THE EX

would convince me to go back. On the flight home, everyone was exhausted, so we didn't have to explain our tension to Emma and Michael, although I suspected they'd seen the broke

Neil agreed. I called Deja and told her I wouldn't be coming back to work until Wednesday. I'd planned to return on Monday, and I hate

a little when I woke up beside him on Mon

ll go to the

t of the sad, stressed funk that had surrounded him since we'd gotten home. I lea

riced supercar just about as much as I hated the thought of Neil hurtling around a track in an overpriced supercar. It w

ing up and swinging my legs over the side of the b

reminded me, as he often did to defend his freque

y goodness. Of course I had to agree

eck and paused to crack it. "If I go and I don't

m and inviting, I wanted to climb back in with him. But he shooed me toward t

job. I hurried through my shower, took my time with my hair and makeup, and selected my outfit carefully. When Neil saw the finished product-my hair curled and teased to porn-star volume, my dar

s shower, he tossed his towel aside. "We can stay r

id not get this made up so you could undo it all. Besides, wasn'

d his head to the side. "All right

s cropped high enough that it didn't hide my great ass. Deja had once asked why it didn't bother me when Neil made

d from the closet. He wore a gray sweater over a white t-shirt, faded jeans

ed my head, still fiddling with my boot. I looked down a

k into place. "Okay. I promised you I'll go ar

y hopelessness. "It's a race track,

ng." I paused. "You guys don

and scratched the

recked one of those expensive cars

eems to be out of

ere just hanging out with your similarly middle-aged car enthusiasts

And, occasionally, thousands of dollars." His lips quirked in am

long as you were before? Because if your Zo

y wh

hat car that looks like

corrected me, even more

anic clutched my chest. I couldn't breathe. I teete

and put his arms around me.

ainst his shoulder and hoped I wouldn't get my foundation on him. "

ssary risks," he promised. "You're coming out

't want to hear about it or be near when he did it. Denial was the only thing that would keep me san

To drive there, you had to have the money to pay your share of the state-of-the-art track's upkeep and c

id he'd take it out on the street and get into a fender bender. Not to mention the fact that the seats were about as comfortable as an ergonomic

l the hairspray I'd used-and reapplied my lip gloss. "

zing. I just want to show you around the place. Acq

of my eyes. "How can you guys e

nswer in the world. "The cars handle differently in the co

ires. Instead, we pulled up outside a building that was part car dealership, part country club. Neil tos

as we walked toward the doors.

le oval'. It's four miles, a few curves, with long straight sections and no speed limits. The Hennessey

s a bit too loud as we stepped thro

velvet ropes lined the path to a reception desk, where Neil flashed a membership card. The blonde g

we going? Why did we leave the car with a valet? What are we going to dr

ive it a look over; check the

?" I interrup

told me. "Right now, we ne

on the track. The white metal framing around them broke up the

e fantasies, does it?" I teased. Two giant televisions br

shopping excursion to Barney's," he shot back. D

nted them. "Hey, are there only thirty-six members?" I asked

ho only pop by once or twice a year. And there are members who live in the area and just bring all of their gear with them." He

ird that he had one here, when we didn't know I'd be coming along.

corners of his eyes cr

a frown. "Jerk. I thought y

you something, if

ing a lot of references to 'accidental injury, death

ntally injured, killed, or dismembered," he assured me with morbid

ve if he was a day. "After this are we

of them, see how it handles out here.

signed the paper against the door of the locker.

," he vowed solemnly. He took a pastel purple helmet from the loc

urve of the lilac plastic, pink Swarovski crystals spelled out "S

w I'd get you out here eventually." He glanced at the to

?" I shook my head, and it all swayed

lounge to the starting line, but most of it was through a heated walkway

the time, and he would take me with him. Logically, I knew he was a good driver. I'd ridden in car

le Neil exchanged some good-natured banter with one of

s face obscured by his he

across all muffled. I sco

e tried to assure me. With a tilt of his h

going to say,

wouldn't let him go

Neil to just slowly roll off the line, but the engine picked up right awa

matter which car he was driving, but it was usually a teeny speed burst, followed by a swift return to reality and traffic laws. Neit

anage a sideways glance at Neil. His eyes were slightly squinted in concentration, but they sparkled with u

car moved like a freaking snake, all slithery and smooth. We took anoth

" I panted. "How

smug grin in his voice. "Only about a hun

thirty?" I thou

uch as I would have for the bend. We whipped through before I could worry, and then through another, and then, he did exa

going two-hundred and

he side mirror, and my pupils were dilated. I could see my rapid pulse in them. The adrenaline pushed out from the inside, threatening to burst right through my skin. I pressed my t

