First to Lie: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Unraveled Book 1)

by Marie Johnston

  I ground my teeth. Landmark my ass. That old hotel had been trash. There’d been so much human and rat waste inside, my crews had worn hazard suits when gutting it. I’d ask if she had read any real data on the deal or the building, but then she might actually look it up and see my picture.

  “The guy sounds better and better.” I couldn’t help the hard note in my voice, but from her agreement, she interpreted it as outrage about the guy who’s putting her out of business.

  “Right? I can’t believe he’d be so different from his dad.”

  I fought the angry set of my mouth into a neutral position. I wasn’t supposed to know anything about this. I wanted to ask how I was so much different than Sam. It wasn’t like people handed realty over to the man. Sam had played just as dirty in business as he had in Wes’s personal life.

  There, we’d been alike. As far as looks went, we couldn’t have been more opposite. Sam had been shorter than me by two inches, with dusty blond hair before it’d gone gray. He’d had a stocky build, not the lean frame I assumed came from my mom.

  “You knew his dad?”

  Sadness lit her eyes. “He was the Sam I mentioned that passed away.” She chuckled. “When I leased the property, I’d never met him, but I got a kick out of his assistant.”

  Yeah, Franklin was a kick all right. If you called disapproving glances every time I handed him an order a good time.

  “Then I went to TC Comic-Con and I wore my usual Mara Jade costume—my mom named me after Luke Skywalker’s wife—and this robust man dressed as,” her laugh tinkled around me like crystals, “not a Starfleet captain, but an admiral. Can you believe it? I thought, here’s a guy who thinks outside of the box. Anyway, he asked me about my costume. When I told him I was named after the Star Wars character, he realized I was the one who’d just leased his storefront and we chatted all night.”

  Delight ran across her face and I could only stare. My heart slammed into my feet. Rage churned and threatened to reject the water I sipped.

  My dad had used to take me to that comic book convention. Another one of the traditions that’d been lost in the divorce. Had Sam attended to pick up women half his age?

  She unfolded her napkin and refolded it, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. “He started coming into my store after that and we would get to talking.” She looked up at the ceiling like she was fighting the spill of tears. “He was such a mentor.”

  I was about to snidely inquire how an old man mentored a pretty young lady, but the spell was broken when the server delivered our meals.

  Mara let out a groan that went straight to my cock. “I’m starving. This looks delicious.”

  My manhood completely forgot the girl had been gushing about my father. All it cared about were the memories of how good she’d promised to be in bed. Or in the car.

  We ate and chatted. I’d been planning to wait until she was finished before asking her more about the store, but my phone vibrated.

  I pulled it out and saw it was Franklin. What the hell? If there were problems at my club, it’d be my own assistant, Helen, calling. Franklin only handled Robson Industries, what I’d inherited from Sam.

  “I have to take this.” I slid out of the booth and aimed for the front of the restaurant, where the din was lower. “What’s going on?”

  “Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Robson.” Franklin treated me the same as Sam, except I heard the undercurrents of a scowl. “I’m afraid there’s a protest on the property in NYC. Some of the construction equipment has been vandalized.”

  “Are we talking spray paint or damage?”

  “Both, sir. Police are reporting they’re still there, camping out on the property.”

  “Arrest them all. Trespassing and defacing private property.”

  Franklin hesitated. “Yes, Mr. Robson.”

  There it was. The censure Franklin never failed to give.

  “What, Franklin?” I bit the words out. Why did I keep the guy on, and in such a high position? Yes, I could trust him. Franklin knew his way around the business and every facet of Sam’s old empire.

  It couldn’t be sentimentality.

  “While you’d be within your rights, I don’t think such an abrupt action will sit well with the citizens of NYC that care about the history of the building.”

  “Its history was full of piss and vomit and empty needles. Even the rats decided to find a better place to live.”

