Reign on Me

by Zoe Devereaux

  She passed a quick glance towards the door. “I agree. There are some things that we need to get clear.”

  “Willington Inn---I’m staying on the executive level---Room 1210. It’s practically isolated so we don’t have to worry about being disturbed. Meet me there tonight around 11:30.”

  Her nod was fast. “11:30.”

  At that point, Richard breezed back into the room. “Sorry about that. But, it couldn’t be avoided.” As she stood, he grasped both of her hands, and then pulled her into his arms. “I’m also afraid that we have to cut this evening short.”

  “I understand,” she said with a soft smile. “I know how time-consuming this case is.”

  “This is the second time that I’ve disappointed you, tonight,” Richard sighed regretfully. “First dinner and now this.”

  “Richard,” she reassured him. “It’s okay.”

  Stiffening, he watched their exchange, and with every passing second, his jealousy mounted. As they exchanged a sweet kiss, he had to look away.

  If he didn’t, what was he likely to do?

  Drop kick his ass…

  It was best and most viable option…

  He focused his attention on a blank spot on the wall. Get control of your fucking self. Resorting to such antics was barbaric and juvenile. Besides that, she’d been more than clear before about not wanting any kind of relationship with him. But, hell, how much more of it could he really take?

  He stood abruptly. “It’s time for me to take my leave as well.” Clearing his throat noisily, he stood abruptly. Then, he gripped his brother’s hand in a firm handshake. “Thank you all for accommodating me on such short notice. Again, my apologies, and next time I’ll give everyone advanced notice.”

  “No reason for any apologies,” Richard disagreed quickly, hugging Hayven close to his side. “We’re family. Time has no bearing or meaning when it comes to important discussions such as this. You mentioned that you were going to be in town for awhile.”

  Ah, that got her attention, he noted, not missing the startled look in her brown eyes. “Yes, I will. There is a major business dealing in the works. Hopefully, we’ll be acquiring property and breaking land on a new hotel in the not so distant future.” He glanced in her direction briefly. “I’ll be operating between Cartersville and Atlanta for awhile.”

  Still, she wouldn’t look at him, he noted with disappointment and forced it back. He returned his attention to his half-brother again.

  Richard offered a cordial smile. “Again, if I can lend my legal expertise just let me know.”

  Tensing, he nodded. “Thanks again.” Finally, he looked her square in the eye. “And Hayven, it was a pleasure meeting you.”

  Did her lips tremble or was it his imagination?

  “Likewise,” she said softly, dropping her eyes to the floor, and then met his gaze again. “Christopher.”

  After muttering a hasty goodbye, he departed.

  Chapter 23

  The fall breeze passed through as she stepped from the cab. As it sped away, she remained on the curb before looking skyward.

  To say that Willington Inn was an impressive architectural structure would be an outrage. Simply, there were no words to describe the beautiful and breathtaking splendor that it represented.

  At this late hour, 11:30 exactly, the street lights offered a dazzling display against the hotel’s exterior walls. Even a properly dressed attendant waited stiffly at the front entrance.

  She glanced down at her attire.

  The black sweat pants, powder blue t-shirt, and sports shoes were hardly high style, and every item had been through many wears. She’d done nothing more to her hair than brush it straight back. Except for the plain pins that held the sides in place, the rest of her hair hung loose. When she’d returned to her apartment a couple of hours ago, she’d scrubbed her face clean, and now it was bare of anything.

  Firming her lips, she straightened her shoulders.

  But, she wasn’t here to impress.

  Instead, her purpose was to divert disaster.

  “Here it goes,” she murmured and marched towards the entrance. “It’s now or never.”

  As the attendant gave a polite nod once she reached the front entrance, she responded in kind. Outwardly, she appeared fine, but her insides were twisted into knots. So many emotions and feelings were storming through her right now.

  But, was it fear or excitement that made her heartbeat thud out control as she stepped inside the five-star hotel. Easily, she could liken it to the same adrenaline that’d pumped through her veins when she’d stepped into Club Illusions months ago.

  But, things were different now.

  No longer was she the awkward woman who was afraid of her own shadow. No, she was finally comfortable with who and what she was.

  And the very man that she’d see in the next minutes was partially responsible for it.

  She tilted her chin stubbornly.

  Of course, he deserved that praise at least.

  Several moments later, as she stopped outside Room 1210, some of her earlier bravado had faded.

  But, this encounter couldn’t be avoided.

  Taking a steadying breath, she knocked.

  As the seconds ticked by, her nervousness reached new heights. She combed a hand through her loose tresses, and immediately cursed her fashion decision. At least, if she had it pinned in a bun, it’d be somewhat controlled.

  The door made a soft click as it opened.

  A faint light burned at the entryway.

  Before her, a half-dressed Christopher stood, wearing nothing more than gray sleep trousers. She slid her eyes up the broad chest, and then forced herself to meet his gaze.

  Jaw line tight, eyes cool, he parted the door wider, allowing the hallway light to escape inside. He gave a subtle nod. “Hayven.”

  She swallowed hard before raising her chin a fraction higher and regarded him with equal coolness. “Christopher.”

