Tristan

"Don't you think I know that?!" I snapped into the phone at my assistant who was ten thousand plus miles away from me-and thank God for that because it would have been his head smashing against my wall and not the vase. "I tried, I poured my heart out and it still didn't work!"

"Boss, you need to calm down," Stefan urged into the phone, his voice even with a hint of exasperation. "Remember what the doctor said, you-"

"Fuck what he said!" I snapped even louder, clenching my fist against the fury that rippled inside me. "It's over, she doesn't want me!"

I'd been delusional.

I'd let him put these ideas in my head that made me believe I could have her. Fuck. I was in a foreign country, chasing after a girl that had no interest in me. I even got my stupid hair chopped off thinking it would make her happy but she just stared at me with withering contemn like I was nothing but a thorn in her flesh.

She didn't want me anymore. It was clear as day that I'd lost her.

Why the hell was I even surprised?

After all that I'd done, it was warranted.

Now she was with that goddamned pretty boy neurosurgeon who seemed so perfect for her, God I wished I had slammed my fists in his face. Fuck, maybe then I wouldn't be vibrating with so much rage.

"Did you tell her everything we talked about?" Stefan asked through the haze of blood pounding hot in my ears.

I drew in a breath, trying to put my temper in check. After a heart-calming second, I responded. "I told her I missed her, I told her I wanted her," I went overboard and revealed my pathetic feelings like a pitiful adolescent but it still wasn't enough.

"Did you tell her the other part?"

My brows scrunched together. "What part?"

"The part where you're hopelessly in love with her?"

An unpleasant sensation slithered through me. Sienna was unlike any woman I'd ever known and she'd done things to my heart that I didn't think was possible but it wasn't love. It couldn't be love. Not for someone like me, I was too cynical and fucked up for that. "No, I did not."

He sighed. "Well, you should have."

I shook my head and bemoaned, walking to stand by the window of my hotel room. "Wouldn't have made any difference, she wouldn't have believed me, she didn't even want to listen to me." I'd acted like an asshole for months, even I wouldn't believe a word I said.

Stefan let out a slow exhale. "I didn't think she would actually be this headstrong, she's definitely a hot head, but there's no use getting worked up over spilled milk, what we need to do now is to devise a new plan of action."

I groaned. The scenery wasn't doing it. Nothing was, nothing felt right. I turned away from the window and marched to my decanter filled to the brim with whiskey. I shouldn't be drinking, if doctor Ryle found out, he would confine me to a hospital bed.

Only for tonight, I needed it.

I filled my glass and took a swig of the harsh liquor, grimacing at the fiery taste. "There's no need for a new plan of action. Get the jet ready, I'm coming back home." There was nothing for me here, I'd wasted my time and resources. God, I should have known better.

"Wait so what? You're just going to throw in the towel and give up?"

I exhaled. "She clearly said she didn't want me anymore, Stefan, what more can I do?"

"You can go back there tomorrow and try again, that's what."

I slid a hand through my hair and groaned. "Stefan..."

"She still wants you, I'm certain, I wouldn't be fighting for this if I didn't think she did." He breathed out impatiently. "Alright, you said you kissed her right?"

I bobbed my head slowly, taking a moment to remember how I'd closed my mouth over hers and immediately lost myself in the sensational feel of her soft lips. "Yes..."

"Well, did she kiss you back?"

The connection between us might have been severed by my belligerence but I could feel a subtle ounce of it in the way her lips responded to mine with the same hunger. "She did."

"See that right there is hope. When you kissed her, she kissed you back. She could've pushed you away or gotten pissed and kicked you in the balls, but she didn't and that means she's not completely over you yet, boss, she lied to you."

Something swirled in my stomach.

Hope?

No.

I shook my head. "But why would she lie?"

I sensed his shrug. "Prolly because she doesn't want to give in to you that easily. It's reasons why women lie 101, she's definitely playing hard to get."

