He narrows his eyes at me for a moment before flashing me the hint of a smile. “Well . . .”
“What?”
He shrugs, and my eyes are drawn to the exposed V his shirt offers. I resist the urge to touch his skin even though I want to. I want to know if he tastes as good as he smells. Roman reminds me of burying my feet in the warm sand and listening to the waves crash upon the shore, and I want to know if he feels like that too. Like happiness.
“I wasn’t expecting you to be so casual about the whole thing.” He crosses his arms and mimics my stance. I’m being defensive and I don’t know why. Maybe because I know he’s different than James. I can’t just have sex with Roman and expect to walk away in one piece.
“What does that mean?”
He chuckles as he wraps his arms around my waist and holds me. “It means I’ve wanted to fuck you since we were teenagers, and now, now you’re game and with another person to tag team with?”
I playfully shove him away, both turned on by his words and a little ashamed of myself. “Not when you put it like that.”
He kisses the tip of my nose. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist.”
I look away blushing as he cups my arse and I wiggle my hips against him. I can feel how hard he is already, and we haven’t even done anything. I wasn’t a virgin, but nothing had ever felt like this. James was like a cool drink of water, keeping me grounded and making me crave more, while Roman was like a fire inside me that I couldn’t escape.
Letting out a soft moan, he asks, “Are you sure?”
He looks both concerned and hot as hell as he waits for my reply. He wants to push my buttons, to drive me crazy, but only if I agree. He knows, just like I do, there’s no going back. Not once we cross this line.
“Right now, this is the only thing I’m sure of. I’m not a fragile little flower, Roman. Stop treating me like one.”
He smirks. “Oh, I won’t.”
Cupping my face, his mouth crashes into mine with a ferocity that should be alarming, but instead I feel myself grabbing his shirt, desperate for more as I cling onto him. When Roman kisses me, it’s like I can feel it in every nerve, every cell in my body. Nothing escapes the Roman effect.
“That’s only the beginning,” he promises in a murmur against my lips and I believe it.
The second he pulls away; my body misses his. When had he snuck up on me like this? Roman had always been there, but why had this never happened before?
“I guess I’ll see you at seven,” he says, flashing me another grin and untangling himself from me.
Words fail me, so I just watch as he leaves. I realise I’m still rooted to the spot ten minutes later when Brie’s phone buzzes in my pocket, letting me know that the battery was about to die. The vibration seems to bring me to my senses as I finally get back to Luna Cabin and put the damn thing on charge. As I wait for the screen to light up, I sit and bite my lip. Was I ready for whatever I was about to find? Could I handle it? It’s like there’s a rock nestled in my stomach as I try to stay calm. Finally, the device comes back to life and I log in using her date of birth as her password. I never expected anything less from Brie.
Sitting on the bed, I scroll through the texts, emails, and social media messages from my father. They weren’t even being discreet, although some of them made an attempt at being coded. It was like watching children playing a game of spies or something equally ludicrous. Going through the apps on her phone, it takes me minutes to learn that my father is in Thailand with a new identity. At least, that’s where Brie sent him. God knows if he’s still there or if he’s moved on already. But why? Why did he just leave? Why did he empty all the accounts and flee like a criminal? How could he leave me behind with nothing and yet still find time to text his ‘Precious Bre-bre’, as he calls her in one of his emails. I feel sick. Sick and angry as I toss the phone back down.
Chapter Fifteen
Lucas
I can’t believe Viv agreed to the terms of my deal so easily, almost like she wanted to give herself an excuse to say yes. I’m not going to question it. I’m just going to take what I can get. One night with Vivian to get her out of my system is exactly what the doctor ordered, and then I can take my spoils and leave this little slice of paradise. My mission with Gabriella Astor is done. I don’t want anything more to do with her and it was getting boring trying to fake being interested in her while she whined and talked about herself.
I make my way back to the main hotel, debating whether to go for a swim in the pool or a session in the sauna when Brie strides up to me. It’s like she can tell when people are thinking about her, like she feeds on the attention they give her.
