[Supporter] Window to Temptation Ch. 03 (Patreon)

Hey Friends! Hope everyone is ready for a 'fun' Valentine's Day. I'm wrapping up the Extended Version of the epilogue for Newlyweds and should have it to this group by Monday, in case anyone needs help celebrating.

The last couple of weeks have been pretty heads down for Hannah and me and the results, I think, are a pretty interesting Chapter 3 to Window to Temptation. It's been a lot of fun fleshing out some of these characters and hearing everyone's thoughts on Dafni and Luther.

Can't wait to hear what you think.

The ribeye was perfect. Wagyu, dry-aged, cooked to a flawless rare with a crisp, buttery crust. There were sides too, but Hunter had stopped paying attention to what he was eating three drinks ago. He'd slipped the waiter a twenty to start bringing him seltzer in a rocks glass. The Nexus guys hadn't noticed. They were too busy trading war stories about hostile takeovers and market plays, the kind of chest-pounding that Hunter had heard at every client dinner he'd ever attended. He laughed when he was supposed to, nodded in the right places, and hated every second of it.

Lost in the bluster of their accomplishments, his inhibitions diminished, Hunter texted Cory, unable to stop thinking about her since he had left.

Hunter: They're taking me out for drinks and dinner to celebrate. It feels dirty, but I can't say no.

He waited through another story Lawrence gave about the previous company he was at. How he took them from nothing to a fortune 500 mega power and how he could do the same thing here. Hunter rolled his eyes and looked back down at his phone. Still nothing from Cory.

He began to panic. What if Luther had already told her about Hunter seeing Dafni through the window? He'd make it sound worse than it was. Cory would think she married a creep and he'd be sleeping on the sofa for days.

Around the table erupted into another fit of laughter as Lawrence dredged on.

Hunter: where'd you go? The neighbors aren't spreading lies trying to steal you from me, are they?

The ellipsis appeared almost immediately and something in his chest loosened. The noise of the steakhouse fell away as he watched the screen.

Cory: Sorry, just trying to not be rude and be on my phone the whole dinner.

He let out a breath. Good, she was just at dinner, she didn't suspect anything. He chugged the rest of his water. She did sound a little annoyed though, but he knew just how to fix that.

Before he could type a response, however, Lawrence stood, and as predicted the rest of the table fell to silence as he proclaimed the direction of the celebration.

"A brief toast again to Hunter, for ensuring not only Nexus's continued growth, but also for saving us money. With that being said, it's time for a treat gentleman. Hunter, don't you even think of saying no."

Hunter knew exactly what was coming. He'd dodged these outings before, but Lawrence wasn't the kind of man you said no to. Not if you wanted the referral. Not if you wanted to keep working. He thumbed out another quick message to Cory.

Hunter: Can't stop thinking about this morning. How good your body felt. The sounds you were making. I'm getting hard just thinking about it. Want to see? ;)

"Gentleman," Lawrence roared. "the nights just begun. Next stop? Club Velvet. My treat."

"I'm just going to hit the restroom. I'll meet you guys outside." Hunter stood, excusing himself as he swayed through the restaurant toward the back. He pulled his phone from his pocket the moment he was in a stall, thankful that no one had followed him in there. As expected, he had another message from Cory.

Cory: Let me see just how bad you miss me.

Hunter was grinning like an idiot as he stared at her response, already working his belt loose. Cory must have been having at least a little fun with their new neighbors. She only responded like this when she was drunk and he wasn't about to miss the opportunity. He lowered his pants, stroking himself a couple of time to ensure he was hard. Then, after more than a couple of attempts, found an angle that made him look bigger than he was and sent it to Cory.

He pulled up his pants, and washed his hands then walked outside. Lawrence and the other executives were already climbing into their cars waiting for him when he arrived, anxious to get to Club Velvet.

From the name of the place alone, Hunter knew it wasn't going to be an upper class experience.

His predictions were accurate. The club had an old neon sign out front, intended to be seductive in its cursive font; now with its dulling or outright broken bulbs, it resembled an abstract work of art. The security guard at the entrance was an old man who clearly had no formal experience, pedigree or business being in such a role. Hunter was sure that the poor man would be broken in half if a true brawl broke out.

As they entered, the air conditioning was barely functioning, or kept purposefully high so customers would ply themselves with anything cold to stave off or numb their discomfort. The floor was sticky, and each step was more uncomfortable than the last.

The table they sat at was rickety, with little stability, feeling like it could fall apart at any moment. They were however extremely close to the stage. He ordered a Miller Lite and glanced at his phone.

Cory: OMG is all of that for me? Too bad you're not here. Guess I'll need to take care of things myself ;)

He wished he was back in his room so he could call her. They hadn't really done the phone sex thing since college, but something told him it would be extra hot tonight. Maybe it was his way of trying to displace his sense of guilt, despite not really knowing why he felt that way. He knew he hadn't done anything wrong, quite the opposite, he remained unwavering in his commitment to save as many employees at Nexus as possible. He failed. Not because of him, but because of Lawrence and their inherent greed, which was often the cost of success.

Hunter sighed as he looked up from his phone, watching dancers leave as the men from the company flagged them down, already asking for private sessions. They were happy to oblige in the hopes that they could earn a decent sum, sadly he knew they wouldn't.

Among the intense bass that shook the entire foundation, a new track played and another dancer took the stage. He took a long swig of his beer and glanced over at the woman who had begun sensually tempting the crowd as her leg locked firmly around the pole in front of her.

It was Cory.

He couldn't believe it, he refused to acknowledge what he saw in front of him. It was logistically impossible. His vision narrowed and relief took over. It wasn't Cory, but the woman bore an unnerving similarity to her, clad in the shifting lights, she was a doppelgänger for his wife. The stripper took measured steps in her audaciously high heels, soon spinning around the pole in a dizzying display of skill.

He saw even more of a resemblance, tattoos snaked up her thighs and chest. He couldn't fully make them out, the ones across her thighs looked like a serpent, across her chest looked like angular, geometrical symbols, and a butterfly around her collar.

The comments of the Nexus team came wave after wave.

"She's a little flat, but man... I'd still fucking wreck her."

"Yeah man, I ain't kicking her out of bed, I can tell you that."

"She's got serious skill, I need a fucking lap dance from her."

Hunter's jaw tightened. He kept his eyes on the stage, telling himself it was because he couldn't look away from the resemblance, not because of the erotic way she moved. The way her body arched and rolled, it was almost meditative. Her eyes were barely open, completely lost in the moment.

Beauty should be shared.

Luther's voice surfaced as clear as if the old man were sitting beside him. Hunter blinked and took another drink. The alcohol wasn't helping. Nothing was helping.

Lawrence nudged his elbow. His eyes hadn't left the stage.

"See her? Reminds me of that wellness woman that presented at Nexus. Can't remember her name. Anyways, buncha bullshit like I said before. But..."

Hunter's throat closed. He was already anticipating what would be said next.

"I would have bent that bitch over my desk and given her the best fuck of her life. Those hippie chicks are always good fucks."

Hunter was grateful for the table to hide his discomfort that was growing rapidly in his chinos. The thought blossomed in his mind immediately, with absolute clarity. Cory in Lawrence's office, bent over the wide mahogany desk, but Lawrence wasn't sitting at it. He was positioned behind her. Hunter was in the corner, watching from a chair he couldn't get out of.