My heart thudded in my chest. If there was a possibility that a part of her still wanted me...I took another swallow of my glass, emptying it, and with a renewed sense of determination, I asked. "What do I do now?"

"Women love to be chased, they love to be spoiled and pampered and given attention, and most of all, they love men of action. Since Sienna isn't buying into your bullshit, you're gonna try and convince her otherwise by persuading her into a real relationship instead of the contractual obligations you're both confined to."

My heart tripped and stumbled over a cliff. I blinked. "You want me to..."

"Yes lover boy, vanilla, hearts and flowers, a knight in shining armor-you're gonna court her into agreeing to be your forever woman."

A rush of emotions hit me like a bullet to the chest. I parted my lips to breathe through my mouth. "I've never courted a lady before." I didn't need to and I didn't want to either because women were complex creatures with a million different needs and so many confusing emotions that I didn't think I had the patience or the time of day to put up with.

"Well, that's not surprising at all." Stefan exhaled. "Either way, you have tonight to master the arts because tomorrow you're gonna chase your girl like a smitten hound dog on heat."

My body tensed. Swallowing over the lump in my throat, I declined. "I cannot." The chocolates and flowers were already a nasty blow to my pride that I wasn't sure I would ever recover from. "I cannot court her with hopes of actually marrying her. She has needs I cannot meet, I am not that man." The difference between us was still too big. I was born into a cruel world and cursed with a past I couldn't escape. If she knew my past and the complications that came with being me, she would run.

"So what were you planning to do with her when she returned to you?"

"I-" My chest tightened. I didn't know, I hadn't thought that far yet, I just wanted her with me now.

"Boss, with all due respect, if you're not interested in keeping her long-term then it's best you let her go now because only a sick asshole would subjugate a woman to a life that has no direction."

The pain his words sent to my chest made it ache. "But I want her."

"Wanting her is merely the tip of the iceberg. It's not enough. You have to make a choice, are you taking her for the keeps or are you giving her up because I know there's a competition next door who is competent and ready to have her."

My gut tightened with panic and my hand clenched around my phone as I recalled how it had felt losing her for the first time-the agony in my chest, the pain in my gut, the sickness in my stomach, the longing in my heart-I never wanted to experience that again. Ever. And if it meant-God-I ran my hand through my hair and puffed out a breath. Could I really be the long-term hearts and flowers guy she wanted?

My heart pounded in my chest at the possibility.

My life was in turmoil and she was the only one who could make it better. If marrying her for real meant I got to keep her by my side, then wasn't it worth the risk?

Stefan suddenly cursed into the phone, halting my thoughts. "Crap, I have to run now, if you do decide on keeping her, there will be a list in your mail for you to follow. Get some sleep, bye boss!"

He hung up.

***

9:25.

10:30.

10:50.

12: 01.

12: 46.

I turned away from the alarm clock staring at me and released a stymied breath into my pillow.

I couldn't sleep.

No matter how much I tried and how many sleeping pills I popped into my mouth, I just kept on waking up at odd intervals with my heart thumping and my mind reeling with a million what-ifs.

Was she home now or was she still outside with that son of a bitch?

An awful thought of her and that surgeon crossed my mind and the mental movie of them bouncing around the city hand in hand with smiles on their faces played in my mind, causing me to groan.

Fuck this.

I forced my head back into my pillow and shut my eyes tight.

Time to sleep.

1:20.

1:55.

2:14.

2:43.

1:01.

With a groan of frustration, I rolled over and let my head fall back on my pillow. This was hopeless. How long did I have to endure this?

I glanced outside my window. It was still tar black. She was probably asleep. God, I hoped she was sleeping alone tonight and not with him.

Enough. Enough.

I closed my eyes for a moment and drew in a steadying breath as I tried to calm myself with illusions of her laying on her bed, alone, naked, possibly touching herself.

My cock twitched at the thought and swelled in my pants.

Fuck.