More surprisingly

off on the speed to get through it. I'd never been on any roller coaster that had made

gasped as we pulled off the tra

off his helmet. The concern on his face displayed

tbelt, gripped the front of his sweater, an

way from the very confused looking guy waving us into the g

in my seat, wr

bring you here," he said with a surp

me!" I groaned, alread

hile. The second the car stopped, I climbed to straddle his lap. I held his face and kissed him, harder and bolder than I usually would. Even in our va

me. "You're wearing boots, Sop

up into an expression of horny confusion. I still wanted to have

line and hormone addled brain wouldn't have been ab

ed pavement. The air was so cold it felt like I would never breathe again. I had enough presence of m

he back of my neck. He pushed me down on the hood, sla

oo-tight denim and jerked them down, tearing my panties in the process. His jeans touched the back of my thigh

e warned, breathing heavily. "This has

id circles. My orgasm accelerated at the same rate the Venom had, and there was no holding back, even though my

ir, and his cum gushed into me in a warm burst. I wrig

jeans and shredded panties. "At

it was far too late by the time I thou

y?" I asked as

s. Just...let m

hen he had the occasional moment of showing his age, even something as minor as this, I started to panic. I thought about what his mother had said at Emma's w

nal anger, I stomped ov

eezed, cautiously

en mentally calculated how much it would cost if I damaged it. It was

e this kind of risk? I wanted to tell him that he was never allowed to ever do this kind of asinine thing ever again.

or down. "Darling, if I'd known you'd b

my underwear. Oh, that would make this

off in such a h

en it was something I'd worked on in therapy. But there were lies to cover your ass, and lies to

ght, I can see why it would seem that way. I did stomp

nd acceptance, but I was relieved wh

the ride?" he asked with a

joyed it, so much as endured it. It got my adrenaline a-flow

rrassed. "I have a bit of ba

What? You weren't plan

front wheel wobbled a bit toward the end." He didn't make eye conta

ible realization dawned. "We're going to go back...and

ing look. "Well, darling, I'm sure this

went silen

*

prising email. I grabbed my phone and fo

nute, baby?" I aske

ute?" he asked. "You

and gave me a thumbs up through the window. I lowered my voice

ened, and I hated t

sex." I twisted a lock of my hair around my f

l said, though he sounded unsure. "I'm at

ched the phone to speaker

oph

ile I am in New York on this visit. There is a matter I wish to di

to suggest our as

I was hung-up on the

f understanding and quic

?" I asked, but I al

disappointment was evident in his tone. "Ther

shame. I really liked Emir, and not just the sex. We'd had some good times over the summer when he'd

e sheath dress and gold heels, and I kept my hair loose around

hs as we got ready. He wore a dark gray suit with a crisp white shirt and a powder-blue silk tie with a waffle texture. When he loo

"I don't know why we're so tense. We kin

a little bit," Neil said, checking his hair in the mirror.

close to him and laid my hand against the

gave me a sad half

ow that he's breaking up with us. On the other hand, I do

went ve

uys shared something special in London. He was your firs

in his usual don't-be-silly-Sophie expressio

'm not saying that you love him more than you love me, but maybe you have a little c

hattan. He'd selected an actual bar, not a place where we

s to keep our conversation private. Emir waited there already, impeccably dressed as always, and he stood as we appro

between our relationship as a couple and our relationship with him. He took

ir leaned back with one arm prop

my freshly-shaved legs. Despite the fact that we were expecting bad news

g his ring and pinkie finger lazily along the inside. I w

he's breaking up with

ed to respond in kind, didn't we? "I like y

a tall, slender neck. Emir regarded her appreciatively.

h us. We knew he had a wife, and other lovers. But we didn't share those

s with Emir, we didn't see anyone else. Neil and I had discussed the possibility

owed suit with a Jack and Coke. Short drinks

ircumstances," Emir said, once the waitress had

f. I saw the rise of Neil's ches

asantness out at once, don't

. "The more I say it, the less difficult

eil and I were silent; I did

nd demanded that my wife make a choice. She did, and she didn't choose me. She plan

rd, glancing up warily at the se

huge gulp

n. "I did not feel it was appropriate to mention them

oze to pop ratio was terrible. "T

I pursue a better arrangement for them, I

is was where he was goi

ld my

ther in concern and regret. "So, until this messy business is

arily?" I

athing audibly affected by his relief. "

self for now. In a few months, when the divorce is settled, I would love to see yo

is collar to his forehead. "Yes,

eil... It did have a naughty

able and covered Emir's hand with my own. "Are you all right?" Wa

just wanted to make both of you aware that my withdrawal fr

," Neil said, taking a sip from his glass

Emir nodded to me, "the

d with a chuckle, and he lifted

ulder and closed my eyes. "You don't think we'll ever get to a po

se under my ha

with Emir-and given the right partner, I would do it again-I think it'

orance regarding your bisexuality." I felt so bad about that, but it was hard to shak

in his voice. "You never know. You might feel equ

't know unti

wingers. And they did drop some hints at my birthday party. Would you

language I'd heard from anyone who wasn't Deja, and wasn't bad looking, either. Gena had been really friendly

ideal physical type for a woman. I was short, brunette, and my tits were on the sm

eing Neil with another woman? What if he like

winging" was. I had an idea, though. "Swinging

rs do partner swap, but some don't. Sometimes, it's a group activity. We wouldn't know until we s

it. Holli and I had gotten drunk and made out once, but that had been weird because

f wanted t