LIE (Right Men Book 1)

by Mayra Statham

  “Grace.” His voice was thick with need. She bit her lip while walking toward him.

  Her tan skin gleamed in the soft light that came in from every window in his room. It wasn’t sunrise yet, but it was no longer dark with night. He was not wrong about how damn good she looked in his space. She looked fucking fantastic. Meant to be there.

  He closed the space between them, and his hands actually shook slightly when he saw her reach out to him. Her delicate hands were on the hem of his shirt when he looked at her eyes and every single nerve in his body came alive at what he saw.

  “Shh…” she shook her head, a slight grin on her lips before she lifted his shirt and kissed his exposed skin. He stood still, relishing in the beauty of her touch.

  “Grace…” his voice was hoarse, hardly recognizable to his own ears.

  “I want to make you feel…” she licked his nipple, and he couldn’t help the groan that escaped his lips. He helped her pull his shirt over his head, throwing it behind him, “as good as you make me feel, Marc… though I don’t know if that’s possible…” Her lips were now on his collarbone. His heart raced.

  “Why’s that?” he strained to ask, his hands now in fists at his sides to hold on and let her do what she was obviously set on doing. She tugged down his sweats, and he kicked them off, standing naked in front of her.

  “Because the way you make me feel… I don’t think anyone has ever felt that.” He backed his head away so that he could look at her, and he saw it.

  She loved him. Just like he loved her. She might not have said the words, but he knew it. In his gut he knew.

  “You make me feel that and more,” he told her honestly before leaning down, taking her lips, and kissing her softly, almost leisurely.

  They had time.

  They didn’t have to rush.

  The only thing he hated was that his family was under the same roof and he couldn’t make her scream like he had in the cabin. But at that moment, the idea of having to fight to be quiet was almost like kindling to the flames.

  Her hands slipped down from his chest, slowly making their way to his hardness. She stroked him gently, her touch the sweetest kind of torment. They walked toward the bed wordlessly, their eyes never wavering, her touch never stopping. She sat on the bed still stroking him, and he couldn’t keep his hands to himself. He glided his hands over her shoulders and felt her tremble. His hand went to the one she was holding him in, trying to silently coax her to sop, but she shook her head. About to take his hand away, she took it into hers. They started to stroke him together. He breathed in deeply through his nose as he let himself look down. The sight of their hands together, the sensation of her soft warm hand holding his cock as he guided her and showed her how tight to hold him as they picked up speed, made him groan.

  His free hand moved into her luscious silky tresses, reaching her scalp. He held it and leaned down to kiss her. Soft groans escaped his lips, and they both moved onto the bed, their lips fusing together. Their tongues dueled and their teeth grazed as he bucked his hips into her hand. Too damn close to coming. He didn’t want to come in her hand. He wanted to feel her and make her feel good. Losing control, he rolled her onto her back, taking her hand away from jerking him off. He pinned her hands on either side of her. Dipping his head into the crook of her neck, he glided into her wetness as her legs wrapped tightened around his waist, her hands holding his tightly.

  Hushed whimpers and grunts filled the bedroom. He worked in and out of her body. Faster, harder. He listened to her body and the way she was starting to tighten around him. The heels of her feet pressed into his ass cheeks. The sun started to rise as he looked down at her, letting her hands go. Immediately, they found their way into his hair, and her forehead lifted to press to his. Their breathing was heavy as they shared the same air. He knew they were both on the edge. So close to the precipice, ready to jump off into the waves of pleasure. He bucked and rolled his hips, and he could feel her.

  “Together,” he panted, and she nodded, breathing heavily. She met each of his thrusts until they both cliff dived and crashed into wave after wave. Her body milked him as he came. Spurt after spurt, he emptied himself and half fell on top of her body. She held tightly on to him, and he held her too. His body was spent and exhausted. Silently, they settled in, her body in his arms, his face in her hair, while they both slowly caught their breath.

  “Grace,” he started to say, but when he lifted his head to look at her, he realized she was asleep.

  He had three more days to tell her.