Hunter's eyes opened, the stage was a hazy blur of electric blue lights, the music now a droning mass as his brain drowned in alcohol, couldn't keep him present.

He tried to push the image away but it kept coming back, sharper each time. Cory's face turning toward him, her lips parted, her eyes glazed. Lawrence's hands were on her hips and the bass of the club was replaced with the rhythmic sound of skin slapping skin. He watched with enticing horror as Lawrence slid himself inside her, with no resistance. And worse of all, Hunter was impossibly hard.

The stripper from before had exited the stage. Lawrence's heavy hand was on Hunter's shoulder. "Hey. Earth to Hunter? You nodded off there."

Hunter rubbed his eyes. The room tilted gently beneath him, then settled. "Sorry. I think the jet lag caught up with me. I'm gonna head out."

He ordered an Uber in the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face while he waited for the confirmation. His reflection stared back at him, flushed and unfocused. He looked like a man who'd done something wrong.

He hadn't done anything wrong.

In the back of the car, he pressed his head against the cool window and closed his eyes. Behind his lids, the images reformed. Cory on the stage, her leg draped over Luther's shoulder as he sat at the edge of it. That greedy smile widening as she rolled her body toward him, her lips parted, her tongue tracing the corner of her mouth.

Hunter opened his eyes. Stared at the ceiling of the Uber. Closed them again.

It was going to be a long night.

***

Cory checked her phone for the third time in as many minutes. Hunter's flight had landed twenty-three minutes ago. Despite this being one of the shortest trips he took, she felt like he'd been gone for a month.

She shifted her weight, arms crossed, then uncrossed them as she adjusted the neckline of her loose fitting t-shirt. Her heart rate had increased substantially. Not enough to where she'd say it was racing, but enough for her to notice. She pressed her palm against her sternum, the tree of life tattoo coming alive as she felt the increased rhythm.

She chewed on the inside of her cheek, trying to remember the last time she felt this... excited to see him. She blamed it on the way he left. On the aggressive, hungry sex they had just hours before he had to leave. Then there was the way he was texting her, the picture he'd sent. That memory alone made her thighs squeeze together.

The automatic doors slid open and her head snapped forward. A family walked though with more bags than kids, followed by an older couple. She deflated slightly, lowering herself back down from the balls of her feet. Then she saw the purple carry-on, followed quickly by the Northwestern jacket and then his goofy smile.

Butterflies erupted in her stomach and she let out a soft squeal as she rushed over and jumped into his arms, nearly toppling him over. He dropped his carry-on to the ground, laughing as he stumbled backward a few steps. She pressed her face into his neck, inhaling him. God, she missed that smell.

"Hey." His arms wrapped around her, spinning her in a tight circle as other couples awkwardly made their way around them.

"Hey yourself." She pulled back just enough to kiss him. It was meant it to be quick, a welcome-home peck, but her mouth and tongue had other ideas. She felt him respond, his hands cupping the back of her thighs as he pulled her into him. The moment was so much like before he left that she moaned slightly into his mouth.

When she finally broke the kiss, they were both panting, foreheads pressed together as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Maybe I should leave more often."

"Don't you dare!" She swatted his arm, as her feet found their way back to the floor. "I just really missed you."

He smiled, grabbing her hand. "I can tell."

"So, how was Cleveland?" She asked once they were back in the car and leaving the airport. Her hand was already on his thigh, like breaking contact with him would make him leave again. She heard him suck in a breath and grinned as he bulged against his pants.

"It was... Cleveland. I can't believe Lawrence still decided to lay people off even after I proved he didn't need to."

"And I can't believe we have the same client and didn't realize it until now." Her fingers moved higher. "But, maybe we don't talk about Lawrence right now?" The palm of her hand grazed his outline and he slumped slightly in the seat next to her and shift.

"Cor, you're driving."

"I'm also very talented at multitasking." She squeezed gently, felt him already hard and ready beneath her palm. "Remember?"

"Jesus." He opened his mouth in a silent moan. "I definitely didn't forget."

"Good," she stroked him at an agonizingly slow pace. "Because I have big plans for when we get home."

"What kind of plans?"

She closed her hand fully around his shaft, and rubbed her thighs together. She missed him, it was that simple. He'd left her hungry and wanting when he left and this was the result of that. By the time she pulled into their driveway, both of them were shaking with need.

The front door had barely closed before she was on him. She moaned into his mouth, her hands threading through his hair as she backed him against the door.

He pulled her away by the shoulder, and she saw the same dark lust in his eyes she'd seen when he left. "Upstairs, now."

"No time," she giggled, pulling his belt free as she walked backward through the living room.

"What's gotten into you?" He was already pulling up her t-shirt, tossing it to the floor.

"Nothing yet." She spun him around, and pushed him onto the sofa. "And that's the problem."

His laugh was cut short when her hand slid into his boxers. He was fully hard now, thick and ready, and the feel of him in her palm made her core clench with want.

"Mmm I think he's missed me." She worked his pants and boxers lower with her free hand, refusing to let go of his shaft as it pulsed eagerly in her hand.

"You're so fucking sexy, Cory." He awkwardly pulled down her shorts and panties as she pressed her knees against the outside of his thighs straddling him.

"Say it again." Her gaze held his as she stroked him faster, his hands shaking as he removed her bra.

"You're so sexy. I love you so much." His hands came up to cup her breasts, thumbs brushing over her nipples, and she gasped at the sensation.

"I need you inside me." She released his cock, and placed her hands on his shoulders, pressing her lips to his.

"Fuuuu—"

She pressed her tongue into his mouth, muffling her own sigh as she sank down onto him. She loved the way he filled her, and savored every breathtaking inch as she took him to the root.

"God, you feel so good." She tilted her head back, as she worked her hips. "So fucking good."

His teeth were on her exposed neck instantly. Cory's nails dug into his chest as he pierced the tender flesh with his teeth. The couch creaked beneath them, drowning out her pants of encouragement as she chased her release.

"Your body's on fire, baby." He kissed his way past her collarbone and over the swell of her chest.

The sensation of his mouth on her chest was incredible. Her eyes fluttered shut giving into the hunger that had consumed her for the better part of the day. When Hunter's tongue swirled her nipple, she let her left hand drift between them brushing against her sensitive clit.

"Ahhhh, fuck." Her core clutched around Hunter making them both increase their already frantic pace. Hunter continued to kiss and suck her taut nipple. She loved the way he seemed to show her chest extra attention despite her feeling like it was her worst feature.

The orgasm began to take hold, as Cory worked her clit and Hunter pushed deeper into her. It was then, through the darkness behind her closed lids that she saw Luther and Dafni. The intrusive thought lasted less than a second. A flash of their body's joined together, Dafni stretched around him as her toes curled in ecstasy. Luther's pale blue eyes burning through the dark, watching her watch them.

Her fingers faltered. She squeezed her eyes tighter, trying to force the image out and drag Hunter back to the center of her mind where he belonged. But the harder she pushed against it, the more vivid it became. She could hear Dafni's cries threading through the wall, Luther's thick cock stretching her, his hips never stopping even when he caught Cory staring from the window.

Her walls clenched involuntarily. "Ohhh. Mmmm."

"Oh fuck. You like that?" Hunter kept the same angle as he felt Cory's body pulse around him.

