“I never wished you a good morning, so mornin’, Evvie.” He kissed my forehead and grabbed a cup of coffee for himself.
I shook myself and headed into the living room. Birds chirped in the back ground as I sat on the couch and waited for Brett to join me.
“Where’s Kane?”
I looked up as Brett sat beside me and placed his arm across my lap. I shrugged. “I know he sometimes goes to visit his grandma or he could be out for a run.”
It was the weekend so he could have gone over to a woman’s house…I frowned. “Is Kane sleeping with Tatiana?”
Brett looked at me, his eyebrow raised. “I don’t know. Why?”
“Just curious.”
“Would it bother you if they were?”
“No.”
He pinched my chin and placed a soft kiss on my mouth. “Be happy for him.”
I smiled. I was. Confused but I was happy. I liked T. Even though I thought she was into women but if they were happy, then that was all that mattered to me.
“You’re beautiful.”
My cheeks heated at Brett’s compliment and I leaned in to kiss him when footsteps sounded down the hall way.
I sighed and took a sip of my cup when Brett snarled.
I followed his gaze. My stomach sunk when my eyes landed on Claire. In my apartment. With Ethan standing behind her. “What the hell is she doing here?”
Claire sneered, her ruby red lips plump and full of gloss. “Well don’t you two look cozy?”
“What’s going on?” Ethan asked, frowning.
I rose to my feet and pointed at her. “Get the fuck out of my apartment.”
“Evvie.” Shock coated Ethan’s voice but I ignored him. I would explain later. Right now I needed the she-bitch from hell to leave my home.
“Get out. Now,” I yelled.
A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing, holding me back from jumping at the woman who I swore wanted to destroy my relationship.
“You need to control your woman,” Claire stated matter-of-factly.
“I think you should leave.” Brett’s voice was calm, collected.
“Aww, come on, Brett,” she purred. “Didn’t you miss me?”
Bile rose to my throat.
“Leave. Now,” Brett’s voice boomed through the small apartment.
“Fine, I’ll leave but I just have to ask.” She looked at me. “How do I taste?”
I dove at her when arms wrapped around my middle. A string of curse words left my lips that would make my mother roll over in her grave. “Get out. Now!”
She laughed and headed towards the door. “Oh and Brett, did you tell your little pet that you slept with me right before you fucked her?”
My mouth fell open, my blood boiling through my body. “Get. The. Fuck. Out.”
She licked her lips. “With pleasure.”
***
“Evvie, I am so fucking sorry. I didn’t think.”
I looked up at my brother and frowned. “That’s because you always think with your dick.”
Ethan’s jaw clenched. “I’ve been in jail—”
“So you fuck the first thing that approaches you?” I snapped.
“That’s not—”
“How did you even meet her in the first place?” I asked.
Ethan huffed and rose to his feet. “She was waiting outside the club. She came onto me.”
“Did she say who she was?”
“No,” he frowned. “Why would she?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course not. Let’s just sleep with the first woman we see in a week.”
“I said I was fucking sorry, Evvie. It’s not like you’ve never had a one night stand,” Ethan said looking between Brett and I.
My back stiffened. “That is not the same thing.”
“Uh-huh. Right.”
I shook my head. “She must have known you were my brother.”
“How the hell would she have known that?”
“Because she’s fucking psycho!” I cried.
“Evvie,” Brett whispered in my ear and rubbed a hand over my upper back.
I jumped up from the couch. “No. And you,” I pointed at Brett. “How could you?”
Brett’s eyes narrowed. “Evvie,” he said, his voice filled with warning.
“What? You get on my case about other men but I can’t when it comes to Claire?” I asked, placing my hands on my hips.
“We weren’t together, Evvie.”
“God, I know. It’s just…” I shivered. The thought of her touching Brett made me sick. I flopped back onto the couch and placed my head in my hands. “Ethan, I’m sorry.” I let out a deep sigh. “It’s not your fault and I shouldn’t jump down your throat.”
