Chapter 76 #76
Chapter 76
~Dante’s pov~
The private cabin was exactly where I needed it to be, isolated, unreachable, mine. I stripped the moment I walked through the door, shoving every piece of clothing into the fireplace.
"Burn," I muttered, watching the flames consume the evidence. The smell of fabric and cologne filled the room as I stood there naked, watching it all disappear.
The shower ran scalding hot. I scrubbed until my skin turned red, washing away the perfume, the sweat, the guilt that clung to me like a second skin.
"Clean slate," I told my reflection as I dried off. "She'll never know."
Fresh clothes. Different cologne. I looked like a man who'd spent the night working, not fucking a stranger in a club.
The drive home felt longer than it should have. Every red light, every slow driver made my jaw clench tighter.
By the time I walked through the manor doors, I had my story straight.
Shailyn was in the living room, curled up on the couch with her phone. She looked up the moment I entered, her eyes widening.
"Dante!" She jumped up, wincing slightly as she moved too fast. "Oh my God, where were you? I was so worried!"
"Hey, baby," I said, moving toward her. "I'm sorry. I fell asleep at the office."
"At the office?" Her hands immediately went to my face, cupping my cheeks. "You look exhausted. Did you sleep at all?"
"A few hours on the couch in my office," I lied smoothly. "The project, paperwork, the fire and everything."
"Dante," she said softly, her eyes filling with concern. "You can't do that to yourself. You need proper rest."
The guilt hit harder than expected. Here she was, pregnant with twins, worried about me, when I'd spent the night…
"I know, baby. I'm sorry." I pulled her close, breathing in her familiar scent. "I should have called."
"You should have come home," she corrected, but her voice was gentle. "Have you eaten anything?"
"No, not really."
"Okay." She pulled back, determination settling over her features. "Go sit down. I'm making you breakfast."
"Shailyn, you don't have to…"
"I want to," she interrupted. "Please. Let me take care of you."
How could I say no to that?
I settled at the kitchen island while she moved around the space with practiced ease. The smell of pancakes filled the air minutes later.
"Chocolate syrup, right?" she asked, glancing back at me.
"You remember."
"Of course I remember." She smiled. "You have the sweet tooth of a five-year-old."
I couldn't help but smile back. "Guilty."
The kitchen door opened and Dwayne walked in, stopping short when he saw us.
"Morning," he said, his voice cool.
"Morning," I replied, just as cool.
Shailyn glanced between us, then at the extra pancakes she'd made. "Oh, perfect timing! I made extra."
"That's okay," Dwayne said quickly. "I'll just grab coffee."
"Don't be silly," Shailyn insisted, already plating pancakes for him. "Sit down. Both of you."
I shot Dwayne a look. He returned it with equal hostility.
"Shailyn, I really don't think…" I started.
"It's just food, Dante," she said firmly, setting plates in front of both of us. "Can you two please just eat breakfast like normal people?"
"Fine," I muttered.
Dwayne sat down reluctantly, keeping as much distance from me as the counter allowed.
Shailyn poured chocolate syrup over my pancakes with careful precision, then looked at Dwayne. "Do you want syrup too?"
"Just a little," he said.
"Coming right up." She said.
“Thank you Shailyn.” He said with a small smile.
Fucker.
I watched her move around the kitchen, so genuinely happy to be taking care of us, and that guilt twisted deeper.
She set utensils down, then surprised me by picking up a fork herself. "Open up."
I blinked. "What?"
"Open your mouth," she repeated, fork loaded with pancake. "I'm feeding you."
"Baby, I can feed myself…"
"I know you can. But I want to do this. Please?"
How could I refuse when she looked at me like that? And to show off to Dwayne? Count me in.
I opened my mouth and she slid the fork in, her face lighting up with satisfaction.
"Good?" she asked.
"Perfect," I said, and meant it.
She fed me another bite, then another, her attention completely focused on me. Like I was the only person in the world.
Meanwhile, Dwayne ate in silence, his jaw tight, clearly uncomfortable with the domestic scene playing out in front of him.
"You're not eating enough," Shailyn said, cutting another piece. "You need energy for today."
"I'm eating, baby. I promise."
"Not fast enough." She brought another forkful to my lips. "Come on. For me?"
I ate it, watching her face glow with pleasure at taking care of me.
The guilt was unbearable now. She was here, loving me, worried about me, feeding me like I was precious to her.
And I spent last night…
"Done!" Shailyn announced, setting down the fork. "Feel better?"
"Much better," I said quietly. "Thank you."
"Good. Now..." She moved around the counter, taking my hand. "Bath time."
"Bath time?"
"Yes. You've been up all night working. You need to relax." She pulled me toward the stairs. "Come on."
I let her lead me upstairs, aware of Dwayne's eyes burning into my back.
\---
The bathroom was already filled with steam when we entered. Shailyn had apparently started running the bath before I'd even gotten home.
"In you go," she said, gesturing to the tub.
"Are you joining me?" I asked, trying to be playful.
"No, this is for you." She helped me out of my shirt. "Just relax. Let me take care of everything."
I sank into the hot water with a groan. "This is perfect."
"I know." She knelt beside the tub, rolling up her sleeves. "Now lean back."
She shampooed my hair with gentle fingers, massaging my scalp in slow circles. I closed my eyes, letting the sensation wash over me.
"You work too hard," she murmured. "I worry about you."
"I know, baby."
"Promise me you'll rest today. No going back to the office."
"I promise."
"Good." She rinsed my hair, then leaned down to press a soft kiss to my lips. "I love you."
"I love you too," I whispered back, the words feeling heavier than they should.
After the bath, she toweled me off herself, her movements careful and thorough. Then she led me to our bed, pulling back the covers.
"In," she ordered.
"Yes, ma'am."
I climbed in and she immediately followed, curling up beside me. Her hand rested on my chest, her head on my shoulder.
"Sleep," she said softly. "I've got you."
"Shailyn?"
"Hmm?"
"You're too good to me."
She tilted her head up to look at me. "You're my husband. This is what a wife will do."
I pulled her closer, breathing in her scent. "Thank you."
"Always," she whispered.
Within minutes, exhaustion pulled me under. My last conscious thought was of Shailyn's hand on my chest, steady and trusting, believing I was exactly the man she thought I was.
The guilt followed me into sleep, but her warmth kept it at bay.
For now.