We drove a few blocks, passed an auto service, and stopped behind it.

"We've arrived," Jayden said, getting off the bike.

I also got off and looked around. "This... You live here?"

We were standing in front of a white caravan parked in the middle of a large lot.

"Yes," Jayden replied. "Come in." He invited me as he opened the door.

Anxiety came over me again. But I had no choice before me. I climbed the two steps and went inside.

The interior was more spacious than I had expected. It was very clean and tidy.

"You can sleep on the bed." Jayden motioned to the bed at the end of the caravan.

Then he pulled up the wooden tabletop, which clearly functioned as a dining table, and spread out a small couch.

"I can sleep there," I told him awkwardly. The couch didn't look comfortable to sleep on, but I was the intruder in his place.

"Don't worry."

He reached over to me, took his jacket from my shoulders, and placed it on the chair.

I sat on the bed's edge and looked around curiously. Why did this guy live in a caravan?

As my gaze darted left and right, it suddenly stopped at Jayden's bare chest. He'd taken off his t-shirt.

"I hope you're not feeling uncomfortable," he said, catching my awkward look and putting on another t-shirt at the same time.

Then he took off his jeans and hung them over the back of the chair with his jacket.

The awkwardness grew. I turned my head to the side and quietly whispered, "It's okay."

"Do you want me to give you a t-shirt to sleep in?"

"No thanks. I'm fine as I am."

I put off my shoes and slid up the bed.

"Okay. Good night," Jayden said softly.

He pulled a duvet for himself from the small wardrobe—one had to wonder how it could possibly fit clothes, let alone bedclothes—and turned off the light.

"Good night," I murmured.

I pulled the duvet and wrapped myself in it. The fabric was rough, but it smelled fresh and pleasant. I turned to my side and closed my eyes.

But I couldn't sleep.

Dominic's face appeared before my eyes over and over again. And Caroline's. And Hayley's. The threesome. I remembered their words. Their excuses. Their lies. How long had this been going on? How long had they been making a fool of me?

My eyes were tired. But the tears continued to flow. My lips were drowning in their bitterness.

I lay in the darkness, feeling as lost as never before. I tried to hold back the sobs, but eventually, they burst forth.

"Hey, Savi. Are you okay?" Jayden came and sat on the end of the bed.

The yellowish light from the yard lamp crept in through the window and softly illuminated the space.

I sat up slightly. "No. I'm not okay," I answered, sobbing.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No." I shook my head. "I can't."

I felt like I couldn't breathe again.

"Shh," Jayden whispered. "Breathe."

He took a deep breath, and I followed him. Then we both exhaled. Again. And again.

After my breathing steadied, Jayden reached out and gently wiped away my tears. "That's better."

My eyes stared at his. He tried to move his hand away from my face, but I covered it with my own and stopped him.

I ran my other hand over his face. His stubble beard tickled my fingers. They stopped on his lips. My gaze followed them.

It was as if I was lost in some other reality. Was I dreaming?

Without realizing it, I had brought my face closer to his. His hand slid back and laced his fingers through my hair.

I traced his chin. Then his chest. My lips parted. My pulse quickened as the distance between us closed.

I felt his breath—the light touch of his wet lips. My gaze returned to his eyes again. They glittered in the darkness.

Imperceptibly, I grabbed the edge of Jayden's t-shirt and pulled it over his head. He unzipped the back of my dress and slowly pulled down the straps, baring my shoulders.

Our lips were still less than an inch apart, lightly touching every now and then.

The longing continued to grow.

I devoured every breath.

Jayden continued pulling my dress down with one hand while the other supported my back and slowly laid me down.

The warmth of his body burned on mine as our lips met. His kisses were gentle. Every touch of his fingers made my skin tingle.

He moved his lips down my neck, across my chest, over my stomach—sucking, kissing, leaving wet marks—in a manner that took my breath away.

As he removed my last shred of clothing, he planted soft, teasing kisses down one of my inner thighs. Then up the other one. I squirmed at the intense sensations.

He paused, only briefly, to remove his boxers. Then his hands slid over me again. His naked skin caressed mine. His sensual touch made my blood rage hard through my veins.

