I’m trying to talk myself out of my guilt. If sending the picture is not such a big deal, then why do I feel so awful about doing it?
My stomach is in knots, and I think I’m the worst person in the world. Here I have these wonderful men wining and dining me, taking me shopping, and making sure every moment together counts—and what do I give them as repayment?
I’m helping this vile person, Simon, to undermine the inheritance. It just isn’t right.
And so before I send the pictures to Simon, I decide to hold back for just a little bit to think about the situation.
Luckily for me, having the document is enough to make me happy so that I can put Simon out of my mind and begin focusing on Matt. I go to my room and take my time getting ready.
I put on a long, flowing, strapless black dress. I do Matt the favor of not wearing one of the garments that Ian bought for me. I clip my hair up at the sides and carefully go about applying my makeup.
I have no idea where we’re going tonight, but I’m betting it’s somewhere fancy. And I’d rather be too dressed up than underdressed. That’s my general rule of thumb.
I put on a full smoky eye and toss my hair with some texturizing spray.
I look at my reflection in the mirror. I’m happy to be in this position. I have four brothers all competing for my attention. While choosing one of them will be hard, being with all of them is easy. Unfortunately for me, one isn’t even a card. I’m going to have to leave this place and all of them at some point.
But easy is what I need right now. I need spontaneous, in the moment, and fun. Nobody knows that I’m planning to make my great escape to an island paradise somewhere. It will be hard to leave the men behind, but I have to get out of here. I don’t want Simon to ever find me.
Besides, I don’t think these guys are serious about me. They’re not used to being with one woman in a monogamous relationship, and I can tell that I can’t change any of their minds. For the time being, we’re having fun and I need to just appreciate that.
And tonight with Matt will definitely be fun. I close my eyes for a second and just try to remember the feeling of him pressing me up against the wall in the stairwell. His giant cock was throbbing just for me. I imagine his lips pressed against my own and how good he tastes. I imagine his dark hair and his dark features and I start to get hot just thinking about him.
Just then, there’s a knock at my door. I assume it’s Matt so I straighten my outfit and go to answer it.
But as I open the door, the person I see is not who I expected.
“Hi, Evan.”
Chapter 22
Evan
I’ve just seen Meg coming out of the library, wearing nothing but a bikini and a little silk kimono.
What is that minx up to?
She obviously wasn’t in there to grab a book because she came out empty-handed. My mind ventures to find a guess as to what’s going on with her. I finally determine that Mrs. Simmons must’ve sent her in there for something. It still doesn’t make sense as to why she was wearing a bikini, so I decide to give her a moment and then go to her room.
She obviously feels comfortable enough in the mansion to move in and out of the rooms freely. I want that for her. I find myself wanting her to think of this place as her home.
Mrs. Simmons has likely had her cleaning and organizing in the library. In truth, I have Mrs. Simmons to thank for bringing Meg into my life. She hired this ethereal butterfly—and for that, she should be given a raise.
I knock gently on the door, my heart beating a little faster knowing I’ll see her soon. I haven’t even fucked her yet and she’s got me feeling this way. What is her magic potion? What spell does she cast to have this effect on men?
“Hi, Evan.”
She seems surprised yet happy to see me. She’s also out of her bikini and wearing a nice dress. She looks preened and primped and ready to go.
“Meg,” I kiss her cheek. “You’re so dressed up. You look elegant.”
She looks down at her dress and says, “Oh, well Matt asked me out for tonight. Did you know he wants me to stay here as a house guest and quit working as a maid?”
Indeed, I didn’t. That was very slick of Matt. I was thinking of having the same thing arranged, but it looks like he beat me to the punch. I don’t blame him. I’ve always thought Meg should stay here as our guest. I want her to be happy and not have to work.
So I’m glad that he did what he did, but I have more questions now. While Meg is dressed up now, why was she in the library in a bikini if she’s no longer working for Mrs. Simmons here in the mansion? None of it makes sense.
“May I come in?” I ask.
She opens the door for me and I walk into her well-lit and decorated room. The designers did a good job in here. I walk to the window and look out at the view. It’s expansive. All angles from inside the mansion are good angles considering we own the expanse of properties surrounding it.
This mansion is absolutely gorgeous. Every single room is impeccable. I’m especially glad that Meg’s room is so nice. She deserves the best.
I take a seat on her bed and vaguely think of fucking her right here and now. Forget all this chivalry bullshit. I’m tired of waiting, and once she has a taste of me, she’ll only want more.
I motion for her to come join me. She sits next to me, close. I can smell her fragrant perfume and whatever she’s got on her hair.
I’m aroused and it’s evident from the bulge in my pants.
She gives it a sideways glance and I pull her in for a kiss, knowing full well how badly she wants it.
I’ve already waited this long, though. I might as well wait a little longer for a special moment to claim Meg rather than right before her date with my brother.
“So, you’re dressed up to go out with my brother, huh?”
She shrugs and I know she doesn’t want to mention it. She’s pretty good in keeping us all separate, though I have no idea how she does it. We’re infamously known as being too much for one woman. That’s why it’s going to be important for her to choose just one of us.
