by Kat T. Masen
“Me.” Andy rolls his eyes until Jessa nudges him.
Nash raises his hand. “And me unless there are single hot chicks. You got any single friends, Millie? What about your friend Liesel? I wouldn’t say no to a cougar. Call me a honey badger.”
Jessa scowls at her brother. “You are so gross. I swear you’re Rocky junior.”
“Not soon,” I tell everyone with slight annoyance. “Studying is more important right now.”
Austin places his fist on the table. It's curled into a ball and almost stark white. What did he expect me to say? Lie to everyone about us planning a wedding? We hadn’t discussed a single thing except for the fact that we planned to wait.
“Maybe studying can wait?” he contests, keeping his voice low.
Across the table, Will purses his lips with a smug expression. With his arm around Gigi, he leans in again to whisper something into her ear. The nerve of him. I bet he spent all day fucking her brains out just to get me back.
I place my hand on Austin’s leg, willing to ease the tension of this conversation. “You’re right. We can make it work sooner.
I’m not sure why I lied or why I felt compelled to end an argument with Austin when in fact, he's putting me on the spot and telling everyone we are getting married soon is downright disrespectful.
My emotions are running wild, angered at Austin, who is trying to control things, and jealous watching Will flirting with Gigi. I shift uncomfortably in my chair, rubbing my hands against my thighs nervously. My chest begins to tighten, only to accelerate my breathing. The inside of my body starts to quiver, causing my stomach to churn.
Jessa and Luna excuse themselves to use the bathroom, only for my gaze to fall onto Will. Gigi is the one whispering something in his ear this time, only for a smirk to play on his lips. He purposely meets my stare and places his hand on her shoulder, teasing the strap she wears, all the while never breaking my gaze.
The asshole.
Throwing my napkin onto the table, I rise from the chair.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I tell Austin, then I lean down and kiss his lips softly, caressing his face gently.
When I pull away, he grabs my hand and kisses the ring on my finger as my lips curve upwards into a smile.
Then slowly, my eyes glance back to the angered stare of the man who insisted we play this game tonight. His expression is anything but forgiving, bitter with tightness in his eyes while his jaw clenches from my careless actions.
I turn my back toward him, making my way to the house to realize I need fresh air, not a bathroom. Instead, I exit the front door to avoid seeing anyone, knowing everyone is out back where the party is at.
Out the front are parked cars. Uncle Rocky’s Range Rover, Dad’s Aston Martin—his fifth child. There are a few more belonging to other family members. With every footstep I take, my shoes crunch against the gravel. Given I am wearing black strappy heels, it becomes increasingly difficult with every step.
A noise behind me stills my movements. I take a deep breath, praying to god it is a wild animal and not who I think it is.
Slowly, I turn around to Will standing in the shadows. His arms are crossed beneath his chest with one fist pressed against his mouth.
“Leave me alone,” I warn him, crossing my own arms. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
“I guess you’re right. You’ve got nothing to say. Too busy planning your wedding, right?”
Heat flushes through my body as the anger comes roaring to life.
“What do you care, Will?” I yell, unable to control myself. “Clearly living the best life of a single man.”
“You have no right to be angry tonight!”
“I have no right to be angry?” I question with a sick laugh. “You spent the day with Gigi, doing god knows what.”
“What does it matter, Amelia?” He moves toward me, grabbing my hand to raise the ring between us. “You chose him! How dare you think you have any say as to what I do with my life, including who I fuck.”
I remove my hand from him, dropping my head to still the pain spreading throughout me. “That’s right. You’re just out to hurt me.”
“And are you hurt?” he asks bitterly. “Does it hurt to know that another woman is in my bed? Laying beneath me while I kiss every inch of her body, then slide myself in and watch her come?”
“You bastard,” I growl, raising my hand before he grabs my wrist tightly.
Will’s eyes are on fire, burning so bright and torturing me with their violent flames. His nostrils are flaring, rage consuming his entire being until I push myself forward and force my lips onto him. My heart is pumping so hard, remembering the ache which has longed for him since the day he left for London.
I pull away, catching my breath with a pained stare. I’m unable to turn away until he grabs my face, pressing his lips against mine.
The force is so strong, crippling any emotion but the one which makes me focus on how perfect his lips taste. His tongue entangles with mine, the familiarity clouding any rational thought which wants to push him away.
Which should push him away.
My hands move toward his chest as I let out a small moan, dragging my lips away to break free as guilt consumes me whole. As if he knows the anguish he’s putting me through, he locks me into an embrace, trapping me while sucking hard on my lips.
The pain turns me on, traveling to forbidden places which only existed when we were together. From the moment he left, I wondered what it would be like to taste his lips again, and no matter how much I thought about it, the reality is far off.
I missed how he tasted.
How he would kiss me passionately, every time like it was our first kiss.
My head is screaming for him to let me go, but I can’t stop as he presses my body against my father’s car. Everything begins to tremble as he stiffens against my stomach. I can’t let it go any further, terrified by how much I want him and how easily my heart has forgotten the past.
Or maybe it’s the opposite—my heart remembers just how perfect it once felt. How secure and loved, how nothing in the world could ever come between us.
