Married to the Devil

Chapter 18

I awoke to the sound of my cellphone buzzing against my bedside table. My dream-like state of bliss evaporated when my eyes finally snapped open.

I shifted and then winced slightly as my legs moved under the covers and reminded me how nice my night was. I turned my head and saw Derek sound asleep with his shirt off and yummy abs on full display. The blanket over us had me completely exposed but covered his bottom half, only because I was the one sitting up.

I smiled as I remembered running my hands over his body and how gently he'd handled me but with an intense passion that had us both reeling for more.

And he's mine forever.

My cell buzzed again, reminding me that there were other, more important things, that needed my attention rather than my urge to stare at my husband's naked body for the rest of the day. I carefully wrapped my fingers around my phone, trying not to shift the bed and wake Derek.

As I unlocked the screen and waited for my eyes to adjust to the bright light, my phone buzzed again and then again. Curse words tumbled out of my mouth afraid that Derek would be woken up but with a quick backward glance at him, and by the even rise and fall of his chest, I knew he was still sound asleep.

My fingers tapped the screen and a couple of text messages appeared.

Hey Kate. You up yet?
-Josh

I scrolled down further, wide awake now.

Did you read the letter that I gave to you? You haven't gotten back to me about it.
-Josh

Oh God. The letter. My eyes searched around our-my bedroom and locked onto my cupboard on the far side of the room where I'd shoved it in there. Antsily, I got up as quietly as I could and edged to the cupboard.

Derek was still breathing in slow, deep breaths and I was holding my own, doing my best to be silent. One foot after another slid across the hardwood until I was almost halfway across the room and over the taped part of the floor.

Read that letter, and then destroy it.

I couldn't let Derek know that I had it. I had to read it somewhere else. Somewhere private and safe. A couple feet away, a noisy floorboard squeaked like a rat and made me freeze.

I didn't turn around.

Derek's breathing stopped. There was a groan from him and I squeezed my eyes closed, knowing that he was awake. The bed croaked as he shifted on top of it and then I heard the ruffle of the sheets.

My ears kept listening, waiting for him to call out to me and ask me where I was going-what I was doing- but he didn't. I hopped off the board and then twisted back, without turning around fully, to see Derek fast asleep again.

That was close.

I crept over to the cupboard door and then grabbed my purse and some clothes. After brushing my teeth and dressing, I headed out the door.

As soon as I got to the lobby I knew that people were looking at me, even if they weren't. They had to be. After all, I'd just married-and didn't regret sleeping with-a man that I'd supposedly hated and now I was running off to read a letter that my ex-boyfriend had given me.

I ran down the block for awhile before hitting a nearby coffee and breakfast shop. I ordered and sat down as I took out the letter. My hands were shaking and I didn't even know why.

I glanced at the creased corner of the white envelope, there was a big line cutting it and making a triangle. My fingers reached inside and pulled out dozens of sheets that I hadn't noticed were shoved in there before. They all had Josh's messy handwriting on them scribbled in blue pen ink.