[Supporter] Newleyweds New Desires Ch. 24 (Patreon)

Hey Friends! Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. The wait is over! Thanks to everyone who supported me throughout this journey. Having this series come to an end very bittersweet for me.

We will have an Epilogue sometime next month, followed by some Q&A, alternate chapters, and anything else you all ask for within reason. All that said, while the main story is over, we can still have some fun with the characters and the "what ifs".

I'm still trying to get the Neverland out this month. EP will pick back up next month, along with some new stuff.

If you haven't already, join the discussion on our Discord.

https://discord.gg/qmZWFB7qUY

Chris wasn't sure when he'd made it home. The entire ride there was nothing but fragments of blurring streetlights and stop signs. Now he sat on the living room floor, back against the couch, staring at nothing. The sun had set hours ago. Or maybe minutes. Time felt broken, moving in strange lurches and stops like a damaged film reel.

You sold me.

Ashley's words played on loop, each repetition carving deeper. He'd tried standing once, made it three steps toward the kitchen before his legs gave out. Tried his phone, but his hands shook too badly to unlock it. Eventually he'd just… stopped trying. Stopped moving. Stopped thinking about anything except the look on her face when Clayton revealed the truth.

He thought Ashley would pick him. That when it was all said and done, whatever she felt toward Clayton, she'd still choose him. But then everything shattered. Clayton had dropped the nuke of how all of this came to be, spun it in a way that Ashley couldn't see through, and just like that, he'd lost everything. God, he was so fucking naive. She'd gone to Clayton after Mrs. Johnson's death. The thought made him want to vomit. His stomach lurched and for a moment he thought he would actually throw up. He made no effort to get to the sink. He just sat there letting the inevitable happen.

It didn't. He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes, but it didn't stop the tears. His throat burned, raw from the sobs he couldn't hold back. His chest felt hollowed out, scraped clean.

You've already done that, remember.

The pain in her voice haunted Chris as he struggled to get his emotions under control. Her eyes were dark, pleading. He'd crushed her, and there was nothing Chris could have done or said to make her understand. She was right. No matter how he tried to spin it, he'd sold her. He'd made the decision for her instead of letting her choose. He had so many opportunities to call the whole things off, to take his wife and get out of... whatever this was. Instead, he only pushed her to go farther, even when she practically begged him to tell her to stay.

Looking back, he couldn't blame her for any of it. Hell, he could even see now why she chose to go to Clayton instead of him after Mrs. Johnson's death. All Chris had done in the past year was push her toward him, toward his fantasy.

Headlights swept across the living room window. Chris's breath hitched. This was it, then. Agent Holbrook coming to arrest him. It was fitting really, more humane than he probably deserved. Would he be able to survive in prison? Would this be one of those cushy white-collar prisons or would he be forced to fight for survival?

The engine cut off. A car door opened. Closed.

Chris tried to stand but his legs wouldn't cooperate. He managed to get his knees under him, one hand braced against the couch. Through the window, a figure moved up the walkway. Slow steps. Like Holbrook couldn't even believe it'd played out like this. Would it be a bad mark on his record, or would the fact that an arrest was made be enough to climb the ranks?

Each footfall echoed like a shotgun blast in the quiet house.

He was taking forever. Why couldn't he hurry up and slap the cuffs on already? Chris's eyes were too swollen, too blurred with tears to make out details. Just a shape as Holbrook passed the living room window.

This is what you deserve.

The doorknob turned and opened slowly.

And there—standing in the threshold, backlit by the porch light—was Ashley.

Chris's brain couldn't process it. She looked like she'd been through hell. Her dress hung in tatters, pieces of it ripped completely off. Dark streaks of makeup ran down her face. She swayed on her feet, one hand gripping the doorframe for support.

"Ashley?" His voice came out broken. He was hallucinating. Had to be. This was his mind protecting him from reality, giving him what he wanted to see instead of what was really there. He blinked away the tears, expecting the image of his wife to go away with them. She remained, a faint smile appearing as her gaze locked onto him.

"Bayberry," she whispered, her voice shattering like glass.

The word sent him reeling. She was here. She'd come back.

"Bayberry." Tears spilled down her cheeks, fresh tracks through the mess on her face. "Bayberry, bayberry, bayberry—"

Chris moved. He didn't remember deciding to move, didn't feel his legs working, but suddenly he was there. His arms wrapped around her and she collapsed into him, a desperate sob tearing from her throat. Now that she was close, he could see her more clearly.

Her makeup was smeared across her face, mixed with what looked like spit. And cum—God, it was everywhere. It streaked along her jaw, her cheeks, drying in her hair. The dress that she looked so ravishing in just a few hours ago was completely ripped down the middle. She was holding it together with her hand, and as she released her grip to wrap her arms around his neck it fell open, exposing her chest.

Red marks covered her breasts, puffy and angry welts. Her nipples looked raw, from what looked like bite marks. More dried semen streaked across her skin, white against the angry red nubs. The smell of sex and sweat overpowered him, but he didn't care. She was safe... she was back.

Fresh tears streamed down Chris's face. This time, they were tears of happiness. His knees buckled as the relief washed over him. She was safe, and she came back. Which meant she didn't hate him. It also meant...

"I got it." The words came out between sobs. Ashley's fingers curled into Chris's shirt before unclenching one hand and pulling back slightly to look into the ocean in his eyes. "The drive. It's here. It's all here. It's done."

Chris studied her face. Her eyes were puffy, a look of sadness in them. He couldn't breathe as he started to put together exactly what that statement meant.

"You…" He couldn't make sense of it. "But you left. With them. You—"

"I had to." She ran her fingers through his hair, resting her forehead on his.

"I didn't think... After what Clayton told you. The pain in your eyes. I thought—" Tears welled in his eyes as Ashley ran her fingers across the back of his neck.

"I know. That part... That part was real, Chris. You hurt me. I mean you really—"

"I know. And I'm so sorry, baby. I just thought that—"

"Not now. I don't want to do this right now. Let's just..." She exhaled slowly and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was timid at first, almost tentative, like they were relearning each other. She tasted different, saltier, an edge that jolted through him and sent jealousy coursing hot in his chest. He pulled her closer, opening his mouth, brushing his tongue against her teeth before finding hers. The tang on her lips deepened, intoxicating, and his cock stirred, drawing a soft moan from her as her fingers slid into his hair.

When they broke apart they were both breathing heavier. "I'm so sorry," he clung to her like she may leave again. "I shouldn't put you in that position. I should never have started any of this. If I hadn't taken that job offer while we were—"

She pressed her lips to his to silence him again. "Stop," she said, laying her face on his shoulder. "We don't have time. We can hate ourselves later. Right now—" She pulled back, putting her hand in his and giving him the small USB drive. "Right now we have this."

Chris stared at the drive. It looked so ordinary. So small. Yet, its contents were life and death for him.

"Have you... Do we know what's on it?"

She shook her head, her fingers still lightly running through his hair. "No. I didn't have time. I wanted to get out before they came looking."

"What..." he swallowed. "What did they do to you?"

She stared into his eyes. Behind the sadness he could see the guilt, the anger, the lust.

"I..." She hesitated, pulling away from him slightly.

"It's okay, Ashley. I can take it. I understand."

She studied his face, like she was trying to decide if she really believed him. "I need to shower first and we need to call Holbrook."

He helped her up the stairs, his touch never leaving her. When they reached the bathroom he turned on the water for her, allowing the steam to fill the room. When he turned around she was already naked.

Chris's breath caught. The marks covered more than just her breasts. Bruises on her hips, fingerprints, he could make out individual fingers. Red streaks across her stomach. Her inner thighs glistened with dried fluid.

"Did they hurt you?" His hand curled into a fist.

She shook her head, not wanting to look into his eyes. "No," she whispered, shifting in place.