She tries to link her arm through mine, but I gently shrug her off. “Hey baby, do you want to go for dinner just you and me tonight?”
I take a deep breath. I’m just going to have to tell her. “I’m sorry, Brie. I have plans.”
“With who?” She frowns, then crosses her arms, annoyance clear on her face. She’s angry that she’s not the centre of my world and that I won’t drop everything for her. God, rich women are all the same. I hate breaking up with them. It’s so much easier just to slip away into the night, never to be seen again— less drama that way.
“Vivian.” I flash her a sympathetic smile. “Brie, look, you’re a nice girl, but this just isn’t working.”
“I’m sorry, what?” she stutters, looking at me like I’m foaming at the mouth.
“I said, I have plans with Vivian,” I say the words slowly and clearly so there’s no space for miscommunication. You wouldn’t believe the way words go in one ear and come out as something else with some women.
Her mouth twists into a spiteful grin. “She’s with Roman. I just saw them. They’re probably shagging right now.”
She’s trying to bait me, make me jealous or angry. It won’t work for the simple reason that I trust Vivian. I don’t know why, but I do. Instead, I do something I know will make Brie even more angry. I wink. “Not without me they aren’t.”
“You’re a pervert, a sicko. You know that?” she spits, stomping a foot. “I don’t care how rich you are!”
Smirking, I walk away, calling out loud enough for everyone nearby to hear me, “Yeah, but I’m a pervert who’s about to get laid. Several times hopefully.”
She lets out a frustrated scream. She hates losing to Vivian, but I’m enjoying myself too much to give a shit.
I opt for a swim, working off some of the excess energy that seems to be shooting through me as I think about my plans for the evening. A few laps seem to do the trick as I feel more relaxed once I’m showered and dressed. All that’s left is to wait.
I don’t have to wait long, but the knock on my door is heavy handed and louder than I was expecting. It’s Roman. He leans against my door frame wearing a white shirt, unbuttoned, and a pair of white linen trousers.
“You going to invite me in then?” he asks with a gleam in his eye. He’s so close to me that I pick up on the soft scent of coconut lingering in the air.
“She told you then,” I observe as I move to let him pass. Part of me is glad. He’s more likely to make her feel at ease. And besides, there’s something about Roman that tells me this is his area of expertise.
He pretends to look hurt, but I can see the smile playing on his lips. “Why? Don’t you want me here?”
Chuckling, I reply, “If I didn’t want you here, you wouldn’t be here.”
He grins as he helps himself to my whiskey decanter and makes himself comfortable. We make small talk for a little while. He asks me about my app and my company, and while I answer with ease, I feel like he’s still scrutinising me just a little. I ask him about being the son of a Lord, something he seems to be nonchalant about. Had money made him jaded? Or was being a Lord not worth the hype?
“I bet you a hundred quid she turns up early,” Roman says as he takes a swig of his whiskey, sprawled out on the chaise lounge at the bottom of my bed.
“You think?” I say as I pour myself a drink and undo one of my buttons. It was still warm even though it was almost nightfall. I glance out the balcony doors to where the sun had dipped below the horizon, eaten by the ocean.
He laughs softly. “She’ll be nervous.”
Leaning against my dresser, I watch him carefully. There’s something about him I can’t put my finger on and while I’m not concerned, I am curious. “Then why were you here early?”
“I was bored.” He shrugs, not meeting my eyes. Is he worried about missing out? Or is he here to scope me out beforehand?
“How long have you known her?” If he’s going to be making himself comfortable in my room, and we’ll be getting naked later, I should probably get to know him a little better.
“Since we were twelve.” He stretches lazily, long body dominating all the space. Tonight is going to be fun if his body was as good as his game.
I raise a brow at him. “And you never . . .?”
Another shrug. “She wasn’t ready.”
“And now she is?”