  He would.

  Before they’d leave Montana, she would know. She’d know about that stupid bet, and he’d somehow make her understand. Then he’d tell her he was in love with her.

  Thinking about how he loved her and how he was sure she felt the same way, he fell asleep with a smile on his face.

  Chapter Twenty- Six

  Grace

  I could feel a smile playing over my lips before I fully woke up. Turning to feel Marc’s body, I was instantly disappointed to see his side of the bed empty. He’d gone on morning runs every day we’d been there, but I had hoped to wake before he did. With a sigh, I grabbed his pillow and breathed in his cologne. I smiled.

  The last couple of days in Montana had been nothing but perfect. Hell, since he’d knocked on my door, my entire life had become nothing but surreal.

  Stretching in bed, I closed my eyes, feeling a very distinct ache in my body, an ache that made me almost hungry for him again. Every time we made love, it was better than the last. Lying on my back, I covered my face with my hands and let out a girly giggle.

  I was in love with Marcus Wright.

  But my Marcus wasn’t the one everyone saw. He was different. Marc was goofy and funny, and so damn sweet it could give you a tooth ache. And he was mine. Completely and utterly.

  Which was good, since I was his.

  I rolled out of bed and grabbed a black tee. Looking at how big it fit, I smiled. Even without him in my space, he could make me feel dainty and feminine, something that didn’t happen often. Grabbing a flannel button-up as a robe, just in case his family was out there, I went in search of him.

  I decided I’d make everyone breakfast while I headed toward the kitchen. Thinking about what to make, I stopped before entering when I heard male voices talking. I took in the voices.

  “Fuck, man. Have you seen her? I have no idea what he’s fucking thinkin’. She’s head over heels for him.” My heart stopped as my ears tried to make out the voices.

  “Man—”

  “No, don’t give me this he’s in love with her bullshit again.”

  “Garrett,” Donnie’s familiar voice sighed.

  “I’ll tell you what he’s thinking. Come on, you guys have seen her. She’s not hard on the eyes. With curves come a great rack and ass, and she has plenty of that. Plus, she’s between what he wants. And we all know he gets what he wants. Fuck whoever’s in his way.”

  “I don’t know,” Bryan’s voice chimed in, “I don’t think it’s how he first planned it. I mean, you’ve seen how he is with her. I think he really…” Garrett’s deep laughter drowned out what Bryan was saying.

  Standing against the wall, my heart hurt. Was it all a game? My hand on my chest, I looked down at the hardwood floor, my body frozen, my feet nailed to the floor.

  “Please,” Garrett huffed, his laughter calming down, “I’ve also seen him look at all the women he's played in those damn movies, and he's looked just like that.”

  “I don't think—” Bryan tried again, but was cut off by Garrett.

  “He went in, ready to do whatever he needed to secure those movie rights. He told us he was.” I heard him scoff. “She's not bad looking. So his job was probably easier than he thought it would be. Fuckin’ a fat chick isn’t a hardship. Then somehow, magically, the media gets a whiff and the lucky bastard comes out of it looking even better than before.”

  “You're a dick, man,” Bryan told him, but Gar
rett laughed.

  “It's true! Come on. He’s the one who bet us five K each, because we laughed at her not recognizing him. She probably got huffy with him, and now he’s doing anything to make sure she signs. Shit, for all we know, all the pipe he’s been layin’, he’ll get the rights for a fucking steal.” Garrett’s tone was almost angry.

  “That’s fucked up.”

  “It’s the truth. He’s that hard up for that movie, and he’s proving it by fuckin’ the curvy little writer. I offered to renege on this bet, didn’t I?”

  “Yeah, but—” Donnie chimed in, and I felt sick to my stomach.

  “He said no. You guys were all there. Come on. This little show,” he scoffed, and I looked at my feet, the hallway spinning now, “meeting the family, stealing her away to romantic spots throughout the ranch, it’s fucked up. And we all know it. But the pretty boy wants what he wants, and he’ll do anything to get it.” He finished saying, and it was like my feet had a mind of their own. I pushed off the wall with plans to rush away without being noticed. I’d talk to Marc. Marc would tell me this was just a bad misunderstanding. Wouldn’t he?