She opened her eyes in a start and found him watching her. Panic flared as if he could see what had been playing behind her lids. She gripped the back of his neck, as the flush of being watched spread across her chest. She pulled his mouth to hers in a desperate kiss, needing his taste to replace the image.

"Does that feel good?" She rolled her hips and changed the tempo. "Do you like watching me fuck you?"

"Yesss. You feel so good." He smiled at her, as their foreheads stayed connected, sweat appearing on his forehead. He knew she was close. He could tell by the way her fingers dug into his neck. The way her brow pinched like she was concentrating, and especially by the speed in which her fingers were moving between them.

"I'm... oh fuck, baby. Don't stop. I'm right there."

Hunter would have never dreamed of stopping. He had no idea what had come over Cory, but he didn't want it to end. Unfortunately, his body had other plans. His cock pulse with each roll of Cory's hips and he knew he was going to be right there with her.

"I'm going to cum," he whispered, his fingers digging into her ass as her moans filled the room.

"Ohhhh... oh fuck." His words triggered something inside her and the orgasm ripped out of her like a phoenix through the ashes. Her entire body coiled tight, her movements growing in urgency. "Do it... Fuck, cum, baby. I want to feel it."

"Mmmm fuuuuck," he roared, lifting from the sofa slightly as he buried himself inside his wife one final time before erupting. Cory's release was right there with him, and he felt her body milk every last drop from him as he crashed back down onto the couch.

They stayed like that for some time, both of them breathing hard, stealing breathless kisses from one another.

"Welcome home," she finally whispered.

"If I'd known that was waiting for me, I'd have taken an earlier flight."

***

They migrated to the bedroom, Cory grinning sheepishly, as she climbed the stairs. She went to the dresser, grabbing an old t-shirt and pulling it over her otherwise naked body. Hunter didn't bother getting dressed, just laid in bed, allowing the cool air of the AC to cool him off as she laid down next to him.

"So," Hunter said, as she laid her head on his chest. "What else did I miss while I was gone?"

"Not much. Dinner with Luther and Dafni wasn't completely awful." She traced the serpent tattoo on his arm. "Oh, and Morgan's birthday is coming up. I was thinking we could throw a party for her on Saturday."

"Yeah? What's that entail for me?"

"Not much, really. I can take care of all the shopping and prep. Just need you on grill duty."

"Obviously." He kissed the top of her head. "Who's coming?"

"Us, her and Zach." She paused, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "We should invite Luther and Dafni, right?"

"Really? I guess that dinner really was something."

She was happy to be laying on his chest so he couldn't see her cheeks flush. "I don't know. I still think they are... weird. But, Dafni really is sweet. Plus, it would be like, super weird to not invite them since they live right next door, right?"

He squeezed her arm. "Right. No, that makes sense."

They laid in silence for a minute as Cory wrestled with how much she should tell Hunter about what happened. She knew she had to tell him, but she was enjoying the calm.

"So," she said finally, her stomach was fluttering. "Nexus. How'd it go, really?"

"It was okay. I thought I was really making a difference, ya know. The other executives really seemed to respond to my pitch. But despite everything Lawrence still insisted on making cuts."

Cory nodded, her fingers, lightly tracing the serpent on his arm. "I can't believe we're working for the same company and neither of us realized."

He flexed his bicep as her fingers worked over his exposed flesh. "I know how much you hate talking about that side of things. I know you don't really believe all of that crap."

Cory bristled against him, her hand pausing on his arm. "I believe in it. I mean... some of it makes sense, ya know?"

"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

She propped herself up on one elbow to see his face better. "Did it seem like... I mean, were they happy with my work? The wellness stuff?"

"Are you kidding?" His hand moved to the small of her back. "They put your posters everywhere. The meditation room with all your mantras. You should be proud."

"But Lawrence seemed so skeptical at first. I wasn't sure if I'd actually won him over or if he was just humoring me because the board wanted it."

Hunter's body went stiff. It would have been impossible for Cory not to notice. "Oh, he liked you more than you realize." He kept his tone playful, despite the heat racing through his body.

"What do you mean?"

"Just..." He chickened out. "Like I said, the posters. The meditation room. They loved it."

"Hunter." She studied his face, running her hand across his cheek. "That's not what you meant."

"It's nothing. Really."

"You're being weird." She poked his chest lightly. "What aren't you telling me?"

He was quiet for a moment, his gaze going anywhere but her face. "It's just... forget it. It's weird."

Before she could press further, Dafni's muffled moan slipped through the closed window. Cory's face went beet red, and she collapsed on Hunter's chest. Hunter couldn't help but laugh.

"Jesus, they never stop, do they?" He ran his fingers through her hair as she turned away from him so he wouldn't see her face.

Cory's heart was pounding. Each muffled cry from Dafni was like a lance until she couldn't take it anymore. "I... I saw them."

She felt Hunter turn to face her fully. She kept her eyes closed, not sure if she could get the confession out if she had to look at him.

"What?"

"Last night. When you were gone." She took a deep breath. "I saw them... having sex. Through the window."

His heart was pounding now. She could feel it against her back.

"I was closing the window, even though it obviously doesn't help with the noise." She shook her head. "And they were just... there. The window was open, the blinds. Like they were just inviting the neighborhood to see."

Hunter's jaw dropped. He looked down at his wife, unsure if she realized what she'd just said.

Beauty should be shared.

"Jesus." His voice was careful. "What... what did you see?"

Heat flooded her face. This was the part she didn't want to admit. "Enough." She swallowed hard. "Enough to know that Dafni's body is even more breathtaking than I initially thought." She fidgeted against him. "She's just... God, Hunter. She's perfect. That's the only word for it. Her skin, her curves, everything. And I'm just..." She buried her face in his arm. "I could never compare. Not even close."

She didn't expect him to respond. What could he even say? She was being ridiculous and he knew her well enough to know that when she got like that he just needed to let her stew. Instead, she felt his lips brush her shoulder.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." His fingers ghosted up her spine. "There's... there's something I didn't tell you. About the meeting."

She spun around to look up at him. "What do you mean?"

"That thing earlier, about Lawrence."

"What about him?"

"I um... I think Lawrence liked working with you more than you realize." His fingers slipped past the hem of her shirt, resting on her thigh. "The strip club we went to after dinner. There was this dancer..."

Cory cocked her eyebrow.

"She looked exactly like you, Cor. Same build, same amazing body." he kissed the side of her lips. "She even had similar tattoos. I mean it was..." His hand moved higher, skimming her ribs. "For a second I really thought it was you."

"Oh." She didn't know what else to say.

"And Lawrence..." Hunter kissed her again. "He couldn't take his eyes off her. None of them could. There were other dancers, ones that looked like Dafni, but Lawrence, he couldn't take his eyes off of you." His thumb brushed the underside of her breast. "That's what I meant. When I said he liked you more than you realize. If you'd seen the way he was watching her..."

Cory's breathing had picked up. His hand moved back down her ribs, and her legs parted automatically, responding even as her mind tried to process what he was saying.

"Were you..." She swallowed. "Did you watch her too?"

"Yeah." His eyes met hers. "I watched her. And I watched Lawrence watch her. He... he looked like he wanted to devour her." His fingers brushed against her clit and Cory's body jolted.

"Jesus, Cor." His lips moved to her neck. "You're soaked."

