Though I was stark naked, he woke me with kisses to my forehead and cheeks, and as I returned to consciousness, my involuntary grin subsided. I immediately looked over to the table but saw no ring. I could've been delirious, but I didn't want to believe I hadn't seen it. "Daniel, where's the ring?"
"What ring, babe?"
"The ring. The ring that was on the table. Your ring..." I sat up.
"Alyssa," he sighed.
"I KNEW IT! You're married, aren't you?"
"We've been separated for a couple of months now, and I hardly ever wear that thing."
"I can't believe you did this! What am I saying? I just met you. I can't believe I did this!" I was somewhere between confused and furious when I leapt from the bed to fetch my robe.
"Alyssa, calm down! We're getting a divorce, and I liked you from the moment I met you. Just sit down for a minute, and we can-"
"Get out!" I ordered. "This was a mistake. I never should've let you come here. It was my mistake. Just go." I was pacing, feverish with fury and frustration. As soon as he was dressed and gone, I bolted the lock on the door and slid to the floor in tears. How in the world did this happen? I'm never this careless with guys. Had it really been so long since my last romantic interaction with a guy that my guard had completely dissipated? Breakfast had long since gotten cold, but I snagged a strip of bacon and nibbled on it while checking my messages and telling myself that this encounter had all been a fluke.
The rest of the week was a blur. I reprimanded so many workers, I was beginning to confuse the people who'd pissed me off with the people who hadn't. I buried myself in phone calls and emails and barely ate, but the memory of that morning with Daniel kept finding me in my sleep. I'd pass out half dressed across my made hotel bed having only managed to remove my shoes and shorts while crossing the room. I woke, night after night, with a fierce grip on my pillows, an aching moan on my lips, and yet another soaked pair of underwear. The dreams were either re-enactments of the morning with him or visions of Daniel somehow walking into my room and slipping his fingers into my pussy while I slept. I felt like I was going insane.
By the following Monday evening, I was a frazzled mess. I just needed to swing by the house to drop off more supplies from the hardware store and lock up. I set everything down in the hallway and started on a quick walk-through. I stopped in the living room and pulled out my flask before dropping my purse to the floor. After about half my supply of vodka had been consumed, I almost didn't hear him come in the creaking back door. It was Daniel, only partly illuminated in the glow from the light in the living room that was spilling down the hallway.
"Hi, Alyssa..." He was holding my footstool. "I picked up your footstool today. They called and said they finished the repair early." I felt as though I should've had a smart remark at the ready or even an eye roll, considering the mood I was in, but the vodka had numbed everything that didn't feel like exhaustion. "Where would you like me to sit it?"
"Anywhere's fine."
"Are you okay?" Daniel asked, setting the piece down in the corner of the living room closest to him. His eyes never left me, and he crossed in front of me tentatively with his palms held out as though I might teeter over. "Alyssa, you should head to your room and rest."
Hearing him mention my hotel room suddenly yanked me from the haze and into the clear and present moment. "I don't need to rest. What I need is for everyone to do what I ask - what I'm paying for! Nothing more, and nothing less. I don't need people treating me like I'm such an uptight bitch!" The stress of working on the house was getting to me, and I had managed to throw Daniel in with the rest for his working on me.
"I'm sorry," he said, as he caught the fingers of my left hand in those of his right. I had been tapping a furious cadence against the steel flask for so long that the tone had changed to match the growing hollow inside. "Clearly, you've had a hard week, and I'm sorry if you felt I insulted you or made you feel as though I'd taken advantage of you." My eyes were glazed, and tears were beginning to perch on my lower lids. "I apologize for not telling you I'm not exactly single, but I rarely talk to my wife. I keep the ring in my pocket for when I run into her family. We're trying to be discreet while we work out a timeline for divorce." I peered at him in skepticism over the tears I refused to let fall. "I saw you, and the more I talked to you, the more I wanted to get to know you. I didn't think things would've gone that far that quickly, but once I kissed you, I could tell you needed it. I don't think I've ever seen a woman enjoy herself quite like you did that day."
A reminiscent smile appeared on his face, and suddenly, I was shifting in embarrassment. I turned to grab my purse and go, but he grabbed my elbow and pulled me into him. "Tell me that you didn't need it. Tell me I didn't see what I know I saw," he dared.
"Daniel, please-" But he'd already begun drawing my dark curls from my face and neck to kiss me. My breathing was heavy, audible. From behind me, his left hand found its way across my collar to my right shoulder. His right grasped at my right breast and pressed against my ribs, waist and stomach before reaching between my skin and the waist of my jeans which had become a bit loose in the previous week of meal-skipping. His fingers found my clit swollen, and my already floating perception gave way to what felt like delirium. I let my head fall against his shoulder and leaned against his chest as he rubbed slowly and deliberately.