"Look at me, baby," she said.
I shook my head.
She gripped my jaws in her hand and squeezed. "Look at me, Bishop," she demanded.
Slowly, reluctantly, my eyes opened. Tears were running down her face.
"Stop crying." I reached up and swiped her tears with the pads of my thumbs.
Eva kept my face gripped in her hand as she continued to ride me until her head was thrown back in ecstasy as she came all over me. Her walls pulsated around me, bringing me right there with her.
She removed her hand from my face and stared down at me. Our eyes were locked on each other, a silent conversation taking place.
"Who is she?" she asked quietly.
I ran my hands down her arms. "Who is who?"
"Don't patronize me, Bishop. Who's the bitch that's gotten you wrapped up so tight, you can't even fuck me without thinking of her."
I let out a slow breath, my hands still resting on her arms, feeling the slight tremble in them.
Eva didn’t move. She just stared down at me, waiting. “You really gonna do that?” she asked, her voice low, but steady. “You really gonna sit here and act like I’m stupid?”
I swallowed, my jaw tightening. “That’s not what I’m doing.”
“Then what are you doing, Bishop?” she shot back, sliding off me slowly but keeping her eyes locked on mine. “Because from where I’m sitting, my husband can’t even look at me while we’re having sex.”
I pushed myself up on my elbows, running a hand over my face. “I said I was tired—”
“No,” she cut in sharply. “Don’t do that. Don’t minimize it.”
She stood from the bed, grabbing the robe off the chair and slipping it on, tying it tight around her waist. “We’ve been together too long for me not to feel when something’s off,” she continued. “You've been distant and distracted for weeks. You barely touch me anymore unless I initiate it.”
I sat up fully now, the weight of the moment settling in my chest. “That’s not true.”
“It is true,” she said, turning to face me fully now. “And tonight just confirmed it.”
Heavy silence stretched between us.
“You weren’t here,” she said finally, softer now but somehow hitting harder. “Even when you were inside me… you weren’t here.”
I looked down for a second, then back up at her. She was watching me like she was bracing herself.
“Who is she?” she asked again, quieter this time.
I hesitated.
Eva let out a shaky breath. “Wow." She crossed her arms across her chest staring at me. "I've allowed you to have your…fun because for all intents and purposes you have been great husband and father. Me and the twins are able to live a life of luxury because of you. But at least when I needed you to be present… you were there."
I ran my hands down my face, silent. Letting her get it out.
She continued. "This time it's different. You're different and don't try to tell me you aren't. I know my husband."
I sat at the edge of the bed, watching her as she began to pace. There was no way in hell I could tell her the truth. Nothing that came out of my mouth would soften the blow. So I stayed quiet.
Eva stopped pacing and looked at me. “You don’t even have anything to say?” she asked, her voice low, almost disbelieving.
I exhaled slowly, dragging my hands down my face again before letting them fall. “What do you want me to say, Eva?” I asked, my tone calmer than I felt.