He studied her. He knew that look. His cock began to stir, knowing what those marks meant. He took a step closer. His hand reached out, fingers tracing a mark on her hip. "Ashley..."

"I need to shower." Her voice was soft, like she knew exactly what was going through his head. "Let me clean up first, then..." Her gaze dropped to the growing bulge in his pants, before returning to his face. "I'll tell you everything. But this has to be the last time. I can't..."

Heat flooded Chris's face. "I'm sorry. I don't want to be... I don't know why..." He gestured helplessly at himself, at his obvious arousal, the proof that even now, especially now, his body betrayed him.

Ashley's hand went to her own throat, fingers pressing against a red mark there. Her eyes met his, and something passed between them. Recognition. "I understand better than you think."

"What do you—"

"I was so mad at you. So hurt from what Clayton said." Chris reached out, trying to comfort her, but she shrugged him away. "I told myself I was going to pour everything into that performance."

"I understand. I—"

"But it wasn't a performance." She wiped her eyes. "It wasn't an act. I... I let myself go. I let them do everything they wanted and I... I loved it. I hated how much I loved it."

Chris's cock throbbed. The shame of his arousal mixed with the words Ashley was saying. The words hung there. An admission that mirrored his own shame. She'd loved it. He was hard from hearing about it. Two people staring at the wreckage of who they used to be.

"Are we going to be okay?"

"I don't know," she whispered.

It wasn't the response he'd hoped for, but it offered him some relief. I don't know meant she hadn't decided to leave. I don't know meant there was still a chance, however slim, that they might survive this. It was more than he deserved. She was so much more than he deserved.

"Let me shower. Call Holbrook. Let's get through all of this and then we can figure out the rest."

Chris's chest tightened. He nodded, not trusting his voice.

She kissed his cheek softly, then stepped into the shower.

***

The leather of the SUV was cold against Ashley's bare thigh as she slid into the large backseat, flanked by Tom and Clayton. The dark divider to the driver was up, leaving Ashley essentially alone with the two men.

Tom's cologne was the first thing she noticed, something sweet, exotic. She thought about asking him what it was to try to ease the tension, but then Clayton's hand was on her knee causing goosebumps to cover her skin.

“Sorry you had to go through all of that,” he said, pressing his lips to her exposed shoulder. She smiled weakly at him, glancing through the tinted window as the SUV made its way out of the BitGuardian parking lot. She couldn’t see Chris through the door, but she knew he was still in there on the floor, probably blaming her for all of this, calling her a traitor, a cheat, a whore. He was right, of course. She was all of those things. She had to be, if this was going to work.

"The flight back to Seattle leaves in the morning. Clayton was gracious enough to let us crash at his place until then." Tom's hand slid to her other leg. "Although, I doubt we'll be doing much sleeping."

Her stomach fluttered. Chris had told her from the beginning Tom was off-limits. He'd get worked up every time she stepped over that boundary, but it was always different with him than with Clayton. Despite the arousal and jealousy, there was anger there.

After all, thirty-three percent is a hell of a stake.

A fresh batch of pain tore through her, and she sat her hand on Tom's nudging it just past her knee. "And what is it we'll be doing?" She batted her eyes, laying it on extra thick. It wouldn't be hard playing the role of a betrayed wife.

"You really are one hot piece of ass, aren't you?" Tom's laugh bellowed through the SUV as his hand traveled higher.

"For fuck's sake Tom, do you have to be so crass in everything you say?" Clayton's hand squeezed Ashley's knee possessively as he eyed his collogue.

"I just call it like I see it. Sorry if you're too big of a pussy to do it." His hand slipped higher, and Ashley was sure he could feel the heat radiating from between her legs. She grabbed his wrist with a smile, holding it just above her knee. "It is nice to be treated like a lady occasionally." Everything felt automatic, like her body knew what to do before her mind did. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or bad. Was this just who she was now?

She turned toward Clayton, her smile growing wider. "But then again, I did just learn my husband sold me like a whore. So maybe Tom is right." She hated herself as soon as she said it, but the rage burned in the pit of her stomach. She knew there was more to it than that. But right now she didn't want to hear it. She couldn't let herself hear it. She had to be angry at him. It was the only way.

Clayton whispered something in her ear. Some quip at Tom about being a savage. It drew another reaction from Tom who shouted back, but she'd stopped listening. Her attention fell to the purse at her feet. Everything she needed was right there. All she had to do was wear them out. Make them think she wanted whatever this fucked up date entailed so they would sleep. Then she could grab her purse and sneak out. Which meant..

"Are you two going to bicker all night? I thought tonight would be a little more... fun" She cut off their arguing reaching out in either direction with both hands and rubbing the front of their pants. Tom reacted instantly, his manhood swelling against her soft touch. Clayton however stayed soft. She gave him a playful squeeze drawing a gasp from his lips. When she looked at him he still had the same pained look in his eye from earlier.

"You okay?" She whispered, drawing down his zipper.

"I'm fine." his reply was short, cold. He put his hand on hers. "Let's just wait until we get to the house."

"That just means there's more for me," Tom said, tugging on his own zipper.

"I said, let's just wait." Clayton shot up straight in his seat, a long tense silence washed over them as he and Tom stared each other down. Tom was the first to blink, throwing up his hands in mock surrender.

"Fine. We'll be there in just a few minutes anyway."

The hairs on the back of Ashley's neck stood up. Something was off. This wasn't the dynamic she expected. She knew Clayton didn't like to share, but this was almost like he was having second thoughts. Her mind raced. What if he suspected her? What if she wasn't being believable enough?

She forced herself to relax against his shoulder, to play the betrayed wife seeking comfort. Whatever was happening in Clayton's head, she couldn't afford for him to see her panic. But for now, she just wanted to enjoy the last few minutes of quiet before she crossed every boundary her and Chris had ever set.

She thought about Chris alone in that lobby. About how he'd tried to warn herthey're going to use you—and how she'd thrown his own words back at him. About the federal charges hanging over his head. About prison.

About how this was the only way to save them both. Even if he never forgave her for what she was about to do.

***

The SUV rolled to a stop in Clayton's driveway. Tom was out first, already grabbing Ashley by the hand before Clayton was able to open the door. The three of them walked to the house in silence. Ashley standing between the two men, the tension thick as ever between them.

"Drinks?" Clayton asked as they stepped into the foyer. A chill ran up Ashley's spine as she recalled every time she was here before. Her eyes drifted to the stairs, she couldn't see his office from this angle, but her hand tightened around her purse.

"Drinks sound perfect," Tom said, placing his hand at the small of Ashley's back and ushering her toward the stairs. "I'll take a whiskey neat." He paused, smiling at Clayton. "Why don't you get them ready for us, I'll head upstairs with Ashley."

Clayton's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as his gaze went from Tom to Ashley and then back. His smile faltered for a second, and Ashley saw the anger in his eyes before he mustered a smile.

"Sure," he said, turning his attention to Ashley. "You good?"

Her heart hammered. Good was the last word for what churned inside. Nausea still rose at the thought of what was coming, but at least Clayton would be there. He was someone she trusted. She knew his likes and dislikes. Now she was being asked to head upstairs with Tom alone. The mask couldn’t slip. Everything had to be perfect.

Ashley bit her bottom lip seductively, spinning out of Tom's grasp and closed the space between her and Clayton. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a fiery kiss, nails slowly tracing down his body. Her tongue slipped past his lips just as her hand found the front of his pants. The swell beneath her palm wasn’t fully hard yet, but whatever wall he had up was starting to crumble.

"Don't keep me waiting too long, big boy." She gave him one final squeeze, then spun away, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked up the stairs in front of Tom ensuring to swing her hips with each step.

