Make Me Moan, Daddy-Chapter 59

REINA

"I... I was just desperate at the time," I grumbled, sinking my teeth into my lower lip. "And I couldn’t tell you about it because I didn’t want to bother you."

Tessa’s expression softened slightly. "Okay," she said slowly. "That’s... actually kind of sweet. But still! You could’ve told me, Reina."

"I know." I sank onto the couch. "I just didn’t want people to judge. Everyone always has opinions about girls marrying men for money."

"True," she muttered, sitting beside me. "But I’m not ’everyone.’ I would’ve at least gotten drunk in your honor."

I smiled faintly. For a moment, the air between us felt lighter.

Then she squinted at me. "Wait a second. That guy Shane saw last night at the bar—the older man who looked like he could buy the whole city—was that your husband?"

My heart jumped. "No."

Her head tilted. "Then who..."

"His father," I blurted.

Silence.

Tessa stared at me for a full five seconds before she said, very quietly, "Reina. Please tell me you’re joking."

I couldn’t look at her. My hands were shaking slightly. "I wish I was."

Her eyes grew wider and wider until I thought they might pop out of her head. "You’re telling me you slept with your father-in-law?"

I nodded.

"Holy—Reina!" She stood up so fast her drink spilled onto the rug. "No. No, no, no. You can’t just drop that on me like it’s gossip! What—how—when?"

"Last night," I admitted in a whisper.

She covered her mouth, pacing again. "Last night. Jesus. I thought Shane was just being dramatic when he said the ’daddy’ thing. But oh my God—he was right. That was your father-in-law! Your sugar daddy is your father-in-law? Do you even hear yourself?"

I pressed my palms to my eyes. "I know how bad it sounds."

"It doesn’t sound bad, it sounds like a soap opera," she said, voice trembling between shock and disbelief. "How does this even happen? Do you like him or something?"

The question made my throat tighten. "It’s... complicated."

"Don’t you dare say complicated again." She huffed, giving me a stern look. That look that only your mother will give you when you did something stupid.

"I can’t help it," I said weakly. "He’s—different. He’s not like Paolo."

"Because he’s older?" she snapped. "Or because he’s rich and bossy and you like the drama?"

"No," I said softly. "Because he sees me."

That shut her up. Fuck, Tessa wasn’t the type that just anything could shut her up.

I looked down at my hands, fiddling with the soda can. "Paolo’s sweet, but he’s never really been... there. Not in that way. We never even..." I swallowed. "We’ve never slept together." I murmured, looking her straight in the eyes. "You understand what I’m saying? We have never had sex."

Tessa’s jaw dropped again. "You’re kidding."

"I’m not."

She blinked once, then twice. "Wait, wait. You’ve been married for what—almost two years now? And not once?"

I nodded silently.

"So your husband doesn’t touch you, but his dad does?"

I winced. "Please don’t say it like that."

She groaned, dragging her hands down her face. "Okay, hold on, I’m trying to wrap my head around this. Maybe he’s... I don’t know, asexual? Or... maybe gay?"

"What?" I blinked at her.

"I mean, come on, Rei. No man just doesn’t touch his wife for a whole year or two unless something’s off. Either he’s cheating, gay, or you scare the shit out of him."

"That’s ridiculous," I muttered, but even as I said it, doubt curled low in my stomach.

Tessa gave me that pointed look again, one eyebrow raised. "Has he ever checked out women in front of you? Complimented you? Flirted?"

"Not really," I admitted slowly. "He’s always polite, but... distant. Like he’s constantly distracted."

"Mhm. Suspicious," she said, tapping her finger on her chin. "Okay, does he have any male friends he’s close to? Like, close close? The kind of friend that’s always around, texting late at night, going on ’business trips’ together?"

I frowned. "No. Just Calestino."

Tessa’s eyes lit up. "Calestino? I don’t do who the hell is Calestino but is he really close to your husband in a way that even you are not?"

I nodded, confused where she was going with this. "Yeah. But they’re just friends. He’s known Paolo since they were little."

She smirked. "You sure about that?"

"Positive. Calestino’s straight," I said firmly. "He has a daughter, Tess. He’s actually really decent. Kind of like an older brother to Paolo."

Tessa hummed doubtfully. "Uh-huh. Older brother type, sure. Still doesn’t explain why your husband treats you like a roommate."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "It’s not like that. Paolo’s just... careful. Awkward. And honestly, I thought maybe he was waiting. You know, for the right time. Or maybe he’s shy."

"Shy?" She barked out a laugh. "Girl, you married a bad guy. An Italian. None of those men are shy."

I laughed weakly, despite everything. "You’re impossible."

"I’m just saying," she said, leaning forward, "if my man didn’t even try to touch me after a year, I’d either assume he’s cheating or that he swings the other way. And honestly? I’d take cheating. At least that way, he’s getting it somewhere."

I groaned, covering my face. "Please stop analyzing my marriage like it’s a true crime documentary."

She chuckled, but her expression softened a bit after. "I’m sorry, Rei. I just... it’s weird. The whole thing. You being neglected by your husband and now—sleeping with his father? That’s a damn Greek tragedy."

"I didn’t plan it, Tess. I swear I didn’t."

She peeked out from behind the pillow. "Does Paolo know?"

I shook my head.

"Then you need to tell him. Like, now."

"I can’t."

"You have to."

"I can’t!" I shouted, louder than I intended. "If he finds out, everything falls apart—my tuition, my family’s support, the house—everything."

Tessa stared at me, speechless.

Tears stung my eyes. "You think I don’t feel disgusting? You think I wanted this? I tried to stop it, Tess. But every time Domenico looks at me—every damn time—I forget how to breathe."

Her expression softened instantly. She reached for my hand. "Rei..."

"I know it’s wrong," I whispered. "I know. But he makes me feel alive, Tess. Like I’m not just someone’s charity case. Like I actually matter."

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the quiet hum of the fridge. Tessa didn’t say anything. She just sat there, holding my hand, her thumb brushing gently across my knuckles.

Then she sighed. "You really got yourself into a mess, huh?"

"Yeah," I said, laughing through the tears. "The biggest one yet."

She exhaled and leaned back, shaking her head. "Okay. First of all, I’m not judging you. I mean, maybe a little. But mostly, I’m worried. You’re playing with fire, Reina."

"I know."

"And second—if Shane finds out about this, he’s never going to shut up. So, please, for the love of God, don’t tell him."

I laughed weakly. "Trust me, I won’t."

Tessa stood and stretched. "Alright. I’m going to pretend this was all a fever dream. You’re married, you’re sleeping with your father-in-law, your husband might be gay, and you live in a mansion. Got it."

I groaned. "You make it sound worse."

"It is worse," she said, smirking faintly. Then her expression softened again. "Don’t be sorry. Just... be careful, okay? Whatever you think you feel for this guy, just remember who you are. You’ve worked too hard to let some rich man’s family drama ruin your life."

I nodded, tears sliding down my cheeks. "I know."

She opened the door, hesitated, and turned back. "And for the record," she said softly, "if you ever need to run away, my couch is ugly but available. I have something to do in five minutes, you’re coming out with me tonight. We’re gonna drink to your sexless marriage and to... daddy."

That made me laugh again, even as my heart broke a little.

When the door finally closed behind her, I sat there for a long while, staring at the untouched drink in my hand. My reflection reflecting faintly in the glass surface of the table—someone I barely recognized anymore.

Someone who’d just confessed the ugliest truth of her life and still wasn’t sure she’d made the right choice.