  “None of them are arguing that it could’ve been condemned. They fear that it’s a sign of the future. You come in and build, possibly buy more property, or someone else will. They can barely afford to live in the neighborhood now. If that happens, they fear not just losing the meaning behind their home, but being the homeless ones roaming from abandoned building to abandoned building.”

  Well, the New Yorkers were right about one thing. I was throwing around an amount for an offer to the neighboring structure’s owner. Everyone could be bought, and I had a banker friend who was interested in expanding into New York. If word of this silliness got around, my friend might back out and find another space, as well as think I was weak and lacked backbone. I couldn’t let the Robson name down.

  “Tell the police to arrest them all. Give them whatever information they need to press charges.” I ended the call.

  I glared out of the picture window by the entrance, clenching and unclenching a fist. That NYC purchase had plagued me with nothing but problems. The one-point-eight-million dollar condo I was in the middle of buying in Manhattan would be worthless if I had to endure the constant headache of protesters every time I sealed a deal. Why the hell did I want to live in New York again?

  Winters that didn’t reach twenty below zero, for one.

  No, I’d act hard and swift. Then I’d be the one to buy the whole block and really give them something to complain about.

  “Everything all right?”

  I almost jumped at Mara’s question. I turned and looked past her to the booth where we’d been sitting. A young man was bussing our table.

  She saw where I looked and waved it off. “I got the bill. I hope you don’t mind not hanging out here long. Home sounds nice after a long day.”

  I got the bill. Had any of my dates ever picked up the tab? My mother never bought me dinner, but Mara didn’t know for sure my pockets were lined and loaded.

  “Thanks. How can I ever pay you back?” My crooked smile infused heat into her gaze. So easy.

  She jingled the keys. “Think you can find the way to my place again?”

  Chapter 5

  Mara

  I couldn’t unlock my door fast enough and I didn’t bother turning on the light. No need. The flames that had ignited between us the previous night burned hotter than ever. The mysterious phone call had threatened to put a hitch in my night, but I shoved it out of my mind. I wasn’t young and naïve anymore, but I wasn’t going to suspect every guy I dated of deceiving me.

  I wanted him, wanted his touch all over my body. If anyone could wipe out the stress over my business closing, the shitty news of my mom sick in the hospital, and the dismal outlook of my life in general, it’d be the man who’d just rested his hands on my hips.

  Tonight, more than last night, I needed an escape from Mara Jade Baranski’s life. Sam might be a fleeting fling, but he was what the doctor had ordered.

  Don’t get tangled up with a man just because he’s good looking. Make sure he’s more handsome inside than out. My mother’s cautionary advice should be heeded, but I didn’t have it in me tonight. Mom hadn’t expected my dad to leave without a care. I didn’t expect Sam to stay. There was a difference. If more grew out of my physical relationship with Sam—win. If he walked, well, the complication of a man had no place in my life now anyway.

  Sam’s caress moved up my rib cage until his hands draped my shoulders. He squeezed. I moaned. A massage would rival sex.

  “I have a debt to settle with you.” His breath whispered over me. He kissed my neck. “Are you cold?” />
  His teasing tone implied he knew he’d caused my reaction. He straightened and kneaded my shoulders. I dropped my purse and rolled my head back and forth.

  So much tension.

  He reached around my front, lifted my sweater, and slipped it off, dropping more kisses on my neck. I moaned and pressed into him. Next, he removed my cami.

  The small circles he rubbed up and down my back were divine. How had my knees not buckled?

  My bra was unhooked and my breath froze. Fast and furious was the pace I’d anticipated after last night, not slow and sensual.

  Warm hands cupped my breasts and he rolled my nipples between his fingers. I leaned back against his chest until he was the only reason I remained standing. Threading my hands through his hair, I enjoyed the multitude of sensations. A gorgeous man at my back, his strong hands stroking me, his soft hair tickling my fingers.

  In a sudden movement, he swooped me up. I gasped and grabbed for him.

  His hot look of pure desire robbed me of words. Did my expression mirror his?

