Untaming Lily Wilde by Olivia Fox

herself unconsciously surveying her exits. Never a good sign. This was a crazy situation to be in. Waiting, barely dressed, for her friend's husband to come fuck her senseless. Lily stopped herself mid thought. She realized she'd not thought of Ana as a friend before, and the notion felt all wrong. Whatever was going on here, she was fairly certain she wasn't getting the whole story.
    "Lily, it's me. Can I come in?" Seb's deep velvet voice lacked it's usual warmth.
    "Er - sure - come in..."
    Lily felt ridiculous. But she told herself she needed to be clear with him. If he wanted sex - and truth be told, she really hoped he did - then this is how it would have to be. Honest, and open. Not hidden from his wife in a cold dark alley.
    He came in. Lily crossed her arms protectively, leaning back against the large window frame. He watched her from the doorway, then quietly shut the door behind him and crossed his own arms.
    "You shouldn't have come here," he said.
    The words were crushing. But of course , she thought, he didn't really want me. Why would he?
    "You’re unbelievable," she said, looking away. She could feel him watching her, the heat of his eyes on hers.
    "You're full of surprises too, Lily Wilde. I never would have pegged you for one of Ana's party recruits."
    Was that the issue? Was he pissed that she’d come to see him on Ana’s terms, not his? "I guess you don't know me well enough to peg me as anything,” she asserted, finally looking him in the eye. No way was he going to make her feel ashamed for coming. How dare you judge me?! She thought. Hadn’t he lived this lifestyle for years?
    “So let me get this straight,” she said. “After years - literally years, right? - of screwing about, you’ve finally had enough, and you want me to feel bad just for dipping one little toe in the water? Seriously? "
    She was pressing all the right buttons. Seb’s jaw set tense.
    “No, you’re right. I don’t know you,” he said. For a moment, his eyes were icy cold, as he stared at her. Then finally he closed them, and when he looked at her again, some of the ice had thawed. "You’re out of your depth,” he told her, his voice softer. “Jesus - the thought of them all over you... Why are you doing this?"
    Lily shuffled her feet. She felt about ten years old. “I wanted to see you.”
    Seb laughed, “You thought we'd fuck here ? Seriously, Lily? You thought we'd do it here ?”
    “But Ana said…” Lily stopped herself. Someone was playing with her; Ana or Seb? She couldn’t tell. Her embarrassment turned to fury. “Why do I feel like I'm the one doing something wrong here?! I'm not hiding. If you want a mistress, it's not going to be me." Lily walked to the bed and grabbed her bag. She’d made a mistake coming here.
    Seb was at her side in an instant. “Lily.”
    “I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “I misunderstood.”
    OK. Good start… L ily thought.
    “I wanted to see you again,” he said.
    Keep going…
    “And I don’t want a mistress. It’s not like that,” he said. “I just… I wish you hadn’t come here tonight. I can’t be with you here.” He stood back and looked her over, frustration rolling off him in waves. “I mean - for fuck’s sake - you’ve even let her dress you.”
    Oh that’s right, the dress! That’s the problem! Not your self-centred, control-freak ego… Lily took a deep, calming breath before trusting herself to speak. "Oddly enough I don’t own any bacchanal outfits of my own," she said. Sarcasm wasn't her strength, but she was willing to give it a try. “Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
    She picked up her bag and began stuffing her belongings back inside. Seb clearly wasn't interested in doing anything other than fighting. Well sod that. Time to go home.
    Then she stopped herself. Wasn’t that exactly what Seb wanted - for her to storm off home? She was the single one here. Not him. Why was she letting him call the shots? Hadn't she promised herself