She was. Embarrassingly so. His fingers slid through her folds easily, and she couldn't stop the small gasp that escaped.

"Is it because of what I'm saying?" His finger circled her clit, light and teasing. "Thinking about being watched like that?"

She nodded, but even as she did, she knew it wasn't the whole truth. Yes, his words were turning her on. The image of herself on that stage, desired in a way she'd never really felt. But underneath that was something else. She hadn't told Hunter the whole truth. That she'd seen Luther. that she understood why Dafni's moans drifted through the window. That in a moment of weakness last night she'd...

She couldn't let herself finish the thought. Instead she said the next best thing. "It's... fuck, Hunter. It's kind of hot."

"Which part?" He pushed a finger inside her, quickly followed by another. Cory grabbed his wrist, pushing his digits deeper inside her. "What are you imagining right now?"

"You." It wasn't a complete lie. "Thinking about you watching her. About you thinking of me in front of all those people."

His teeth scraped her neck, and she turned, pushing her backside into him. "What else?" He pressed his hardness into her.

"Mmm fuck." She tugged on his arm, wanting his fingers deeper, trying to work a third finger inside her tight passage. "I'm... fuck, Hunter. I'm thinking about how hard you are. How hard everyone is... watching me."

She started to move, rolling her hips and using the valley of her ass to stroke him. Behind her closed eyes Luther appeared, or more specifically his girthy cock. Cory whimpered, dismissing the image while at the same time working her hips against Hunter's digits.

"That feels so good, Cor. Fuck..." His thumb slid across her clit making her see stars. "Lawrence was practically drooling, the stage was filled with money."

"Hunter..." She picked up the pace, chasing her orgasm. Her free hand came to her chest, and she squeezed it needily. "Were you this hard watching her? Did she... mmm. Did she work her hips like this?"

She squeezed her tit harder, working Hunter's cock with her ass as a third finger nudge her entrance, filling her exactly how she'd imagined. Exactly how Dafni looked.

"I... Fuck, Cory. I thought Lawrence was going to cum watching her. I... Uh, I'm going to cum." His other hand slid up, cupped her breast and pinched her nipple. "Cum with me, Cory."

The combination of his words, his touch, the images in her head. It was all too much and it sent her spiraling. Her orgasm hit hard, walls clenching around his fingers as she gasped.

"Fuuuck, Cor..." Warmth spread across her back, as Hunter's grip loosened signaling his release.

"Wow, that was..." Hunter was still trying to catch his breath.

"Guess I should let you go to the strip club more often," she giggled, snuggling back into his chest and convincing herself what just happened was just her playing into Hunter's fantasy and nothing more.

***

Hunter held Cory as her breathing evened out, her body going heavy against his as exhaustion finally claimed her. The confession had worked even better than he'd hoped. She'd gotten turned on by it. He couldn't believe she'd gotten so worked up by talking about dancing naked in front of a bunch of strangers.

He'd meant to tell her about seeing Dafni. About how he'd seen her the same way Cory did. It was the perfect opportunity. It would have been impossible for her to get angry when she'd done the same thing. But then, he'd seen how upset she'd gotten about Dafni's body. How it made her doubt herself even more. He didn't want to add to that. So he pivoted. He'd given her validation instead of inadequacy. Confidence instead of shame.

He felt guilty about not telling her, and that guilt ate at him as he stared at the ceiling watching Cory sleep. But he wouldn't let that bring him down. After all, he'd protected her. Not only from the harder truth that he'd seen Dafni naked, but also from her own self-doubt. He shouldn't feel bad about that.

Cory shifted against him, her hand lying across his chest. A smile formed on her face as she slept. She was happy. There was no reason to mess that up. He'd made the right call.

***

A few days after Hunter returned home, Cory and Morgan found themselves downtown preparing for the party. SoPo's main street had the kind of charm that real estate agents called "rustic" when they meant "small." Old red brick buildings with updated storefronts, hand-painted business signs next to ones with clean modern fonts. The town wasn't trapped in amber the way so many places like it were. It was trying. New awnings, a fresh mural on the side of the hardware store, a coffee shop that actually had oat milk. Most of the businesses were locally owned, and Cory and Morgan had always made a point of shopping there first. For Morgan, it was principle. For Cory, it was something closer to penance. Every dollar she spent at a local farm stand or artist's booth was a small offset against the corporate wellness grift that paid her mortgage.

Their first stop was Anchor's Away, the brewery that had opened a few months back. They grabbed a case of the seasonal lager, figuring it had to be better than Miller Lite. They bought the Miller Lite too. Hunter and Zach would drink it regardless of what else was available.

At the grocery store, Cory worked from a list she'd made the night before. She'd included dietary options for snacks, vegan crackers and gluten-free chips alongside the regular stuff. She didn't know everyone's restrictions, but the thought of someone standing at the table with nothing they could eat made her anxious in a way she couldn't fully explain.

As they filled the cart, Morgan turned her head over her shoulder to speak to Cory, who was catching up behind her. "So! Finally warming up to the neighbors? Soooo they ask you to spend the night with them yet? Maybe play a little wife swap?"

Cory gently slapped Morgan's arm." Oh come on. It was dinner. And it was fine. Maybe nice even."

Morgan perused the shelves of wine, selecting based on what label appealed to her the most, trying to ensure they had the proper amount of reds and whites. She sighed. "They still keeping you up? With their late night fuck fests?"

Cory grunted in frustration. "Yes. Simply put. Like come on, they are still going at it. Every. Fucking. Night. Like I swear it's some Tantric thing. I did some research into that and—"

Morgan scoffed, it was a rare occurrence for her, one that took Cory by surprise. "Well at least Dafni's getting some.”

Cory raised her eyebrow as Morgan continued, every word she spoke lacked her usual sardonic restraint. "Last night I was all over Zach. Every hint. Every gesture. Talked about all of his kinks, and he just... ignored me."

Cory watched her reach for another bottle. Morgan's fingers were tight around the neck of it, her knuckles pale. When Morgan opened up like this, you didn't interrupt. You let her get it out. Cory kept pace beside the cart and waited.

"I mean come on. I know he's had a lot of assignments at work. But what better way to blow off stress? Isn't that what all men want?" She shoved two more bottles into the cart without looking at them. "I mean it's what I want."

She stopped pushing. Her hands stayed on the cart handle but her shoulders dropped. "At least Hunter wants you."

Cory paused, waiting for Morgan to exhale, gaining some control over herself. Cory spoke softly. "Hey it's ok. Let's just breathe a bit. In and out. Hunter and I have a normal sex life. Highs. Lows. Just like everyone else."

Which was a lie, and an easy one. Their connection had always run hot, but lately it was something else entirely. A charge that terrified and enticed her in equal measure, like a wire stripped of its insulation. She found herself replaying moments with Hunter at odd times during the day, her body responding before her mind caught up. But Morgan didn't need to hear that right now.

Cory cleared her throat. "It's just a period of time for you guys. Right now. But that doesn't mean it's forever."

Morgan took a breath. Then another. "You're right. I know. It's just... ugh." She started pushing the cart again, slower now, her eyes scanning the shelves without really seeing them. "Back in college it was so much fun. I could have anything. Anyone. Anytime I wanted. And don't get me wrong, I love Zach. I do. I just—"

"Well, maybe right now it's just not a priority for him. Doesn't mean that he doesn't feel aligned with you."