Ashley's heels sank into the carpet as she stepped into Clayton's room. It looked exactly how she'd left it earlier that day. The only difference was that the king-sized bed was made. She could smell the fruity scent of the fabric softener, a stark contrast to the sex and sweat the filled her lungs last time she was here.

Her stomach knotted as she replayed the night in her head. The way she let Clayton use her, the way Katie tasted. Her nipples ached against the soft fabric of her dress as the door clicked shut behind her.

"Alone at last," Tom's deep voice came, causing her to spin around and face him. He was already loosening his tie a look of pure satisfaction on his face.

Ashley's pulse thundered in her ears. "And what was it you were hoping to do now that we are alone?"

She ran her tongue over her lips. Her eyes traveling his body as she placed her hands behind her back to keep him from seeing how much they shook. She was nervous, but beneath that anticipation hummed through her. She'd been teasing Tom for months, putting on performances via video calls as he said all the things he wanted her to do. She hated her body's traitorous response to finally being able to act on those promises.

"I'm so glad you asked." He took a step toward her, close enough now she could feel his breath on her skin. His hand came to her neck, his thumb tracing her exposed collarbone and making her breath more rapid. "I'm going to give you exactly what you want."

"And what's that?" She dug her nails into her hand.

He smiled, unbuttoning his shirt not bothering to look into her eyes anymore. Each button seemed to take longer than the last. She watched his hands, they didn't shake. He wasn't nervous as all, his nerves were steel. When he finally finished the last one, he looked back up at her. His chest was exposed, his stomach flatter than she'd realized. She had an incredible urge to run her hand along it, to feel if his heart was beating as fast as hers, but she fought it.

"You're over dressed," he said, calmly.

She smiled, reaching behind her back trying to find the zip of her dress so she could slip the rest of it over her head. This was the part she was waiting for. She could take control. Give him a seductive strip tease that would have him eating out of the palm of her hand. Her fingers fumbled for the zipper, shaking too much to grasp it.

"Allow me." His hands moved to the halter clasp at her neck. She expected him to pull the zipper, perhaps unclasp the fabric from her neck. Instead, his fingers curled around the neckline and she let out a gasp.

The rip of the fabric cut through the room like a blade. Her eyes went wide in shock, her body responding to the display of pure machismo. The cool air hit her bare skin as Tom tore through the dress in one savage pull, the expensive material giving way like tissue paper.

The dress hung limply around her neck, leaving her completely exposed. No panties. Just her heels and the wreckage of her dress that covered nothing. Her nipples sang at being free. The pink peaks aching for relief as heat flooded her face.

Tom's eyes raked over her body with undisguised hunger, and despite everything, despite Chris, despite the plan, despite knowing she should feel violated, her core clenched with want.

"Perfect," Tom breathed, stepping closer. "Absolutely fucking perfect."

He reached out, running his palm against her naked stomach, his gaze more intense than she'd ever seen. Her thighs began to quiver at the thought of what would happen next. She chewed on her bottom lip as his touch moved across her ribcage, and she held her breath as it began its ascent up her body.

"What... what is it you think I want?" Thinking clearly was becoming impossible. The heat from his touch sent her mind racing in a million different directions, and a single direction all at the same time. She opened her mouth in a silent moan as he cupped her tit, her eyes going half-lidded as his thumb brushed across her nipple.

"For me to touch you." He brought his forefinger to the other side of her nipple, pinching it. "For me to take you."

"Ahhh," she moaned, her legs wobbling as she felt his hardness brush against her thigh. She thought about saying no, about playing hard to get like she'd planned, but the words wouldn't come out. All she could think about was the throbbing heat between her legs.

"But you're playing coy. Is that it? You just want me to take what I want." His gaze tore through her, daring her to deny it. His touch became more demanding. He ran his entire palm across her breast, squeezing it, before refocusing on just the taut bud.

"Stand up straighter," he commanded as her knees began to give. She stiffened, standing tall enough in her heels to be almost an entire head taller than him, but it was clear who was in charge right now.

"Don't move," he whispered, taking slow steps circling her. She closed her eyes, somehow feeling more exposed than ever before. She thought of Chris on the floor of the lobby. Would they ever be able to go back to normal after this?

"You like giving up control, don't you?" He'd stopped behind her, two fingers tracing her spine, making her suck in air. "You like being an obedient slut."

"Yes," she breathed, her core pulsing with need.

"I have just the thing for that." His voice seemed to rattle around the room, hitting her from all directions. He grabbed her wrists, and she felt the soft kiss of fabric against her wrists.

"What are you—"

"Giving you exactly what you wanted." He swatted her ass, and she tried to wiggle her wrists free. The fabric was snug, but didn't cause her any pain. A flash of panic struck her. She would need her hands later. Surely he wouldn't leave her tied up all night, would he?

He emerged in front of her once again. This time holding a metal clip. "Do you know what this is?"

She tilted her head confused. "A clip. Like for money."

"Not tonight it's not." He gripped her neck with his free hand, and ran the pad of his thumb along her jawline, pushing it into her mouth as he maintained eye contact with her.

"Mmmm," she moaned, eagerly sucking it into her mouth and swabbing it with her tongue. When he pulled it from her mouth, he placed it between the teeth of the clip, smearing her spit along the cool metal and widening its mouth.

"Today, it has a very different use." He eased it over the bud of her nipple, allowing the jaws to clamp down on the hard bud.

"Nahhhh," she moaned, shaking her head as her knees turned to water.

"Pain is the absolute best conduit for pleasure," he whispered, placing his hands on her hips and guiding her backward until the back of her knees pressed against the bed.

Every nerve turned into wild radio waves emanating from the electric contact made with those metal jaws on her sensitive nipple. She could feel a growing heaviness between her legs. A wet hunger like she'd never known before.

He placed both hands on either side of her face. He leaned in like he was going to kiss her, and Ashley happily parted her lips, allowing her eyes to flutter shut. The sensations running through her body already had her on edge and no one had even touched her.

As her tongue slid past her lips, it was met by cold air, and Tom's breath on her neck. "I want you on your knees."

Ashley blinked trying to make sense of the command even as she began to lower herself to the floor. She looked up at him through her long lashes, hands still firmly secure behind her back. Tom's mouth fell open at the sight of her, and without being told, her eyes lowered to the strained fabric in front of her face.

"You're an eager one, aren't you?" Tom taunted, his fingers closing around the zipper on his slacks as he fished out his oversized cock.

"So, fucking eager," Ashley agreed as the hard head appeared, bending slightly to the left. The clamp on her nipple intensified her arousal. She could feel her pulse thumping through the hard bud, intensifying the pain, while also sending electric sparks straight to her core.

"May I?" she raised an inquisitive eyebrow, doing her best to lock eyes with Tom as she leaned forward, her tongue outstretched.

"You may." He reached out, running his fingers along her neck. He let out a hiss of breath as her tongue made contact with the underside of his cock. He flexed his hips and his shaft skimmed across her cheek, over her nose, then rested on her half open lips.

She teased the head of it with her tongue, drawling small circles on it before pressing against the small slit. He groaned again and she opened her mouth wider, her warm breath causing it to pulse. Then with a final smile, she leaned forward taking him into her mouth and hallowing out her cheeks.

"Mmm, that's it. We're going to have so much fun together." His fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her forward as more of his shaft disappeared in her throat. He felt her tongue stretch, desperate for more of his manhood. Tom happily complied, gripping her hair and thrusting his hips forward.

Glug, glug, glug the noise filled the room, and seemed to spur Ashley on. Her eyes watered, but she refused to quit until she had his entire dick in her throat. Spit overflowed and ran down her chin and neck.

"Jesus, that's better than advertised," Tom roared, throwing his head back, determined to choke Ashley with his shaft.

