by Livy North
His eyes pierced me with an assertiveness that made me hot inside and my stomach clenched. “Because I see you now.”
Fuck. I was blushing.
“Well?” I sat straight and cocked my head, trying to play it off cool. “Are you getting your paintbrushes or not?”
Emory was in all her almost naked glory in front of me, and my drunk dick was straining against my briefs. I could hope she wouldn’t notice, but I knew her better than to be that naïve. She was observant when she wanted to be.
Rising to my feet, I slid my pants on and threw the shirt on without buttoning. Emory reached for her skirt when I interrupted her. “If it’s not too uncomfortable, I want to paint all of you. But I won’t pressure you.”
Her eyes searched mine. “Okay.”
I smiled inside. “Follow me.”
We went upstairs and she took in the entirety of my atelier. I eyed her cautiously, reading her face as she looked. This was probably more intimate than the bedroom for me.
My art was me, and I didn’t want her to see me.
The naked truth about me was darker than sin itself.
“Lie down on the couch.” I pointed to the teal chaise lounge in the corner
“And what do I do?”
“Just get comfortable. You’re going to lay there for a while.” My eyes dipped toward the valley between her breasts before I caught myself.
Slinging her body down, her breasts jiggled slightly, and I think my mouth watered. Jesus, if my childhood rival wasn’t gorgeous.
When I walked over to her, she glanced up at me with wide eyes. I trapped her to the lounge and her breath hitched slightly. My knee brushed against her warm, soft thigh. Her scent traveled up my nose, and for a split moment, I wanted to bury myself in her.
Grabbing my set of brushes on the shelf behind her, I pulled away and lifted my brush.
I was like a zombie, painting without a break for hours while she laid there, sipping from a bottle of champagne I’d found. She was in a sleepy haze, similar to the drunk haze I was in that was wearing off by the minute.
“It’s perfect,” I mumbled to myself, but she caught it.
“Are you done?” she asked sleepily.
“Pretty much.” Placing my brush down, I admired the fresh painting in front of me.
The sharp smell of acrylic stung in my nose. We’d probably get poisoned from it by now.
“Great,” Emory said drowsily, hopping up. She headed for the stairs, but after taking three steps forward, she crashed into me instead.
I caught her in my arms and held her steady, suddenly very sober. She felt heavy against me, warm and comforting.
“Headrush,” she mumbled, pressing a hand to her head. The nails on her other hand dug into my arm as she clambered on to me like I was her life raft.
She glanced up at me and something about her sleepy face emitting all the signs of vulnerability stirred something deep in my gut. But it wasn’t the feeling I’d had when looking at her earlier; no, this was another feeling.
A feeling I couldn’t say I had much knowledge of.
Emory was so fragile and vulnerable, nothing like the headstrong, fierce brunette she usually was.
Fuck. I couldn’t do this. What was going on with my head?
Shoving her up and away from me, I turned and fumbled down the stairs.
I needed distance.
My head wasn’t in the right place.
It had to be the alcohol still lingering in my blood.
“Hey, where am I going to sleep?” she asked in confusion as she too came down the stairs, one step at a time. She’d slung her blouse on, and it reached her upper thighs, exposing her sleek legs.
The sleeping part was another issue.
No one in her sleepy state could drive anywhere, so that meant she was stuck here until morning.
“Take the couch,” I said, pointing to the sofa.
Her face scrunched up. “I always knew you were a gentleman.”
I couldn’t help but smirk. “You wanna share a bed with me, is that what I hear, Nightmare?”
“Would’ve been nice to at least have the offer,” she said with a teasing smile.
Bridging the distance between us, Emory sucked in a sharp breath as she glanced up at me. We were standing close, too close. But I didn’t mind. I only knew how she made my body feel and how she drew me in like a fucking sailor to a siren.
“Maybe that can be arranged.” Before I could control myself, my hand shot up to trace a loose strand of hair framing her face. Her breath came out ragged as my fingers skated across her skin.
