Anything But Mine (29 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

J
en spent much of the winter months travelling back and forth between the city and Southampton, where she was busy redecorating parts of Fair Fields, and getting the yarn shop ready for a late spring opening. Often spending a few weeknights apart from Vince, she reveled in her new-
found
freedom. Vince still insisted that she have a bodyguard with her when she was at the store and while she went on long runs throughout the estate section in Southampton, but being able to have some time to herself allowed her to finally feel as though her life had somewhat returned to normal for the first time since she had been attacked in her apartment the previous year.

Each night after dinner, once Pablo and Lucy had retired to the servant quarters at Fair Fields, Jen curled up in either the library or in her home office, where she worked on developing some simple knitting patterns, or knitting items that she planned on selling in the shop, in addition to the yarn, needles, notions and pattern books. Some nights her childhood friends Allison and Carly, who lived in Southampton year-
round
, came over so they could knit together.

This is perfect. Life is good,
Jen thought as she sat with her friends one night by the fireplace. “I’m so glad you’re both willing to help me with the shop,” Jen said. “There’s no way I can be there every day.”

“We’re happy too,” Allison said.

“And grateful to have full-
time
jobs,” Carly chimed in. “We should be thanking you.”

“It’s good to know that my ‘fledgling business’, as Vince calls it, will be in trusted hands,” Jen said, as she consulted the pattern for the tote bag she was knitting. “What do you think of this, so far?”

“I like the pattern, but it’s going to get dirty fast,” Carly said, referring to the beige cotton yarn Jen was using. “Maybe we should knit some in bright colors, so they can double as beach bags in the summer.”

Allison nodded her head in agreement. “And we can quickly knit up some bikinis to go with the bags.”

“Great idea! I have the perfect pattern, too –
one
I designed myself for our honeymoon. I even made a matching sarong,” Jen said. “Vince loved it,” she continued, remembering the night she and Vince acted out his “master and slave” fantasy on the beach.

After Allison and Carly left, Jen called Vince. “I miss you,” she said, as he answered the phone. “I should have come into the city for the night.”

“But you had a nice time with the girls tonight, didn’t you?”

“Yes, and we got a lot of work done, too, for the store.” Jen shared Allison’s idea to knit bikinis to match the beach bags they were working on.

“I love it, almost as much as I love you.”
You’re not just a trophy wife, you’re a savvy businesswoman too.
“I know you have to be out there to oversee the renovations at the house and store, but I despise being away from you. We’re not going to spend tomorrow night apart. Either I’ll fly out, or I’ll send Al out to pick you up in the helicopter. Okay?”

God, I hate flying in the helicopter,
Jen thought
. But it beats driving into the city, especially during rush hour.
“Hopefully you’ll be able to make it out here. But if not, then I’ll come into the city,” she reluctantly agreed.

When Vince arrived at Fair Fields the following evening, Jen flew into his arms. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said, in between kisses.

“I’ve missed you too.” He inhaled deeply, and asked, “What’s for dinner? It’s making my mouth water.”

“Chicken Marsala. I showed Lucy how to make it today,” Jen replied, as she took his hand and began to lead him towards the kitchen.

“You’re going in the wrong direction,” Vince said, as he pulled Jen back towards him. “We’re going upstairs first.”

Jen turned around and noticed Vince’s dark, narrowed eyes.
That look means only one thing. He knows what he wants, and he always gets it.
“I guess dinner will keep for a little while,” she said, as she followed her husband up the stairs.

Vince began peeling off his clothing as soon as the door to their bedroom suite closed. “Come here,” he commanded, as he pulled off his socks and stepped out of his underwear.

Jen was already stripped down to her underwear, and Vince surprised her by picking her up and slinging her over his shoulder, before placing her on the bed. He climbed on top of her and quickly unhooked her bra and removed her underpants. “This is how I like to see you,” he said, as he ran his hands up and down her naked body. “So hot,” he said, as he reached between her legs. “And so ready,” he said, as he plunged himself inside her.

Jen purred with delight at her husband’s touch, but as he began thrusting back and forth within her, she suddenly cried out. “Wait! Stop!”

