My Twin Flame

by C C Simeon

  Amelia glanced over again at Joy, who was furiously typing on her keyboard. Sighing, she got up and walked toward Hunter’s office.

  Amelia hated the fact that she had to do it, no matter how much she wanted to retaliate. She hated that she had to go to Hunter, ask him out, and then prove to Hilton—who wasn’t supposed to have anything to do with Amelia’s relationship—that Hunter was crazy about her. She didn’t even know where to start. How was she going to do that?

  She would worry about that when she got to it. There was no need for her to stress about it now. She had enough on her plate as it was. Adding to it was not going to help, it would only make her clumsy and weird. It would make her stutter and worry about what came next rather than worrying about the moment she was in. She was sick of worrying. She was so unbelievably sick of worrying.

  Amelia knocked on Hunter’s door and waited until she heard the low invitation inside.

  She found Hunter in front of his window, hands clasped behind his back as he looked over the city. She closed the door behind her and strolled over to him. She could see his shoulders stiffen, could sense the tension in the air.

  “Hey,” she said softly, resting a hand on his back. Hunter instantly flinched away from her, causing her to frown. “What’s wrong?”

  “This is a workplace, Amelia. You just coming in here is completely unwarranted and unprofessional.”

  Amelia retreated a bit, taken aback by his coldness. This reminded her too much of Hilton, and it scared her. His whole demeanor had changed. If Hilton didn’t have those recognizable scars on his face, Amelia would have thought that Hilton had taken Hunter’s place. But no, this was Hunter, and he was showing a side of himself to Amelia that she didn’t like. She could see the connection between the two brothers now. Not only did they look identical, but their personalities were more alike than Amelia would have liked to think. It unsettled her. She hated this feeling.

  “As opposed to you calling me into your office to ask me on a date?” Amelia whipped back, wanting to take back the words as soon as she spat them. She wasn’t going to win any favors with him if she picked a fight. That wasn’t going to work. She had to prove to Hilton that he liked her, and soon.

  “That was a mistake,” Hunter said plainly as he took his seat by his desk.

  Amelia had a feeling that he wasn’t just referring to their previous interaction in his office. She had the unsettling feeling that he meant the entire date was a mistake. It felt like a knife to the heart.

  That was fine. That made things much, much easier. If he wasn’t afraid of hurting her feelings, she wasn’t going to take his feelings into consideration, either. Screw him, and screw his brother, too.

  “Never mind, I can see that you’re busy. I’ll come back later.”

  Without another word, Amelia left his office, nostrils flaring, If this was how he was going to treat her, he had another think coming if he expected her to just let it go.

  ***

  Hunter could see the hurt on Amelia’s face; he could see the pain and disgust. She was embarrassed, and it looked as if she had tasted something rotten when she’d left. It made him feel like a complete jackass. The feeling was well fitted to him, then. He was a complete jackass. He’d slept with a co-worker and cheated on his wife.

  And now, his past might have just come back to haunt him.

  Hunter never should have gotten involved with Amelia. That was his first mistake. His second was thinking that he was safe from his past and his actions. If Hilton really was still alive, he was going to tear Amelia away in a much different, much more painful way. It was better he put an end to things now, better he ended the affair and kept the casualties as few as possible.

  And if Hilton wasn’t alive, well, wouldn’t it just be fitting if his mere memory was tearing Hunter’s life apart? That would’ve had Hilton’s signature all over it. Even after death, his brother was still a giant pain in his ass.

  This was for the better. Whether Hilton was alive or not, this was for the better. He had to break things off with Amelia either way. He couldn’t keep on living this life. He couldn’t keep lying to Hayden even though he was pulled toward Amelia in a way he had never experienced before. Even now, he was torn between going after her and letting the wounds sink deeper. Even now, he was torn between Hayden and Amelia, and he was afraid that he was making the wrong decision for himself, even though he knew it was the right decision for the women in his life.

  Hayden deserved a faithful husband, and Amelia deserved to be happy with an honest, unmarried man. She deserved to be taken home and be introduced to his family. He could never give her that while he was still with Hayden, and he couldn’t convince his heart to leave Hayden, either.

  He felt infuriated with his circumstances and, in a fit of rage, swiped everything off his desks, leaving only his computer screen on the very edge. He wanted to hit a wall. But he didn’t.

  Instead, he straightened his tie and bent down to pick up his things. He had to get over this. He had to get over Amelia. But, deep down, he knew that if she were to come calling once more, he would be at her doorstep in a heartbeat. This had been hard enough—he didn’t think he could do it again.

  Chapter 28: Walls

  Joy’s life was in danger and there was only one thing that Amelia could do to save her. She wondered if she’d have to seduce Hunter again. After their moment in his office, she wasn’t sure where she stood with him.

  He had grown increasingly aloof and distant, and she didn’t know why. She didn’t know what she had done to piss him off, or if she even had pissed him off. That was why, when she invited him to her house, she was surprised when he agreed to come. She didn’t think it was going to work.

  So, she still had a chance with him, then. That made her work that much easier.