“River,” she breathed, “what are you doing?”
“Whatever the hell I want.”
“River—”
“It’s mischief night. I want to do some mischief. Do you?” I stared into her big doe-eyes and she swallowed hard. I could practically feel her heart beat like a drum in her chest—and my heartbeat matched hers.
She didn’t reply vocally, but I figured I had my answer when she grabbed my neck and pulled me down to her.
Our lips collided—laced with lust, fire, and the druggy haze of the night. She tasted sour-sweet from the drinks she’d had earlier.
I’d watched her almost naked for hours. Now I needed her fully naked.
Gripping her hips, I let my hands slip down and up under her blouse, feeling hot skin against my rough hands.
We tumbled into my bedroom—the most personal room I had.
What was I doing?
“You’re intoxicated, but I’m gonna fuck you sober again.”
She panted as I ripped her blouse open with my teeth.
“Are you going to talk or fuck me, River Sinclair?”
I was doomed when I realized the way my name rolled off her tongue when she was all hot for me made my dick harden even more.
She cupped me over my pants and squeezed—not delicately like that time in New York, but with a violence that set my dick on fire.
This girl…
This fucking girl.
A nightmare.
Sliding my hand over the apex of her thighs, I found her panties damp all the way through and I knew she didn’t need much foreplay. But I wanted it. I needed to drag out every moment with her because I didn’t know when we’d go back to our usual selves.
I could hate her all the same after taking a bite out of her.
But I didn’t hate her anymore.
Her scent was addictive.
I’d need rehab after this.
But fuck… I’d deal with it in the morning. Right now, all I was concerned about was how fast I could put my dick inside her and sink my teeth into her flesh.
“Oh fuck,” I groaned loudly and rolled my head back when her delicate hand found my dick. She’d unbuckled my belt and slipped her hand into my briefs without me noticing. She was pure sex and a pro seductress. For a second she had me rethinking my strategy all these years. Maybe I should’ve hunted her down sooner.
Emory slid her hand up and down, and my eyes rolled back into their sockets. I almost lost myself in her touch, but panic grabbed me and I shoved her hand away.
“Wha—” She glanced confused and accusingly at me, but I silenced her with a deep kiss that forced the breath out of her. Our tongues fought together and I grabbed her waist.
Kissing my way down her stomach, a moan slipped out of her mouth and she arched her back as she bit her lip, stifling a moan. I ripped her lacy underwear off and leveled my head with her wetness.
I let my tongue slip out and slide over the soft skin, earning a high-pitched gasp from Emory. I did it again and hooked my arms around her legs so she couldn’t squirm away from me. Spreading her with my fingers, I gave her clit a lick before sucking it into my mouth. She fisted the sheets as she squirmed.
I kept going and Emory didn’t need her words to tell me she enjoyed it.
Using my tongue, I continued to lick and tease while my fingers worked the inside of her until a final lick drove her
over the edge. I watched her and marveled at the sight as her eyes rolled back and she trembled on my fucking bed.
When she finally came back to herself, I was hard as a rock watching her come like that. I pulled off my pants. “Are you wet or not? Tell me now or I’ll fill you to the hilt.”
All she managed was a small nod. “Condom.”
Pulling out a condom, I ripped the square package with my teeth and Emory watched wide-eyed.
Doing what I promised, I buried myself deep inside her. I plunged in and out, varying the speed and pressure, making it impossible for Emory to keep up or prepare herself. And based on her moans and labored breaths, I figured she was all in.
“Riv,” she panted, her nails digging into my shoulder blades. The pain made me delirious. God, she was hot.
I silenced her with a kiss so demanding, there was no point doing anything but surrender to me. I liked having her under me like this, because in every other aspect of our lives, Emory would never be below me.
“Fuck,” I rasped in her ear she clenched around me, drawing out another groan from me. “I’m not going to last long.”