Morgan raised an eyebrow. "Aligned? Like, it's me you're talking to. Not some—"

"No no, I mean it. In a serious way. No "woo woo" stuff."

"What aligned means to me is like when I was with James. You know what made him so fucking good? He asked me what felt good. He learned with me. He didn't just assume. He was average in every way. But god, he could listen. He like, could adapt. And when he wanted to fuck me... he didn't ask."

"Well, why don't you just talk to Zach about what you want? I mean straight up. No bullshit."

"I have. He doesn't listen. He's not bad, he's just, well... a terrible communicator. It's like he somehow hears he needs to improve or be better that he thinks I'm putting him down as a man. I'm not."

"Fair point."

"I mean you know me. Who I was." Morgan's voice went quiet. She picked at the label on a jar of olives. "I still can't believe that video got out. It's still kind of scary. Every time I've applied for a job I've been terrified someone would find it. Like, could you imagine if my boss found it?"

"The one with—"

"Yeah. The threesome. Second year of college." She set the olives down, picked them back up. "Fuck, I really should have done a lot less coke."

Cory ugly laughed, holding her ribs. "I'm not used to hearing those words come out of your mouth."

"It's true! God I mean... I sometimes miss it."

"The coke?"

Well." Morgan bit her lip. "I mean, yeah. But no. Just being desired. Like, ok, maybe TMI, but god I could fuck anyone I wanted."

Cory chuckled, nervous and a little awed at whatever dam had just broken inside her best friend. She'd seen Morgan vulnerable before, plenty of times, but never this raw. Never this honest about what she actually wanted. Whatever was going on with her and Zach was serious.

"I get it. But don't you want to be here now? With Zach? Grounded." She grabbed a bag of pistachios off the shelf, something to do with her hands while she chose her words. "We all need that anchor. Something to return to. Right?"

Cory herself knew she felt this way, about Hunter, about the future, about a life that they had wanted for years. While the talk of a family was still infrequent, they both shared the same hope that one day soon they could make that dream a reality. Yet still, that last glimpse of freedom, of wanton expression, worn so clearly on Morgan's face, gave Cory pause. She wondered, given their own ravenous need for each other, if they had somehow missed something. A fear, an undefined voice, resonated in Cory's head, making her wonder if her and Hunter needed something or someone else before they headed towards a better tomorrow. She didn't want to end up like Morgan and Zach, talking through each other, ignoring their carnal needs, speaking with their bodies as much as they did their voices.

Morgan sighed alongside the cart as they patrolled the aisles, grabbing everything they could for an artisan charcuterie board. "Yeah. I'm not saying I don't want to be with Zach. I do. He's a great guy. He's dumb as a fucking rock. But I love that about him. I'm just..."

Morgan trailed off. "Never mind."

Cory followed along, undeterred by Morgan's sudden outburst. They made small talk, trying to push away the unexpected heaviness from before. They even entertained the idea that a 90 Day Fiancé binge with Dafni would be an excellent way to spend a night together. To Cory's surprise, Morgan seemed especially excited about the prospect.

They went to the checkout lane, waiting patiently for a line that seemed to grow from every direction. Far enough ahead, Cory saw Dafni, there was zero chance she could be mistaken, no one else even resembled her in the entire town. Despite Dafni's clear presence, someone that should have drawn all eyes towards her, everyone in line either stayed affixed to their phones or blindly stood, listening to the "beep" of each item being passed to a bagger.

Cory gestured with a nod towards Dafni and elbowed Morgan lightly. "Hey that's Dafni right?"

Morgan looked up from her phone, mid-scroll. Her expression shifted the way it always did around Dafni, something behind her eyes dimming as she took in the woman ahead of them. "Yeah... umm, that's her." She dropped her gaze back to her phone.

Dafni hadn't seen them. She moved through the line without a cart, without a basket, not carrying a single item. She drifted past the register toward the small kiosk near the exit, the one with batteries and travel-size toiletries and impulse buys no one actually needed. She glanced left. Glanced right. Picked up a lighter, slipped it into her purse, and walked out the door.

Cory's mouth fell open. "She just stole a lighter. What the fuck?"

Morgan looked up. "Huh? Dafni? Wait, where did she go?"

"She left. Just grabbed a lighter off the rack and walked out. Like one of those little plastic ones."

Morgan shrugged.

Cory stared at the automatic doors still sliding shut, with Dafni's figure retreating behind it. Cory's eyes rolled. It didn't make sense. Dafni and Luther seemed more than well off. Why would she steal a two-dollar lighter? She wasn't even trying to blend in. Anyone who saw would have immediately been able to point her out.

She couldn't make it fit. It was another mystery in the now long list that was Dafni. She filed it away next to the tattoo, the diabetes comment, and the way Dafni had appeared on an unmarked trail in the middle of nowhere.

***

The park pavilion sat at the end of a gravel path at the end of the street, surrounded by pine trees that blocked the worst of the afternoon sun. Hunter had driven the car over to setup early. He stood by the grill, his Northwestern cap turned backward as he watched the coals heat up. Cory was working on the picnic table, her black dress hanging loose from her chest, the top of her tattoo barely visible, as she arranged chips and drinks. A handful of neighbors had already shown up. The Hendersons from a few door down stood at the edge of the grass chatting with a couple with a golden retriever whose names Cory couldn't remember, but she was sure Morgan did.

She heard Morgan before she saw her, her laugh cutting through the air followed by the deeper chuckle of Zach. They rounded the bend carrying a cooler between them. Zach was wearing his Titans jersey, Cory couldn't remember a time he wasn't wearing one, while Morgan wore basic jeans and a t-shirt, along with a tiara Cory specifically picked out for her that read: "Birthday Bitch".

"The birthday girl has arrived!" Cory rushed over, pulling Morgan into a hug.

"You didn't have to do all this." Her eyes scanned the pavilion where balloons and banners hung.

"Of course I did." Cory squeezed her tighter. "Hi Zach."

"Cory." He set down the cooler with a grunt. "Brought the good stuff. Well, mostly the good stuff." He laughed at himself. "There's a few bottles of that local shit, but it's mostly Miller Lite."

He opened the cooler, tossing a bottle to Hunter while Morgan smiled and rolled her eyes.

"My man." Hunter looked up from the grill grinning, and caught the bottle. The coolness from the ice a welcome relief to the warmth of the grill. "Cory keeps trying to make me drink craft beer."

"Because it actually tastes like something other than water," Cory called back.

"Did you see the game last week?" Zach asked, parking next to Hunter by the grill. Morgan had asked him to make more of an effort to be social before they left the house. She'd meant to talk to people other than Hunter, but it seemed she should have been more specific.

"They'll be useless for the next hour," Morgan said.

"At least." Cory fished out an Anchor's Away lager at the bottom of the cooler. "But that's fine. More time for us."

Before she had time to suggest what that meant, voices drifted up from the path. Cory's stomach tightened as she recognized Dafni's musical lilt. Luther appeared first wearing khakis and a button-down that looked like it may lose a button at any moment. Her face crinkled before she turned her attention to Dafni. She wore a yellow sundress that only seemed to make her even more radiant.

"We bring wine!" Dafni held up two bottles, grinning. "How you say... too much food probably."

Luther carried a large dish covered in foil. "Spanakopita. An old family recipe."

"You didn't have to bring anything." Cory moved to help, but Dafni was already setting the wine on the table.