  He must’ve remembered where my room was from when I’d changed, not that there were many places to go in my small house. Without pause, he stretched me out on the bed. So glad I’d made it this morning and it wasn’t in its normal state of disarray.

  With a searing look of promise, he rolled me over and continued his sensual massage.

  So. Good.

  I whined in complaint when he stopped.

  He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m not done.” An easy tug on my hips and I rolled onto my back.

  His gaze snagged on my chest. my swollen breasts were slightly reddened from his touch, my nipples jutting toward the ceiling. Peeling down my leggings, he raised his hot gaze to mine.

  “Did you know mixing your comic brands is a felony?”

  A guy who could tell the difference—hot. “You’ll have to punish me.”

  He released one foot from my leggings, then the other, not breaking eye contact. I clung to his words, terrified we’d get interrupted again, that life would intervene like it always did.

  “You won’t believe how much I need this.” My words spilled out, a plea for him not to stop.

  He cocked a brow and a smug grin lifted his lips. Dancing his fingers over my bare legs, he worked his way up to my panties and laid his hand on my sex. “Oh, I think I can tell.”

  I panted and rocked my hips, my legs spreading of their own accord. He shifted so his palm pressed against my clit.

  With a growl, he flipped me again.

  “You’re driving me crazy.” I bowed into the hand he’d laid at the small of my back.

  “I said I wasn’t done with the massage yet.”

  He kneaded the muscles of my back and I transformed into putty. His weight depressed the bed next to me, his masculine presence overwhelming the room. None of my previous boyfriends had had that effect. They hadn’t had Sam’s broad shoulders or anything close to the suggestion of biceps bulging through his shirt.

  I would get to see him naked tonight. My stomach fluttered. Not normally self-conscious, I hoped I wouldn’t be when an Adonis like him stripped down. Because I was wearing just panties, and putting more clothes on now wasn’t an option. Not until I orgasmed hard. A few times.

  He bent toward me, close to my head. “Are you relaxed yet?”

  His baritone rumbled through me. Relaxed as in muscles not tense? Yes. Sexually relaxed? Stupid question.

  His weight lifted and clothing rustled. No way was I missing a second of his bare skin.

  The cozy sweater he’d been wearing was off and he was drawing his T-shirt over his head. With my exhale, my body sank farther into the bed. What. A. Sight.

  Inch after inch of bronzed skin dipped and curved over solid muscle. I’d only seen abs like that on magazine covers. Defined pecs flexed and lifted as he unsnapped his pants.

  Ooh, and the biceps. I was an arm girl and I rarely got to feel up guns. Shoving his hand in a pocket, he withdrew a condom and tossed it on the bed before going back to undressing.

  I sucked in air. His pants were coming off. God, they looked expensive. I didn’t know anything about brand names, but I’d guess his pair hadn’t been purchased in a second-hand store or even an outlet store.

  He must do well in sales. How did a guy with a white-collar job maintain a body like that?

  “See something you like?”

  My smile was coy. I never smiled like that! I rolled to my side and used an arm as a kickstand for my head so I could keep my gaze on him. “I don’t know. I mean, you should start going to the gym once in a while.”

  He paused, toeing off his shoes to get his pants off, then a low chuckle sounded before he straightened. “I’ll think about it.”

  Only his black, sporty boxer-briefs stood in the way and they were doing a piss-poor job. The swollen head of his cock pushed past the waistband.

  A swell of female pride puffed my chest. I had done that to him and I hadn’t even touched him yet.

  I hadn’t touched him yet.

  Rising to my knees, I crawled to the edge of the bed. His gaze took on a predatory glint. I rimmed the top of his underwear with my fingers. The words printed on the band weren’t a style I’d heard of, and his underclothes looked like nothing I’d find where I shopped.

  Unwrapping my present to myself, I freed him. Long, thick, and proud, he remained still and let me skim my hand up and down his shaft. It pulsed and the heat radiating off his skin stoked my excitement.

  It was playtime, and I had one question. “Do I need to delve into my flavored-condom stash?”

