Shared Wife in the Wilderness - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

My pulse hammered in my throat as I jerked away from Dominic's arms, scrambling to face Vincent with nervous energy crackling through me.
"Baby, it's not what you think—he was just helping me with the body paint, and—"
"You got painted? Show me!"
Dominic hadn't lied. Vincent's eyes sparkled with genuine fascination, cutting me off mid-sentence as he took in the intricate artwork on my skin.
"Holy hell, this is incredible." His fingers hovered just above the design, tracing the air like he wanted to memorize every stroke. "Babe, you were born to wear art like this."
The casual endearment—"babe"—sent a jolt through me. He hadn't called me anything like that since... well, since everything went sideways.
I opened my mouth to respond, but Sophia—who'd been lurking behind Vincent like a shadow—chose that exact moment to strike.
"Vincent, be honest." She tilted her head, all faux innocence. "Who wears the camera better—your wife, or me?"
Vincent laughed, his gaze sliding over her with an ease that made my teeth grind.
"Come on, you're both flawless. But with legs like yours, Sophia? Any photographer would lose their mind trying to capture you."
Sophia shot me a smirk sharp enough to draw blood before looping her arm through Vincent's and dragging him back to her shoot. The sight of his easy compliance lit a fire in my chest.
I wanted to scream. To throw something. But what could I say?
Sophia hadn't technically crossed a line. Vincent's response had been smooth, diplomatic. Still, the way she pressed into his space, the way she looked at him—it made my skin crawl.
I turned to Dominic, half-expecting... I didn't even know what. A flicker of irritation? A clenched jaw?
Nothing. His face was a blank slate, like watching his girlfriend flirt with my husband was just another Tuesday.
I narrowed my eyes. "Seriously? You're not even a little bothered?"
Dominic shrugged. "Why would I be?"
His indifference only made the alarm bells in my head scream louder.
This didn't add up. If Dominic had gone out of his way to help me reconnect with Vincent, he should've been pissed about Sophia hanging all over him. But instead? Radio silence.
Something was off.
That night, we gathered around the fire for drinks and barbecue. Unlike last time, the conversation orbited entirely around Sophia and Vincent, their laughter too loud, their banter too easy.
Sophia gazed up at Vincent like he'd hung the moon.
"Wait—you won that award in college? That's, like, a huge deal, right?"
Vincent waved her off, but I caught the flicker of pride in his smile. "Ancient history. I haven't shot seriously in years. Honestly, your photos could've been sharper if I wasn't so out of practice."
Sophia immediately raised her glass. "Out of practice? Please. You made me look like a damn goddess. Cheers to you."
The way they leaned into each other made my ribs feel too tight. I downed my drink in one burning gulp.
"Easy." Dominic's hand closed over mine on the glass, his touch warm, his gaze warmer. "That's not exactly water."
I almost yanked my hand away—until I noticed Vincent watching us.
Oh, now you're paying attention?
Channeling Sophia's shameless energy, I fluttered my lashes at Dominic, pitching my voice low and sweet. "You're too good to me. Let me get you a drink."
"Hey, gorgeous."
Vincent materialized between us, smoothly intercepting the glass and pulling me against his chest. My heart leapt—finally, a reaction.
But my victory crumbled instantly.
Vincent produced a twisted little bottle, pouring me a glass of something amber and fragrant. His smile was tender, but his grip was possessive.
"Thank him, but pace yourself. This is local fruit wine—sweet, smooth. Perfect for you."
His tone was gentle.
My blood turned to ice.
Because I knew—that bottle was poison.