  “Grace! Good morning!” Nicola announced, and I looked up at her.

  With cane in hand, wearing another bright bohemian dress, and her hair in a French braid, she was right in front of me. I had been so caught up in listening, I hadn’t noticed her approaching.

  “Shit.”

  “Fuck!”

  “Damn.”

  They all cursed in the kitchen. And I shut my eyes tightly.

  Why was it so hard to breathe all of a sudden? The spinning was getting worse.

  “What’s the matter?” Nicola asked worriedly, and I opened my eyes. I opened and closed my mouth but didn’t know what to say. “Grace.”

  She put a hand up to touch me, but I flinched. I knew myself. I knew if the sweet old lady I’d come to care for, who was funny and sometimes highly inappropriate, touched me, I’d lose it. The water works would start, and I wasn’t sure if they’d stop.

  “One, umm…” I put a finger up in the air and turned, then walked my great ass into the kitchen.

  Don, Bryan, and Garrett all sat around on the bar stools at the far end of the island. By the looks on their wide-eyed, open-jawed faces, they knew I had overheard.

  “Grace...” Donnie stood, and I snapped my head toward him. He stopped dead in his tracks.

  I must have looked so stupid to them. In his shirt, barefoot, sex hair that was barley contained in a messy bun. Why had I worn his shirt? I was a complete idiot!

  All the beauty of the past few days faded, slipped through my fingers like grains of sand.

  “He's playing me?” I asked, my stomach suddenly not feeling that great. The room was slightly swaying back and forth, and everything around me buzzed.

  “It isn't like that,” Donnie tried to explain, but Garrett looked at me and clenched his jaw, his brown eyes twitching slightly.

  It was crazy how much Garrett and Marc looked like one another but were so different. Garrett was rougher around the edges, probably an inch or two taller, and had an air of danger to him. They were both masculine and handsome, and they were both assholes. Though, who was a bigger one was a tough choice to make.

  “You're sweet, babe.” His dark eyes were slightly warmer than the icy, calculating way he’d looked at me throughout the entire time I’d been at the ranch. “Any man would be a lucky son of a bitch to have you. But Marc, his job is to play make-believe and have the whole world watch. He has no problem letting it trickle into his real life. He bet us he could get you to sign the rights. He said he’d do anything—”

  “Man, what the fuck are you doing?” Donnie asked Garrett, his tone completely disgusted.

  I watched Garrett scratch his bearded jaw and shrug, his eyes returning to me. He looked at me. Taking me in, his eyes scanning my body. The way he did it made me lose the hurt and fueled my anger. I didn’t stop looking at him. He had some balls. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to scare me. Make me feel more humiliated than I was. But I wasn’t going to give him the pleasure. He had no idea who he was messing with.

  “I'm being honest. Shit, sweetheart, someone should be honest with you. He said he'd do anything to get the rights, and no offense, you coming out here, dressed like that, mark on your neck, we know he most certainly did anything.” He leaned forward to loudly whisper the last word, and my cheeks warmed with anger.

  Anything. Even doing me.

  It had all been a lie?

  Looking around at the three men in the room, I could tell Garrett wasn't lying. I took a step back. Donnie grabbed my hand, and I looked into his eyes.

  “It might have started off that way, with Marcus saying something incredibly stupid to these idiots, but it's not like that.” He was talking, but I wasn’t hearing him, not really.

  It had all been a lie.

  I'd risked my heart and lost.

  But then it hit me.

  I wasn’t the only one who lost. Lexi. And just like that I erected walls around me, blocking the pain. I was going to hold on to the anger bubbling up. Thinking about having to tell Lexi that Marcus wasn’t going to come back into our lives made my heart gallop. She was going to be heartbroken, and I’d done that. The momma bear and woman scorned wanted to lash out.

