Nemesis

by Skye McDonald

  “No problem, man. Want a drink?”

  Will exhaled and nodded. He crossed his ankles and leaned one shoulder against the doorjamb. “Whiskey, if you’re pouring.”

  “Tough week?” Tom handed him a glass.

  Will downed the shot. “Total shit.”

  Neither Tom nor I spoke. Will looked around and seemed to finally realize we were waiting for him to continue. “Sorry, I’m not used to talking about my day. Yes, work was a massive disaster. The newest ad campaign is a week off track thanks to a lack of planning. It all was avoidable if I’d been informed about last-minute revisions. I’ve spent the week doing damage control and still got handed my ass from the VP.”

  Tom winced. “Sorry, man. Sucks.”

  Will shrugged it off and crossed the room to put the glass in the sink, right beside where I stood. “Hello,” he muttered.

  “Sorry you fucked up at work.”

  “Liv,” Tom said sharply, but my attention was on Will.

  His sigh was loud and annoyed. The twitch of his lips was anything but. With his back still to Tom, Will caught my gaze. That elusive smile flickered again, but he used his usual tone to me to say, “Thanks so much, Olivia, but I didn’t fuck up. My employees did, so I had to deal with it.”

  “I bet it’s fun working for you.”

  “People don’t usually complain.”

  “I bet they said the same thing about Mussolini.”

  “Liv,” Tom snapped.

  Will’s head dropped with another sigh, but he didn’t try to control his grin this time. I bit the inside of my cheek and widened my eyes. This was at least the second time in a month that I’d made Will Langer laugh. It was pretty damn satisfying. Almost as satisfying as pissing him off.

  Not quite as satisfying as when his lips—Stop it!

  Will scrubbed his face and turned around with a neutral expression. He traded a look with Tom, who rose from his seat and smiled.

  “I’m sure Stacy can take your mind off work for a while,” my brother said. “Let’s get going.”

  “You guys are double dating?” I clamped my lips shut too late. Why the hell should I care? Why the hell was my stomach at my knees?

  “Yeah, Erin works with Stacy. Uh, she’s Will’s… friend.” Tom’s phone chimed as he spoke. He grinned at the screen, seeming to have forgotten the conversation. “Have fun tonight, sis.”

  “I intend to. See you tomorrow, Tommy.” He chuckled when I winked and blew him a kiss, grabbed my purse, and disappeared.

  On the ride to the show, I decided I’d belt a few shots to warm up, then get lost in the music and let the night go where it would. When I ordered a Four Roses on the rocks, though, the scent of whiskey called up every thought I wanted to avoid. Namely, how it tasted on a certain jerk’s lips.

  Megan knitted her brows when I pushed the glass away. “What’s wrong? That’s your fave.”

  I smiled. “Pacing myself.”

  “Why the hell would you do that?”

  She grinned and nudged the drink toward me, so I cheersed her and faked a sip.

  “Ooh, look who’s here,” she said, her attention diverted to the entrance.

  I turned to see “Chad,” the guy from the party a few weeks ago, strolling our way. He wasn’t what I remembered, but I’d been in an anything-goes kind of mood after Nick. I vaguely recalled him mentioning that he worked with David or Aaron, but he wasn’t part of our group. The anonymity had been ideal then. He’d struck me as sweet and considerate with a tennis-player build. A good choice for an evening of flirting and games.

  Tonight, though, his smirk was more than a little cocky. The slightly-too-big polo he wore changed his look from slender to lanky. Still, he’d been nice, so I nodded hello. Megan hopped off her stool to make her way to a cluster of our friends while the guy took her seat.

  “I hoped I’d run into you again,” he greeted me. “Buy you a drink? Another one of those?”

  “Maybe a club soda for now,” I said when the bartender appeared.

  His name wasn’t Chad, it was Cam, but he didn’t mind my error. I didn’t mind his arm on the back of my chair as the show began, but that was mostly because I was too engrossed in the music. Anytime he inched closer, I shifted away. I could tell he was a little dismayed, but That Girl always got to say who touched her and when.

