Queen of Harte's

by Brooke Harris

  ‘Just in here,’ the doctor said as they walked down a long, sterile corridor. There were closed doors on both sides and random medical machines dotted outside every second door. It was eerily silent and a shiver ran the length of Eva’s spine. There was a different feel to this part of the hospital. Almost like if they turned the next corner, the grim reaper himself would be standing waiting to shake their hand. Suddenly, Eva missed the intensity of ICU.

  The doctor stopped outside one of the last doors on the corridor and Eva’s heart raced furiously. Her breath was so quick and uneasy - and amplified by the stillness of her surroundings.

  ‘Are you ready?’ the doctor asked, reaching for the handle.

  ‘Very.’ Eva gulped.

  ‘Don’t be alarmed when you see him. He’s pale and a lot weaker than he’d dare admit.’

  Eva smiled. I’d be more alarmed if he admitted to feeling like shit, she thought.

  ‘Okay.’ Eva nodded, holding her breath as the doctor slowly turned the handle.

  Julian was sitting up on the bed. He wasn’t leaning back against the pillows, but he looked like he needed to. He was pale, like he hadn’t slept in a while. Half-healed cuts and bruises on his beautiful face were a reminder of Da Luca’s thugs’ handiwork. And for a moment, Eva’s heart almost stopped as she remembered the fear she felt as she watched those scumbags use Julian as their own personal punch bag. But despite his battered body, he was beautiful as always and a tingle ran through Eva’s body right to the tips of her fingers and toes as his big, dark brown eyes locked on hers.

  ‘Welcome to the party, Miss Andrews,’ Julian joked.

  Eva rushed to him, trying to forget where they were. She needed to touch him, to hear him breathe, to feel his heart beat against her palm.

  ‘Oh God, you scared the shit out of me,’ she said pressing her lips against his as tears of relief streamed down her cheeks. ‘Don’t ever leave me like that again. Oh, God. Oh, God.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered, reaching for her, his thumb stroking the nape of her neck. ‘It’s so good to see you.’

  ‘It’s so good to see you, too. I was so scared I might lose you. So scared.’ Eva pressed her lips against his again, sighing deeply. Her breath meeting his. Her lips tasting him. Her hands cupping his face. She couldn’t get close enough. She wanted every inch of his skin against hers.

  Julian pulled back a little and Eva let go straight away, worried she might have hurt him.

  ‘Thank you, Doctor Simmons,’ Julian said turning his attention to the doorway.

  The doctor nodded, taking the hint. ‘Okay, Mr. Harte. I’ll leave you both alone to catch up. One of the nurses will be in to see you in thirty minutes to do you obs again. And I’ll be back shortly to discuss that thing we were talking about earlier. If you get a chance to read through that stuff in the meantime, that would be great.’

  ‘We’ve only got thirty minutes,’ Eva sighed as she walked over to close the door the doctor left open behind her.

  ‘There’s a lot we can do in thirty minutes, Miss Andrews.’

  ‘Julian Harte. I’m shocked. Do you ever think about anything else?’

  ‘I meant we could catch up on your news. But if you have something else in mind,’ Julian teased.

  ‘Very funny, Julian. I know exactly what you meant. And for someone so exhausted, there’s one part of your body that appears to be wide awake.’ Eva smirked and dropped her eyes to the bulge under the sheet.

  ‘What can I say? You have powerful healing qualities, Evangeline.’

  Eva rolled her eyes, playfully. What happened to him calling her Eva? Just Eva.

  ‘Really?’ She giggled.

  ‘Yes, really. Now why don’t you come over here and kiss me better some more?’

  Eva placed her hands on Julian’s chest and eased him back against the stacked pillows behind. She ran her tongue across his lips, leaned over the edge of the bed, pressed her mouth against his, and exhaled. Julian sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and dragged his teeth gently against it before releasing.

  ‘That’s delicious, baby, but I wasn’t talking about kissing my lips.’

  Eva stood up and looked into the eyes of the man she was head over heels in love with. She glanced at the door. They had time. She looked back at Julian with a coquettish smile.

  She leaned in to kiss him again, getting close enough to feel his breath on her skin, but she didn’t allow her lips to touch his. For once, she was in control and the adrenaline running through her was both empowering and addictive. She slipped her hand under the sheet, gasping as she discovered that Julian wasn’t wearing boxers.