"Of course we did. Is Morgan's birthday, no?" Dafni's dark eyes landed on Morgan. "Luther, come. You must meet the birthday girl properly."

The introductions happened in a flurry of handshakes and smiles.

"Your accent is beautiful. Where's it from?" Zach asked as his gaze held Dafni a second longer than appropriate. Cory noticed first, then glanced at Morgan who seemed to be biting a hole through her bottom lip.

"Thank you. It is Greece. Have you been?"

Cory broke away before she could hear his answer. There were still bags of ice in the car that she needed to bring up, along with plates, napkins and a load of other things. She looked back one last time as she reached the bend, she'd hoped that Morgan would follow but she must have been too distracted by her conversation with Luther and Dafni to notice.

While Cory was away, people slowly drifted into smaller clusters. Hunter stayed by the grill sipping his beer in his "100% real meat" apron. Mrs. Henderson and her book club friends sat at the end of the picnic table discussing the latest dark romance they were reading. While Morgan and Zach continued to entertain Dafni and Luther at the far side of the pavilion.

"This beer, is very good. Local, yes?"

"Yeah, Anchor's Away just opened downtown." Morgan answered cheerfully.

"Have you been? It's great. We should go sometime." Zach said, noticing the look Morgan was giving him before quickly adding: "The four of us."

"Yes. We would like that very much."

Morgan's grip tightened around her beer as Zach told the story about how he won the cornhole tournament at Anchor's the first time they went together. He was making an effort, engaging just like she'd asked. But she couldn't help it. Every time Dafni laughed at one of his corny jokes, or his gaze dipped to her chest while he talked, Morgan felt her anger rising.

Morgan tried to rejoin the conversation on more than one occasion, but Zach seemed to only be talking to Dafni. She didn't want to cause a scene, but she couldn't believe how disrespectful he was being, especially on her birthday. She stewed as he leaned in, animated and engaged in a way he hadn't been with her all afternoon. He launched into some story about a bar in Knoxville, his hands gesturing wildly.

Luther stepped forward, from beside Dafni. "I'm sorry, Morgan, dear. Cory mentioned needing some help carrying up the ice and well, I can't seem to find where she parked."

Morgan startled. "What?"

"Would you mind showing me where she parked while these two finish their conversation?"

Morgan glanced back at Zach and Dafni. He was laughing at something she'd said, completely absorbed. He hadn't even noticed Luther talking to her. He hadn't noticed anything about her in the last twenty minutes.

"Yeah. Sure. Let's go."

They walked down the gravel path in silence, Morgan's sandals crunching with each step. Luther matched her pace easily despite his size.

"I should confess something," Luther said after a moment.

Morgan looked at him sideways. "What?"

"Cory probably does need help, but that's not why I suggested this." He saw her eyes narrow as she tried to work out his angle. "You looked like you needed a breather, was all. Away from your husband."

Heat flooded her face. "Oh... I... that's not—"

"It's alright." He kept walking, hands in his pockets. "Marriage is work. Anyone who says different is lying or trying to sell you something."

Morgan giggled, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Princess Bride, really?"

"Ah, a woman of fine taste, I see." He wet his lips, stealing a sideways glance at her.

Morgan caught him looking. A part of her was repulsed, but she swallowed it down. She fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest. She just kept walking beside him, slowing slightly to match his pace.

"It was my favorite movie growing up. I watched it every day after school."

"The quote may be from a movie, but that doesn't make it any less true." His face turned serious. "Dafni and I still fight from time to time." He laughed and shook his head. "Sometimes I think she even picks a fight on purpose. Just to... make up in the end."

Morgan's eyes went wide, heat coloring her cheeks. The pavilion was out of sight now. Just the gravel and the trees and the fading sound of someone else's laughter.

"At least she cares enough to want to fight." She regretted the words as soon as they came out, despite how true they might be. "I didn't mean that. He's just..." She released a frustrated sigh. "I know he means well, but sometimes it's like he doesn't hear me at all. I feel more like his mother than his wife."

"Mmm. Lot of women feel that way. More than you'd think."

"That wasn't exactly reassuring." She gave him a half smile. This close to him she noticed how soft his eyes were. The pale blue sparkling at her behind his glasses.

"Wasn't meant to be. Ain't no sense in tellin' someone to stop feelin' what they're feelin'. They should hear the truth about it."

The truth about it. Morgan dug her foot into the gravel. The truth was that she'd spent forty-five minutes getting ready for her birthday party and Zach hadn't said a word about how she looked. The truth was she'd worn a push-up bra under her t-shirt hoping to get reaction from him and he hadn't even glanced. The truth was the moment Dafni showed up at the party he couldn't take his eyes off her.

"It's important not to forget who you are in a marriage. I've seen it happen a lot over the years."

Cory's car came into view as their pace slowed. In the distance Morgan could just make out her friend's outline as she pulled bags of ice from the trunk of the car.

"Americans, they have this idea that two become one. Like you're supposed to merge into some new person once you say your vows. But the Greeks..." He waved at Cory as they neared. "They understood that a vow to another doesn't mean you stop being who you are." He shook his head. "Your history, your fears your desires those don't just disappear because you said I do."

They reached the car and Luther squatted lifting both bags of ice onto his shoulders. "Reinforcements have arrived."

"You're a life saver," Cory said cocking her eyebrow at Morgan who just shrugged. "Morg, there's a bag in the trunk if you can grab that I can get the one in the front and we should be all set."

"You got it." Morgan's upper body disappeared into the trunk and reappeared with a Save-A-Lot bag filled with paper plates, plasticware, and other party supplies.

"So, what do I do?" Morgan asked as Cory climbed into the front seat to grab another bag.

"Why, it's simple really. You let Zach be who he's going to be. You don't mother him, you don't concern yourself with who he talks to or why. And you do the same. You be the same Morgan you were before you married him. After all, that's the woman he fell in love with, isn't it?"

Her throat felt tight. She wasn't sure if Luther actually knew about her past somehow or if his advice was sincere. But, she thought about sophomore year and all those nights that blurred together in the best way, about that video that still lived somewhere on the internet. Had he seen it? Was that why he was suggesting it?

"You guys ready?" Cory asked, appearing from the front of the car.

"Thank you," Morgan replied. "For the advice."

"Anytime, darlin'."

Cory's eyebrows rose. "What advice?"

Luther gave a toothy smile. "I'll go on ahead. Let you two catchup."

He marched back up the path, a large bag of ice on either shoulder.

"What was that about?" Cory asked when he was out of earshot.

"Girl..."

***

When they reached the pavilion again, Morgan had fully briefed Cory on her discussion with Luther and they both agreed that while strange, it wasn't the worst advice in the world. Aside from running every morning with Cory, Morgan's life was centered around Zach. She needed to find herself. Maybe not the party girl from college, but a version of herself that didn't revolve around Zach.

Morgan hugged her, then dropped her bag by the picnic table and went back over to where Zach and Dafni were still talking and laughing like they were the closest of friends. She stood next to Luther, and Cory watched the smile appear on his face as Morgan engaged him.

Hunter appeared at her elbow. "Hey, burgers are ready. You want to help me get the toppings situation sorted?" He followed her gaze to the group of new friends. "Looks like those four really hit it off."

"Yeah." She followed him to the grill, her eyes still tracking the group as Hunter transferred the patties to the platter as she held it.

