Progress
Jack stood at the window of his private box, watching as Rider and Leena disappeared through the warehouse exit below.
The door closed behind them with a heavy thud that echoed through the cavernous space.
Jack took another sip of whiskey, savoring the burn.
That look on Rider's face.
The memory of it made Jack smile.
The way Rider's jaw had clenched. The way his hands had balled into fists. The way his entire body had gone rigid with barely contained rage while Jack fucked his woman right in front of him.
Beautiful.
But this was just the beginning.
The real revenge—the kind that would destroy Rider completely—was still to come.
Jack had spent eighteen months planning. Eighteen months building his empire. Eighteen months waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And now, finally, the pieces were falling into place.
Rider thought he was getting an investment. Thought he was securing his future with Crestfall Health.
Stupid bastard.
Jack was going to take everything from him.
His business. His reputation. His power.
And when Rider had nothing left—when he was broken and desperate and alone—Jack would make sure he knew exactly who had destroyed him.
The door to the private box opened behind him.
Jack didn't turn around. He knew who it was.
"How did it feel?" Bella's voice was quiet, controlled.
Jack glanced over his shoulder. She stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, her expression carefully neutral.
But her cheeks were flushed.
Jack smiled. "How did what feel?"
"Fucking your ex-wife in front of her current lover."
Jack turned to face her fully, leaning back against the window. "Lover?" He scoffed. "If what they have is love, then it's a twisted sort of love."
Bella's jaw tightened. "You look satisfied."
"I am."
She took a step into the room, closing the door behind her. The click of the lock was loud in the silence.
Jack studied her. The flush on her cheeks had deepened. Her breathing was slightly elevated. Her pupils were dilated.
Interesting.
"Were you listening?" Jack asked, his voice low.
Bella's eyes widened slightly. "What?"
"The whole time I was fucking Leena." Jack pushed off from the window and took a step toward her. "Were you listening?"
"No." The word came out too quickly.
Jack smiled. "Liar."
He closed the distance between them in three strides.
Bella took a step back, but Jack was faster. His hand shot out, sliding into the waistband of her pants before she could react.
His fingers found her panties.
Soaked.
Jack's smile widened. "You were listening."
Bella's breath hitched. She grabbed his wrist, trying to pull his hand away. "Stop it."
But Jack didn't stop. He pressed his fingers against the wet fabric, feeling the heat of her through the thin material.
"You're dripping," he murmured.
Bella's face flushed deeper. "Jack—"
He pulled his hand free and brought his fingers to his mouth, licking her juices from them slowly.
Bella's breathing became ragged.
Jack took another step forward, backing her against the wall. "Listening to me fuck other women still turns you on, doesn't it?"
"No." But her voice was weak.
"Yes." Jack's hand moved to her hip, his thumb tracing small circles against her skin. "You were standing outside that door, listening to me pound into Leena, and you got wet."
Bella didn't respond. Couldn't respond.
Because it was true.
She'd told herself she was just checking on him. Making sure everything was going according to plan. But when she'd heard the sounds coming from inside the room—the slap of skin on skin, Leena's moans, Jack's low grunts—she'd frozen.
And she'd listened.
And she'd gotten wet.
It was a feeling she hadn't had since she'd broken things off with him. A feeling she'd tried to bury. To forget.
But it was still there.
Jack moved his face closer to hers, his lips brushing against her ear. "I would have gotten every question right."
Bella's breath caught. She knew what he was referring to. The Love or Lie game. The questions about her.
What does she want most in the world?
What is she most afraid of?
Jack knew her. Better than anyone.
"Stop," Bella whispered, pushing weakly at his chest.
But Jack didn't stop. He leaned down and kissed her neck, his hand sliding lower, slipping beneath the waistband of her pants.
"You miss me," he murmured against her skin. "You miss this."
Bella's eyes fluttered closed. For a moment, she let herself sink into it. Let herself remember what it felt like to be with him.
His touch. His smell. The way he knew exactly how to make her body respond.
"Jack—" Her protest was weak. Unconvincing.
His fingers found her clit, circling it slowly.
Bella gasped, her hips jerking forward involuntarily.
Jack's other hand moved to her breast, squeezing through her shirt.
"Tell me to stop," he whispered.
Bella's hand came up to his wrist, trying to pull his hand away. But her grip was weak. Like she didn't really want him to stop.
Jack took that as permission.
He dropped to his knees in front of her, his hands hooking into the waistband of her pants. He pulled them down in one smooth motion, her panties coming with them.
Bella's hands flew to his shoulders. "Jack, we can't—"
But her words dissolved into a moan as Jack's mouth found her pussy.
His tongue moved against her clit, slow and deliberate, the way he knew she liked.
Bella's head fell back against the wall, her fingers tangling in his hair.
Jack's hands gripped her thighs, holding her steady as he worked his tongue against her. He knew every spot that made her tremble. Every rhythm that made her gasp.
He'd spent a year learning her body. Learning what she liked. What she loved. What made her lose control.
And he remembered all of it.