  When the show ended and the house lights came up, Cam and I traded a smile. He motioned for another club soda for me and a beer for him.

  “What do you do, Liv?”

  “I’m a teacher.” The lie came so easily out of my mouth.

  He laughed into my ear. “You must be the hottest teacher in the state. I pity your male students.”

  I batted my lashes even as I leaned away. “I teach kindergarten.”

  “Really? I saw you as a high school art teacher. Kids, huh? That’s cool. You like it?” I nodded, and he leaned in again. “Teach me something.”

  I laughed and nearly inched off the stool in an attempt to get some distance. “I’m pretty sure you know how to count, Cam.”

  “I could practice on your toes if you wanted to get out of here.”

  He hadn’t finished the suggestion before my brain punted it away. Yeah, he was nice enough, albeit a little pushier than the first time we met. And, yeah, we’d kissed at that party weeks ago, but this was headed nowhere. I flashed a tight smile and wrinkled my nose.

  “That looks like a no,” Cam said.

  “Not tonight, thank you. Actually, I’ve got a little headache. Think I’ll go home.”

  “Aw, come on. Don’t tease me like that.” He pouted playfully, but I heard the edge in his tone.

  “I’m sorry if you misread my intentions. See you around.”

  I hopped off the stool but whirled when he clasped my arm. His grip wasn’t tight, but I jackknifed my elbow free without thinking. Damn, those self-defense lessons were clutch.

  “Excuse me.” I glared at his hand where it still hovered midair.

  Cam blinked and lowered his hand, a frown creasing his face. “Excuse you. We’ve spent the whole night together. Are you really going to lead me on?”

  My brows went up. “I didn’t lead you on. Nobody made any promises.”

  We glared at each other a beat longer, but he shrugged and turned to the bar. I scowled at his back, then whipped out my phone and hurried for the exit. Uber would be on site in five minutes, so I sent a text while I waited.

  Me: I’m taking off. Prolly skipping yoga 2moro btw.

  Megs: kk, g’night! Xoxo

  I’d planned to let the night go where it would. Didn’t expect that to be an early bedtime, but oh well.

  11

  Liv

  I walked in the house sober as a priest and went straight for the kitchen. The smell of bourbon had made my stomach dip all night; now, I wanted the taste in my mouth like no other. Lights were unnecessary since the streetlamp shone straight into the kitchen window, and I knew the house blindfolded anyway. I poured a shot, tipped it into my mouth, and held it there until it coated my taste buds and burned my sinuses.

  That burn ran down my throat and lit up my chest when I swallowed. It chased away the meaningless little ghosts that haunted my thoughts. I poured another and left it on the counter to get a glass of water.

  Maddie’s tippy cup wobbled and fell when I pulled the fridge door open. “That’s why God made lids,” I whispered to myself as I bent to retrieve it.

  Once I poured my drink, I shut the door—and turned around to find Will in the doorway.

  Chilly water splashed on my feet and jeans as the cup slipped from my hand. “Jesus,” I gasped.

  “Indeed. And you give me shit for not turning on lights?”

  The irony, I had to admit, was strong.

  “I didn’t know you were home,” Will said as he stepped into the room.

  “Sorry I forgot to text, Dad. Swear I wasn’t a minute past curfew.”

  “Don’t sass me, little Liv.”

 
His darkly playful words made me blush. More bourbon called my name, so I sat on the counter and picked up the highball glass. Will flipped on the light.

  God. Bless.

  His work suit had gone from crisp to casual. Dark chocolate trousers and a tan vest were complemented by a sky-blue shirt with two buttons open. The sleeves were rolled up, showing off his forearms. He’d ditched his tie. His hair was mussed.

  He was the perfect kind of rumpled. It would’ve been sexy as hell—if he didn’t look like he’d just fallen out of someone’s bed.

  I looked away. “Where’s Tom?”

  “Having coffee at Erin’s.”

  “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

  Will chuckled softly but didn’t reply.

  “So, what? Did you get yours to go? Single shot on the fly, maybe a dollop of foam, huh Langer?”