Grabbing my neck, Emory pulled herself up toward me and skated her lips across my ear. “Then come,” she whispered.
And I came inside her while sucking on the skin below her ear. When I pulled out, Emory fell onto the mattress. Through blurry eyes, she watched as I collapsed next to her, a sheen of sweat covering my body.
This hadn’t been a good idea, but why did I feel nothing but satisfaction now?
As I laid beside Emory, it felt like the stars had aligned in my world. All my worries were gone. I was exhausted, but in that beautiful kind of way.
She looked stunning; her hair was a mess and her skin was flushed and shiny. What happened between us was more powerful than any experience I’d had before.
I wasn’t sure this thing between us was only lust anymore because I wanted her now more than I ever had. The hunger for her hadn’t calmed inside me.
“You’re unreal,” was all I managed to get out before I let sleep take over.
When I woke up the next morning, all that was left of her was the smell of sex mixed with the fruity scent of perfume lingering in the air. The bed was empty. She was gone.
And for some reason, that bothered me.
Pick up, pick up, pick up.
I let out a growl of frustration as my call went to voicemail for the fourth time. Why did my best friend choose this day to not answer my calls?
As I rushed down the street to find a cab, I’d never felt more conflicted in my entire life. Not even when my family died.
I felt like a girl doing a walk of shame, but I wasn’t ashamed. Not really. And he hadn’t kicked me out. He’d let me stay the night.
A jolt of relief sizzled through me when my phone rang.
“Evie?” I said as soon as I picked up.
A giggle came from the other side. “Hi, Em, sorry for not picking up. I was busy…”
Someone with a dark voice mumbled something in the background and I stopped walking to listen in. “Who was that?”
She went radio silent.
“Evie?” I repeater, sterner. “Who was that?”
“His name might start with an E…”
Oh. My. God.
“Did you sleep with Elijah Colby?” I exclaimed before Evie aggressively shushed me. “You did!”
“Shut your mouth! Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t, so what? Anyway, why did you call?”
“I slept with River,” I blurted before I could change my mind about telling her.
A collective gasp came from the other side, and I froze in panic.
Oh no.
“Am I on speaker phone?” Mortification hit me before her answer.
“Maybe...”
“Did Elijah hear me?” I shrunk inside.
“Well…” Evie hesitated.
“Sure did,” Elijah’s voice sounded over the line, and I could almost hear the grin on his face through the phone. “Good for you, Lauder. Was waiting for that to happen.”
“Do not tell anyone,” I hissed through gritted teeth. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
Damn Evie. Why did anyone ever put someone on speakerphone without giving them a heads up?
“Secret’s safe with me.”
“And me,” Evie chirped.
“Mhm.” I believed Evie, and I wanted to believe Elijah, too. He was a good guy, but who knew? This information would get everyone talking quickly.
“Evie, can you take me off speaker phone?”
“Oh yeah, sorry.” The line crackled and then Evie spoke again. “Sorry ‘bout that.”
Sighing, I let my anger go through a deep exhale. It wasn’t worth fussing over. There was nothing I could do now. If Elijah wanted to be a dick, then no one could stop him.
“Whatever, it’s fine. I’ll live. And Elijah, Evie? You’re so unpredictable.”
She giggled. “Sorry.”
“No, I shouldn’t talk. I slept with the enemy for fuck’s sakes.”
“Oh, come on! It was bound to happen, and you know it.”
“What do you mean? I never had any plans to sleep with River until… Well, never. It just happened.”
And I didn’t regret it half as much as I should. The only thing I regretted was leaving his bed. It was cold as fuck in the crisp morning air of late October.
I cleared my throat. “Can we meet? I—”
A beeping interrupted me, signaling another caller on the line. I glanced at the phone.
“Franklin’s calling me, I have to take it. Wait for me,” I said, switching lines. “Hi.” I tried not to sound annoyed by the interruption.
“Good morning, Emory. How are you?”
