Six years ago...

I was a little impatient, desperate to free my eyes from the blindfold but Nick was stern, refusing to allow me to peek as he steered my movement to where ever he decided he wanted my feet to go. I had no idea where we were going. With seconds of getting out the car, Nick had imprisoned my vision with the invitation of an incoming surprise. That was something I couldn't refuse. Nor did I have a clue what he was planning. We had after all just come back from our date night at the local theatre and after dining at a lovely Mexican cuisine restaurant. And now we had pulled up outside Nick's apartment block. Whatever was he planning?

"No peeking, Rose. C'mon, just a couple more steps. I promise."

"Where are you taking me, Nick?" I asked, my excitement on the rise as I felt the replacement of gravel for soft grass beneath the soles of my heels. We were still outside. Nick must be taking me to the shared communal garden. Or he was playing around with me. Whatever he had planned was driving me insane. I needed to know.

"Okay on the count of three. I'm going to remove your blindfold. You ready?"

"Yes!" Yes! Nick' c'mon. I want to see!" I squealed excitedly.

Gently, I felt his fingers untie the blindfold and remove it from my face. I was shocked. I couldn't believe my eyes. Was I dreaming? What was this? My lips quivered, tears brimmed and my knees felt wobbly as if I would collapse at any point. Ahead, red heart shaped balloons, a dozen or so small candles lit upon the wooden table, and pictures of us from our many years of adventures were plastered across the table, some in frames. It was just so unexpected but so dearly romantic.

Nick slid beside me and swiftly bent down to one knee. His hand rummaged into his trouser pocket. I felt my heart suddenly climbing, beating faster than a bird flapping its wings. It felt like any second that my heart would jump out of its cage. And then I couldn't help it. Tears started to cascade down my cheeks as Nick pulled out a black box and revealed a silver diamond ring sat comfortably in the black satin plush.

"Rose," he began, smiling from ear to ear. "I loved you the second my eyes lay on you. Since then, we've grown together, we've been through it all. And there's no one else I could imagine spending the rest of my life with. One day I'll hope one day we look back at all these memories when we're old and grey and smile at the life we've created together. Because, baby, you're one in a million. Will you marry me, Rose Pierce?" he finished, wiping a tear from his own cheek.

I couldn't stop blubbering but it didn't stop me from accepting with joy. "Yes! Yes! I'll marry you!" I squealed, admiring the fit of the ring sliding over my fourth left finger. It was beautiful but it wasn't as beautiful as the man kneeling down before me. My hands clasped his encouraging him to stand up. His arms embraced me before we shared a kiss, shaking in our own skins with excitement. I was engaged! I was going to become Mrs Stanton. I was going to marry my true love. The man I could see sharing my entire existence with until the very last day we take our breaths. I was more than content. I was over the moon.

Present...

My fingers stopped fiddling with the old sliver ring as I plopped it back into the drawer of my jewellery box. What a memory. A memory I thought I could hold onto for a lifetime without regrets. There wasn't the regret of marrying Nick. No. I couldn't be more thankful. It was the regret I had cheated on the memory. And now I was paying the price by destroying what I had. Angie. Nick. And soon I would destroy Shane. It was inevitable. It was just when was the question.

I was filled with envy for that woman, the old me who undeniably loved Nick. I wanted to warn her, tell her the price she would meet. The choice of cheating or remaining faithful but that was impossible because the past had merged within me. She was dead. No longer part of this earth. And I was here to stay. The unfaithful half. A monster.

It should have been enough to stop me but it didn't. After, sitting on my bed toying with the thought within my head, I left my house, locking it before sourcing out Shane who I knew would be waiting next door. Nick was away at work, far from the devil he'd married. Last night should have been enough to dictate that his wife was a mess. A horrid mess cheating with the man next door.

My knocks were haste as I looked around. I hadn't given the thought before, but now I was wondering whether my neighbours had suspected something strange about my constant presence next door. Maybe, they just thought we were friendly neighbours or maybe they knew the worse, that the wife was cheating. Would they say something if they had the chance?

The door opened inwards revealing that handsome other half of my life. He offered a warm smile, hesitant whether he should have as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. I crossed the threshold. The stench of cigarettes was prevalent as I headed further into the house. He must have been smoking. He was nervous. Shane followed behind, where we ended up in the kitchen. Me resting against the island counter and he standing opposite and adjacent to the fridge.