The surreal sensation I felt seeing her again returned, causing blood to pump hot in my veins. God, she was beautiful. So beautiful-those hazel eyes, lips as pink as peonies, nipped waist, full-figured hips, and that ass, lord, It was an ass that begged to be kissed and bitten and fucked.

My balls bunched up and tightened with need. Acting on pure instinct, I pulled my cock out of my shorts and grabbed it. So heavy. Unable to help myself, I dragged my palm along the length, making slow strokes, allowing my mind to tease me with wicked illusions.

Her lips around my cock, black tears running down her cheeks. Gagging, choking, sobbing.

Body suffused with heat, I stroked myself with added pressure, my breathing becoming heavier and heavier with each feat.

Her naked, whimpering, withering, and crying as I dip my tongue into her wet cunt and suck her clit into my mouth.

Her bent over the bathroom wall, back arched, ass bare, pussy glistening.

I trapped my bottom lip between my teeth, stroking faster.

Her pussy essence leaking out of her as I plunge into her hard, again and again.

A grunt ripped past my lips. "Fuck." I squeezed myself tighter, pumping faster.

Her legs shaking as she spasms and gushes, choking my cock.

"Oh God, fuck." My hips stuttered, jerking forward into my fist.

"Faster Tristan,"

"Harder."

"Please..."

"I'm coming!"

My head fell back. "Ah, shit!" I hissed as the knot in my stomach snapped and spurts of warm semen gushed out, soiling my chest, my hand, slipping down my balls to my sheets.

"Fuuccckkk..." I collapsed bonelessly on the mattress, my insides mush. I couldn't move, couldn't open my eyes and it wasn't until blood rushed away from my cock and clarity returned to my brain that I finally opened my eyes to behold the horrendous sight.

God, I really needed my wife back.

Dragging a hand through my hair, I exhaled deeply and got up.

***

It was 5 A.M. in the morning when Stefan's email popped up on my laptop screen and I knew this because I'd been sitting in front of my desk, surfing the internet, still unable to find sleep. I couldn't because I knew I would dream of her and soil the sheets again and have to do my own laundry.

Eyes groggy, I opened the file.

HOW TO COURT YOUR WOMAN

Curated specially by; Stefan Turner.

1. Be upfront with her and shoot straight.

I leaned back in my chair, feeling like sour shit. I already was. I'd told her I wanted her. I needed her. I really did.

2. Give her your sole time and attention.

This didn't seem like it was going to be hard to pull off.

3. Realize that courting is not about the sex

I frowned. Skip.

4. Try to make her laugh.

I inclined my head. Now there was going to be a slight problem with this one.

5. Give her special treatment.

Money wasn't a problem, I would buy her an island of gold if it meant I got to hold her in my arms again.

6. Get close to her family.

I paused and read number six twice. It made sense to do so but-well-moving on.

7. Send cute random messages and give her compliments.

I'd try but no promises.

8. Take her on a date.

Fitting.

9. Take her shopping.

If it means I got to see her changing and unchanging in front of me then gladly.

10. Open up to her.

Reading this made a sharp sensation arrow straight to my chest. Skip.

11. Flirt with her.

Flirt? I never needed to do this before but I guess I could. How hard could it be?

12. Pay for everything.

I had my black card for that.

13. Carry everything.

Skip.

14. Respect her boundaries.

Skip.

15. Don't be controlling.

I cocked an eyebrow. Was I?

16. Be a gentleman.

I could try.

17. Give your assistant a ten thousand dollar raise.

I rolled my eyes and looked up from my laptop to find that a glimmer of sunlight had appeared through my window.

It was Thanksgiving.

I looked back at the list. I didn't know about the rest but numbers two and six looked quite promising today.

Getting up, I reached for my phone and dialed Joshua. He picked on the second ring.

"Good mor-"

"Cancel all my appointment and social gatherings for the rest of the week."

I was going to be busy.