stumbling back until she hit the wall. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I thought you were him. I thought..." Her voice broke. "I thought Simon finally wanted me like that," she choked in a sob. "You’re a liar. A cheat. A monster."

"I am."

"No one has to know what happened as embarrassing and humiliating as it was, it stays between us."

I need to divert the conversation because I can fucking see through her and understand what she's trying to hide. She's protecting the part of her that enjoyed it. "You don't look like a wife who has just been kissed." I corner her softly. "Do you even know why he doesn't touch you like a man should?"

"You have no idea what you're saying." She pushes me away, but her body leans in first. "This is forbidden!" She snaps, stepping closer to glare at me.

"Why? It doesn't even feel dangerous." I breathe against her ear.

She lets out a heavy breath. "I'll be socially ruined... I would lose my family and destroy the important relationship I have with my husband."

"You only feel indebted to my brother because of the life he has given."

"Who wouldn't be? I can't just intentionally ruin my marriage." She stares at space. "You have no idea what my mom had to suffer in her own marriage." She quickly sniffs in and shakes her head.

"But you want me?" I demanded, still staring at her. "You came so hard on my fingers. And right now, even while you’re screaming at me, your nipples are hard under that dress. Your thighs are still trembling."

I have a thing for redheads. A bad, obsessive thing. And Ciara has no fucking clue how badly my fingers itch to slide her soaked panties aside again, how I want to watch her small hands fumble under my waistband, wrap around my cock, smear the leaking precum over her head while she bites her lip to keep from moaning in a crowded house full of family... How I want to pin her against this wall, hike her dress, and fuck her slow and deep until she’s whispering my name like a prayer instead of cursing it.

A smack descends on my right cheek, forcing my head to the side. She slaps me and neither of us moves. "I'm your brother's wife!" She yells.

"Fuck him. He's only using you. He doesn't see or understand you the way I do. We've only just met, but I swear you can feel the connection." I rub my cheek and tilt my head to the sides. "Do it again, if it makes you feel better."

Her chest heaves. She glances upstairs, searching for him… but something in her eyes flinches.

She turns back to me and steps close, so close our bodies are now pressed together, and her hands rest on my crotch. "I shouldn't want you."

I nod, although I'm already aware that every gasp, and the first contact she's making tells me she wants this even if she hasn’t realized it yet.

"This is selfish, and wrong—"

I cut her off when I finally got it. "So you're scared of becoming a bad person?" I asked. "You feel shame and guilt. Why?" I traced her collarbone.

"I'm faithful and..." She pushes me off quickly and straightens herself. "Stay away from me! If you ever touch me again. I will ruin you."

"And where has being faithful gotten you? When was the last time he touched you? Has he looked at you like you mattered? Or does your whole life revolve around a husband who doesn't see you, treats you like shit and fucks his work like it's a damn mistress?"

Her eyes flashed angrily. She clenches her fist, body vibrating. "Go fuck yourself!" She screams and storms off.

"I won’t," I call after her as she storms off, hips swinging angrily. "Someone else will."

Fuck. I know how to respect boundaries. I do, but Mother insisted we all move into the family home while she’s ill. Simon and Ciara already live there. That means every stay in that house is going to be torture.

I light another cigarette with unsteady hands.

Let's see how long Ciara can resist before falling into my temptation.