She fought against her restraints, wishing she could use her hands. She could make him cum so much faster if she had her hands free. Instead, she pulled off his cock, lathering his large sac with her tongue. When she worked her way back to the tip of his spear she was greeted by the salty taste of precum and she eagerly swallowed it. She could feel him getting close. It wasn't just from his frantic rhythm. She could tell by the way his grip tightened in her hair, the way he forgot to breathe when she took the last inch of him in her throat.

"Give it to me, Tom. Give me your cum," she encouraged, pulling her mouth off him with a 'pop' her mascara streaking her face. "You've thought about this moment for so long. Let me have it." Then she dove back down, taking him to the root and making him stagger.

This went on for several minutes, neither of them even hearing Clayton enter the room. He watched in stunned silence as Tom finally got to feel all the pleasures he had. He walked over to the dresser, setting the drinks on top of it, never tearing his eyes away from the scene in front of him as his rage began to grow with each choke, and gag.

Ashley could feel her juices running down her thigh as she willed herself to focus on Tom and not the throb of her clit. Her head bobbed faster as Tom's breathing became more rapid. She moaned around him, drawing his hips forward.

"Yes... yesss.. Oh fuck. Take it! Take it, you fucking, slut!" Tom roared, his release finally arriving as he held Ashley's face flush against his stomach, despite her muffled pleas. He could feel her throat tightening around him, desperately working to swallow rope after rope as it blasted the back of her throat. She coughed, trying to pull free, but he held firm until the final drop was swallowed. Then he stumbled backward with a snort.

"Jesus, fuck, Tom!" Ashley scoffed, falling back against the bed, a dribble of Tom's release sliding down her chin. Her jaw ached. Her throat burned. Her senses overloaded with his smell and essence. She wanted to feel disgusted by what just happened, by the way Tom had used her. Instead, her body was hot as the sun. Even as she struggled to catch her breath she felt the ache between her legs grow, she wanted more.

She couldn't wipe her face, couldn't do anything but let the mess dry on her skin as her gaze fell on Tom slumped against the wall. He was already softening, legs unsteady. He looked wrecked. A sense of pride washed over her, intensifying the ache between her legs. What the hell was wrong with her?

Movement from the corner of her eye pulled her attention from Tom. Clayton stood by the dresser, watching. His jaw was clenched, his hands curled into fists. He looked like a wild animal released from his cage. She felt her wetness begin to pool beneath her. She'd only ever seen that look one other time before. When she came home and found Chris waiting for her after her night at Clayton's. Before he reclaimed her in the most brutal way possible.

She gave him a wily grin, her gaze locked on the large tent in his pants. "Hey, baby." Her voice was raspier than expected. She had Tom to thank for that. She shifted on her knees, arching her back slightly, presenting herself. The movement made the clamp on her nipple bite deeper, sending a fresh jolt of electricity through her. "Did you come to join the fun?"

Clayton said nothing. He stared at Ashley, his eyes growing darker as he lifted off his shirt. His eyes darted to Tom, a cautionary glance to ensure he was still trying to recover from the treatment he received.

Ashley's pulse quickened. There was more than just a hunger in Clayton's eyes, there was need. She studied his face, his nose still red, but mostly cleaned up. Something about seeing the trace amount of blood made her suck on her lip.

The shirt was tossed across the room. Every muscle in Clayton's body looked tight, ready to snap. He lowered his pants, his eyes now raking over Ashley's used body as she kneeled by the bed pleading with her eyes for him to hurry.

Tom chuckled from somewhere beside them. "That's right. It's time to break this bitch in."

The comment didn't seem to faze Clayton at all as he stepped out of his pants. He was practically pulsing with need as he crossed the room to Ashley. She licked her lips, feeling her core throb in anticipation.

He stopped in front of her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off his body. His hand shot out, fingers tangling in her hair, his grip controlling. He pulled her head back, forcing her to look up at him.

"Did you like it?" His voice was low enough Tom couldn't hear. "Choking on his cock while I just watched?"

Ashley's breath came faster. Her thighs pressed together involuntarily as wetness slicked between them. "No," she whispered. "I thought—"

"Liar." He released her hair and grabbed her arm, hauling her to her feet. Her legs wobbled but he held her upright. Then he spun her around, one hand between her shoulder blades, pushing her forward. "I told you before. I don't like to watch."

Her upper body fell onto the bed, the soft comforter cool against her overheated skin. The clamp on her nipple pressed into the mattress and she gasped at the sharp sensation. Relief flooded through her. This was exactly how Chris was. Overcome with jealousy. He'd cum so fast that night. So hard.

His hands moved to the bind around her wrists. She pushed them into him, anxious for him to untie her. His fingers slid between the fabric and then—

"Ohhh fuuuuck." Ashley saw stars as Clayton buried himself inside her in one powerful thrust. His thighs slammed into the back of her legs giving her little time to recover.

"You're mine," he growled against her shoulder, but his voice cracked slightly on the word 'mine.' His grip on her bound wrists tightened. "Say it. Tell me no one—" He drove deeper, making her gasp. "—can make you feel like this."

"Ngggh. No one," she panted, as she pulled him deeper, her grip a vice around him.

From behind her, Clayton let out a broken sound that was half-groan, half-snarl. His fingers locked around her bound wrists, using them like a handle as he slammed into her again, harder than before. The bed jolted beneath her. Her knees slid forward on the sheets, but he held her in place, his body caging hers with raw, frantic need.

"You feel so good, baby. You're so hard." She knew that was what he needed to hear, but that wasn't the only reason she said it. It was the truth. She couldn't remember a time when he felt this hard, this deep. The worst part was that it made her crave him even more.

“Goddamn it, Ashley…” His voice wasn’t steady. It vibrated against her back, his fingers digging into her wrists. He drove into her harder, faster. “You're soaked. I saw your pussy dripping. You loved it. You loved being treated like a whore.”

She tried to form a response, but her breath caught and all that came out was a silent scream. His hips snapped into her again, the angle brutal, perfect, driving straight up into the spot that made her toes curl.

"Oh God. I feel so full. I love the way you fill me."

Clayton released her wrists as Ashley pushed herself back on his magnificent shaft. "That's it," he hissed. "No one can fill you like I can."

"N... no one. Oh fuck." Her eyes squeezed shut. Heat pooled beneath her stomach, spreading fast, urgent. For a moment, she forgot all about Tom. About Chris and the fucked up situation they were in. All she cared about was the way her body came to life when Clayton touched her. The way it always did, whether she wanted it to or not.

“I can feel you,” he growled, leaning over her until his chest pressed to her back. His breath was hot against her ear. “You’re already about to cum. This is where you belong, with me.”

Her back arched involuntarily, pushing herself into him. “I Oh God. Fuck, Clayton,” she gasped. “Clayton—please—”

His hand came down on her ass causing it to ripple like a wave at sea.

"Oooohhhh."

Another slap, in the same spot. His hand print an angry red against her skin. "Mine. Say it!" He slapped the other ass cheek, causing her body to lurch forward. "Say you're mine."

"Yessss, yes, baby. Oh God, I'm going to cum." She bit down on her lip, digging her body into the comforter, the clamp on her nipple biting harder. "It's yours. This pussy is yours."

Clayton propped one foot on the bed, driving deeper as her pussy squelched around him. He leaned close, running his tongue slowly along the shell of her ear. "Not just your pussy. All of you. Say you're mine."

"Ahhh. Oh fuck, oh fuck. Uhhhhh—"

Ashley's entire body shook as the orgasm crashed through her, ripping her open. She let it swallow her whole, every thought dissolving until there was nothing but the blinding rush and the way she clamped around him, her release flooding his length.

Tremors ran through her. She was barely holding herself up. Clayton stayed buried inside her, feeling her convulse and shake as he rode out the orgasm with her buried to the hilt.

Slowly her orgasm began to subside, her grip on him loosening, leaving her body boneless. Clayton didn't move, still deep inside her, his chest pressed to her back as she rode out the aftershocks. He held her in place with one steady hand on her hip, the other braced on the mattress beside her head.