"That's good, right?" He glanced at her while flipping the last burger. "You were worried about them being creepy. Now it looks like you won't be the only source of their obsession or whatever."

"No, you're right. It's great." She forced a smile.

The more she watched Morgan, the more it seemed like her eyes kept finding Luther. It was like he was always around, always just within eyesight even when she wasn't thinking about him. She was definitely not thinking about him. Then there was Dafni. She seemed to be the life of the party, so full of energy, magnetic.

Morgan seemed to really like them. She hadn't left their side since she got to the party. Sure, she came down and helped Cory with supplies, but she did it with Luther. Even now, she seemed to prefer their attention to chatting with Cory.

She shook it off. She was being silly. This was Morgan's birthday. She was being a good host, being social. Cory really should be doing the same.

***

Soon the party was in full swing. The first cooler of beer was gone, and even Zach was nursing a lager from Anchor's Away. The sun began to set, and the afternoon bled into early evening. People rotated through the food line, paper plates piling high. The spanakopita disappeared fast, everyone making appreciative noises that had Dafni beaming. The Hendersons left first, then the book club friends. The crowd thinned until it was just the three couples and the dying light.

Luther stood, raising his beer bottle. The conversation died as everyone looked at him.

"Before the night ends, I'd like to say something." He paused, ensuring he had everyone's complete attention. "Dafni and I, we've only just arrived here. New faces, new community. It can be daunting." His gaze moved across each face, landing somewhere between Morgan and Cory. "But you've all made us feel so welcome."

He turned his attention fully to Morgan. "Morgan, I've only just met you today, but I can already tell you're lovely. You have such a spirited personality. Why, something tells me we're going to be great friends."

Morgan's hand closed around Cory's, her cheeks flushing. She ducked her head, smiling.

"To Morgan," Luther finished. "And to new friends."

"To Morgan!" Everyone echoed, bottles and cans raised.

"That was sweet of him." Cory heard Morgan whisper to Zach. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she cleared her throat, taking a step forward.

"I'd like to say something too."

All eyes shifted to her. Hunter tilted his head like a confused dog. Cory hated giving speeches.

"Morgan, we've been friends for... God, how long now?"

"Too long," Morgan said, grinning.

"Way too long," Cory chuckled. The buzz she was already feeling helped to calm her nerves. "You're like, the person who shows up when I need someone. Who listens when I'm spiraling about work or Hunter's travel or just... you know, life. You're genuine in a way I wish I could be. I love you. Happy birthday."

Morgan's eyes were bright with tears. "I love you too."

***

After the party, Cory and Hunter stumbled back home, grateful for the short distance between the houses. They laughed, chided each other, slurred their words, and traded mischievous looks under the full moon that communicated only one intention. They both felt it, that carnal need, empowered by alcohol and hours of proximity to people who made their skin hum.

Inside, Hunter grabbed them both Gatorades from the fridge and raised his bottle in a toast. "Here's to trying to get a little sober so we don't wake up with migraines."

Cory chuckled. "Speak for yourself, lightweight."

"Nah. I just don't want a case of whiskey dick."

She gave him an inquisitive look. "That's awful presumptuous of you." She closed the distance between them, her fingers walking up his chest. "I mean, between your welcome home party and your little outing at the strip club, maybe I don't think you need any more... attention."

"Come on babe, you know it wasn't like that. I was just, you know... having fun." He winked at her.

They both laughed, chugged what remained of their drinks, and headed upstairs. They still smelled like their drinks of choice from the evening, layered with the lingering peaty scent of mosquito repellant torches. In the bedroom, crickets chirped outside the open window. No moans, no screams of ecstasy or guttural roars from next door. Just stillness and the gentle drone of the AC.

Hunter teetered as he approached the bed, kicking off his Jordans and peeling off his socks. He stretched and yawned. Cory went into the bathroom to prepare for bed. As she removed her makeup she called out to him.

"So... tell me more about your night at the strip club."

He smiled. Even if she'd seen it, he wouldn't have tried to hide it. "Babe, I mean, you know. It was hotter than I thought it would be. But only because—"

"She looked like me?"

He gulped. "Yeah. Because I wanted her to be... well, you."

"Really?" She leaned against the bathroom doorframe, makeup half removed, one eye still lined with mascara. "You weren't just caught up in the moment?"

He laughed quietly. "I was so fucking hard that if there wasn't a table covering me, Lawrence would have seen it."

She sighed, her reflection smirking in the mirror behind her. "You're so bad. That's all it took? Someone who looked like me to get you hard in public?"

"Fuck, Cor. You just... God, I wish you could have been there. The way they were all looking at her. Like animals. Y'know?"

"I know how men are. What, you don't think I get those kinds of looks on my way to the studio?"

He blinked. He actually hadn't thought about that. Other men looking at Cory. The idea probably shouldn't have made his cock twitch the way it did.

"Come on. I mean, it was just so hot. The way she moved. No shame. Like she embraced it. She had power. Authority. I mean, they're paying her, right?"

"Yeah. I mean, they better be."

Cory wiped the last of the mascara from her eye and studied herself in the mirror. The overhead light was harsh, unforgiving. She could see every imperfection she'd seen since high school. The collarbone that jutted too sharp. The chest she'd spent years wishing were fuller. But tonight, with the alcohol softening everything, with Hunter's lust-filled voice describing a woman who looked like her commanding a room full of powerful men. She didn't hate what she saw looking back at her.

She stripped down to her black bra and panties and stood in the bathroom doorway. No costume. Nothing artificial. Just her.

"Getting lost in your thoughts?" She padded toward where he sat on the edge of the bed. "Maybe you should be more present."

She leaned forward, her legs spread, thighs flexed, one manicured finger tipping his jaw up as she brought her face close to his. He closed his eyes, expecting a kiss. He could feel her warm breath on his lips, but the kiss never came.

His eyes opened. She was already moving. One foot planted next to his thigh, her knee bent as she ran her palm across her chest. Her fingers traced the top of the tree of life, trailing down her flat stomach, across the front of her panties. She curled her fingers against herself and let out a soft moan. He reached for her thigh.

She slapped his hand away. Hard enough that the sound cracked through the room.

"No touching."

He grinned, his breath catching as she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. Her hips rolled forward, controlling every movement like in her yoga sessions, but stripped of any pretense of instruction. She leaned into him and he could feel the heat radiating off her skin, her cheeks flushed, her pulse visible in her throat. She spun around and pressed her back against his chest, grinding against the rigid outline in his joggers. One arm reached behind her, fingers threading through his hair as she braced herself on his knee.

"Mmm, someone's excited."

She was slow at first, rolling her hips. Then she leaned forward, gripped her own ankles, and flexed each cheek against him in time with the bass still thudding softly from the Bluetooth speaker she'd left on downstairs.

"Holy fuck, Cor. Jesus Christ." His voice was strangled. "You sure that wasn't you at the club?"

She giggled. She didn't know where this was coming from. Maybe Morgan's words had buried themselves deep in her, I could fuck anyone I wanted, or maybe it was the moment, the thrill of knowing Hunter had been watching another woman and still wanting Cory. She wanted to make sure he knew what he had. What was waiting for him every time he came home.