"So, how did it go?" he asked, massaging his chin, the sprout of stubble tickling beneath his fingers. I watched almost mesmerized by this simple action before soon snapping back into reality as he dragged out a box of cigarettes and added. "You don't mind? I'm anxious as shit."

I shook my head. "No, actually mind if I have one?"

He paused. "Are you sure? They're not exactly healthy to get into."

"Just one. They're suppose to calm you, right? And I need something to settle my nerves," I explained truthfully, thanking him as he passed me one over and lit the cigarette that was hanging from the corner of my mouth with his lighter. I inhaled the toxic smoke, detesting the taste but feeling some edge of calm approach me. Shane had lit his own and we spent at least a minute or so in silence, caging into the addition of tobacco.

Shane stubbed his out into the ceramic small dish intended for lit cigarettes. "So, what happened then? You're making me anxious as fuck, here."

I exhaled, smoke fleeting into the air before I chose the same to stub the toxic stick out. "Angie accused me of cheating."

"Ah, shit---"

----"But, the wicked half of me convinced her enough to reconsider her evaluation. She thinks I just went out with you because I was jealous of Nick's company, Regina. She knows I'm unhappy with my marriage. But she doesn't suspect me of cheating," I interjected, my tone solemn and dead. I said it matter of factly without an ounce of relief.

Shane didn't say a word. He seemed to have gone mute as he looked down to his socks. Maybe, he was revaluating the whole situation with me. Maybe, he could see how much of a wicked woman I was and no longer wanted to pursue a romantic relationship with me. I couldn't blame him. Maybe, it was for the best. End this so we could no longer be hurt.

"I mean. I don't know what to say," he finally spoke, sounding a little less approaching to the situation himself. "I should be relieved...but things haven't changed, have they?"

"What do you mean?" I piped up, brushing my fingers across my jeans.

"You're still gonna play happy families with him. I feel bad for saying this but I would have preferred if she didn't believe you because then at least we would have an actual shot," he said honestly, refusing to look me in the eyes as he moved forward and discarded the ceramic dish's contents into the bin.

I sighed a little as I rubbed my forehead. "I know. I don't blame you for feeling like that. I wish it was just simple too. But, it's not."

Shane exhaled, resting his hand onto his hip, his head dropping forward. "I just wish I was enough."

My heart clenched as I stepped forward. "Shane, you are. You're more than enough," I argued, my fingers running to his face as I caressed them against the harsh stubble upon his jawline. He didn't respond to my touch, instead he seemed to detest them as he moved away and headed for the dining table and sat down on the chair.

I couldn't stop myself from wanting to defend our love. I couldn't help coming to his rescue. "Shane, you are. You're the person I want to spend my life with. I just...can't. Not yet. It's hard. It's hard when all you've known in your life is someone who was your first everything. I can't lose you, Shane," I pleaded, resting my hands on his shoulders. "I need you, Shane."

He didn't say a word. He wouldn't even look at me. Had I truly lost him? Was that it for the both of us?

I just couldn't help myself. Gently, I slid down on his lap. I leant in and began to tease my lips across his jawline, behind his ear and neck. Nothing. Not even a reaction. So, I went further, I slid my hand into the waistband of his trousers and snaked towards his member. I grabbed it and massaged my palm against it, begging for something to spark within him. He was trying terribly hard not to react. I could tell. He was biting his bottom lip hard.

"Shane, please," I muttered against his ear.

And then he reacted, kissing me back. Demanding me as he stood up and lifted me onto the counter. Our hands fought in combat as he teared at my top and I tore at his t-shirt. We just couldn't fight it no longer. He needed me.

And not long after, he was fucking me mindless.

THANK YOU FOR READING! ARE YOU ENJOYING THE STORY? AND HANDS UP IF YOU'RE ANNOYED WITH ROSE? LIKE SHE'S ANNOYING ME AND I'M BLOODY WRITING THE STORY! THE CHEATER WILL EVENTUALLY GET STUNG! SHE NEEDS TO MAKE UP HER MIND AND SURE ENOUGH SHE WILL! PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR SOME JOURNEY AHEAD! IF YOU ENJOYED PLEASE VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE! 

LOVE, 

VAMP

XXX