Ashley swallowed hard, trying to catch her breath. "Clayton…" Her voice cracked. "Untie me."

He didn't respond at first. She felt him looking over her body. She must have looked a mess. Her core was still twitching, her legs covered in sweat and juices.

"Why?" His voice was rough against her ear.

She told herself what she was about to say was because she knew how Clayton would respond. That she was doing it for the greater good. But the thrill that went through her contradicted the argument.

"I..." She swallowed, her throat dry. "I want you to take my ass."

Clayton's entire body went rigid. She felt him flex inside her and she knew he wouldn't be able to resist the request. If he doubted her before there was no way he could after this.

"You'd like that, right baby?" Her voice dropped lower, more confident and seductive. "You want to fuck my ass?"

For a moment nothing happened and she worried that he saw through her. Then his hands moved across the binding on her wrists. She felt the knot fall loose and she flexed her fingers, blood rushing back into her hands.

"Hell, if he doesn't want it, I'll take it." Tom's voice cut through the moment like a blade. Ashley had almost forgotten he was there. "I knew you were a freak, but god damn."

"Back off, Tom." His fingers dug into the swell of her ass allowing her to feel his annoyance. "You had your fun."

"Come on, man." Tom moved toward the bed. "Just thinking about the perfect ass has me hard as a rock again."

Ashley glanced back over her shoulder. Tom was stroking himself, already hard again, his eyes raking over her exposed body with undisguised hunger. She couldn't help but let out a soft moan as she stared at his rising member.

Clayton adjusted himself behind her, his hardness sliding along the valley of her ass, smearing her juices against her tight hole. She reached back with both hands spreading her cheeks for him, humiliation mixed with her arousal making her ache with need.

"Go slow," she whispered. "You're bigger than I've ev—"

The heat of his cock pressed at her entrance and stole her breath. She tried to relax, to let him in. She fisted the comforter in her hands, trying to exhale slowly as she felt him start to push past her tight ring.

"Ahhhhh." Soft groans of complaint escaped her as his huge size pushed into her ass. The angle was different from when she'd done it with Chris. It wasn't intensely uncomfortable, but he was so big the new angle felt like a whole different intrusion. “Slow,” she warned him. “God, slow—you are so big...”

His hands went up her ribs, and over her armpits, squeezed her elbows. He pushed deeper. "Fuck," Clayton breathed, pulling her back slowly. "You're so tight. You feel—"

"Ugggh, God." She reached back, placing her hand on his chest. "Wait. give me... a second. Fuck, I feel so full. So... so good."

He withdrew slightly, her hand sliding down his chest back to her ass. With a grunt he pushed forward sinking half his dick into her backside before sliding back out and pushing deeper.

"Yes yes, Oh, God. Fuck, Clayton. Ahhh fuck me."

"You heard the slut, fuck her." Tom appeared beside the bed, his smile wide on his face. "Stop holding back and give her what she wants."

"Fuck off, Tom!" Clayton tried to ignore him as he and Ashley worked into a rhythm. With each thrust Ashley would push her body back a little, marveling at how good it felt. She could feel the tension in Clayton's body as Tom loomed, yet that somehow only added to the intensity of the moment.

Slowly, the discomfort evaporated, replaced by unbridled pleasure like she'd never experienced. "You feel so good, baby. I want to feel you cum." Her hand snaked under her thighs, finding her clit as she threw herself backward onto his waiting shaft.

"Your body loves my dick," Clayton said breathlessly as he grabbed her hair pulling her head back. "No one can make you cum like I can."

"Nggghh," fuck. No... no one." Her fingers glided faster over her swollen bud. Her next orgasm growing and threatening to consume her entirely.

"Ever had two guys in you at the same time?" Tom's voice interrupted again, closer now. Ashley opened her eyes and saw Tom less than a foot from her face. His cock fully hard and angry looking as he stroked it slowly. "I bet you'd go off like a fucking firecracker, wouldn't you?"

"Oh, God... Ohhh fuuck."

"I said I don't fucking share," Clayton hissed, his fingers digging into Ashley's ass so hard she knew it would bruise.

Despite Clayton's protests, her mind was already spiraling, imagining what it would feel like to have them both.

"I can see you thinking about it," Tom whispered. "Imaging how my big dick will feel. How it will feel to have us both."

"Ohhhh."

"Touch it. Feel how hard it is for you. How good it feel inside that tight little pussy of yours."

"Tom. Shut the fuck..."

Ashley reached out, grasping his cock with her left hand, her right desperately circling her clit. Her body was on fire, and as much as she hated it the thought overwhelmed her. How would it feel? Would she be able to do it? Could she make them both cum?

Her hand pumped Tom faster, her breathing more raged as she neared the edge of bliss. She couldn't remember ever wanting something more in her entire life. The slap of her ass against Clayton's body intensified, her ass clenching around his member at the thought of something so obscene.

"You want it, don't you?" Tom was pumping his hips in time with Clayton's thrusts. "You want us both to fuck you."

"Tom—" Clayton's warning came out strained.

"Oh fuck. Mmmm." She bit down on her lip, not wanting the words to come out, terrified that this might ruin everything.

"Tell him," Tom urged, his fingers circling her neck. "Tell Clayton you want my dick in you while he takes your ass."

"Yes," she whispered, barely audible. The admission felt like falling.

"Louder." Tom's free hand came down on her ass. The surprise and the sting of it making her gasp. "Tell him you want two dicks at the same time."

"Yes—" Ashley's voice broke. "Yes, oh fuck, I want it. Clayton, I want it so fucking bad... please."

Clayton stopped moving. He stayed buried inside her, felt her pulsing around him, but he remained still. She whined in frustration, her fingers still massaging her slick folds. she didn't have to look over her shoulder to know the two men were sizing each other up. She could feel it in the way Clayton's body coiled.

The silence stretched. Ashley's heart hammered. She'd asked for too much. Pushed too far. He was going to pull out, tell Tom to fuck off, end this—

"Fine." The word came out after what felt like an eternity. His voice was cold. "But your ass is all mine." Her pussy twitched in response.

"You'll get no objections from me," Tom said with a laugh, as he helped Ashley up from the bed. "To bad there isn't another person here. I bet you'd love to be air tight, wouldn't you?"

Ashley looked at her feet as Tom positioned himself on the bed. She wasn't sure if she wasn't making eye contact because Tom was right, or because she'd degraded herself so much he thought he was.

"Don't worry. I'm sure we can arrange that in Seattle."

"Cut the shit, Tom. Or this ends now." Clayton's grip tightened around Ashley's arm, his cock lodging itself free as Ashley climbed over Tom's body and Clayton pulled her hips toward him.

"I've been dreaming about how this pussy will feel. Clayton's really talked it... ahhhh."

The slide was easy, even with the slight curve of his cock. Ashley's pussy was soaked, desperate to feel the stretch.

"Is it what you imagined?" Ashley's hands fell to Tom's chest, her nails digging into him as she rolled her hips. "Can you feel how wet I am, Tom? Fuck me, Tom. Fuck me like the way you always imagined."

Tom opened his mouth to speak, but Ashley slammed her hips down before he could get the words out, making his eye roll to the back of his head. He reached up, gripping her neck and making Ashley cry out.

A swivel of her hips, another sharp tilt of her torso and she was back in control. She pinned Tom's arms over his head, clenching around him with each downward movement.

"Fuck. God, that feels good."

But Ashley barely registered his words. She was already looking back over her shoulder at Clayton. A warm smile passing between them as Ashley dominated Tom. But the moment passed quickly, Clayton stepped forward, his hand on Ashley's ass making her slow her movement and allow Tom to catch his breath.