Ethan knelt before me and gave me a hard hug. “If I would have known, even though I don’t like Brett, I wouldn’t have slept with her.”
I looked into his big blue eyes. “I know.”
“I’m going to leave. Give you guys some time alone.”
I nodded and waited for him to leave the small apartment before turning to my boyfriend. “Do you still have feelings for her?”
Brett searched my face, his jaw clenching and unclenching. “No.”
“Did you ever?”
“She was around when I got bored.”
“You didn’t answer the question,” I pointed out.
“She was familiar.” He grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight. “With you, it’s always something new. I can’t get used to the sex with you or even just being with you, because it’s different each time. That’s what I want. What I need.”
“What did Claire mean about your deep dark desires?” I blurted. I took a breath and waited for him to close up on me.
“I don’t know how to explain that,” he mumbled, shoving his other hand through his hair.
Anxiety swirled in my belly. Was he a sadist? Did he like pain? Threesome’s maybe? I had no idea why he was concerned to tell me what it was. It’s not like I wouldn’t do anything he was interested in, but threesomes? No thanks.
“You can tell me, Brett.” And that was the truth. Who was I to judge?
He sighed. “I like it rough. As you know already. I like being in control. It turns me on having your body doing whatever I want.”
I knew that already too and I enjoyed every minute, every hour of it. “You don’t see me complaining.”
His deep blue eyes searched my face. “I enjoy administering pain for pleasure. The feel of your skin warm underneath my palm gets my blood pumping.”
I swallowed, my body heating at his words. “I’ve liked what you’ve done so far.”
A smug smile formed on his face. “You have, haven’t you?”
I nodded, words lost on my tongue.
He looked away, his gaze darkening like he was remembering something. “My mom used to beat me.”
A gasp escaped my lips at his admission. “Brett.”
“Not my step mom but my real mom. She died a couple of years ago.” He turned back to me. “No one knows this, Evvie. Not even my sister. It happened when I was really young but has stuck with me ever since. That’s why my dad left her.”
I had no idea. My heart broke for him. “Did…” I swallowed.
“It was nothing sexual if that’s what you’re wondering. Just mental and physical.” He chuckled. “God, that was so fucking long ago.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. He was just a boy when it happened. What kind of mother did that? I wanted to ask more but the fact that Brett opened up about it in the first place was enough. For now.
“Lover?”
I met his gaze, swallowing past the hard lump that had formed in my throat. “Yeah?”
His eyes warmed. “I love you. I hope you know that. I’ve never been into looking into the future and shit but I meant what I said before. You are my future.”
A sob escaped my lips and the tears rolled freely down my cheeks of their own accord. I couldn’t control them.
Brett sighed and wrapped his arms around my shoulders as I broke against him. “My Evvie. So heartfelt.”
I snuggled against him and cried. My body shook, breaking for the little boy that was hurt by someone who was supposed to love him. Protect him. Be there for him but instead, hurt him in one of the worst ways possible.
“Hey, it’s over. I’m better. Don’t cry for me, lover,” he crooned against my neck.
I tried to stop the shakes but the cries of agony for him kept wracking through my body. My childhood wasn’t the greatest but I knew that both of my parents loved me. My mom spanked me once when I was a little girl over stealing candy from a store and that was the last time. She felt too guilty to do it again and she cried with me.
“I love you. I love you so much,” I sobbed.
Brett pulled me onto his lap and cradled me against him. “Shhh.” He kissed my tears away and cupped my face in both hands.
I looked deep into his eyes, fighting back another sob.
His eyes were soft, gentle even as they took me in. “No one has ever cried for me before.”
“I’m—”
Warm lips captured my mouth in a tender kiss. “I think I fell in love with you all over again, Evvie.”
Three weeks later, I walked into Brett’s apartment and threw the keys on the table against the wall. Since my break down and the confession about Brett’s past, we’ve become closer, more intimate. Emotionally naked.
