Chapter 81
In the car, Teresa turned to face Troy, her expression serious.
He looked back at her, the passing streetlights casting shifting shadows across his face.
He repeated his demand. “Sleep with me.”
Unlike before, this time he was dead serious.
Teresa could feel his resolve, but she had to try. “Troy, you said it yourself–you always make an outrageous request first to get what you really want.”
NLE
Troy arched an eyebrow. “This time is different. I only want one thing. One night. After that, you can do whatever you want to me. You can have my life, for all I care.”
Teresa’s face flushed crimson. She glared at him. “You’re a jerk. You’re shameless.”
A roguish glint appeared in his eyes. “Babe, take all the time you need to think about it. I can wait.”
122
Teresa looked at him and fell silent.
Hector was missing, and Charles wouldn’t help. She had no one else to turn to.
Troy had helped her before; she knew he was a man of his word.
But his price… she didn’t think she could pay it.
‘But then again, she thought, ‘what good is this bit of fidelity I’m clinging to?‘
Not wanting to pressure her, Troy opened his door to get out, giving her space to think.
But before he could step out, her voice stopped him. “Troy, I’ll do it.”
Troy turned back, surprise flashing in his eyes. “Really?”
Teresa wouldn’t meet his gaze, just kept her head down. “Yes.”
Suddenly impatient, Troy got out. “I’ll drive.”
As Teresa moved to the passenger seat, her heart pounded with a mix of panic and dread.
She was so nervous, she couldn’t tell if she was making the right choice.
She and Charles were over, but they weren’t officially divorced.
If she went through with this, it would be adultery.
But even so, Charles was the one who let her down first.
Teresa was still wrestling with her thoughts when Troy’s voice cut through. “We’re here.”
She’d come this far. Backing out now would just be pathetic
After they got out, Troy took her by the wrist and led her confidently through the hotel lobby
He knew his way around, like he’d been here many times
Teresa wasn’t surprised For a man like him, women were probably disposable
Inside the suite. Troy loosened his tie and tossed lus ja ket onto the sofa
Im going to take a shower You still have time to change your mind‘ he said
Teresa stood trozen near the door, his words making her skin crawl.
She wanted to run, but her legs felt like they were bolted to the floor
1/3
11:19 AM P
Chapter 81
Troy saw her turmoil but didn’t say anything more before stepping into the bathroom.
‘She’ll probably make a break for it while I’m in there, he thought to himself.
But when he came out, fresh from his shower, Teresa was still standing in the living area.
And with that, she disappeared into the bathroom.
Troy lit a cigarette by the floor–to–ceiling window, a flicker of conflict in his own mind.
Soon enough, Teresa came out of the bathroom. She saw Troy by the window, smoking, and kept quiet.
After drying her hair, she glanced at Troy’s back and said, “I’m going to bed.”
With that, she slipped off her bathrobe and lay down on the bed, the white duvet settled over her, the subtle curves of her body outlined beneath it
Troy suddenly choked on a drag of his cigarette, coughing hard.
In the reflection of the window, he could see she was settled in bed.
He crushed the half–smoked cigarette into an ashtray and turned towards the bed.
Teresa heard his footsteps and squeezed her eyes shut.
Troy stood over her. Her long, dark hair fanned out across the white pillow. The duvet was pulled up to her shoulders, revealing her delicate collarbones.
His eyes drifted lower, to the rise and fall of her chest with each breath.
It was hard not to let his mind wander.
Troy’s mouth went dry. He licked his lips and reached for the light switch.
He killed the main lights, leaving the room bathed in the soft glow of a single lamp.
He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over her. “Are you sure about this?”
Teresa kept her eyes closed. “Yes.”
Troy opened his mouth to say something else, but just then, the sound of a keycard swiping cut through the silence, and the door swung
open.
Troy spun around. He could just make out the figure standing in the doorway. It looked like Charles.
Teresa lifted her head slightly and saw him too. Charles stood there, his face a mess of shadows, his expression unreadable.
Troy quickly pulled the duvet up, completely hiding Teresa underneath.
Beneath it, she was frozen stiff
She was still Charles’s wife, legally. They had a marriage certificate, a daughter.
The love was gone, but the connection remained
What Teresa was doing was a direct slap in the face to him.
Even if he doesn’t love me anymore, this has to make him angry, right? Teresa thought
After covering her. Troy rested a casual hand on her waist and looked at the figure in the doorway with a lazy drawl. “Well, well, Mr. Logan To what do I owe the pleasure?”
There was no fear in his voice, only pure provocation.
Charles stood backlit, his sharp gaze landing on a chair where Troy’s jacket was draped over Teresa’s jeans shirt, and underwear
Verify captcha to read the content
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: When She Turns Her Back (Teresa and Charles)