  ‘Going for something casual, Mr. Harte.’ She laughed, gently tugging on the end of his hospital gown.

  ‘I’m trying something new.’

  Eva grinned. She suspected that if Julian arrived in the office on a Monday morning wearing just his hospital gown and a pair of slippers, half the company would turn up on Tuesday sporting the same look.

  ‘Ready to try something else new?’ Eva whispered.

  Julian rocked his hips, thrusting his rock hard erection towards Eva’s waiting hand. ‘Ready, baby.’

  Eva clasped her fingers around him, watching as he tossed his head back against the pillows and groaned.

  ‘I love you, Julian,’ she said, tightening her grip and pumping her hand confidently up and down his shaft.

  ‘I love you too, Eva,’ Julian gasped, closing his eyes.

  Eva moved closer, letting her lips lightly brush against his. She slipped her tongue into his mouth, exploring the warm softness of his mouth as she tasted him.

  Julian kissed her back. Hard. He wanted her. She could taste his hunger. She could feel his cock swell in her hand, aching to release. She could feel him letting her take complete control.

  She let go, and Julian’s eyes shot open. ‘You’re fucking kidding me?’

  Eva wrinkled her nose and tossed her head towards the door.

  ‘The nurse isn’t going to walk in, Eva,’ Julian assured quickly.

  Eva looked at her watch. They still had fifteen minutes. ‘Okay.’

  ‘Now, the doctor, on the other hand…’

  Eva tossed her head back and laughed. ‘Not helping, Julian.’

  ‘Come on, baby. The risk only makes it more fun. Show me what you’ve got.’

  Eva rolled her bottom lip between her finger and thumb, thinking. ‘So you want to play, Mr. Harte?’

  Julian’s delicious smile made Eva’s mind up. The risk was certainly worth taking.

  ‘Okay. My game, my rules,’ she smirked.

  ‘Miss Andrews, I don’t do blackmail.’

  ‘This isn’t blackmail, Mr. Harte.’ Eva’s hand reached below the sheet again and she cupped his balls, letting him know exactly how she intended to play. ‘It’s just a game, Julian. And you do play games, don’t you?’

  Julian’s pulsing cock gave her the answer.

  ‘Okay. My game is called Truth and Dare. Do you know it?’ Eva asked confidently.

  ‘I think you mean Truth or Dare.’

  Eva’s had dropped a little lower, her finger pressing against his ass. He clenched, but he didn’t stop her.

  ‘No. I mean Truth and Dare.’

  Julian grabbed Eva suddenly and pulled her mouth on his so roughly that she nearly fell on top of him. He forced his tongue in and out of her mouth with such aggression that she was left with no doubt that he wished it was his cock. ‘Let’s play,’ Julian said. ‘I only have one rule.’

  ‘No rules, Julian,’ Eva interrupted. ‘This is my game. Remember?’

  ‘Okay, fine…if you want to get caught?’

  Eva looked at the door again. ‘Oh, for God’s sake.’ She sighed. ‘Okay, Julian. What’s your rule?’

  ‘Slide that chair in front of the door.’

  Eva laughed and dragged the chair waiting by Julian’s bed to the back of the room and pushed it up against the door, making sure the back of the chair locked u
nder the handle. ‘I will allow that rule, Mr. Harte. But the rest are mine.’

  ‘Deal.’

  Chapter 9

  Eva took off her coat, dropping it onto the chair, and flung her bag on top. ‘There,’ she said, satisfied, walking back to Julian.

  ‘Hot?’ Julian’s eyes were undressing her.

  ‘Very. But it’s about to get a whole lot hotter.’

  ‘So, Miss Andrews, are you going to teach me your rules?’ Julian moved over on the bed and made room for Eva to sit on the edge beside him.

  ‘They’re simple. I ask you a question and you must answer with the truth,’ Eva explained, sitting in the space he’d made for her.

  ‘I’ve never lied to you, Eva.’

  ‘I know. So this should be easy for you, right?’ Eva replied, very business-like.

  Eva was enjoying the intrigue written all over Julian’s face. She knew he was relishing the prospect of a challenge.