He didn't like not being included, he wasn't going to sit back and watch Tom have all the fun. He pushed Ashley forward, feeding her unclamped nipple to Tom. His cock pressed against her ass again and she sucked in air.

"Ahhh," she moaned, her hips pausing as she felt her ass begin to stretch.

"How's it feel?" Tom whispered, his breath hot on her neck. "You love having two cocks inside you, don't you?"

"Fuck. Fuck. Ohhh, God," Ashley continued to whine as she was filled like never before.

Tom started to move beneath her, and the dual sensation made Ashley's arms tremble. She was so full, stretched impossibly around both of them. Every drive from Tom pushed her back onto Clayton. Every movement from Clayton drove her forward onto Tom. She felt like a fuse about to blow, every nerve lit, every inch of her tightening around them with a desperate, filthy greed.

The two men worked up a rhythm that left Ashley seeing stars. Clayton pounded into her harder, sending her sensitive chest scraping against Tom's body. Tom would raise his hips, feeling Clayton's thick shaft press against him only separated by the thinnest of skin.

“Oh God—oh God, ohGodohGod—” she babbled, unable to stop herself. Her eyes snapping closed as the overwhelming sensation overtook her.

Tom leaned forward, his tongue slipping past her lips. “You like that? Being stuffed like this? You like having both of us inside you?”

“Y-yes,” she cried out, her hands scrambling for something to hold as her climax built. “Yes, yes, please—don’t stop—”

Tom's fingers slid up her thigh, finding her swollen bud and applying gentle pressure. "Hear that? She's begging for it. You'd do whatever I wanted wouldn't you? Whoever I wanted?"

Ashley's mouth hung open, spit sliding down her chin as Tom's fingers stroked the fire building inside her. She sat up a little straighter allowing him better access. Her mind was liquid. She knew whatever he was saying was wrong, but all she cared about in that moment was her release.

"Whatever—Oh, ohhh Fuck. What— whatever you want."

"Tom. Seriously, shut the fuck up." Clayton growled from behind her. She couldn't believe he hadn't cum yet. His cock was like steel as it pushed into her backside. His pace beginning to pick up.

"She's... fuck. She's close. She'll do whatever we say now," Tom relented. His fingers pinching and rolling her clit.

The spots behind Ashley's eyes grew until all she could see was white. "Ahhhh. Yes—Yes. Fuck. Don't—Don't stop."

"Say it," Tom pressed. "Say you'll do whatever we want. That your body is ours."

Clayton pushed Ashley forward with a force that nearly dislodged her from his. He pressed his palm onto the back of her neck, putting his full force into fucking her.

“Clay—Clayton—” Ashley choked, her voice breaking as her body jolted with each thrust.

Tom grunted beneath her, his hips snapping upward to meet every brutal stroke from behind. “Goddamn… Her grip. Slow down... She’s going to lose it—”

“Your ass is mine,” Clayton snarled, his thrusts turning feral. “Your pussy is mine.”

Ashley tried to speak, to breathe, to think, but none of it was possible. Clayton hammered into her with a rhythm that erased everything except the relentless stretch, the heat, the dizzying fullness ripping her apart from both ends.

“Ohhh—oh God—Clayton—I—I can’t—” Spasms wracked her, hips jerking wildly between them.

Clayton grabbed her hips, slammed her down onto Tom’s cock, and held her there as he pistoned into her ass. “You’re gonna cum for me,” he growled into her ear. “Right. Fucking. Now.”

“Clay—Clay—ohhhh—oooh fucckkk. Mhmmmmmmmm.”

Ashley's body went liquid as a massive orgasm exploded across her body. She felt Tom twitch first, pulsating inside her, his hot cum shooting deep inside her. For the briefest moment she thought about Chris, about how this was the ultimate betrayal, about how maybe she wasn't any better than him. Hell, maybe she was worse. The villain Mrs. Johnson warned her about.

The orgasm grew more powerful, her scream tore through her chest as she milked Tom for every last drop. Then, a fresh new euphoria crashed over her. With one last savage stroke and Clayton was there, slamming forward one final time as he began to swell in her ass. It felt like their cum was covering every inch of her insides, the pulse from one seemingly triggering the other making the aftershocks of her orgasm more powerful than the last.

When the last twitch of their orgasms faded, Ashley collapsed against Tom, Clayton hitting the mattress beside her. She pulsed around the lingering sensation of both of them, each aftershock tugging at whatever energy she had left, reminding her of the stretch, the heat, and how completely they’d filled her.

Ashley's body knew what it wanted. She shifted closer to Clayton, curling against his side, seeking warmth. His arm came around her immediately, pulling her close. His fingers found the clamp still biting into her nipple, and without a word, he eased it off.

The rush of blood back into the abused flesh made her gasp, more painful than when it had first been applied. But Clayton's thumb was already there, circling gently, soothing the ache.

This felt wrong. She shouldn't feel safe next to him after all that he'd done. But she was too exhausted to understand it, too wrung out to care about the contradiction. Her eyes drifted closed, exhaustion pulling her under. The last thing she heard was Tom's crude chuckle, as sleep claimed her.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been asleep, but Clayton shook her awake, his touch gentler than she could remember. She blinked awake, panic immediately setting in as she realized that while Tom was asleep Clayton wasn't. Her body hurt, she couldn't go another round with Clayton, not again. She'd failed.

She rolled over, looking into his eyes. They looked different, softer than she'd ever seen them before.

"You should... get cleaned up," he whispered. "While Tom's asleep."

She nodded, her heart shattering into a million pieces. She rolled from the bed, her legs shaky as she tried to stand.

"Use the guest bathroom... downstairs."

Time seemed to stand still as she looked back at Clayton. "Wh... what?" She reached out, grabbing the bedframe afraid she may fall.

"We had fun, right?" The cockiness in his voice was gone, replaced by something that sounded like sincerity. "I mean before all... this." He gestured toward Tom. "I just mean..."

Ashley smiled and took a step forward. She couldn't understand what was happening, but she knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. "We did," she whispered, kissing his cheek.

She made her way toward the bedroom door, her pulse pounding in her ears.

"Wait," Clayton called out, grabbing her wrist.

Her hands shook as she turned around.

"Don't forget your purse."

"Th... thank you," she whispered, taking it from him. Did he know? Had he figured it out?

He nodded gently at her, then turned back toward the bed as she slipped out the bedroom door.

***

Ashley sat on the edge of the bed, a towel wrapped around her body. Tears streaked both their faces as she paused to let the weight of everything she'd just said set in. She'd been home for just under an hour, but she could still feel them both inside her, feel their release on her skin regardless of how hard she scrubbed in the shower.

Chris had barely moved since she started the story. His hands folded into fists, then gripped his knees like he couldn't decide where to put them. She'd paused a few times while she was recounting her experience, especially during the parts with Tom, but he never reacted. She glanced between his legs. He was hard, she could see the outline straining against his pants. A few times she'd expected him to reach out, touch himself, touch her.

"I can't." He wiped his eyes, his voice breaking on the words. "I never should have introduced you to Tom. I should have—" He saw her glance between his legs and his cheeks turned crimson. "Jesus, I'm sorry. I don't want to be, really. I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Nothing's wrong with you."

"You fucked Tom. You let him..." He exhaled hard, his breath shuddering. "You let him cum inside you, and I'm so hard it hurts." His eyes slipped shut, the silence between them loud enough to choke on. The angrier he got, the more aroused he became, and the contradiction only twisted the knife deeper. Shame wasn't even the right word. He was horrified. His body felt traitorous, celebrating what had happened to her, his cock giving a standing ovation for his own ruin.

But he wasn't going to let it win. Not this time.

