Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Other Books By Leighton Riley
DECEITFULLY
Copyright © 2015 by Leighton Riley
Editing by: Jenny Sims
Formatting and Cover design by: Pink Ink Designs https://www.facebook.com/PinkInkDesignsbyCassy
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
ISBN-13:978-1511502399
ISBN-10: 1511502398
Tristen’s wife will not be named. This would be a spoiler for those who have not read Sinfully or Regretfully. Since these books can be read out of order, I wanted to respect everyone and not ruin anything. I know it might look different with her name not being included but I promise it’s on purpose.
THE FIRST ROUND OF fire came from directly behind me, and I ducked immediately to the ground, covering my head for protection. Six roaring bangs sounded, causing everyone to scatter, half screaming in panic and the other half in pain. The lights had gone out; we assumed it had been due from the storm, but now I wondered if it was calculated. The thunderstorm that night was particularly brutal. Just moments before, we were all talking about how we could hear the intense hail and wind that seemed to be getting worse with each passing minute. A few of the guys had mentioned bringing the party upstairs and staying the night if the weather kept up.
Thick, white smoke permeated through the banquet room full of childhood friends, past girlfriends, and school acquaintances. My ears were ringing and I began to panic as the smoke began to take over. A can rolled past me, and it looked like a handmade smoke bomb. Holding my hand out in front of me, I could barely make out the outline. Chaos surrounded me and every logical thought told me to run with the crowd, to get to safety.
I needed to find her. I needed to find them.
Everyone was running, stumbling over bodies on the floor, trying to make it to the exits, but I couldn’t leave without them. It wasn’t an option.
I was damn sure that I was about to cough up a lung as I hunched over, trying to catch my breath. My eyes felt like they were on fire, and it hurt to breathe. I fell to the ground, where I felt other people trying to make their way to safety. Crawling slowly, using my hands to feel my way around, the realization of what was happening kicked in. I wasn’t sure how far I’d gotten. For all I knew, I was creeping slowly toward the reason for the madness.
I felt bodies in front of me. The softness of a woman’s dress with intricate beading slipped through my fingers, and I wracked my brain, trying to remember who’d been wearing it. I felt her body convulse as she coughed, most likely affected by the smoke just as I was.
Realizing Matt’s fiancée was the one in the dress, I hoped and prayed that I was close to them. I’d just gone to pick up a drink from the bar in the back of the room when all hell broke loose. I ran. Trying to get back to them, I realized the smoke and injured bodies in front of me hindered me. Screaming Stella’s name, I had no idea if anyone heard or not. The shots fired were so close to my ears that the ringing was constant. My damn ears needed to start working again.
Someone bumped into me hard as they were running toward the exit and I fell onto the ground. It felt like hours had ticked by as I felt my way to Matt’s fiancée’s face. Hilary was her name, I think. When I was close enough, I saw that she had been shot in the shoulder but was staring past me with squinted yet frightened eyes. Her hands pulled me on top of her just as I felt something kick my back.
Fuck.
Closing my eyes, I lay limp, pretending to be lifeless, hoping that it would work to my benefit and not foreshadow my future.
Heavy steps walked a few feet in front of me; I looked up slightly and instantly knew who it was. Even through the smoke, Victor hadn’t changed much since high school. He gripped a gun in his left hand, and he was looking for more victims. He’d been our third string quarterback and always in the background. Girls paid him no attention and his peeping Tom tendencies made him the outcast of the school. He’d been caught numerous times hiding in the girls’ locker rooms, enjoying himself while he watched the show.
I’d seen him as we walked in but didn’t think anything about him; he was just another face from the past. Besides, I had my eyes glued to the woman who’d captured my attention from the moment we’d arrived. The woman who I had never given a chance in high school because I was so caught up in her sister. They might look alike, but I knew they were worlds apart in personality. I was determined to find out more, but that fucker had interrupted.
Looking down at the woman below me, I mouthed thank you for probably saving my life. I looked at her wound, and it appeared the bullet had just grazed her. She’d be okay. As I began to crawl past her, the distinct sound of more gunshots rang through the room. Ducking and covering my head, I looked over and saw Victor, the shooter, fall to the ground. I could feel heavy footsteps around me and prayed that the police had arrived. That this was over and done with, and we were safe.
I needed to get to my friends. My breathing was becoming shallow and black spots were beginning to appear around the edges of my vision. I resumed crawling, my lungs fighting against my will to breathe when I felt her. A soft, weak hand reached for me, and I was instantly comforted. Collapsing to the ground, I knew finding both sisters wouldn’t be possible, but I knew in my gut that I’d gotten to one of them. One was an old flame and the other was still a mystery to me. She squeezed my fingers and the urge to get closer to her, to see if she was okay, was so strong. I was fighting to keep my eyes open, but she was so close. Without seeing her familiar dark eyes, I knew who it was. It was Stella.