We didn’t talk about his childhood again. Ethan had become a permanent fixture in my apartment so finally, Brett and he started getting along. They would joke, argue, just like any of our other brothers. It brought back memories of my childhood and I reveled in it. Needed it. I missed my family.
Since having the day shift at the club, it was nice leaving when it was still light out. After Brett gave me a key a week ago, rumors were flying around the club that we were moving in together or that I was pregnant. Both were ridiculous but the thought of having Brett’s baby made my blood soar. Just thinking about something growing inside of me that was ours and that would link us together forever made a giggle escape my lips. “Way too soon for that, Evvie,” I said to myself.
I sighed, shook my head and walked into the living room. I noticed a pile of mail on the table that Brett must have thrown on it before heading to work that afternoon. A large manila envelope that had my name spread across it caught my eye. Did Brett not see this? I frowned. Why would someone send me mail at his place?
I opened the large package and pulled out several pictures. My heart raced when I realized they were photos of two people. I spread out the photos on the table before me and gasped.
The pictures stared up at me. Laughing in my face as I gripped the edge of the couch tight in my hands. Naked bodies. Limbs twisting in a passionate display of ecstasy. My boyfriend and his ex…whore.
I picked the pictures up, bile rising to my throat.
My stomach twisted as I let the pictures fall out of my hands before they landed on the floor. I took deep cleansing breaths, needing to control the racing of my heart before it exploded from my chest.
I loved Brett. We’ve been doing so well since the last time we saw Claire but now, this would make things worse.
I looked for a date on the photos but found none. God, she was desperate. Trying to make my life fucking hell.
I took a breath and rose to my feet, wiping the tears from under my eyes. No more. She would not win. Brett and I had our issues but we would work through them. We had to.
The sound of the door unlocking and opening erupted through the vast apartment. I sat there frozen as Brett walked into the living room.
He threw his keys on the counter before meeting my gaze. The small smile on his face hardened as his eyes turned cold. “What’s wrong?”
I swallowed and pointed to the floor.
His gaze followed my movement, a frown splaying on his handsome face before his eyes met mine. “What are you going to do?”
His question threw me off guard. I had expected him to deny it. Tell me it was all lies or even photo shopped.
“Are you going to deny it?” I asked even though I knew the answer already.
His eyes darkened. “Why would I?”
“I was hoping they were fake,” I whispered.
“Do they look fake?”
My stomach clenched. “You don’t have to be a condescending asshole. Care to explain these to me?”
He shrugged and headed down the hall. “I think they’re pretty self-explanatory,” he called out.
I gaped after him. No denial. No begging for my forgiveness. Just pretty much for me to except it and move on. Like hell.
I rose to my feet and stomped after him. “What the hell is your problem? Do you not care that I found these? They were addressed to me, Brett.”
He didn’t stop. He just continued walking to his office like nothing had happened.
Once reaching the small room, I watched him walk to his desk and sit behind his computer. “Brett.”
He slapped the hard wood and narrowed his eyes. “What Evvie? What do you want me to say? Want me to tell you that it’s not me in those pictures?”
“I want you to apologize,” I cried. “I want you to tell me why your stupid ex sent me these in the first place!”
“How the hell would I know?”
“You’re acting like you don’t even fucking care. Oh wait.” I laughed. “You want both of us, don’t you? When you get bored with one, you go to the other, like the fucking asshole you are.”
“Watch the tone, Evvie,” he demanded, rising to his feet.
“Whatever. I’m out of here.” I turned on my heel and headed towards the door.
“Do not fucking leave,” he yelled.
I looked at him over my shoulder before heading out into the hall. “Fuck you.”
A hard body crashed into mine, slamming me up against the wall. A breath left me on a gasp as I was lifted into the air. “Put me down,” I screamed. I fought in his hold as he brought us to his bedroom. I kicked and struggled in his grasp when he threw me onto his bed.
