Adultery Husband's Unfortunate Bet with an Alpha (Mask of Desire)

[Steel]

Rakesh shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you, man! If she has tits and a pussy, she has the same instincts as any other woman. In the right circumstances, she would spread her legs like all the rest."

Sharath's mind buzzed with rage, but he managed to control himself, taking a deep breath, leaning back, and stiffly saying, "You're delusional."

Rakesh's slimy grin grew wider. "Wanna bet?" He asked in a low, dangerous voice."I like those odds. I bet you I can prove your wife is a slut."

Sharath was about to blow up. The idea was insulting. The offer was disgusting. The whole thing was sleazy and misogynistic in a way he never would have expected, even from Rakesh.

But then a thought crossed his mind. What better punishment could there be for this sexist prick than letting Kusha cut him to ribbons? Kusha was a knockout, and she was used to guys hitting on her. They were usually sorry they had afterward. It would be a deeply satisfying way to teach this ugly toad who Sharath had once considered a friend that his worldview was stupid.

Giving in to his anger and his desire to prove Rakesh wrong, Sharath opened his mouth and asked, "What do I get when I win?"

Rakesh shook with laughter for a good minute, wiping a tear from his eye while Sharath stewed. Wait until Kusha rips him apart, we’ll see how funny he finds it then, Sharath thought sourly.

Finally, Rakesh shook his head and said. "How about this? If Kusha is as virtuous and pure as you say, I'll fund that honeymoon you keep putting off. I’m rolling in money, so it won’t be a problem for me.”

Sharath felt another spike of anger. It was a low blow. Although both of their careers were doing fine, he and Kusha had mutually decided to put their money towards a nice house after getting married rather than an expensive honeymoon. They kept talking about having a honeymoon later, but at this point, it had been a few years since their wedding. "Fine," he said tersely. "And what do you want if you win? Not that you ever could."

Rakesh gave Sharath a leering, lopsided grin. "Ohhh, I wouldn't worry about that, buddy. I get the feeling that the process of winning this bet will be its own reward. What's the time limit?"

"A month," said Sharath distractedly, losing a little bit of his momentum. Rakesh was actually taking this seriously. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. He wasn't worried that Rakesh might succeed, but if Kusha found out that he had put Rakesh up to this, Sharath would be in serious trouble.

"Make it two," said Rakesh solidly. "Can't rush perfection." He wiped his hands on his pants and stood from the table, a strange, excited energy radiating off him, like he couldn't wait to get started.

Sharath felt a little disquieted at Rakesh's confidence. "I'll pick up the tab today, Sherry," he said, patting Sharath on the shoulder as he slouched toward the bar to pay.

"Hey," said Sharath, licking his lips, "You're not going to tell Kusha that we made this bet, right?"

Rakesh gave him a pitying look over his shoulder and snorted. "Of course not. Why shoot myself in the foot? Don't worry, I won't tell her you put her in my hands. Your dirty little secret is safe with me."

A few short minutes later, Rakesh paid for the meal and left the bar and grill with a little mocking wave to Sharath on his way out, leaving his former friend sitting stunned at their table, wondering what he was in for.

But he was worrying over nothing. Kusha hated Rakesh from the beginning. She had sent Sharath here today with instructions to break off their friendship. There was no possible way that Rakesh's fucked-up sexist view of the world was correct in any way.

Right?