  He rubbed his jaw and prowled toward me. “Actually,” he murmured as he stopped just in front of my knees. “I wasn’t in the mood for coffee tonight. Bourbon sounded much more appealing.”

  I held out the glass. Will stepped even closer. His fingers brushed mine as he accepted it. Barely a swallow was left, and he tossed it back.

  “Help yourself.”

  “Don’t tempt me,” he rasped, banging the glass on the counter by my hip.

  Good god, how was I supposed to remember why I hated this man when he sounded like that?

  Will took a step back. “What happened to your plans?”

  I cocked my head at his question.

  “You said you weren’t home until tomorrow. It’s not even eleven pm.”

  My pulse karate kicked my ribs. His casual tone was so obviously fake. When he combed his fingers through his hair, that rumpled look went from I just got laid to something more like I wish my brain would shut up.

  Precisely what I’d been thinking all week.

  Get real, Liv. Whatever was brewing between us had to be a mistake. Just more of the weird voodoo this summer had stirred up. I knew it, and I had no doubt that he knew it, too. One part of the see-saw could easily be set back to its usual indifferent equilibrium. All I had to do was shrug off his question, indicate how absolutely none of his business my plans were, and end this. He’d probably be relieved.

  Instead, I jumped down from the counter and said the most stupidly awesome, brilliantly foolish thing of my life.

  “First of all, I said I’d see Tom tomorrow. As in, he should be out all night. Second of all, the concert was a blast. It was so good,” I stepped forward and crossed my arms, lips curled. Alarms blared in my head that I totally ignored. “It was so good, I… screamed myself hoarse.”

  Will’s eyes were midnight. “Don’t bullshit me. Don’t fucking dare.”

  “Whatever do you mean, William?”

  He took two steps forward, which meant I took one back. My ass hit the counter, his hands slapped to the laminate to pin me in place, and I fought hard to keep from flinching. Why the hell did you do this? Why the hell indeed. Will Langer had always sparked a hypnotic fascination in me. Teasing him was dangerously addictive.

  Kissing him was even more so.

  Will’s shoulders were at his ears. His arms caged me, but he left plenty of space between our bodies. “What do you want from me, Olivia?”

  Something in his tone stripped me of my bravado and struck a nerve. You have no business messing with him. Silly little Liv. Stick to what you know. Just because being in his arms gave you all the feels doesn’t mean it was anything to him.

  I looked down. “Nothing. What the hell would I want from you?”

  “Look at me.” He repeated it twice before I huffed and met his gaze. “What do you want, Liv?”

  I huffed again and rolled my eyes. “What do you want, William?”

  A tiny smile ghosted his lips and eyes before he blinked hard and scowled. “I want you to stop deflecting—nothing more than that. Punch me, tell me to fuck off, push me away and get the hell out of here. End this now. Tell me what a bastard I am.”

  He bent his elbows to bring us closer, dropped his voice, and said, “But whatever you do, Liv, be damn sure it is exactly what you want to do.”

  Exactly what I want?

  I sucked my lip between my teeth and shook with chilly potential. Then, I exhaled and gripped his collar. A little tug brought us nose-to-nose. I inhaled deeply his clean, spicy scent, like lavender and black pepper. The bourbon became a dizzying top note.

  I know exactly what I want. Dammit.

  Will didn’t move, so I tugged again and opened my lips. Our mouths grazed each other and sent bolt after bolt of electricity down to my toes. His breath was shallow, lips dry and soft as they dusted mine.

  “I hate you,” I breathed.

  “I know.”

  “Kiss me, Will Langer.”

  Will froze, then grinned, all in the split second before he drowned me in a kiss.

  As soon as it started, my hands were on his face, his on my hips. I swayed, weak-kneed at the blinding intensity. That brought his arms tight around me. Again, I was crushed against his body; again, I capsized under this wave of desire. His tongue coaxed mine, urged me to open wider and take more of his kiss until the moment he broke away.

  “Fuck this.”

  His rumble stopped my heart. But then he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the living room.

  Will dropped onto the couch. I was straddling his lap before his ass hit the cushion. He gripped my shirt, fingers dug into my back while we kissed. I quit petting his face and opened his vest and the rest of his shirt buttons. Will growled when I grabbed his lapels and tugged him impossibly closer.