Brett crawled between my legs as I squirmed out of his hold. “Do not fucking leave me.”
I moved to the edge of the bed when he pushed me onto my back. My chest rose and fell, adrenaline running through my body at the rough hold. “You should have thought of that before you cheated on me.”
His eyes darkened. “I didn’t cheat on you,” he snarled.
“Then what, Brett? You didn’t tell me about the pictures in the first place.”
“The pictures were none of your fucking business.”
God, I knew that. I was just hurt that they were sent to me. I didn’t want to know what he did with other women. “Then tell me why she sent them.”
“Because she’s a bitch.”
I frowned. “You don’t seem surprised that she sent them.”
He shook his head. “I’m not. Once Claire gets her claws into someone, she never lets go.”
I swallowed, my stomach clenching. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“Because I didn’t think it would matter. I thought it was over. I told her to move on. Demanded she leave me alone. She broke it off with me but now that she knows you’re around…”
“So just because she doesn’t want you, no one else can have you?” I scoffed and pushed out of his grip.
He pulled my arms above my head, pinning me down under his hard body. Under normal circumstances it would have turned me on but at this point, it just pissed me off. The control he had over my body and the fact that I couldn’t do anything about it, sent fury swimming in the pit of my belly.
“Lover,” he said, brushing a hand down my cheek.
“Let go of me.” I squirmed under his touch. I wiggled against him but he was too strong. Too big. His hold on me tightened, his grip on my wrists bruising. I stared into the depths of his deep blue gaze. He wasn’t letting me go. Ever.
“I love you, Evvie. You and o
nly you. I’ve fucked up in the past. I don’t deserve you but I need you. Those pictures were taken before you. I’m not a cheater,” he said softly.
I knew the pictures weren’t recent but hearing him say it out loud, made me feel…better. Like a part of me had doubted him. Guilt ate at me. I sighed. “I hate fighting with you.”
Brett brushed his nose along my neck. “I hate when you doubt me, lover.”
I frowned. “I didn’t—”
He looked down at me, his eye brow rose.
I huffed. “Okay. Fine. I did, but wouldn’t you in my position?”
“No. I trust you.”
I searched his face. He was calm, cool. No other emotions splayed in his eyes except for warmth and love. I couldn’t read him and that set my skin on edge. “You trust me? Really? One hundred percent, trust me?”
His eyes narrowed. “Yes.”
I wiggled my wrists out of his grip and cupped his face. “Then why did you punch out my brother?”
“Fuck. I told you it was men that I don’t trust, not you,” he snapped, sitting back on his hunches.
I leaned on my elbows. “If that were the case, Brett, then you would trust that I would stop it. I keep telling you that I love you. That you have nothing to worry about.”
“And I tell you the same fucking thing when it comes to Claire.”
“What the hell are we doing then?” I blurted and rose to my feet.
Brett scrubbed a hand through his hair and chuckled. “The first time I fall in love and it’s fucking toxic.”
My mouth fell open to deny it. Tell him he was wrong. Scream that our love was normal but was it really? It took over us. Controlled our actions and I was scared shitless that it would eventually destroy us both.
***
I woke during the night, staring at the ceiling. Nightmares of Claire having her hands on Brett crashed into my mind. My mind played tricks on me. Trying to convince me that Brett wanted her and not me. I knew that wasn’t the case but the small insecure part of myself reared its ugly head whenever she was involved.
I knew Brett loved me. Maybe it was more than love. Was there even such a thing? I wasn’t sure but all I knew was that whatever these feelings were, they were intense, dark. Scary.
I rolled over and found the bed empty beside me. A hard lump formed in my throat. I didn’t know what I had expected. Brett worked. Constantly. He was probably in his office, doing stuff for the club. He spent his time in there whenever he got stressed or upset and clearly, we were both feeling off tonight.
Possessed by You Page 16