“Viv isn’t as strong as everyone thinks she is.” His eyes burn into me as he nods. “I want to be the one who puts her back together again.”
Chapter Sixteen
Vivian
I text Amelia and ten minutes later she shows up at my cabin with a bottle of champagne in hand and two glasses. I need to talk to someone, and I know Amelia won’t judge. Besides, it’s not like I can trust anyone else right now. Amelia is my best friend and I feel like my world is getting smaller and smaller by the day. Soon, there will be nothing left.
“What’s the matter, Viv?” Amelia asks as she pours us both a glass of bubbly and hands me one before downing hers. She takes a seat on the armchair in my room and watches me with her usual doe-eyed expression.
“Look,” I say as I hand her Brie’s phone, open to all the messages between her and my father. How could I have just dismissed Brie’s bragging about my father? I underestimated her. I thought he’d never stoop that low, but I was wrong.
“These . . . these are from your dad?” Amelia frowns as she scrolls. “I thought he was working in Tokyo.”
I shrug as I sit back down on the bed. “Yeah, that’s what he told me too.”
“Well, what a lying little toad.” Amelia’s face twists into an expression I’ve never seen before as she reads. She almost looks sinister, her eyes blazing with anger as her mouth is set in a firm line.
I straighten a little, surprised at her tone. “Amelia, that’s still my dad.”
She looks embarrassed as she hands me the phone back. “Sorry, it’s just how could he run away like this? Taking all his money, his clients’ money, and then just vanishing?”
I freeze. I never told her that he’d taken all our money. In fact, I’d gone to huge lengths to hide it. As far as I was aware, nothing has emerged about his clients’ money being missing, but I do know that they had started an audit at his work— I received an email from his secretary yesterday. Shit. Things were beginning to slot into place. Was my father an embezzler? Was that why he was running?
“I’m so glad you’re nothing like him, Viv. I trust you more than anyone in the whole world,” Amelia gushes as she squeezes my hand and pours us both another drink.
So many questions run through my head as I try to keep my thoughts straight. Amelia knew. Amelia fucking knew. She wasn’t angry enough to have lost all her wealth, so that can only mean one thing— she was his accomplice. She’d simply lost her source of extra income. Then when it all went south, he’d used Brie to escape, leaving me behind without a second thought. The authorities weren’t going to have a clue about Amelia. I mean, I didn’t. I searched her. I went through her phone and laptop with a fine-tooth comb. I knew every aspect of her life. Well, I thought I did. Nothing. How? Had she used a burner phone?
I drink my second glass of champagne like it’s water, chugging it down. I wouldn’t have known to come here and look through their lives and their accounts either if I hadn’t been tipped off. About three weeks ago, an email from someone called Hawkeye90 showed up in my inbox, and I don’t know why, but I had to look into it.
Where has Daddy gone?
Which one of your friends helped him?
Which one is a thief?
Which one is a liar?
Secrets and Lies are the theme of your summer, Vivian.
Who will you trust in the end?
Just reading it had sent chills down my spine and I knew that my life as Vivian St. Clare, rich heiress and daughter of a business mogul, was coming to an end. I just hadn’t realised it would hurt so much. I could handle losing the money. It was only money. I could always make more. It was the feeling of being alone. Amelia was supposed to be one of the good ones. It was all an act and I had fallen for it. Ever since we were children, I had defended her. I protected her. But she never needed me.
“Viv, are you okay? You look upset.” Her face is the perfect mask of concern, but her eyes are dead. Those big puppy dog eyes are flat. I should have seen it sooner.
“Yeah, I will be. I just need some time to think,” I admit, deciding it’s best to stick with truth rather than create a lie I’m not sure I can pull off right now. We have been friends since we were nine and she’ll see straight through me.
Amelia rubs my back softly in an attempt to comfort me. “It’ll work out. Everything will be okay,” she promises, but I know it’s all just lies. Nothing was going to be okay. Amelia was a thief, Brie had helped my father, and I still didn’t know who the liar was. Was it Henry and his thing with Spencer? Was that the lie? Or was Roman hiding something too?