But it was more than that. The dance made her feel powerful. Seen in a way she'd never felt, not even with Hunter. The way Dafni seemed to feel every moment of every day. For the first time, Cory understood something about that. Moving like this, owning the rhythm, refusing to let him touch her, it was powerful. It was sexy. She was just in her body. Occupying it fully.

She stood and turned to face him. His hands were gripping the edge of the mattress, knuckles pale, obeying her rule even though every muscle in his arms strained toward her. She loved that. The control. His need held in check by her word alone.

She stepped back. One step, then two, until the moonlight from the window caught her midsection. The henna tattoos on her stomach glowed amber against her skin. The tree of life between her breasts was half-visible above the line of her bra, its branches sprawling across her sternum.

She kept moving. For him. For herself. She wasn't sure which, but it didn't matter. Her hips moved in slow circles, her arms rising above her head the way they did in mountain pose, but this was better than any meditation. Her fingers trailed down her own neck, across her collarbone, over the swell of her chest. She caught her reflection in the dark window glass, her silhouette framed in moonlight, her body in motion, her face flushed and unfamiliar.

She looked good. The way Hunter had always described her and she'd never seen.

Anyone could see me right now.

The thought should have sent her scrambling for the curtains. A week ago it would have. But right now, swaying in front of the open window with the warm night air touching her bare stomach and the crickets filling the silence between songs, the thought didn't make her want to hide. It made her skin prickle with energy. It was like standing at the edge of a cliff and realizing the fall might feel like flying.

Luther and Dafni's bedroom window was visible across the gap between houses. The shades were open, but the room beyond was dark and empty. They hadn't made it upstairs yet, maybe they wouldn't.

She exhaled. Part of her was relieved. The other part ignored the blinds and kept dancing.

She turned back to Hunter, emboldened, rolling her hips as she unclasped her bra and let it fall. The air hit her chest and turned her nipples to steel but she didn't even flinch. She stood there, topless in the moonlight, and watched her husband's jaw go slack.

"Cor..."

Her knees hit the floor in front of him, parting his legs, her hands sliding up his thighs. She tugged his joggers and boxers down together, freeing him. He was achingly hard, straining toward her before she'd even touched him. She wrapped her hand around his shaft and felt it pulse against her palm.

His hips lifted, his gaze fixed just over Cory's shoulder.

"Cor, babe. The blinds."

"I thought you said you liked it when other people looked at my body." She bit her lip, her eyes locked on his, her hand still wrapped around him. "You were just talking about how hot it was when Lawrence looked at that dancer."

Her heart hammered. Part of her hoped he'd call the bluff. Get up, pull the cord, restore the boundary that had protected her since the day he finally installed them. If he did, she could laugh it off. Chalk it up to the beer and the party and the residual buzz of feeling desirable.

"I just... I mean, if they saw us..."

She rose off her knees, straddled his lap, and pressed her forehead to his. The heat between them was immediate, her center grinding against his length through the thin fabric of her panties.

"If they saw us, what?" She rolled her hips the way she imagined she was the stripper. "Would you be even harder than this?" She ground down against him and felt his cock twitch. "Even harder than at the club?"

She pressed her lips to his, kissing him slowly, nothing like the frantic session before, but fueled by the same desire. Her tongue traced his bottom lip before pulling back just far enough that a string of spit connected them in the moonlight. She lifted her hips and pushed her panties to the side, letting her bare sex glide against his length without taking him in. The contact made them both shudder.

She grabbed his wrist and guided his hand between her thighs, pressing his fingers against the slick heat there.

"Still thinking about the club?" She rocked against his hand, her breath catching. "Do you think she was this wet?"

His fingers moved on their own, filling her and making her moan. She let him feel her for exactly three seconds before pulling his hand away and bringing his glistening fingers to her mouth.

"Ah-ah." She released them with a pop, her hips still grinding. "I told you. No touching." She pinned both his hands to the mattress, leaning forward so her bare chest grazed his shirt. "You just sat there and watched her, right? So sit here. And watch me."

She held his wrists against the bed and rolled her hips, moaning into his ear as his length pressed against the damp fabric of her panties. His jaw clenched, and a vein pulsed in his neck. She could feel how close he was to breaking her rule, the muscles in his forearms twitching against her grip.

"Cor... fuck. Please."

"Please what?" She tilted her head, eyes bright with mischief. "They don't let you touch at the strip club either, do they?" She ground down harder and his hips bucked beneath her. "And we don't want the show to end too quickly."

She braved another glance over her shoulder. Luther and Dafni's bedroom was still dark. Still empty. The warm air drifted through the open window and touched her bare back causing her to roll her hips again.

***

Hunter couldn't breathe.

Cory was above him, topless and flushed, grinding against him with the open window at her back. He wasn't sure what was hotter, Cory's sexy strip show, or the fact that she was doing it in front of the open window.

It sat in his peripheral vision never truly going away. Dark glass, warm air, the faint outline of the house next door. Every time Cory rocked forward, his eyes drifted past her shoulder. He'd catch himself, drag his gaze back to her face, her chest, the tattoo that he knew Luther had seen. But the window kept pulling.

She was beautiful. She'd never looked like this. So free, so... reckless. All he could think about what Lawrences comments at the club.

I would have bent that bitch over my desk and given her the best fuck of her life.

Cory stood, spun toward the window, then slowly bent forward, running her fingers up her legs. Her ass inches from his face, before dropping it into his lap. His cock throbbed against her. A second longer and he was going to cum.

Beauty should be shared. Appreciated.

Luther's voice threaded through his thoughts, next. His gaze went back to the window. Was he in the darkness hiding? Could he see Cory? He could feel the precum oozing from his tip as Cory climbed back onto him. "Eyes front," she whispered, tilting his chin.

Her nails raked down his chest through his shirt and he sucked in a breath. "Do you want the show to end?" She lifted high onto her knees, then slammed her hips down onto his exposed shaft causing them both to gasp. "Should I walk over and close the blinds so I can remind you why this is better than the club?"

His gaze slipped again to the open window, past the curtains that hung limp on either side of the frame. What if Luther came upstairs? What if he was standing in his darkened bedroom right now, glasses catching the moonlight, watching Cory move the way he'd watched her change that first afternoon. What if he could see her arched back, her bare chest, the confidence she'd never shown anyone before tonight.

Temples were meant to be visited.

Hunter's fingers curled into the sheets. He was harder than he'd ever been in his life. Harder than the strip club, harder than the couch, harder than the morning he'd taken Cory against the wall with Dafni's image still burning behind his eyes.

Cory released his wrists and leaned back, her palms flat on his thighs, her back arching. The moonlight caught the full landscape of her body, the henna, the tree of life, the lean muscle and smooth skin, and for a moment she looked like something out of a painting. Something meant to be displayed.

Then she straightened. Her eyes found his and whatever she saw there made her expression flicker. She glanced once more at the window behind her. Then she turned back to him and smiled.

"Close the blinds." Her breathing was short and choppy. "Then come to bed and fuck me."

He stood on legs that barely held him. His hands were shaking as he grabbed the cord. He hesitated briefly as he looked across the yard at the still empty bedroom. Then he pulled them shut.

He turned back to find Cory already on the bed, lying on her back, her panties already discarded. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, her hand between her thighs.

"I'm waiting."

He didn't need to be told again. All thoughts about the window, the neighbors, were completely forgotten. He sank into her warm depths, both of them sighing as she wrapped her legs around his back.