“If you want to be a good girl,” he begs, with pleading eyes as his thumb runs along my bottom lip. “Tell me to stop.”
I can’t tell him to stop. I never could.
And that’s the trouble with us—we both had the ability to destroy each other. We did it years ago, and right now—we are following the same destructive path as before.
Yet no matter how bad I knew this was, how morally wrong of me it is to kiss Will while engaged to another man—it didn’t stop me.
I’m under his touch, and there is no breaking free.
No matter how hard I try.
Will Romano still owns me, and finally—I need to stop fighting the truth.
17
WILL
Resistance is futile.
Staring into her eyes, the flame is burning bright, reflecting my own desperate need to have her once again.
Then, Amelia’s lips crash onto mine. A feverish kiss knocking the wind out of me as temptation finally wins. Her tongue battles recklessly with mine, wanting more and unable to get enough in this stolen moment of ours.
“If you want to be a good girl,” I beg of her, pleading with my eyes while running my thumb along her bottom lip, remembering how these lips had once belonged to only me. “Tell me to stop.”
Her breathing is heavy, the rise and fall of her chest visible. I’m drawn to the beat of her heart, placing my palm down against her chest to wish it will only ever beat for me.
My desperation is sending my thoughts into a crazy mindfuck because nothing in the world matters besides her right now. Not the billion-dollar deal waiting to be signed, nor anyone at the dinner party tonight. I don’t care if we’re caught, unapologetic with my intent to fuck her sweet pussy right here, right now.
The heat radiates off her skin, and slowly, I run my palm down the middle of her chest.
Every inch hardens my dick, making me ready to blow in my god damn pants. I bite down, clenching my jaw, willing my urges to slow down enough so I can savor the moment.
I need her now.
And I’m a selfish man.
My fingers tug on the strap of the ivory silk dress she wears, a dress which has teased me all night long since the moment I laid eyes on her. When the fabric falls, her chest is exposed in all its glory. My fingers graze her nipples, admiring how beautiful her tits appear under the moonlight.
Letting out a gasp, she tilts her head back, allowing me to bury my face into her neck as I run my tongue along her collarbone, desperate to taste every inch of her again, including her perky tits.
“I don’t want to stop,” she murmurs. “If I’m bad, it’s only because you bring it out of me.”
My hands grip her face, pinning her down against Lex’s satin Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. A nice fucking car but the bastard deserves it.
Amelia Edwards is the piece of forbidden fruit dangling in front of me, ready to poison me with just one bite.
And I want to taste it all.
I’m no longer able to resist. My desire to be inside her is beyond anything I can control anymore. I greedily suck her lips while tugging on her hair, then continue kissing down her neck until my mouth is on her perfect tits.
Fuck, how I missed this.
A groan escapes Amelia’s beautiful lips as I suck the left one hard while pinching the right nipple, then quickly alternating. Her hands are running through my hair, guiding my mouth back to hers to kiss me deeply.
“I’m taking back what’s mine,” I breathe, lifting her body against the car as she wraps her legs around my waist. Fumbling with my belt, my cock springs free, flicking between her legs. “I’m going to fuck you now. It’s going to be hard and quick. Do you think you can handle that?”
Her eyes widen with a silent nod, and the desperation on her face only drives me to take her now. My hands clasp around her panties, pushing them aside as I slide myself in. The warm sensation wraps around my cock, a deep moan involuntarily escaping me at how wet she is.
Every thrust is bringing me closer, with Amelia’s moans expelling at a fast pace. I place my hand on her mouth, covering the noise while she silently rides me against the car.
My lips graze her ear. “I want you to come with me. Are you ready, Miss Edwards?”
I drop my hands to cup her ass while her hands grip onto my shirt, pulling me into a deep kiss. She sucks on my bottom lip, driving me wild until I have no choice but to take that as a yes.
The grip of my hands on her ass is tight, and with one last thrust—I blow inside her, shutting my eyes tight to catch my breath from the stars I’m seeing. I can feel her convulse around me, her pants heavy as she throws her head back, willing her own breathing to slow down.
I kiss the tip of her shoulder before sliding her off me and helping her to the ground. Unable to look at me, Amelia’s gaze falls to her feet while adjusting her dress.
My fingers reach out, lifting her chin so our gaze meets. Undeniably, guilt laces her stare until she turns away and out of my touch, wounding me. This moment is supposed to define us, not be overshadowed by remorse. I don’t care if she has that ring on her fucking finger. I will never regret what just happened between us.
“I should go back,” Amelia says faintly.
“Can we talk, please? If not now, later tonight when everyone has gone to bed?”
Her eyes plead with me to understand, but the more I fall prey to the emerald-green orbs, the less patient I become. What the hell are we waiting for? After tonight, why can’t we pick up from where we left off all those years ago?
“Give me time, please.”
“Time for what?” I rush, running my hands through my hair. “For you to convince yourself this was a mistake?”
Amelia dips her chin to her chest, her posture slumping.
“It was only a mistake because I betrayed Austin,” she confesses, crossing her arms. “I need to sort myself out.”