He reached out, brushing his fingers over her exposed shin. The touch was tentative, like he was afraid she would recoil. "I know it's my fault. I sold you." He forced himself to look at her, to see the marks on her skin, the evidence of what his choices had cost. "I made the decision for you because I wanted to see it happen. I had no right to—"

"You're right. You didn't." Her voice was soft, and she placed her hand on top of his, feeling his fingers tremble.

The silence stretched between them. Chris waited for more—for her anger, for accusations, for anything that would let him understand how badly he'd fucked up. But Ashley just looked at him, her eyes glossy with unshed tears.

"But you weren't wrong," she continued, her breath hitching. "It was going to happen anyway. I wanted it to happen." She paused, forcing herself to add the harder truth. "But we should have talked about it. We were supposed to be a team, and we both just... acted. You pushed, I went. We never stopped to ask if we were destroying our marriage."

He nodded, squeezing her hand like it was the only solid thing in the world. "I told myself it was okay, that I was doing it for us. For our future." His thumb slid across her shin. "But really I just needed to see it. When I watched you with him, you became a completely different person. You let go in ways I'd never seen. And I knew—" His voice cracked. "I knew I couldn't bring that out of you. I couldn't make you feel that way."

"Don't do that." Ashley's grip tightened on his hand. "I told you before, the sex wasn't about being better or worse. It was just different. I wasn't his wife. I didn't have the weight of worrying about disappointing him, about failing him, about being enough." She swallowed hard. "It was freeing in a sense. I could just be a body. Just be wanted without consequence."

Chris absorbed this, his jaw working. She could see him trying to understand, trying not to take it as rejection even though part of him clearly did.

"And with Tom?" The words came out before he could stop them. The question burned like bile in his throat. "Was that freeing too?"

Ashley licked her lips, studying Chris's face. She saw the pain there, the barely controlled rage mixed with arousal, and she knew she couldn't lie. The lies were what got them here, both his and hers.

"I wanted to hate it," she started, feeling his fingers clench around hers. She didn't pull away. "God, Chris, I wanted to hate every second. But then I thought about everything. About the way you pushed me toward Clayton, about the way you sold me like I was—" She stopped, made herself finish. "Like I was a thing you owned instead of a person you loved."

Chris's grip tightened on her hand. "I never thought of it that way."

"I know you didn't. That's what makes it worse." She pulled back slightly to look at him. "You didn't think about how it would make me feel at all. You made the decision like you were the only one who would be affected by this."

Despite the pain, she maintained eye contact with her husband, wanting him to see the sincerity in her eyes. Wanting him to see how much this was costing her too.

"I know." Tears spilled down his cheeks. "God, Ashley, I know. I wish I could take it back. If I could I'd—"

"I'm not asking you to take it back." She wiped her own eyes. "You can't go back, and neither can I. I'm telling you what it felt like. Because we both need to understand what we did to each other."

Chris waited, barely breathing.

"I used the anger to fuel me," she whispered. "To guide me. Every time Tom touched me, every time he pushed me further, I thought about your betrayal. About how you'd given me away. And it made it—" Her voice broke. "It made it easier to let go. Made me feel like I didn't have to be responsible for my choices because you'd already made them for me."

She looked away, wiping her eyes with her free hand. "You must think I'm a monster. The whore who got off fucking her husband's worst enemy."

Chris's hand shot out, gripping her chin and pulling her eyes back to him. The touch was firm but not rough, desperate but not cruel. "I don't hate you." His voice was thick with emotion. "I could never hate you."

He ran his thumb across her cheek, catching a tear. "But I am mad. At you, at him, at myself, at all of it. Even now, after everything. After all that you've done to save us, to save me." His other hand was still hard on her shin, anchoring them both. "There's a voice in the back of my head that wonders if you went too far. If it was really about saving me or if..." He shook his head, unable to finish the thought.

"Say it." Her voice was soft. "You need to say it."

"I can't."

"If it was about Clayton." She said what he couldn't. "That's what you want to know, right? If during all of this I fell in love with him?"

His gaze met hers, and she saw the fear, the anger and jealousy, and need. It was all there, coiled together like it was going to rip him apart. "Did you?"

She clicked her tongue, the sound caught between annoyance and uncertainty. Her heart hammered because she wasn't sure how to respond. Wasn't sure what the truth even was anymore.

"I... I don't think so."

"You don't think so?"

The towel sagged as she shifted, moving further up the bed, wanting to be closer to Chris despite everything. It slipped lower in the front, exposing the curve of her breast. She saw Chris's eyes drop to it involuntarily, saw them widen as he got a closer view of the bruises and red welts from the clamp. The marks were angry, unmistakable. She didn't bother adjusting the towel. Let him see what he'd enabled. What she'd allowed.

"I didn't love him. Not... not like I love you." She forced herself to keep talking, to push through the shame. "But there was... something. I don't know when it happened, or even how, but..." She felt her eyes start to well again. "As crazy as it sounds, I felt safe with him. I felt wanted in a way that was simple. Uncomplicated."

She pressed the heels of her palms to her eyes, trying to stop the tears. "But I never felt love. Not real love."

Chris went still. She could feel the shift in him, the way every muscle tensed. "Clayton said you told him you did." His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. "When I went to his house to confront him. He said you told him you loved him."

"I never said that." She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. "I said a lot of things. Vile things a woman should never say to another man." Her cheeks burned as she recalled all of the confessions she'd made to him. "And in the moment I meant every word." She leaned forward, allowing the towel to fall completely and pressed her forehead to his. "Nothing's wrong with you. You're the only man I will ever say that to."

She pressed her lips to his. The kiss was tender, soft. Neither made a move to try to make the kiss deeper. They stayed that way, feeling each other's breath on their cheek as the soft rays of the sunrise began to dispel the darkness in the room.

"So what do we do? What if... what if we can't get past this. What if we can't ever forgive each other?"

"I don't know." Her answer was brutal and honest, neither of them flinching at the harsh reality of it. "Maybe we can't. Maybe we traveled too far into the darkness and we can't find our way out." She ran her fingers through his hair. "But I want to try. I don't want them to win. I don't want trusting each other with our darkest fantasies to be what ruined us."

Chris took her in his arms, holding her for the first time since she'd returned and inhaled her scent. His gaze caught the USB on the nightstand. They still hadn't looked at it, hadn't figured out if they were truly safe.

"You never told me what happened," he said, pulling away to look back in her eyes. "After you left the bedroom. How'd you get the drive?"

"That's the weird part. It was... easy."

Chris gave her a confused look.

"The night you went to Clayton's, I found the card Agent Holbrook left you." She looked down at the bed, ashamed that she'd done it behind Chris's back.

"You... you met with Holbrook?"

"I did." She smiled softly. "You left his business card in your dresser drawer. I wanted to make sure he wasn't a figment of your imagination. Like maybe you'd lost your mind due to stress."

Chris rolled his eyes, waiting for her to continue.

"I told him about the tracker, and how we'd tried to get into the office but failed. He gave me this putty compound. Said if I could get close enough to the lock on Clayton's office door, press it into the mechanism, he could make a working key within hours."

Chris's jaw dropped. While he was busy feeling sorry for himself his wife was out playing spy. "So. That's why you went to Clayton's after Mrs. Johnson? Because you needed to make a mold?"

Ashley's expression softened. "No," she admitted, despite not wanting to. "I went to Clayton because I didn't want to talk about Mrs. Johnson. I didn't want to face reality. I knew if I came to you that you'd ask if I was ok. You'd want to talk about it."

Words failed Chris as he considered what Ashley was saying. She was right. Had she come home he would have been concerned. Her admission tore through him be he didn't want to dwell on it. They both done so many things they weren't proud of.

"But when I was leaving, I remembered the putty. It was in my purse the whole time." She laughed bitterly. "I told myself I was just being practical. That I should at least try while I was there. He almost caught me at the door, but I made up something about dropping a hair tie, but..."

"But what?"