His tongue circled her clit, then flicked against it rapidly.
Bella's hips bucked forward, grinding against his face.
Jack's hands slid up under her shirt, finding her breasts. His fingers found her nipples and twisted them—not too hard, but hard enough.
Just the way she liked.
Bella's moans grew louder. Her grip on his hair tightened, pulling him closer.
Jack increased the pressure, his tongue moving faster, his fingers pinching her nipples harder.
"Jack—" Bella's voice was breathless. "I'm—"
She came hard, her body convulsing, her thighs clamping around his head.
Jack didn't stop. He kept licking, kept sucking, drawing out her orgasm until she was trembling and gasping for air.
Finally, he pulled back, his face glistening with her juices.
He rose to his feet slowly, his eyes locked on hers.
Bella stared at him, disheveled and panting, her cheeks flushed.
Jack leaned in and kissed her.
For a moment, it felt like they were back together. Like nothing had changed. Like she was still his.
Bella kissed him back, her hands coming up to his chest.
Jack's hand moved to his belt, unbuckling it. He pulled out his hard cock, pressing it against her thigh.
And that's when Bella snapped back to reality.
Her eyes widened. She pushed him away—harder this time.
"We can't do this," she said, her voice shaking.
Jack opened his mouth to respond, but Bella was already moving. She pulled up her pants, her hands fumbling with the zipper.
"Bella—"
"No." She shook her head, backing toward the door. "We can't."
And then she was gone, the door slamming shut behind her.
Jack stood there for a moment, his cock still hard, his chest heaving.
Blue-balled.
But he wasn't angry.
He was satisfied.
A few months ago, Bella wouldn't even let him touch her. Wouldn't let him get within five feet of her.
And now?
Now she'd let him eat her out. Let him make her cum.
Progress.
Jack tucked himself back into his pants and picked up his whiskey glass.
He took a long sip, staring at the door Bella had just fled through.
She's coming back to me, he thought. Slowly. But she's coming back.
And when she did, he'd make sure she never left again.
***
The drive was silent.
Leena sat in the passenger seat, her hands folded in her lap, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Rider's hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white.
The silence stretched on. Heavy. Suffocating.
Finally, Rider spoke.
"What the fuck was that about?"
His voice was low. Dangerous.
Leena glanced at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb." Rider's jaw clenched. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Leena looked away. "I just had sex because you told me to."
"Bullshit." Rider's voice rose. "You looked me straight in the eyes and taunted me. In front of that prick."
"It was all an act," Leena said quietly.
"Was squirting on me an act too?"
Leena flinched. She didn't respond.
Rider's hands tightened on the wheel. "Answer me."
"You did it first," Leena said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rider frowned. "What?"
"With Sarah." Leena turned to look at him, her eyes flashing. "In the partner swap. You told David she was tight. You never say that about me."
Rider stared at her. "Is that what you're really mad about? Me saying some other girl was tight?"
"You never ask me for sex anymore." Leena's voice cracked. "You don't even look at me like you used to."
The car came to a stop at a red light.
Rider turned to face her fully.
And then his hand shot out, clamping around her throat.
Leena gasped, her hands flying up to his wrist.
Rider's grip tightened, his fingers pressing against the choker he'd given her.
"Don't forget your place," he said, his voice cold. "You're my queen. But you're also my bitch."
Leena's eyes widened.
"You have no right to be jealous about the things I do," Rider continued. "Everything you have is because of me. Do you understand?"
Leena felt a pang of hurt in her chest.
She'd thought—over the past year—that he'd grown fond of her. That their relationship had evolved into something more than what it had been.
She'd thought her years as his bitch were behind her.
But she'd been wrong.
Rider's grip loosened slightly. "Do you understand?"
Leena nodded, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.
Rider released her throat and leaned back in his seat.
The light turned green.
He started driving again.
After a moment, he glanced at her. Saw the sadness in her eyes.
His expression softened slightly.
He reached over and took her hand, bringing it to his lips.
"No one could replace you," he said quietly.
Leena wanted to believe him. Wanted to feel reassured.
But the words felt hollow.
Rider squeezed her hand. "Call Sarah and David."
Leena blinked. "What?"
"Tell them we're coming over."
Leena stared at him. "Rider—"
"My pride was hurt tonight." Rider's jaw tightened. "I need to fuck another man's wife in front of him to soothe it."
Leena's stomach twisted.
But she didn't argue.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Sarah's number.
The call connected after two rings.
"Hello?" Sarah's voice was bright. Cheerful.
"Hi, Sarah," Leena said, forcing her voice to sound normal. "Are you and David free tonight?"
There was a pause.
"Um... yes. Why?"
"We'd like to come over," Leena said. "If that's okay."
Another pause. Longer this time.
"Of course," Sarah said finally. "We'd love to have you."
"Great. We'll be there in twenty minutes."
Leena ended the call and set her phone in her lap.
Rider glanced at her. "Good girl."
Leena didn't respond.
She stared out the window, watching the city lights blur past.