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Remember, we agreed that you’d wear a condom for the first month I’m off the pill.”

“Jesus, you’re right. I completely forgot, and I don’t have any,” he said. “One time won’t matter. I’ll pick some up tomorrow,” he said, as he pushed deeper inside her. As he pulled out, he made contact with her most sensitive spot, before pushing himself back into her. Vince felt Jen’s breath on his neck as she moaned with pleasure, and he quickened his pace. “You don’t want me to stop now, do you?”

“No, oh God, no…don’t stop,” Jen replied breathlessly. She matched his pace as waves of pleasure shot through her core.

When they were spent, Vince collapsed on top of Jen. He felt her chest move up and down as she breathed, and lowered his head so he could take one of her breasts into his mouth. He flicked his tongue across one of her nipples, and smiled as he heard her squeal with delight. “I love you so much, Jennifer,” he whispered.
But I’m not going to put off getting you pregnant. Condom or no condom, it doesn’t matter. I’ll find a way.

“I hate leaving you,” Vince said the following morning at the Meadow Lane helipad. “Won’t you come into the city with me?”
I worry that you’ll forget about me when we’re apart. Or that your mind might wander to thoughts of Drew.

“You know I have a meeting with the decorators today,” she said, as she slipped a folded piece of paper into his coat pocket. “Just fly back out tonight.”

Vince gazed lovingly at his wife.
How can I say no to you?
“I will if I can. I’ll talk to you later,” he said, before boarding the helicopter for his commute to the city.

Half way through the flight, Vince stuck his hand in his pocket, and found the folded up piece of paper Jen had placed there earlier. Opening it up, he found a childish poem scribbled in his wife’s loopy handwriting:

Roses are red,

violets are blue.

No couple is hotter

than me and you.

Come back tonight,

and we’ll prove this is true!

Love, Jennifer

Vince burst into laughter, prompting Al to ask, “Everything all right, boss?”

“Everything is perfect, Al. And, FYI, we’re definitely flying back to Southampton tonight.”

During the time they spent apart, Vince took advantage of the surveillance system he had secretly installed both at Fair Fields and at the yarn shop, spying on Jen using his computer or his cell phone whenever he desired.
I love watching her go about her daily routine. She’s completely ignorant of the fact that I can track her every movement. She thinks I’ve eased up on her,
he thought, as he watched his wife meet with the carpenters who were building the shelves inside the yarn shop.
But the truth is that I can track her more closely now than I ever could before.

On a night they were spending apart, as they spoke on the phone, Jen confessed, “Managing renovations in two places is a little stressful. I’m so tired.”

“Then why don’t you take a bubble bath, my love,” he said, his pulse quickening as he got up from his desk to lock the door to his home office. “You know that always helps you relax.”

“Mmm…okay. That sounds like a good idea. I’ll talk to you later, before I go to sleep. Love you.”

“Love you more,” he said.

Vince sat back in his leather desk chair, turned on his computer, and clicked on the surveillance program, just in time to watch his wife undress in their Southampton bedroom before making her way into their bathroom.

Whenever she took a bath, her routine didn’t vary much –
sometimes
she bathed by candlelight, sometimes she lit a fire in the gas fireplace, but she always brushed her hair and piled it up on top of her head before her bath.
I wonder what she’s going to do tonight
.

Vince’s heart began to beat faster as she brushed her hair while sitting naked at the bathroom vanity, and with each stroke of the brush through her long hair he became more aroused. When he couldn’t take it any longer, he dropped his pants and began to fondle himself, his breathing quickening as Jen lowered herself into the warm, sudsy water. His anticipation built as he watched his wife squirt some shower gel into the palm of her hand, working it into a lather that she spread first down her arms, and then across her chest.

As her hands worked their way down to her breasts, Vince began vigorously stroking his erection, breathlessly watching as she cupped one breast, and then the other, gently massaging herself with the fragrant lather. When her hands reached down between her legs, her knees popped up out of the water, and he could tell she was touching and cleansing herself in her most private area. Unable to control himself, Vince’s hand moved up and down his hard shaft, faster and faster, until he brought himself to a swift and satisfying release.