The hair on the back on Ashley's neck was standing up. Something wasn't adding up. "Just... The way Clayton told me to use the guest bathroom. The things he said. It was like he was saying goodbye."

"You think he knew?"

"I don't know," she admitted, standing and pacing the room, her towel forgotten on the bed. "The drive was right where I'd left it. The monitor was still on." She twirled her hair in her finger. "Even the chair was pushed in. It was perfect almost like..."

"Like it was staged," Chris finished, the color draining from his face.

Ashley wrapped her arms around herself. "You called Holbrook, right?"

"Yeah, he should be here any minute."

"I need to get dressed. We need to see what's on that drive."

***

Special Agent Holbrook sat at their kitchen table, laptop open, USB drive already plugged in. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room as Ashley paced nervously by the sink. She wore an oversized pair of silk pajamas. Even with the sleeves slipping past her hands and the pant legs pooling under her feet, she still felt exposed.

"This is impressive work," Holbrook said, scrolling through file after file. "Transaction logs with timestamps, IP addresses, API calls from BitGuardian accessing systems without authorization." He clicked through to another folder. "Chat logs between Tom Ashford and..." He paused, his eyebrows raising. "James Williamson."

Chris and Ashley exchanged a look across the table.

"Clayton's father?" Chris asked.

"Seems so." Holbrook removed his Ray-Bans as he continued to read. "These conversations paint a pretty clear picture." His brow pinched together. "But something feels off. It's too... neat."

Chris shared a desperate look with Ashley. "What does that mean?"

"It could mean nothing." He ran his hand over his face. "Or it could mean these conversations have been edited. We'll have to get them to our forensics team to know for sure."

"Edited?"

"Look at this. The conversation between Clayton and his father. It reads like something is missing. Like..."

"Clayton gave us exactly what he wanted us to see," Ashley whispered, the warmth he'd shown her now making complete sense.

"Exactly. See here."

James: you should do your job and put his mind at ease.

Clayton: I know what I'm doing.

James: The audit is a week away. If I hear of any more setbacks I'm pulling the plug on this whole damn thing.

"Are you saying he's going to get away with this?" Chris went white. He was going to be sick.

"He's a smart bastard." Holbrook sat back. "He's not covering for himself. The evidence against him is here, and it's damning. But he's making damn sure we see Tom and his father as the architects. Clayton becomes the reluctant participant instead of the co-conspirator. Look."

Clayton: This isn't something that you can just force. It takes time.

James: You're running out of time. Make sure the audit comes back clean.

Clayton: Or what?

James: I'll see to it that you're sharing a cell right along with Chris. Don't think for a second that just because you're family means you're not disposable.

Chris shook his head. "Will it work?"

"Probably." Holbrook's jaw tightened. "A good defense attorney will argue Clayton was coerced by his father, manipulated by Tom. The evidence here supports that narrative. He'll still face charges, but..." He gestured at the screen. "Three to five years instead of fifteen to twenty. Out in under a year with good behavior."

Chris's throat tightened, it was suddenly hard to breathe. There was no way Clayton was a pawn in any of this. He was calling the shots every step of the way. How could he get off with just a slap on the wrist?

"What about Tom?" he asked, his fist so tight his knuckles were white.

"He's a different conversation entirely. There's plenty here to put both him and James away for a very long time." He pointed to a few more transcribed conversations.

Tom: Chris is the only obstacle, and I have people who can handle obstacles.

Tom: Everything's bouncing through the accounts like planned. No trace.

"We have them dead to rights for wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, money laundering through international accounts?" Holbrook leaned back in his chair. "They are looking at fifteen to twenty years in federal prison."

Ashley set down her mug sharing a concerned look with Chris. "And us?"

"I'd say you've more than held up your side of the deal." Holbrook's eyes softened slightly as he looked over Ashley. "As part of our agreement the money in your account will remain as compensation for your cooperation."

Ashley sucked in air. "I didn't think that was possible."

"It's not normally, but your husband was pretty adamant. He said you'd gone through too much to be left with nothing, and frankly I agree. Not many people would have... endured what the two of you did and come out the other side." He nodded at Ashley. "What you did took courage. I hope your husband understands your sacrifice"

"He does," Chris interjected, walking to the sink and putting his arm around his wife and looking her in the eye. "He does." He pressed his lips to her forehead. "What about BitGuardian? We have employees who depend on that paycheck and had no idea what was going on."

Holbrook grimaced. "Company folds. The intellectual property will be locked up in litigation for years. It's evidence in a federal case. And frankly, without that IP, BitGuardian has nothing else to offer. No products, no revenue stream." He looked at Chris. "I'm sorry. I know that's your job."

Chris laughed, mainly because he had no tears left to cry. "It's not my job I'm worried about. Katie didn't deserve this."

"I'll need you both to review your statements and sign them," Holbrook interrupted, pulling papers from his laptop bag. "You'll need to stay local for awhile, at least until the trial is over. Once that's through you're free to start over."

Start over. What did that even mean? His marriage was barely hanging on. It would take months if not years of therapy to recover. His was suddenly unemployed, and while they had a nice nest egg it wasn't like he could retire.

"I'm sure the two of you will figure it out." Holbrook said, noticing the concerned look on Chris's face as he signed the document. Chris's hand shook at the finality of it, watching Holbrook pack up his laptop as he finished his signature.

Chris walked him to the door, watched him get into his sedan and drive away. When he turned back, Ashley was still sitting at the kitchen table, staring at her empty coffee mug.

"So that's it," she said to no one in particular. "It's over."

Chris sat back down across from her. "BitGuardian's gone. I'll need to find another job. We'll probably have to sell the house, downsize to something we can actually afford without—" He stopped. Without the criminal proceeds. Without the blood money.

"We'll figure it out."

"I... I want to offer Katie a payout. It's not right that she was dragged into this."

Ashley's eyes drifted to her cellphone on the counter. The FBI was almost certainly already at Clayton's house by now. Holbrook had said they were moving in as soon as he saw the contents of the drive. But the anxiety that someone could still be listening. That Clayton could still reach them wouldn't fade.

Chris saw the concern in her eyes. "I think we need new phones. New numbers. All of it. We can go as soon as the store opens."

Ashley nodded, her eyes distant. "I... I can talk to Jen. See if Dave has some leads."

Chris pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head. "No, we probably need to stay away from that... sphere of influence for awhile." He inhaled her scent, thankful she was there with him.

They sat in silence for a long moment, both staring at nothing. The morning light was getting stronger, painting everything in pale gold. Somewhere outside, a neighbor's dog barked. Normal sounds. Normal life continuing around them like nothing had happened.

"We should start looking at jobs," Chris said finally. "Somewhere far from here. Somewhere no one knows us. I heard of a marketing firm in Ohio making waves. I hate the idea of working in marketing, but it's something."

"Ohio?" She thought about what that would look like. It felt like a lifetime away from home, even further from Seattle. She knew Chris could do sales anywhere, but marketing was a different world than tech. No one would know them there, no one would know the things she'd done, the things they'd both done.

"I can see if my nursing license would transfer. We'll make it work. We always do." She sat down at the kitchen table. "Chris?"

"Yeah?" He dropped into the chair next to Ashley.

"Do you think we'll be able to start over and be ok? Do you think we'll ever be normal again?"

He looked at the bruises still visible on her throat, at the exhaustion in her eyes. Behind it all, he could still see the fire. The same fire that kept burning long after his went out. "Who's normal anymore?" He gave a lighthearted smile, but he knew it wasn't enough.

"I don't know," he said, taking her hands in his. "But I'm not ready to give up. I thought I'd lost you, and I was barely able to stand on my own. I don't ever want to feel that way again."

Outside, the sun continued to rise. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked as the neighborhood began to come to life. They sat together in the growing light, two people who'd lost almost everything, holding on to the one thing that might still save them.

Each other.