  I pushed the shirt off his shoulders and peeled up his undershirt. We might’ve gotten the thing off without actually breaking our kiss, but I might’ve been a bit delirious, too. My palms slid down the hard, smooth contours of his arms and chest, and he slipped his fingers under my bra straps and flicked them down.

  “Take this off,” he breathed. I realized then he’d already unclasped the back, so I yanked the bra through my shirt.

  His hands took a rough, greedy journey down my arms to my hips, then back up. Will teased and played with me until he learned exactly what made me squirm and sigh the most. When I began to whine, Will cupped my breasts in his palms and dropped his head.

  “Fuck,” I hissed when he sucked on my nipples through my thin cotton shirt. The added caress of his thumbs along my lower curves made me dig my nails into his shoulders.

  My shirt stuck to my skin from the moisture of his mouth when he slowly withdrew and ran his fingers where his lips had been. I shuddered and gripped my hair. “Oh, god.”

  You are in Will Langer’s lap, sighing like a porn star. What. The. Fuck?

  He lifted my hands from my hair and laced his fingers through mine. His palms on my knuckles, Will began to move our fingertips down my face.

  “Shh,” he whispered when I tensed.

  I exhaled and kissed him again, this time with a new, lazy tempo, and let him guide me. Never before had touching myself been so interesting. We skimmed my jaw, my throat, over my pounding heart and lower. He guided us over my breasts with slow movements that made me stall out on the kiss.

  “Does this turn you on?” he murmured, pinching my nipples between my thumbs and his fingers.

  I nodded, eyes closed.

  “Say it.”

  I opened one eye. “Yes, it turns me on. As if you don’t know.”

  He laughed and pinched again. My hips bucked, spine arched, and Will leaned forward for another warm, wet suck.

  “Will, what are we doing?”

  “Good damn question.” He sucked again while we held me to his mouth.

  His hips flexed. I bucked a second time, and the friction became the conductor for the first pulls of a climax. I moaned, the tingly pleasure beginning to simmer in my bloodstream, and Will answered with his mouth and his hips.

  I tumbled off his lap to the cushion, one foot on the floor. “Come
on. You did this to me, so help me out.”

  Dark eyes blinked open. “I did what to you?”

  My face got hot. “Shut up and finish what you started.”

  He smiled. Not a smirk like I expected. A smile. “Is that a two-way street?”

  I smirked. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

  He popped the button on my jeans. While I scrabbled to peel them off, Will jumped up and pulled me to my feet, his arms wrapped around me from behind. “I can’t watch this,” he breathed in my ear. “If I watch you come, I’ll lose my fucking mind.”

  “I think you already did.” God, talking was hard.

  “Indeed.” His lips clamped down on my neck, teeth scraping my skin into his mouth in a vicious bite.

  I yowled, and Will breathed a laugh and bit harder.

  “Fucker.” I gasped and pulled his hair—but I also dropped my head to give him better access.

  “Get back here.” His voice was so low and gravelly it was almost comedic.

  I wasn’t laughing, though, as he held my jaw and swiveled me back to his lips. I forgot I was standing up. Between how tightly Will held me and the unreal tease of his caress, the fact that my feet were on the ground became completely irrelevant.

  He coasted his hand down to my hip. I lifted to him, head bobbing in a lazy nod. Will hesitated, then skimmed his fingers below my belly button between my legs.

  “Christ,” he groaned and stroked again. “How can you hate me so much and be this wet for me?”

  I’m not sure if you can blush when your face is already flaming hot, but if you can, I did. “That’ll happen when someone sucks on your tits, dummy.”

  “Liv?”

  I waited.

  He growled into my ear. “Scream for me.”

  Before I could say, “No way in hell,” Will took a deep, uneven breath, hooked the elastic of my underwear, and shoved two fingers inside me. Fiery pleasure ripped up my spine, and I clamped on my tongue to hold in the mmm that vibrated my throat. I thought vaguely of the popcorn bowl a few weeks ago, how I’d noticed how long and lovely his fingers were.