"I'm listening." Spoke a not so pleased Ryker, as he drove them to their penthouse.

"Can you please drive like a normal person, you're scaring me?"

"You'll still get home safe, I said I'm listening." He glared.

"It's nothing I swear to God, he's just a new friend." She mumbled, she knew that somehow she needed to explain this to him, at the end of the day even if she didn't love him she still has to respect him being her partner.

"Willow!" He warned.

"Yes!"

"Why would a new friend offer to drive you home?" He interrogated.

"Ask him, not me." She shrugged.

"He's not my wife." He insisted, his demeanour gave out how unpleased he is, and the intimidation started rolling off him in waves.

"Why are you insisting, I said there's nothing. You have many female friends yourself, I never complain."

"Then complain, complain, Willow. I'm not as chill as you are when it comes to my partner." He almost yelled making her flinch in the process, she was not ready for this. 

Ryker has been nothing but caring during the few last days and she somehow forgot he was capable of getting angry.

"Don't yell at me." She warned.

Stopping the car on the side of the road, Ryker looked beside him to the young lady he thought was his. Willow gulped her saliva embracing herself for the worst, what could happen? What would he do? Was he going to raise a hand on her as his father did? She wouldn't be surprised.

"Look wife, I'm being such a really patient man with you, something I'm not used to. I know you have the right to make new friends and to have your own privacy and life. But, within the limits. You are responsible for the last name you're carrying right now. Am I clear?" 

"Why weren't you responsible for your name when you used to have affairs here and there or is it just because I'm a woman?" She looked him in the eyes, daring him to say it.

"This has nothing to do with feminism, I know what I was doing is wrong, and I'm working on stopping it. You on the other hand have to work on your behaviour too."

"I want to go home." She whispered.

"There's no going home until I hear the whole story." He demanded.

Looking him straight in the eyes, Willow lowered the back of her seat down and laid back.

"I don't mind sleeping here, you have such a luxurious car." 

Starting the engine, Ryker sped towards their home, he needed to stay away from her, he has never in a million years imagined a girl who can stand in front of him and have the guts to do what his wife is doing.

"Slow down." She warned.

It didn't take long for them to reach the hotel, stepping inside their penthouse the first thing Ryker did was take a shower, he needed to cool off, the second thing he thought about is using one of his many available ladies to let go of the frustration his Willow just caused.

However, the look she gave him once he stepped outside the walk-in closet pained his heart, she looked at him so innocently he lost himself in her eyes.

"Are you leaving?" She asked in an almost sad tone.

He looked away trying to distract himself, this was not good, he thought he was losing in front of her, everything started as a war and he started losing it. 

Walking towards his car keys and wallet, he put them in his pockets before spraying his mouthwatering perfume.

"He texted me yesterday." She informed, making him freeze, he needed to know more, he needed to satisfy his curiosity.

"I was scared I couldn't show you the text when you asked about it, I was with Dina today when he approached me." 

Still looking away from her, Ryker closed his eyes in rage, not at her but at how much she affected him.

"He asked me out but I declined his offer and told him that I have someone in my life, so he offered to be friends, I knew you would dislike it but I couldn't reject his request it would be rude. I would never cheat, I wasn't raised that way." She declared while playing with her fingers as she was sitting down on the couch.

Ryker cursed himself for the thought of going out to cheat on her, he felt so bad, he knew for a fact that his wife is in this relationship against her will and yet she's faithful. He felt so disappointed in himself.

"Stand up." He ordered after facing her.

Willow was confused but still stood up as she didn't know what else to do, and yet again she was still not ready for the long passionate kissing session he just took her through. The only thing she was able to understand is her loud breathing as he pinned her against the door.

"It was rude of me to assume things." He whispered in her ear as her knees went jelly under her, quickly she supported herself with the back of the couch she was once sitting on.

"Do you want to go out?" He asked trying to compensate her for his mistake and over possissiveness.

"Where to?" She asked in her flustered state.

"Wait, didn't we want to swim that time before some drama unfolded? There's a private swimming pool on this floor, let's change and go." He urged with a smile.

"But," She started before shaking her head and walking towards the walk-in closet to change into a swimsuit and a long dress on top of it.

"I'm ready." She called from the bathroom.

"Me too." He winked, wearing a white T-shirt with black swimming shorts and a designer flipflop.

"You look good, but do you really need to purchase a wage worth flipflops?" She looked at him in confusion as if what he's doing is irrational.

"Well, when you have a lot of money, designer becomes regular." He shrugged while leading the way.

"Give that money to the poor, that would be better." 

"Who said I don't." He smiled taking her hand in his as they walked towards the private spa and into the swimming pool.

"Do you know how to swim?" He asked.

"Do you know how to breathe?" She fired back.

"Great." He smiled at her techniques.

"However, Ryker. No funny deeds." She warned.

"I'm not that type of men, Willow." He assured.

Taking off her dress, she looked simply extravagant, Ryker gulped as he started debating what he has just assured her about. The swimming suit was nothing like what his female friends wore in his pool parties, hers was decent and yet she looked like a goddess in it.

Willow didn't take it slowly, she literally ran and threw herself, diving into the water, and again the man was surprised.

"Ah! This is refreshing." She sighed after resurfacing.

"Were you angry? I mean earlier." She spoke as she sat next to him on the stairs of the pool.

"Not at you, at myself for feeling frustrated. I by no means want to control your life, Willow. I never had a woman do the things you're doing, but I'll get used to it." He smiled while putting his large palm on her cheek.

"You know, that time when you threatened me, before signing the contract. You said you will punish me for everything I did to you, then you locked me in your room." She remembered bitterly.

"Yes!" He asked curiosuly as his hand traveled to her hair.

"I thought living with you was going to be a nightmare, I was never abused, but I was expecting you to abuse me, I even expected you to force yourself on me judging from how much you used to sleep around, but," She explained before stopping midway as she saw the look in his eyes, it was one of disappointement.

"Continue." He ordered.

"But, you didn't do anything major. I mean I hated you when you harassed me, but you are a good person still." She finished.

"Why? Were you expecting me to starve you and beat you on a daily basis?" He laughed bitterly.

"Something like that, yeah!" She shrugged.

"I saw how mother was treated, and also saw the result of it. Not to lie though, I did plan to make you hate the day you came into my life, but I started thinking and nothing was your mistake, you were stuck with me in this. I couldn't lay a hand on you, and I wouldn't be a man if I do." He explained.

Nodding, Willow smiled as she locked eyes with him.

"However," He whispered in her ear, "I still can punish you without physically harming you, so watch out, I'm a nice man to you, but there are things that I can't tolerate." He warned.

"Like?" She gulped.

"Like cheating, I know I cheated on you but I'm doing my best to leave that habit, I hate lying and games."

"Don't worry neither of these are my traits, and I hate them too, so watch out." She dared him making him laugh at her boldness.