  ‘And the dares, Miss Andrews?’

  ‘I ask the truths, you create the dares. You get to dare me to do whatever you like,’ Eva glanced at Julian’s cock.

  ‘Whatever I like?’

  ‘Um-hum.’

  ‘This sounds like my kind of game. But what if I don’t answer your question?’

  ‘That’s your prerogative, Mr. Harte. But then you forfeit your dare. And I know you’re not the kind of man to take a forfeit.’

  Julian tossed an eyebrow. ‘You know me well. Okay, I understand the rules. Let’s play.’

  There was a cheeky twinkle in Julian’s eye, and Eva was certain that he was already thinking of a way to twist the rules. She’d be disappointed if he didn’t at least try.

  ‘Okay. Round one,’ Eva said trying not to laugh. This reminded her so much of their first online conversation. Only this time the tables were turned. She could get used to being in the driver’s seat.

  Julian sat up, away from the pillows. He folded one arm across his chest and the other reached to stroke his chin between his finger and thumb. He had his business face on.

  Fuck! He was hot.

  Eva cleared her throat. If business was how he wanted to play it, then she was ready to bring it. ‘So. First question, Mr. Harte. How do you feel?’

  ‘I’ve been better.’

  Eva’s whole body sank and her business approach met a sudden death. ‘Julian, no! That’s not an answer, it’s a sidestep. You have to answer properly or you don’t get your dare.’

  ‘Okay, okay. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. Actually, speaking of knickers. I’m pretty close to naked here. We’re not playing on a level pitch. Shouldn’t you be naked, too?’

  ‘Save it for your dare,’ Eva said, pulling herself back up straight again. ‘Now. Are you ready to take this seriously?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘Okay. So my question again. How do you feel?’

  ‘I’m high. I’m on a cocktail of drugs but I’d prefer less morphine and a little more whiskey. I haven’t eaten in a while, but I don’t think I’m hungry. I pissed by myself for the first time a little over an hour ago. It was rather enjoyable. And I’d like to get the hell out of here.’ Julian raised both eyebrows and tilted his head. ‘How was that answer?’

  Eva took a minute to process. She wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. ‘It was good. Thank you. Your turn.’

  Julian smiled. ‘Take off your cardigan.’

  ‘Seriously, that’s it? My cardigan?’

  ‘That’s it.’

  Eva’s eyes narrowed to comma-shaped slits. She knew that he was up to something.

  ‘Your question again, Miss Andrews.’

  ‘What was the first thing you thought about when you woke up?’

  ‘Ouch.’

  ‘Ouch? That’s it?’

  ‘That’s it.’

  Eva pressed her lips together and sighed sharply through her nose. She didn’t like his overly short answers. ‘Okay, who was the first…’

  ‘Erm, my dare, remember?’ Julian interrupted her.

  ‘Oh, yeah. Sorry.’

  ‘Take down your hair.’

  Eva reached for the scrunchie holding her hair back in a loose ponytail. ‘There,’ she said, shaking her hair free and letting it fall around her face. ‘I thought your dares would be a little more adventurous,’ Eva joked, tossing Julian a provocative grin.

  ‘I’m just getting warmed up,’ he insisted.

  Eva’s grin switched to a concerned lip bite and her stomach somersaulted like an Olympic gold medallist. ‘Okay. Another question. Who was the first person you called when you woke up.’

  ‘You.’

  Eva swallowed hard. She wanted to hear that answer, but it made her chest tighten and her heart race. She started this game so she could ask Julian all the questions burning a hole in her head. About Mia and his son and her father’s involvement in his family’s deaths. But his last answer had thrown her. She didn’t want to play anymore. She didn’t want to trap him into telling her everything; she wanted him to tell her because he wanted to.

  ‘Me,’ Eva instinctively tapped her fingers against her chest as she stood up and turned to face Julian. ‘Me and not Mia?’

  Julian shook his head. ‘Not Mia.’

  Eva inhaled so sharply through her nose that it stung. Part of her wanted to finish the striptease, climb on top of him, and make love until they both came. But another part of her, the less consuming and more reasonable part of her, knew the next question was paramount. Maybe they’d never make love again after she heard the answer.