Her grasp started to loosen, causing me to pry open my eyes, only to see her start to slip away from me. She looked so delicate, so fragile lying there, cowering to protect herself. She didn’t deserve this, none of us did. She’d just come back into my life, and I hadn’t even gotten a chance with her. Scooting closer to her, I wrapped her in my arms and whispered that everything would be okay, even though it was an obvious lie.
I needed everything to be okay. My life was just starting to turn around and seeing her there seemed like fate. We didn’t have our chance in high school, but maybe now that we were older, we stood a chance. My head was heavy, and it was getting harder to see straight. I could feel the dizziness kicking in and knew it
was from the smoke, whatever had been in it.
Fate had a cruel way of putting me in my place, but I’d be damned if I let it win. It wasn’t fair. My friends shouldn’t have to go through this. No one should ever have to witness their loved ones being shot at.
The blackness closed in on my vision and I knew I had lost. I couldn’t help them and not knowing if they were okay was the last thing that crossed my mind. Holding Stella in my arms gave me a small amount of comfort, and I hoped that when I woke, it would all be just a terrible dream. Dreaming of those perfect, brown eyes and a world where we actually had a chance.
The next time I opened my eyes, the same, deliciously dark eyes were looking down at me. Tears filled her eyes. What caused me to stir, though, was the delicate hand holding mine. I felt the sparks, the same ones from that night.
My world had just been turned upside down.
2 Weeks Ago
I KNEW THAT WHAT I was doing was wrong and that I wasn’t being fair. The problem was that I didn’t care enough to change. I’d find a small part of Payton in each of the girls I took to bed and my imagination took it from there. I made a mental note never to call out a specific name in bed for fear that her name would escape my lips. She was the one who I envisioned each time I fucked another one of my distractions. It was completely wrong, but I didn’t have anyone else who came to mind when I needed a little help.
That was all they were—fixes to get me through another day.
Payton was happily taken and no longer a viable option. It wasn’t that I was still hung up on her; it was just that she still meant the world to me. We were strictly friends now and she was happily married, but a guy could have his fantasy. The girls knew they were replaceable, and I was pretty sure they used me as much as I used them.
I’d made progress, though, I thought. I wasn’t going out every night like I had been. I’d kept just a few women in a rotation for nights when I didn’t feel like going out. They didn’t know my story. Every one of them thought they’d be the one to tame me and that worked out just fine for me. Their pouty lips as I bid them goodbye wasn’t going to change the fact that I couldn’t care less who they were, where they came from, or why they thought they were different.
Looking over at the end of the bar, I shook my head. Tonight’s lead option didn’t understand the concept of subtlety. She’d already given me the sly smile, twirling of her hair, and slight nibble of her lip. Her brown hair was similar enough, but that was all she had going for her. At least it’d be easy to get her back to my place.
Tossing back the amber liquid in my drink, I patted Tyler’s shoulder and stood. “I think we have our winner. You good here?” I asked, knowing full well that he could handle himself just fine at the bar. O’Neill’s was decently busy for a Thursday night, and ladies' night was in full swing. Cheap, fruity drinks were all it took to make the girls come out to play. Probably the reason Tyler chose this place more often than not when we went out together. He always played up the sob story of how his wife of less than a year packed up and left him for another man, and he never went home alone.
We were perfect partners in crime. He’d go for the emotional connection with the girls while I looked for my own requirements in a girl. I went for someone who was confident in their own skin but wouldn’t be high maintenance. I didn’t need a connection with them. He did. I was done with relationships. I hadn’t met anyone who even came close to what I felt for Payton, and I had comfortably settled into acceptance. Acceptance that the girls I met weren’t worth comparing anymore, but more so that I might as well take advantage of my surroundings while I still could.
“You going for the Payton wannabe down at the end of the bar? Her friend looked appetizing if I don’t say so myself.” Tyler peered over to the women who were now giggling like schoolgirls. Ah, I wonder if she’d be into role playing? The image of her in a short plaid skirt and button up white shirt popped in my head, and I couldn’t help but wonder how kinky she was.
“They aren’t Payton wannabes. It just happens that she looks a little like her. You can have the friend. They don’t look like they’d share anyway.” I waited for him to stand from the table, and he let me lead. Tyler wasn’t happy with his wife before she left him, but damn if that boy didn’t use the fact he was a victim to his advantage.
“Girls’ night out?” I leaned in and asked the brunette, who had been pretending not to notice us walking over to them. She straightened her back as the words escaped my lips, standing close enough to smell her light perfume. Fuck, she smelled good.