  Wes

  My gaze was riveted on Mara’s lips. “I’m clean,” I managed to choke out. I played it safe most of the time, but I regularly saw a private physician. “Do whatever you want.” As long as it means sucking my dick.

  Was she going to? The expression on her face said it all and it affected me more than any other woman I’d been with.

  Why? I suspected she was a user, but with her full breasts lifting with each breath she took, it became less of an issue. The memory of her supple body under my fingertips threw me off my game.

  I needed to take charge again, to remember that I controlled this situation. I meant to push her back, but her mouth closed around the tip of my cock as her hand wrapped around it. My hips bucked and my grip landed on her head.

  A flick of her tongue and my head fell back with a groan. I fisted both hands in her hair, loosening her hair clip. Damn thing was in the way. I plucked the clasp out. Thick waves of pink-tinted, downy brown hair spilled over her shoulders.

  She created an erotic sight. Her mouth wrapped around my cock, her eyes closed, her fist pumping the base. Those beautiful hazel eyes of hers flicked open to meet my gaze. They lit with mirth and she dragged her teeth along my sensitized flesh.

  “Oh god.” I concentrated on not shoving her head closer, testing if she could relax her throat.

  Yesss. She could. The woman had a mouth and I was going to spend my load in less than sixty seconds.

  “Enough.” Cupping her chin, I drew her off me.

  She licked her lips and scooted back on the bed. Maybe I should prep her, but by her glistening sex, she was ready. With Mara reclining before me, I retrieved the condom, ripped it open, and rolled it on. I hated the squeeze of the plastic, wished it wasn’t necessary, but it’d allow me to be inside Mara and that was all I cared about.

  Dimly, the design of her duvet cover registered.

  We were going to fuck on the Bat-Signal. It’d be a first for me, and I kind of wanted to pump my fist in the air.

  I kneeled on the bed and slid her panties off. Then, I laid a hand on each of her knees and shoved them apart.

  She audibly sucked in a breath while mine whooshed out. Fine, dusky hair framed her swollen pink labia, slightly separated to reveal her arousal tucked in between. I’d tasted her twenty-four hours ago and still felt like a starving man.

  She squirmed and her movements onl
y opened her more. My cock throbbed, demanded release, but I wanted her to feel just as crazy.

  Using one finger, I swirled it around her entrance. She fell back on her elbows, watching me. Once I was covered in her juices, I circled her clit and was rewarded with a moan. The firm bud pulsed against my pad. I wanted to suck on it, but the drive to thrust into her hard enough to make her breasts bounce was stronger.

  But first, I trailed my fingertip down until I entered her. Her hips rose in encouragement. Withdraw, enter, I pumped my digit a few more times until she took a shuddering breath.

  I switched out my hand for my cock. Forward momentum met some resistance—I must be larger than she was used to. Not an uncommon occurrence for me. Inch by inch, I fed my length inside, my gaze glued to where she encircled my erection. She suddenly clutched my shoulders while she wiggled to adjust.

  Finally seated fully inside of her wet heat, I dragged my gaze up her flushed body to her face. A hint of trepidation remained in her expression.

  “I won’t hurt you.” Why did I feel like I was lying? I meant physically, but my spirit rebelled, urging me to be true to my word.

  I withdrew before I could dwell on the foreign emotion any longer and slammed back into her. She gasped and her fingers dug into my shoulders, but it wasn’t pain in her features.

  “You’re just so…big.” A lazy grin spread across her face.

  I matched it. “Darling, I never tire of hearing that.”

  She let out a laugh, but another thrust turned it into a whimper for more. Pull out. Thrust. Repeat.

  I curled down to cover one nipple with my mouth. Her arms circled my neck as her hips rocked against mine. Tension built, energy crackling between us; our heavy breathing and the slap of flesh on flesh filled the room. Closer. I needed to be closer to her.

  I snaked an arm under one of her knees and as I trailed kisses from her chest to her neck. I lifted her leg up and out to the side.