  ‘Julian?’

  Julian looked at her with a seriousness she hadn’t seen in a while. Eva realised that he knew the next question. He’d been one step ahead of her the whole game. But even knowing the question that would inevitably come, he’d agreed to play. Maybe he didn’t want secrets anymore, either. Maybe he was finally ready to let her in.

  Eva glanced at her watch. The nurse would be there in ten minutes. She had ten minutes to have her world come crashing down around her and pull herself back together again before she’d be asked to leave the room. Ten minutes just wasn’t enough. No amount of time would be enough.

  Eva ran her hands through her hair, tossing it all over the place.

  ‘Ask, Eva,’ Julian said, his eyes burning into her. ‘I know you need to ask me. I promised you the truth and the game’s not over yet.’

  ‘You called me first…’ Eva paused, and she had to force herself hard to say the next part of the sentence, ‘…but why didn’t you call your wife?’

  ‘Because I knew she was already here.’

  Oh, my God. Oh, my God. ‘I thought you were going to tell me it was all made up. That Mia was just bullshitting.’

  Julian shook his head. ‘No you didn’t.’

  Tears were pouring down Eva’s checks and catching her breath was becoming uncomfortable. ‘You’re right. I didn’t. But it’s what I wanted to hear.’

  ‘I told you, Eva. I’ve never lied to you. I’m not about to start now.’

  ‘Are you serious? You have a wife. You’ve been living a huge lie.’

  ‘I never told you that I wasn’t married.’

  ‘You never told me that you were!’

  ‘It wasn’t relevant.’

  ‘I can’t believe you’re saying this. Do you hear yourself? You didn’t think it was relevant? You know something like that is more than relevant. It’s just the goddamn facts. I deserved to know. I deserved at least that much,’ Eva spat.

  ‘I told you before that I don’t believe in marriage.’

  ‘You believed it once though, didn’t you? You believed in it enough to marry Mia.’

  ‘It’s not like that,’ Julian said, calmly.

  ‘Well, what is it like, Julian? ‘Cause I just don’t understand. No wonder Mia hates me. Christ, I’d hate me too if I was her.’

  ‘Marriage is a contract. An agreement on paper between two people. I don’t see it as anything more,’ Julian explained.

 
; Eva’s head was pounding. Her flared temper was making it hard to concentrate on anything more. Was he actually attempting to put forward a reasonable explanation? Or was he just being Julian? Calm and charming and always coming out on top.

  ‘How long have you been married?’

  ‘Ten years.’

  Eva’s face dropped into her hands. ‘Oh, my God. You were childhood sweethearts.’

  ‘No. We were kids who needed a quick solution to a problem. Getting married was our answer.’

  The image of the kid Eva met in the corridor filled her head.

  ‘The little boy? Daniel?’ Eva said resolved.

  ‘Daniel. Yes. He’s a great kid.’

  Eva sat back down on the edge of the bed. She didn’t want to be close to Julian at that moment, but she had no choice. She needed to sit before her legs crumpled beneath her completely. A mix of anger, shock, and elation that she finally knew some truth fizzled through her body until she thought her head might explode.

  ‘Mia was pregnant at seventeen, Eva. She had another year in state care. Another year living with a family who’d kick her out on her arse as soon as she turned eighteen and the state stopped paying them to keep her. She had no money and nowhere to go. She was terrified. I was older. I was almost twenty-two. I was making money. A lot of money. I’d abandoned Mia once, the day I left the orphanage. I couldn’t do that to her again. I had to protect her.’

  ‘Did you love her?’ Eva asked, her chest tightening to the point of pain.

  ‘Yes.’

  Eva gasped. Fuck! That hurt to hear.

  ‘Do you…do you still love her now?’ Eva asked afraid of the answer.

  ‘Yes.’

  Eva eyed the door. She wished the chair wasn’t there. She’d storm out if she hadn’t made it like Fort Knox in the room. She was already humiliated enough. Struggling with furniture, while trying to make a dramatic exit, was not going to happen.

  ‘So, you married a woman you loved because there was a baby on the way, and you’re still trying to tell me that you don’t believe in marriage. Fucking hell, Julian. You’re an even bigger liar than I thought…and you know the part that’s pissing me off the most?’