“Mmmhmm. Amy’s divorce was just finalized last week, and I broke up with my loser of an ex so we’re in need of a fun night out. What about you boys?” Her voice dripped of sex.
Not paying any attention to Amy and Tyler, who were already starting to cozy up, I whispered in her ear, “I can make you forget his name, sweetheart.”
“Is that confidence or cockiness?” She turned toward me and grinned. The short blue dress she wore accentuated her lean figure but left little to the imagination.
“Never cocky. I just thought you could use a little…celebration…for leaving him.”
I watched as she looked over at her friend and Tyler and then back at me. “They do seem to be hitting it off. What are you looking for?” Her doe eyes made her look innocent, but her fake tits told me otherwise. I knew better.
“That’s a loaded question, sweetheart,” I said casually. I didn’t need this small talk. I knew she’d be coming home with me regardless of what bullshit I fed her. My shortness must have thrown her for a loop since her mouth parted in shock, but she covered it up quickly. Her lips would look nice wrapped around my cock.
“Oh, well—” she started to say but stopped abruptly. After a moment’s hesitation, she gave me the answer I was expecting. “Fuck it, I’m in. Amy, I’ll call you in the morning?” the girl, whose name I still didn’t know, asked. I could tell Tyler had already reeled Amy in with his drama since she was practically sitting on his lap while rubbing his upper thigh.
“She’s in good hands.” Placing my hand on her lower back, I guided her to the exit and to my car.
“What about me? Am I in good hands?” she questioned as she dipped into my car.
There were so many comebacks for that question. I smiled, quietly started the car, and waited for the next thing to come out of her mouth. She’d know how good my hands were soon enough. I’d let her ponder that thought, though.
She sat silently, fiddling with her hands until we were less than a mile from my condo. I was surprised that she had kept quiet that long. “This isn’t my thing. I don’t go home with random guys from bars. You were just, different,” she spilled quickly.
Sad thing was that most of the women I brought home said something similar to that. They all wanted you to think they were good girls who didn’t enjoy a no strings attached fuck. I chuckled and let her know it was all right, that I didn’t think differently of her either way. I didn’t need her to worry about what I thought of her. She’d be gone by morning anyway.
AS SOON AS WE got to my place, I knew she would not be one of my repeats. On the way upstairs, she’d brought up how this wasn’t what she normally did three more times. Apparently, I was just special, and that was her first mistake. I stopped listening to the bullshit spewing from her mouth while contemplating how I could keep her from talking in the bedroom. Gagging her with one of my ties seemed like my best option at the moment. From what I had heard from her, it would make sense that she would play shy and coy. Nope. She began stripping as soon as the front door closed and was acting as if she’d be in control tonight. That was her second mistake.
Stopping her before she got into the bed, I let her know, “Before this goes any further, you need to know a few things. I don’t make love, I’m not sweet, and much rather, I have plans for tonight. Non-negotiable—I’ll walk you to the door right now if you disagree—plans. Are we clear?” With any luck, maybe she’d frighten and leave, but
I knew that wouldn’t be the case. Her look of utter shock, followed by a timid nod, made my cock jump. She had no idea what she was in for. I pulled the shirt off my back and fumbled through my dresser drawers, looking for what I needed.
“One hundred percent. I can be your submissive, I don’t mind.” Sex laced her words. She kept going back and forth, pretending to be the innocent woman who didn’t know her pussy from her asshole to the sex-crazed manipulator who thought she had the control. I wished it was doing it for me, but the attraction I had to her had gone away and now I had to deal with the repercussions.
“No. Not a fucking submissive. We just do things my way.” I was on edge and wanted this to be over already. Thinking of Payton though had given me the assistance I needed to get things started. If only the girl would shut the hell up and let me live in my own fantasy for a few minutes.
“All right. Your way.” She slid onto the bed and waited for what was to come. Her eyes stayed on me with every move I made. Her right hand had already made its way lower, rubbing her pussy.
Thoughts kept running through my head of why I was doing this. I was fucking twenty-eight and these random chicks weren’t what made me happy. Shit, I hadn’t been happy since I’d realized Payton and I would never get a real chance. My mind reeled with the “what ifs” every damn day. I’d been happy and content with my life before her, too—back when I cared.
I unbuttoned my pants and lowered them while leaving my boxer briefs on. I’d worked my arms today in the gym, and I could feel the beginning of the soreness that was to come tomorrow. She giggled as I made my way up to her and I kept trying to focus on the one girl I couldn’t have. It was my only chance at making it through tonight.
Deceitfully (Sinfully Series) Page 1