“And what do you expect me to do while you sort yourself out?”
She purses her lips while shaking her head. “I don’t know, Will. I’m just asking you to give me time to fix my mistakes.”
“I’m not perfect either, Amelia. So, we both made mistakes. Why can’t we just move forward?” I demand, losing my patience.
“Because you don’t have your best friend inside that house whose trust has been broken, she professes softly. “I love him, Will. He will always be an important piece of my life and he deserves an apology from me. That’s the least I can give him.”
And with those words said in honesty, it stings like a sharp razor blade gliding against my skin. She’ll always love him because he gave her things I never did—her first sexual experience, and maybe the biggest bruise to my already battered ego—the first man to ever propose marriage. I loathe him for sharing so many firsts with her, something I’ll never be able to claim.
Amelia leans forward to place a gentle kiss on my lips before walking away and back to the house. I call her name one more time, prompting her to turn around.
“Nothing happened with Gigi,” I tell her, wanting to get it off my chest. “I would never purposely hurt you. I need you to know that.”
She nods, her expression blank, before she disappears inside. I stay back, not wanting to cause a scene by walking in at the same time as her. What happened tonight is no mistake. It felt so right it terrified me. I’ve gotten a taste of her, and there is no chance I can let her go again, confident with all my being that we are meant to be together. We were given a bumpy path, a path full of sticks and stones—but ultimately, it’s tested the love between us.
And then I begin to regret my outburst only moments ago. I should have told her I still love her. Maybe that is what she needed to hear. I never stopped loving her, and no matter how I envision my future, if she’s not in it—life is not worth living.
My phone begins to buzz inside my pocket. I pull it out, not recognizing the number. Who the fuck would call me so late on a Sunday night? I figure it’s some random caller and hit reject.
I run my hands through my hair then walk back to the house. The large front door closes behind me, so I walk down the hall leading to the back patio, only to cross paths with Lex down the long corridor.
Fuck.
I could turn around, say nothing at all, but instead, I slow my movements until we’re a few steps away from each other. Lex is a tall man, but we’re about even in height, not that he intimidates me one bit. I knew his secrets; we were once the best of friends. A hell of a history between us, all of which ended the moment he claimed I betrayed him.
“I am aware of Lau’s proposition,” he begins with, keeping his tone controlled as usual. His stare is unwavering, typical Lex Edwards. “It is a very lucrative takeover.”
No surprises, it’s all about business with him. I was also aware he knew of this after I spent the day talking to lawyers and my executive team. Lau is turning up the pressure, but I refuse to back down. It’s why I stayed back today to sort this all out. It didn’t help that Gigi had the same idea. Her walking naked into the living room and claiming she thought no one was home didn’t stop her from trying to rub her pussy on me.
What the hell was I supposed to do? I offended her by declining her offer for a quick fuck, pulling the good ole’ “I’ve got something urgent which needs attention.” From there on, I took my laptop and sat inside my dad’s Range Rover just to get some fucking peace and quiet.
“My team is working hard on closing this deal. I will make it happen without Lexed involved.”
“If you say so.” His behavior is somewhat calm, which is very unlike him. However, calm is not to be mistaken as friendly. His uninviting gaze is far from forgiving. “But let me tell you this, Romano. Your arrogance will only get you so far.”
“Well, as a matter of fact, Lau is considering it. He is aware my company has done great things, a
nd our plans for this platform are far greater than those in the bidding war.”
“I meant with Amelia,” he is quick to shut me down. “I warned you to stay away.”
“Right…” I drag, shaking my head in disgust. “Because you have a say anymore?”
The words are like dynamite to the one man who believed he held the cards—the king of his castle, the ruler of his domain. I expect him to raise his voice, tell me he’ll ruin me, but his ongoing calm demeanor is of more concern. What game is Edwards playing?
“My daughter will do what is right.”
I want to laugh in his face and inform him how I fucked his daughter's sweet little pussy outside against his prized possession. But, of course, I keep this to myself. Let Lex thinks he holds power when in fact, he holds nothing at all anymore. His rules no longer bind me, and his precious little daughter has defied him once again.
There is nothing left to say to him, so I walk past and back to the patio where music is playing and people are dancing. Dad is out of control again, trying to start a conga line in which no one wants to join besides Eric. It prompts an argument between them.
“Don’t rub your dick on my ass like last time,” Dad complains to Eric.
“You’re so sensitive,” Eric drags while rolling his eyes. “I’ll lead then.”
It doesn’t stop the congo line, nor Kate and Adriana joining them after what appears to be several wines. Everyone is busy conversing and having a good time until I see Amelia sitting beside Austin. She appears withdrawn, tracing the rim of her glass with a blank stare. Austin touches her gently, then lays a kiss on her shoulder in which she recoils.
The moment, though only a split second—is enough for it all to change.
Austin retracts from her, his face tightening instantly. He doesn’t say a word, but slowly, his head twists toward my direction until his vicious stare is fixated on me.
Although it’s dark out with only the party lights illuminating the space around us, his mottled skin and flaring nostrils warn me of the raging storm about to hit. He knows very well of his fiancée being touched by another man.
