Silva and the Stars

2 | we're using each other

"Yes?" she asks.

"Are you done?" I ask her softly.

And my thoughts about how unschooled she is in the ways of affection are confirmed when her eyes widen at my gentle tone, before narrowing in suspicion, her mouth tightening.

"Am I done what?" There is an acerbic edge to her voice.

"Signing me up to these adrenaline junkie courses."

"Are you not enjoying them?"

Is she kidding me right now?

I've come back scowling every night, battered, bruised and fearing the next day even more.

"You could say that," I reply with a sigh. "I'm not an adrenaline junkie. These things don't derive any enjoyment or satisfaction for me – I prefer to find my pleasures in other ways."

Balls deep in some delectable young lady preferably.

"Don't get me wrong, if we were doing these things together, I think it would be a lot more fun. A bonding experience. But doing it alone – it doesn't feel like a honeymoon. It feels like you're trying to kill me."

Rachel shakes her head at me. "I can't believe you're not enjoying them. These are once in a lifetime opportunities – who knows the next time you'll get to swim with sharks!" She raises her arms in exasperation.

I feel a spike of panic at the mention of sharks – is that what's on the agenda tomorrow? Oh fuck. Water is my oasis, a place where I can drown out any superfluous noise and focus on the easy strokes. I do not want to develop a fear to do with water.

"If you think it's so great, why don't you do it with me," I cajole her. Half-hoping that if she tries it, she'll be just as scared shitless as me and won't sign me up to anymore.

She frowns. "No, I can't, I need to work on -"

Her sentence ends abruptly, but it's too late. She's been caught out.

"Need to work on what?" I ask, my voice deceptively light. "We finished our proposal to the board before the wedding. This honeymoon is meant to be just for show, isn't it?"

"Never mind." Rachel takes a step away. "It doesn't matter."

I take a step with her. "I mind. What are you keeping from me? Is that why you're sending me out on all these things – so you can have time to work on something?"

Rachel isn't much of a bullshitter. She stops and stares proudly back at me. "Yes, I've been looking into a loophole to do with Connor's shares. It doesn't make any sense why your father would sign your share of the company – and your inheritance – to your cousin, right before he died."

I can think of a few reasons why, but I'm too angry at Rachel to bother enlightening her. There's a burn in my chest, a fire igniting at the audacity of this woman.

"And you didn't think to include me?" My tone is caustic, revealing my irritation.

Irritation at her for treating me like a little kid who can't know what the adults are talking about. I thought we were partners in this. And frustration with myself for not thinking of looking into Connor's shares myself. Her idea has merit.

Surely my father hadn't been so angry at me for leaving that he cut off my entire inheritance. That was spiteful, even for him. At the thought of being spiteful and petty, a flash of hot guilt assaults me as I think about the voicemails he left me while I was travelling.

I am such a hypocrite.

"To be honest, I thought you would be more of a hinder than a help," Rachel says. Her hazel eyes are frank and open, her mouth soft and supple.

How can she look so devastatingly beautiful? Especially while her words tear me asunder.

"Well, I'm cancelling whatever sadistic thing you had planned for me tomorrow and staying here. I'm a lawyer too, remember? I want to help."

"You'd help me more by not being here," Rachel replies stiffly.

"Too bad, I want to spend time with my wife. Why else did you marry me if not to keep me all to yourself?"

Rachel looks unimpressed. And dare I say angry? "You make it sound like I'm using you. Just remember we're using each other."

With that parting shot, Rachel spins around and I watch her pert ass strut from the room.

I groan internally. I have so many ideas of ways we could use 'each other' now.

Damn.

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a/n: Thanks for reading! I'd be so grateful for any feedback you have so feel free to vote and comment your thoughts. ♡