  When the doorbell rang, she was in front of it instantly, Quinton and Kevin barking at the visitor. Amelia shushed them and peeped through the window next to her door. Hunter was standing there, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.

  Her phone pinged, and she quickly read the text.

  He looks dapper, doesn’t he? Flowers, too! This should be easy. You have one hour to prove to me that you have him in your pocket or poor little Joy will be Misery, instead.

  Amelia gulped and tossed her phone on the couch a few feet away. She watched it bounce once, twice, and then fall still.

  She opened the door much too eagerly and Hunter took a step back, surprised. Amelia smiled shyly. She had to pull herself together. She had to remember that he was into her already—she only had to prove it to Hilton, who was watching them. She didn’t know how long ago he’d had the cameras in her house set up, and it creeped her out. She hated the idea of her privacy being violated, of Hilton watching her every move. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. But she couldn’t—not now. Not when Joy was in danger.

  “I didn’t think you’d actually show,” she said, stepping aside so he could enter.

  Hunter’s brows furrowed in confusion. “I didn’t think I was going to, either. But I found myself drawn to you once again.”

  Amelia closed the door behind him, sighing. “I don’t know what happened or what I did to piss you off, but I just want you to know that—”

  Her words were cut off when she turned around and Hunter’s hands were cupping her face, pulling her closer for a kiss. She felt the world melt away, the knot in her stomach unraveling.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, and his hands were on the buttons of her jeans. They didn’t break away from their kiss as they peeled each other's clothes off, leaving nothing but skin on skin, lips on lips. Hunter grabbed a hold of her ass and lifted her up, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. He pushed her up against the wall and sank deep inside of her. Amelia moaned and their lips parted for a second. Hunter settled inside of Amelia, and then he started to thrust.

  It was by no means gentle. No, this was twice as hungry as it had been the first time the
y’d slept together. It was as though Hunter was doing something he knew he shouldn’t, but was unable to control himself. He couldn’t hold back. It was like he has been holding something back for all his life.

  The wall was hard against Amelia’s back, but she didn’t care. She didn’t care as long as he was with her, inside of her, here… She didn’t care that her bones were banging against the walls, again and again. She was moaning, so she must have liked it. She must have enjoyed him inside of her as much as he enjoyed being there.

  Amelia’s nails dug into his back and he growled, burying his face in the crook of her neck. She felt his lips there, felt his tongue caress the sweet, tender flesh until he bit down, hard. Amelia yelped, but the action pushed her over the edge. Her body trembled, her entire world disappearing around her. She felt lightheaded. She was certain if Hunter set her down, she was going to fall over. Hunter… The man she asked for, the man she manifested—her twin flame. The man that was here and wanting her. He wanted her, she told herself. He wanted her as much as she wanted him, and it was terrifying, heartbreaking, and special all at the same time. It made everything that much more complicated, and she hated it.

  Hunter pulled her away from the wall and carried her to the couch, where he tossed her down on her back. She giggled slightly as she bounced, and he grinned at her. That fiendish grin that made her heart skip a beat every time. That fiendish grin that had stolen her heart from the very first moment he’d flashed it at her. That smile was going to break her heart someday, she knew. But today was not that day. Today, she was going to enjoy her time with him. Who knew what would happen tomorrow?

  Hunter crawled over her, and this time, she didn’t let any negative thoughts cross her mind. Instead, she leaned in to every kiss, and she savored every moment with him.

  Chapter 29: Ugly Truths

  Amelia woke up when the window in her bedroom betrayed her to the dawn sunlight. She groaned, a stiffness in her bones that she hadn’t felt in a long time. She looked over to her right, where a slumbering Hunter lay. His breaths were deep and content, a soft snore occasionally audible. She gazed at him for a moment.

  She watched his chest rise and fall, watched the sun dance on the curves of his face—the strong line of his jaw and the stubble that was uncharacteristic for him. He was always clean-shaven. This version of him made Hunter look younger and more carefree. It made him look like the 27-year-old that he was. Amelia realized that she could look at him for hours and hours. She could watch him sleep all day long and never get bored. Did this make her creepy? She wasn’t sure that she even cared. Somehow, she knew that he would watch her, too, if he was given the chance.

  Amelia looked over to her dogs on their pillow next to her bed. They were looking up at her, and she narrowed her eyes at them.

  “Don’t judge me,” she whispered, sitting up. “You watch me when I sleep, too.”

  Kevin let out a small growl and Amelia shot to her feet, silencing him instantly. She didn’t want them to wake Hunter. She needed something to eat first. She probably had to do the cute thing and bring him breakfast in bed.

  Amelia groaned. She hated cooking, but she did make a mean bacon omelet. She supposed it was as good a time as any to put those pots and pans in her kitchen to use. She was still riding her high, which explained her upbeat mood so early in the morning. The events of the previous night replayed in her head in vivid detail. His lips on her lips, his skin against her skin. It was magical. It was something Amelia looked forward to repeating soon. Her flame, she had found him. She had to remember to thank the universe for answering her prayers. Later, though. When she’d eaten and had consumed at least two cups of coffee and gotten over the fact that Hilton still had a plan that involved her. She’d forgotten about him last night. She’d forgotten about Hilton entirely, and it was going to bite her in the ass. Because she’d let herself get in too deep with Hunter, and now her heart was in as much danger as Joy.