  Tensing, he muttered tersely. “Come in.”

  Then, without a further word, he left her standing at the open doorway.

  Face flushing warm with embarrassment, she entered before closing the door quietly behind her. Rather than venturing further into the hotel room, she hovered at the door. Dumbfounded, at a loss for words, she looked around.

  A deep profound intimacy breathed in the room. The darkness bathed the space except for the sliver of moonlight that cut through past the partially closed drapes in the sitting area. Unsurprisingly, the hotel executive suite was dressed nicely in contemporary, modular furnishings.

  The sitting area was complete with a 32” TV, leather sofa, coffee table, and a chair with a matching ottoman. An additional door led to the sleeping area, and it was tightly closed.

  For some reason or another, the latter fact stung. It was more than apparent that he had no desire to do anything more than talk.

  Of course, she was being ridiculous.

  She was an engaged woman!

  And to his brother for a matter of fact!

  They made eye contact again.

  Passing her an impassive glance, he gestured toward the sitting area. “Why don’t we have a seat and talk?”

  Her nod was stiff. “Of course.”

  Watching her aloofly, he waited until she passed before following behind her into the shadowed space.

  Quickly, she settled in the chair before assuming a prim posture. As he sat down on the sofa across from her, she embraced the silent relief.

  Thank goodness.

  If they were any closer, she couldn’t endure it.

  “So,” he muttered with a hint of mockery. “How’s life been treating you?”

  She tilted her chin higher. “Very well, I suppose. There’s certainly nothing for me to complain about.”

  His eyes went to the engagement ring on her finger. Then, they met hers again. “Obviously, it’s damn good.” He threw an arm along the back of the sofa and leaned back against the cushions. An unexplaina
ble look played in his eyes now. “I mean, look at you, engaged to someone who’s the pillar of society. Not to mention the fact that he’s a hotshot attorney.” The hazel green orbs that regarded her froze over. “Considering your previous romantic dalliances, he’s a step up, isn’t he?”

  The room was so silently quiet now, that a falling needle would clatter to the ground like a ticking time bomb and explode noisily on impact.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked shakily. “He’s a step up?”

  “Come on, princess,” he laughed softly, and the sound caressed her senses in a way that she didn’t want. The moonlight splayed across his face, making him all the more elusive, sexy, and dangerous. “You know exactly what I mean. Was it a scant six months ago when you showed up at the club seeking me out---”

  “That was a long time ago. Back then, I was at a different point in my life. I was trying to find myself and who I was.” She swallowed hard before looking at him and forcing the lie out. “You could have been anyone.

  She barely caught sight of his naked anguish before he masked it. Again, his eyes were green glacier slits.

  “Besides that,” she continued. “Our association evolved to a certain point and then came to a standstill due to certain circumstances.”

  And what circumstances they were!

  Like the fact that he said he wanted her, but was with another woman. The racy photos and cruel letter proved that!

  “Those circumstances had to do with the fact that I was an escort, and you couldn’t handle that fact. How could I forget? As quick as you are to point it now, you did back then.” It seemed that he wanted to say more, but thought better of it. He gave a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “There’s no point in rehashing something that meant absolutely nothing to begin with.”

  The words stabbed her straight in the heart.

  But, her gaze didn’t flinch as she forced the lie out. “It seems that we’re both in agreement on that.”

  He stood up from the sofa. “Very well…I suppose there’s nothing more to say about the past. Rightfully, you’ve gone on with your life. So have I. Those are the facts.” After crossing the room, he stopped at the window before opening the drapes fully. Sighing hard, he peered out at the night sky. “We’re different people now. I’ve gone from the whorehouse to the penthouse. Serving clients in a capacity through the use of methods other than sex is my strategy now. In an odd and twisted way, it’s kind of a rags-to-riches tale without the sappy undertones.” Turning, he faced her again. “And you…You’ve finally realized your self-worth as a woman. Beautiful, self-confident, independent---you’ve slain the very things that held you back before. Better yet, the icing on the cake, you’re engaged to my long lost brother. ” Winking, he gave a mock toast. “Congratulations.”

  “And that’s the reason why we’re here,” she said softly, holding his gaze, and again, she fought against the magnetizing pull. “…to discuss your brother and how we’re going to handle the situation.”

  Turning away from her again, he faced the outside world. “Situation?” he laughed, although it lacked any humor. “That’s a concept. Hell, I think that we’re in one fine mess.”

  She fell silent.

  He was right about that.

  It was messier than messy.

  Against her will, her eyes drank him in.

  Heaven help her, she was still dangerously attracted to every part of him. From the different shades of attitude that he displayed, his sexy and ripped body…the way he made her heart flutter…

  Clearing her throat noisily, she struggled against the amorous thoughts. They’d only confuse the situation more.

  “Should we tell him the truth?” he asked quietly, breaking into her thoughts, and his posture was stiffened like hard granite. “Is that what you want to do?”

  It was the right thing to do.

  What about him though?

  His thoughts and feelings mattered, too.

