...For the first time in years, Mari noticed Paul’s nice smile. He had deep dimples that she should have been immune to, but wasn’t. And his eyes were vibrant. She watched him cut his roast, his long fingers wrapped nimbly around the flatware. Her gaze was drawn to the corner of his mouth when a drop of gravy clung there, and she was still watching when his tongue darted out to lick it away.

She had never noticed any of that before. No, she had noticed, but it was always filtered out of her mind, the way her ears automatically filtered out the sound of traffic outside, or the hum of the air conditioner. But now it almost felt like she had permission to look, to analyze, to remember.

Mari knew Justin noticed her noticing Paul. He never missed anything, and he knew Mari well enough to know when she was distracted. He kept talking and laughing and eating, but occasionally she would glance over at him, and he would incline his head in a small nod, as if in encouragement.

So he’s attractive. So what? Does that actually change anything? You’re still married. And not to him.

The actual meal passed in a blur. Mari didn’t remember touching her food, but when Justin pushed back from the table with a satisfied sigh, she realized her plate was empty as well. She must have been eating on autopilot, her body feeding more immediate hunger while her mind focused on other appetites.

“Will you be staying for dessert?” she asked automatically.

Paul smiled slowly. “I guess that depends on you.”

Mari nodded, pretending she didn’t understand his true meaning. “I’ve got chocolate chip cookies.”

“Did you make them yourself?”

“I did.”

“Then I’d love some.”

“Great.” She pushed away from the table and stood. “I’m just going to clear these dishes. I can bring the cookies and coffee out on the patio, if you’d like.”

Justin nodded. “Please.”

Mari exhaled slowly as soon as she entered the privacy of the kitchen. Would every meal they share be this uncomfortable? Because Paul came over to eat regularly, and they were at his place just as often.

She was arranging cookies on a plate when the door opened and Justin slipped into the room. Without speaking, he took her elbow and spun her around, pulling her against his body. He tilted his head, finding her mouth to kiss her slowly, his tongue barely teasing her lips. Mari opened herself to the kiss automatically, her arms going around his neck. She loved the way Justin kissed. He always took his time with each caress, like he wanted to impress each one on her memory.

Mari was so caught up in the kiss, she didn’t hear the kitchen door open again. And she didn’t hear Paul’s shoes on the linoleum floor. And she didn’t know he was standing behind her until he ran his fingers down her ribs and pressed his chest against her back. She jerked out of the kiss like she had been scalded, but she didn’t have the chance to say a single word of protest before Justin was kissing her again.

It was an unfair tactic, and they both knew it. Justin was using his mouth to disarm her, to steal the oxygen from her brain until she would agree to anything. Each kiss was a little deeper, a little longer, a little more thorough, until her head was spinning, and she couldn’t tell the difference between the two men as they touched her. Her lungs burned. Her skin burned everywhere they touched her.

Clever fingers on her back, her ribs, her arms, the sides of her breasts. Nobody’s touch went too far. Neither man strayed to her nipples, her ass, her pussy, but that made it worse. She shifted her weight, grinding against Justin, but inadvertently pushing her ass against Paul’s hard cock.