Finally, Jayden pressed his hips against mine and pushed inside me, taking meticulous care not to move too fast.

I arched up into him, wanting to feel his entire length.

He continued to kiss me as he thrust into me. Slowly. Tirelessly. With an agonizing passion.

Everything but the sensations faded from my mind. No pain. No suffering. No thoughts. No plans.

Just a voluptuous thrill in the arms of a cursed night.

***

I woke up in the morning, probably after no more than two hours of sleep. I reached up, out of habit, to remove my sleep mask, but after realizing I didn't have one, I opened my eyes. Light shone directly into my eyes. I covered my face with my hands as I tried to stay calm and breathe. But just a few seconds later, a feeling of anxiety overcame me.

I lifted the duvet and looked beneath it. No dress. No panties. I was completely naked.

"My God!"

"How do you like your eggs?" I heard Jayden's voice.

I slowly put the duvet back down, embarrassed.

Jayden was standing, clad only in boxers, with a wooden spoon in his hand as he tended to a pan on the stove.

My gaze met his. But I couldn't say a word.

"Not that I can offer much of a choice..." He chuckled as talking. "With or without bacon?"

The moment he turned away to transfer the eggs from the pan to plates, I got up and began assembling my scattered clothing.

"How did you sleep, stranger?" Jayden's playful voice sounded again.

I looked up at him in complete embarrassment as I pulled my panties up.

"I..." I rubbed my eyes and stepped forward uncertainly. "I'm not like this. God, I'm so ashamed. I don't usually have sex with strangers."

Jayden nodded, indicating a chair for me at the table. "Would you believe me if I tell you that I usually don't have sex with strangers either? But there is a first time for everything. And it wasn't bad, was it?" He smiled at me.

"I..." Once again, I couldn't form a simple sentence. "I need to freshen up." I tried to avoid answering his question. "Is there a... Is there a bathroom here?"

"Of course. The door next to you."

I walked into what Jayden called a bathroom. It was pretty tiny, but at least it was clean and fresh. There was a toilet, a sink with a mirror, and a shower.

I turned on the water and tried to wash off all the remnants of makeup on my face. I leaned my palms against the sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror as water dripped down my face.

How had I ended up there? How had my world been turned upside down? How many things had happened in less than twenty-four hours in my otherwise orderly and boring life...

And I'd cheated on my husband... Although I'd left him, I was technically still a married woman. I should have felt guilty. But I didn't. After what Dominic did to me, he deserved what I did. Right?

I took a breath deeply, squeezed some toothpaste on my finger, and tried to brush my teeth somehow.

After the improvised freshened up, I left the bathroom and sat on the chair across from Jayden.

"Have at least a bite. It's very delicious." He urged me as he licked his fork, obviously proud of his breakfast.

"Thanks," I replied, even though I wasn't hungry at all.

"I'll wash up, and then I'll drive you to the bus stop."

He stood up and entered the bathroom. 

His words reminded me of the hopeless situation I was in. Take me to the bus stop? And then where?

I got up, opened the caravan door, and, still barefoot, went down to the bottom step.

A light breeze ruffled my hair. Suddenly a strange feeling came over me.

Peace of mind.

There were no people outside. There were no voices. No noise. There was no traffic. The air was clean. The leaves of the trees in the nearby forest rustled slightly. The birds sang to them. On the horizon, the vast sky met the majestic mountain. The sun playfully spread its warm rays.

A beauty that I couldn't even describe in words.

"Well, stranger, where to?" Jayden stood behind me, placing one foot on the step next to me.

I brushed my hair to one side and turned slightly toward him. "You're lucky to wake up to this view every morning."

"I have a friend who runs a motel nearby. I can take you there if you want to stay here a little longer."

I wanted that. Yes. Not that there was anywhere else to go anyway. But this place that had given me shivers of fear the previous night now breathed life into me. Hope. I needed time to figure out what I would do with my life. And somehow, I knew that this was the place to spend that time.

"I'd be grateful," I replied with a smile.

And just a few hours ago, I wouldn't have believed that I would ever be able to smile again.

❤️ A/N ❤️

Thank you very much for reading Not A Trophy Wife!

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