  Making her way to the door, she picked up the discarded clothes, folding them up and placing them neatly on the bed. When she reached for Hunter’s jacket, a soft clank sounded on the floor. Kevin and Quinton were instantly there, investigating the object. Amelia bent down.

  “What’s that, boys?”

  Amelia picked it up. The metal felt cool on her palm. She investigated it, turning it over, looking for answers. Any answer that meant something other than what she already knew. Amelia swallowed, her blood turning to ice. She wanted to scream, to yank the blanket from his body and whack him across the head.

  She turned the ring over, reading the engraved message on the inside.

  “A symbol of my love. H”

  It was a wedding ring.

  And that meant that Hunter, the man she had slept with, the man she had found this once-in-a-lifetime connection with, was married.

  Amelia’s nostrils flared as she ran through every possibility in her head. Nothing could explain this. There was no other reason he would have a wedding ring in his pocket. Was this why he was so private? Was he hiding his wife from the entire office so he could sleep with the women there?

  Amelia tried to remember if she’d noticed a tan line on his ring finger. She couldn’t recall. All she knew was that he’d never worn a ring to work. She’d never bothered to take a closer look.

  She held onto the ring as she stormed to the kitchen, needing to busy herself with anything to keep her mind off of what she had done. She didn’t know, she kept telling herself. She didn’t know that he was married.

  There was no sadness in her chest, however. There was only wrath—a wrath so violent she wanted to throw every pot and pan she owned on the floor to wake him.

  How could the universe be so cruel? How could the universe send her a married man?

  This was why Hilton wanted her to sleep with him. The jerk knew. That jerk knew Hunter would cheat on his wife. And Amelia was the mistress. Amelia was a pawn. There was nothing that could save Hilton from her. She was going to end him, and she was going to end Hunter, too. Screw them both.

  Chapter 30: Lucky Strikes

  “You actual piece of trash,” Amelia said, her nostrils flaring. Her blood boiled in her veins.

  She didn’t bother with a greeting, not when she saw him lounging against the wall so casually as if there was absolutely nothing wrong. The air was chilly, but her body was on fire. Everything inside of her thrummed and buzzed, overheating. She felt like she could murder someone—preferably this piece of garbage that was grinning at her. This asshole that had tricked her, deceived her and made her think that she was special. That she was the only one who could do exactly what he wanted her to do. She realized now that it was all a trick. There was never anything special about her. The only thing he saw when he looked at her was a gullible victim.

  He looked at Amelia, those familiar eyes drilling into her. Those familiar eyes that did not belong to the person she had come to enjoy spending time with. No, this wasn’t Hunter, that much was clear now. Amelia didn’t know how she hadn’t seen it sooner. He was much worse than Hunter—and Hunter, in light of recent events, was pretty damn bad.

  Hilton took a drag of his cigarette, his brows pulled into a bored arch. He looked so much like his brother… It was unsettling.

  “What are you on about, Amelia?”

  Amelia’s nostrils flared. “You wanted me to seduce him, to break his heart. You never told me he had a wife!”

  Hilton nodded. “And a child, with the second on the way.”

  Amelia took a step back, her hand covering her mouth. She was a homewrecker. She was sleeping with a married man, with a father. She knew she wasn’t the only one at fault, but she couldn’t help but feel awful. She was not a homewrecker. Hilton had never told her about the wife, never mentioned an innocent child.

  Amelia wanted to throw up. “How could you do this?”

  “Don’t act all innocent, Amelia. You’ve done horrible things in the past, and now you pretend to be the victim? I mean, honestly, i
n the time you’ve been working for me, how many laws have you broken?”

  “That’s not fair! I am not working for you. I am not getting paid. You are forcing me into doing this! You are forcing me to tear a family apart. This was not my choice.”

  Hilton pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against, taking one last drag of the cigarette before flicking it to the ground and stomping on it to put it out. “Isn’t it? You had a choice in all of it. You chose to cheat, lie, and steal. You chose to seduce your boss; you chose to obey my every command. If you think about it, who’s really in the wrong here?”

  “You!”

  Hilton chuckled. “I am under no illusion, Amelia. I am not a very nice man. But you, my dear, are not a very nice woman, either. You can tell yourself whatever the hell you want to make you feel better about yourself, but in the end, you are just as rotten as I am.”

  “I am nothing like you.”

  “The only difference between us is the fact that I embrace my darkness. You still deny it, and probably will until the day you die. It’s sad, really.”

  “I’m out, Hilton,” Amelia said, shaking her head. She was awestruck by the attitude of this man. How could he be so cruel? So cold? How was he at all related to Hunter? Then again, Hunter was cheating on his wife, so perhaps there wasn’t such a big difference, after all.

  “I’d like you to repeat that, but this time, take what’s at stake into consideration.”

  “You’re blackmailing me again?”

  “Yes,” he said matter-of-factly. “I don’t feel like finding a new whore and honestly, Hunter has already lost his heart on you. You would really abandon all the progress you’ve made, Amelia?”