  Was it right to slaughter his chances with the family that he’d just found? No doubt, revealing that they were lovers---well, past lovers--- would sour the possibility of any brotherly relationship between him and Richard. It’d cause a ripple through their entire family, and everyone would be choosing sides. He’d lose because he was the outsider. The community---small knit and tight---would frown upon such a scandal.

  Helplessly, she watched him.

  Telling the truth would destroy him.

  He’d be ostracized.

  He’d lose his newfound family as quickly as he found them. It’d be wrong to deprive him of it, she decided, straightening in the chair.

  And Richard was her fiancé…she cared about him. Was it good to destroy their relationship for one that’d eradicated due to lies? For a man who’d proven that she couldn’t trust him? Was she really supposed to throw away her life on the possibility of a maybe that never materialized to begin with?

  “No,” she said with finality even though she still struggled with the decision. “There’s too much at stake here for both you and me.” Sighing, she stood before crossing the room to him. As she stopped beside him, she ignored the rush of feelings at being so close to him. Along with him, she stared out at the night. “I don’t want to be the cause for a rift between you and your family. In a billion lifetimes, Richard would never accept you as a brother, especially after knowing that you and I were intimate. You’re brothers. That’s the most important thing to remember in all of this. ” She paused in thought as she said the words and allowed them to sink in. “We can’t let what happened between us to outweigh everything else.”

  “So, your suggestion is that we lie,” he countered back quickly. “Lying never leads to anything good.”

  “It’s not that we’re lying,” she argued, feeling the guilt weighing somewhat. “We’re just not mentioning it.”

  “Careful, convenient omissions, then?” he asked, raising a brow, and then passed a glance at her. “Just leave out and work around details if things get too muddied?”

  “If you want to put it like that, then yes.” Sighing again, she wrapped her arms along her body, for a part of her wanted to seek some type of comfort from him. But, his rigid form said that she’d get nothing of the sort. As she felt the rising of tears, she held them back. “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt. Revealing the truth would only bring about consequences that none of us are willing or ready to go through.” She went for another line of defense. “Your father is already under a tremendous amount of stress due to his last heart surgery. We can’t put him in the position of having his two sons at war with one---”

  “Pitting the prodigal son against the bastard son is sure to cause more than an upheaval, right? I get your point.” The frustration caused his jaw line to set even tighter. “You’ve outlined many reasons as to why we should say nothing. The last thing that I want is to hurt anyone. No one deserves it. What right to I have to usurp anyone’s life? So, for the time being, we’ll keep it between us.”

  The quiet came in.

  They allowed it, too lost in their thoughts to do anything more than that.

  “It’s late,” she murmured softly. Though, still, she made no moves to depart his side. “I should really be---”

  As his hand gripped hers, the words died on her lips, and her skittish gaze clashed with his. Within the hazel green orbs, she sensed a deep longing---it was a longing that mirrored hers in every respect.

  His arrival…

  Their re-introduction to one another…

  It posed a direct threat.

  “I’ll drive you home.” As he regained composure, the mask slipped upon his face once more, hiding his true feelings and thoughts. “You shouldn’t be traveling alone this late at night.”

  “I---I’ll call a cab.” With reluctance, she disengaged her hand from his. “There’s no point in you---”

  “No, I insist. It’s my fault that you’re out this late, anyway. At least let me return the favor of seeing you s
afely home,” he said firmly, and already, he was headed toward the sleeping area. “Give me a minute to grab a shirt.”

  Dumbfounded again, she simply nodded.

  A short moment, he emerged from the sleeping area, having put on a dark grey tank to go along with his sleeping trousers. Dangling the keys in his hands, he approached before stopping shy of her. “Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  The tension radiated through them as they walked to the door. Moments later, while the car raced down the interstate, it’d worsened tremendously. So much so, that she spent the entire drive hugging the passenger’s door while he stared moodily ahead. By the time, they reached her apartment, she was ready to crack.

  When the Viper rolled to a stop at the curb, she immediately pushed on the latch. “Thank you,” she mumbled quickly and jumped out. Head downcast, she hurried up the sidewalk. But, she’d barely reached the front of the car when he stopped and blocked her path. Her surprised gaze flew to his. “What are you doing?”

  “I told you that I was going to see you safely inside and I mean it,” he quipped tightly, grabbing her elbow. Ignoring her feeble protests, he began leading her up the sidewalk. “It’s not safe for you to be trampling around the darkness alone.”

  “When did you become so boorish?” she asked haughtily, but still she didn’t pull away from him. “That was never one of your qualities before.”

  “You’d be more than surprised to learn what makes me tick. Unfortunately, you weren’t that damned interested in finding out.”

  His rebuttal was sharp.

  All with the intent of reminding her that she’d precipitated their separation.

  But, it wasn’t that simple, she pondered, forcing back the hurt. There were other factors that caused the rift between them.

  The security lights danced across the sidewalk, and their shadows made huge grotesque figures along it as they walked.

  Perhaps, she was a monster, she mulled, passing a subtle glance at him. At least, the feelings inside her were monstrous. For there was no controlling the forbidden feelings that were raging inside of her at his touch…All rationality and justness were failing in her mental system because of her strong desire to be close to him.