  I knew I should just walk out of the room like they expected me to. But I didn’t. I shook off the hold Donnie had on my arm, and he let go. I took a step closer toward Garrett. He looked like he didn’t know whether he should smirk with whatever he had to gain by what he’d shared or console me.

  With a tilt to my head, I whispered, “You’re his fucking brother.”

  “What?” Garrett stood still, his eyes narrowing on me.

  “It says a lot about a man who is okay talking about their blood to a basic stranger, like you just did.” I wasn’t sure why even in the middle of a huge mess I felt the need to address it. “The disloyalty you have to him,” I shook my head, “is sad and honestly a little pathetic. And why?” I asked. He stayed silent, only making me step closer to him.

  “Because he gets to play ‘make-believe’ as you have called it, and you joined the Army? Don’t get me wrong, I thank you for your service and everything you did. But he’s your brother, he’s your family! Your blood!” My disgust was more than obvious. “Believe it or not, what he does is not a walk in the park. I’d love to see you walk a day in his shoes. For you to not lose your shit with everything he has to do and put up with. I’m not sure which of you two is worse.” I watched Garrett’s face pale and just shook my head. “But I can’t find it in myself to give a shit to try and figure it out.”

  “Grace, maybe the boys misunderstood. You know how boys—” Nicola started to talk, and I realized she’d been there the entire time. It made me want to slap Garrett. My hands clenched tightly, my nails digging into the palms of my hands.

  “You said all that, with your grandmother right there? That is just…” I shook my head and noticed him still. His hands clenched as if bracing for a direct hit. “You’re pathetic and just… sad.” I glanced next to me. “I have to go. Can you call me a cab?” I asked Donnie. He was the one I knew and could ask to do this for me. But when he didn’t respond, I looked into his green eyes. “Please, I can't—” I took a deep breath and squeezed his hand.

  “He got what he wanted. I really should go back to my own family and let you enjoy yours.” I tried to stay calm, to not lose it.

  “Grace, talk to him—” Nicola started to suggest, and I silently pleaded him with my eyes, ready to beg Donnie if I had to.

  “I'll call it,” Bryan chimed in, and I looked at him. His expression was unreadable, but he nodded gently. “I’ll get you a cab.” I thanked him and turned. Nicola stood in front of me.

  She put both hands out to stop me. “Don’t go. Talk to him. I know my grandsons, all of them, can be little asshole, douche-bags, but…”

  “I had a really good time here, Nicola. I am so
happy I got to meet you and talk books. I wish… I wish…” My voice cracked, and the worry in her eyes turned into fire as she glanced behind me.

  Without a word, her petite body slammed into me and hugged me. “He loves you,” she muttered, but I shook my head.

  He didn’t.

  It had all been a lie.

  A beautiful, fucked-up lie.

  My defenses were quickly disintegrating, so I pulled away from her and walked to the back door of the kitchen in a haze. A gentle hand stopped me, and I looked up.

  Bryan stood there, something playing in his eyes, but before I could ask, he kneeled and slipped his flip flops onto my own feet.

  “Thank you,” I whispered. He nodded.

  Without a look behind me, I walked out of the main house and through the grass and mud. My mind tried to process it all. Every cell in my body felt numb. But the moment I stepped into the space Marc and I had shared the last couple of days made it even harder to breathe. Every corner I looked at, he was there. Every small moment playing back in my mind crushing and breaking my heart.

  It had all been a lie.

  A charade.

  I'd fallen for Marcus’ lies like an idiot. A love sick idiot.

  I walked into the bedroom of the cabin and looked at the bed. It made me think of the night before. In the abandoned cabin. Sitting under the stars on the deck. In his room. All the promise those moments had held. The stupid way I’d fallen for it. Every single memory was now tarnished, ruined, really.

  With the truth out in the open, a double knot lodged itself in the middle of my throat. I wanted to fall apart and cry for so many reasons, but mostly for having been stupid enough to fall in love.

  Real love.

  That’s what I ‘d done.

  And now it felt like nothing would ever be the same again.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Marcus