“Good. What’s up?” I said, ignoring his question and pleading for him to get off the phone.
“I was calling to remind you of the meeting later today.”
I sighed. “Yes, I remember. I’ll see you at four.”
“Have you thought about what we discussed for your will?”
“No, I haven’t. As I’ve said before, I’ll tell you when I have decided something. Don’t worry, Franklin, I’m not planning to die anytime soon. I have to go now.”
“But—”
“I’ll see you later, thanks.”
Hanging up, I huffed. That man was going to drive me insane with his stress and nagging. I knew he meant well, but it was too much.
“Hey, I’m back,” I said as I put Evie on the line again.
“What did he want?” she asked.
“Am I on speakerphone?”
“No.”
“He wanted to talk about the will, but I told him to lay off it for a while. I’m not ready. Anyway, catching up. We need to catch up.”
“Sure.” She beamed. “Tonight? I can come over and we can have a sleepover. I can’t remember the last time we did that.”
“I know, me neither, but I can’t today.” A sudden wistfulness grabbed me by the throat and didn’t let go. “I’m sorry I haven’t been very present lately.”
“No, no, don’t worry about it. I completely understand why you’ve been busy.”
I smiled to myself. “Thanks. I’m really busy now, but the weekend before Founder’s Day?”
Evie chuckled. “Yes. It’s a date. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
My smile remained. Even if my problem wasn’t solved, I felt better after talking to my best friend.
Keep busy.
That was my new life motto. Yep. Keep busy and keep a certain someone out of my head.
“Emory, are you listening to me?”
“Huh?”
Slowly, I zoned in on Franklin, who leaned over his desk, eyeing me impatiently. His graying brown hair was neatly combed, and he looked at me with a bushy brow raised over his glasses.
It was four in the afternoon, and I sat in his office. Yet, surprisingly enough, my mind wasn’t focusing on what he was saying.
Crap
. I’d completely zoned out because I was thinking too damn much about River and about last night. I still didn’t know what the hell happened. Suddenly, I was doing all the things I wouldn’t do. In New York, I could blame it on the alcohol, but I hadn’t been drunk last night.
“I’ve organized for the COO to stay CEO for the remaining of the year, and before New Year’s you’ll have to revise the decision. Sound good?”
“Yeah.”
Once again, River popped into my head. God, that guy was everywhere.
He’d offered to help me with the company, which was oddly nice for him. Maybe I could… No, I didn’t need his help. I didn’t need him.
“And you still have to write your will.”
“Right. I still haven’t figured that out. Can I have some more time?”
Franklin nodded, but his jaw was tense. I smiled apologetically. He couldn’t blame me; I was only nineteen. No one writes a will when they’re only nineteen.
He scooped up the papers in front of him, organizing them back into folders. “Let me know the moment you’re ready and I’ll have witnesses on hand.” His voice was dismissive, telling me the meeting was over.
Standing up, I hiked my purse over my shoulder. “Thanks. Have a good day.”
I left, now with more free time to think about that dark-haired devil whom I freaking slept with last night. Stupid.
But it wasn’t a big deal. So what? I was attracted to him and he was attracted to me. We were consenting adults who had casual sex, once. No big deal. I didn’t have to make it out to be some declaration of love when that was clearly not what happened.
It was a caught-in-the-moment feeling, a spur of the moment glitch in judgment. Ugh, my mind was racing. I needed to stop.
Sucking in a deep breath, I rolled my shoulders back and held my head high as I walked out of the building. I had never been one to stress over sex or my decisions. I wouldn’t turn into some over-thinker now.
So it happened. It wasn’t a big deal. I could let it go and leave it in the past.
Well…
Ugh.
Who was I kidding? There was no way I could pull that off.
It seemed like it had been ages since I was at school, yet it hadn’t.
Things were normal, it seemed. Everyone had forgotten about the birthday party a few nights ago. Given, most of them hadn’t done the unthinkable. The people from school were the same old boring people.