The second she leaves, I change into a black silk slip and a lace thong. I polish off what’s left of the champagne and run my hands through my hair, fluffing it up a little in the mirror as I take in my appearance. Just for a few hours, I need an escape. I need to be outside of my own head. I can’t stay here. There are too many lies wrapped up in truths and secrets and I can no longer tell which way is up. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. How I am supposed to feel. What I do know is that both Roman and James want me. They are my answer, just for tonight. They’re my distraction from the life I’m living, the one that doesn’t even feel like mine anymore.
I leave and head to the main complex. No one even bats an eyelid at my attire because A) I’m rich and B) I’m a model, so I look good in anything. I practically punch the elevator button, pushing it over and over as I wait for the doors to open.
Tonight, I just want to feel good.
Tonight, I want to forget.
Chapter Seventeen
Lucas
A sharp knock on my door tells me Viv is here and I grin at Roman before opening it. Showtime. I don’t know what I was expecting, maybe a nervous Vivian, maybe some silence, a dash of awkwardness and a little trembling. But instead, what I’m met with is a desperate woman in a silk nightie of sorts. Roman gets to his feet and we both wait for Vivian to say something. Why is she agitated?
Running a hand through her hair, she takes a deep breath before blurting out, “I just want one night with no rules, no restraints, and no questioning. Do you understand?”
Roman and I look at each other. I guess she didn’t want to talk about it.
“Yes,” Roman breathes as I nod.
“Then will someone kiss me already?” she whispers as she takes another step into the room.
That’s all the go-ahead I need as I place my hand on her waist and drag her closer. As I lower my mouth to hers, I hear the clink of ice and the sound of a cork popping. Her hands weave through my hair as she lets out a soft groan. I slide the straps of her black silk chemise down and let it cascade down her body. She grabs my shirt and begins undoing the buttons. Soft footfalls can be heard but Roman doesn’t approach us. Instead, he leaves the room. I use this as an opportunity to squeeze Viv’s breasts, her nipples begging to be touched as she stands there just wearing a thong. I feel Roman’s presence again before I hear
him. He comes behind Vivian, already naked, his hands all over her body as he kisses down her spine. Getting down on one knee, he hooks his fingers into her lace underwear and peels it down her legs, his mouth following the path of the fabric. Fuck, she’s hot.
“You want first taste?” Roman asks casually as if we were talking about sharing a fucking ice cream.
“Yeah,” I say between kisses, feeling her tremble beneath my hands. The normally opinionated Viv is quiet as we discuss her fate, as we take the choices and the decisions out of her hands, just like she asked.
Roman stands, his hands replacing mine, taunting her nipples with his expert fingers. “Fine, then I get to fuck her first.”
I nod. I’m not in a rush and tonight it’s all about Vivian. It’s my turn to kiss her body, peppering her skin with little nibbles and licks as I get down onto my knees and hook one of her legs over my shoulder, exposing her pussy to me. I grab her arse, pushing her sweet cunt into my face as Roman steadies her from behind.
“Please,” Vivian whimpers as I gently breathe against the lips of her pussy. She wriggles, trying to get closer, but I’m enjoying this too much to dive straight in. I run my tongue along her slit, slowly, very fucking slowly, and I savour the sound she makes as I do. I do this a few more times before relenting, flicking my tongue over her clit I slip two fingers inside. She’s already soaking wet. Already begging for us. As I lap at her sensitive nub, my fingers slide in and out, building tempo. She writhes and squirms, but Roman helps her stay in place, kissing her with a passion that makes me wish we’d done this sooner. Then we could have spent the last week fucking like rabbits already. I can tell the second her orgasm washes over her, her pussy clenching around my fingers and her hips grinding against my face. As it slowly subsides, she starts to withdraw as if she’s just realising she’s naked and being held up by her Roman while I’ve just eaten her out.
Web of Lies Page 51