“You look gorgeous,” I say, releasing her a little bit from my grasp.
“Well, I don’t want to rub it in…but Matt has made plans for us. I don’t know what the plans are, but I decided to get dressed up just in case we go somewhere nice,” she says.
I sigh regretfully and take in the fact that my brother is taking Meg out. Now it’s three against one. I’m the only one to not have had her. I was so close to cementing things in the garden, if only Ian hadn’t interrupted us.
But I have to bide my time. I care about Meg, and it absolutely doesn’t matter who gets to her first. What matters is the quality of her experience. I’m trying to build a relationship of trust.
It occurs to me that none of us really know very much about Meg. I know she went to Dartmouth College, but that’s about it. I don’t know what this side of me is, wanting to know more about her, but I can’t help but feel a tad bit protective of her.
“Are you jealous?” she asks. “I really don’t want you to be jealous or anything, Evan. I want you to know that I care about you so much. I know it might be weird me dating all of you guys, but I just can’t figure it out right now. I can’t pick one of you to be with.”
Her words make total sense to me. We have to put her in an unusual position, and I wouldn’t expect her to make a decision now anyway. I don’t want to rush Meg or to pressure her. But God, I wish it was me taking her out tonight and not my fucking lucky brother.
I will have her, but I’m gonna have to wait for the moment.
“It’s okay, Meg. I’m used to having this kind of competition with my brothers. I just want you to know that you’re special. You stand out. It’s not like all the other women we’ve had in the past. At least to me, you mean something more than that.”
Her eyes well up with tears and she says, “Thank you, Evan. You don’t know how much that means to me. The fact that you’re not gon
na rush me into doing something is just perfect. I already have enough problems in my life.”
Problems in her life? I had no idea Meg was dealing with anything outside of this mansion. Now, I feel possessive enough to want to ask her exactly what she’s referring to.
“What do you mean? What problems, Meg? Tell me,” I say more firmly that I intended.
She looks up into my eyes, and for a moment I think she’s wondering whether or not to tell me the truth.
“Please trust me, Meg. You can tell me anything.”
I wipe the tears that are staining her cheeks.
“Alright, Evan. I feel like I can talk to you. You’ve been there for me, and so I guess I can tell you the truth—which is that I’m dealing with my ex-boyfriend. He’s been bothering me a lot and he doesn’t seem to want to let go of the relationship.”
This information is news to me. I knew she had a boyfriend, but I thought he was pretty much out of the picture. The fact that he’s bothering her makes me feel enraged and it makes me feel like I want to go beat the shit out of him.
“What do you mean bothering you? I thought you were done with him, Meg. What’s going on?”
Her tears turn from tears of happiness to tears of sadness. I watch them stream down her face and I try to soothe her, but it’s hard when I don’t know the full story.
“It’s just been a lot to handle. I care about you guys so much and yet I have this ex of mine bothering me. I mean technically, we were still in a relationship when I came to this mansion. But he’s a jerk, an asshole. He’s been very verbally abusive to me and I just want to get out. He’s got me under his thumb, and I’m afraid I can never get away from him,” she says.
I’m absolutely stunned by this. The fact that someone is terrorizing Meg makes me so unhappy. I’ll figure out a way to help her.
I put my arm around her and squeeze her tightly, “You’re with us now, Meg. It’s safe here.”
Now I wish like hell it was me going on this date and not my brother. I realize there is more to Meg than meets the eye. She has a lot of layers that I was previously unaware of. Now I’m dying to get to the truth, to the core of her being. And more than that, it’s essential for me to become the only man in her life so that I can protect her.
I hold her in my arms and she cries a little bit more before breaking away. I want to ask her more questions and to unearth who this boyfriend or ex-boyfriend is.
“I have to go,” she says, wiping tears from her face. “I’m supposed to meet Matt, and now I look like this.”
She gestures to her face which I think looks beautiful, mascara stains and all.
She goes to her vanity and cleans up her face. I watch in admiration, wondering how girls can have so many products.
Meg is not mine, and that fact doesn’t allude me for a second. I might be in her life, but I’m not her entire life—yet. That’s my focus. I want Meg’s world to revolve around me. Only then will I be happy.
And so it’s hard to say goodbye and to know that she’s going out with my brother.
It fucking kills me, but I watch her walk out the door.
Chapter 23
Matt
I see her through the window before I see her in person.
She looks stunning in a flowing, strapless black dress. This girl could wear a potato sack and I would still desire her. That’s how fucking gorgeous she is.
I’m so excited to finally have my night with Meg. It’s the perfect plan to take her out of the house, so that I’m the only brother she has to focus on.
Besides, she needs to be spoiled a little bit. She’s been working too hard for us.
I stand outside and watch her come down through the window. She looks radiant, and I’m glad that I dressed up in a nice Armani shirt and slacks. The limo driver hands me the dozen of roses I had him buy for her.
She opens the door and I’m pleased to see her smiling face.
“Matt!” she exclaims. “You look incredible! So hot.”
“Me? You’re the one that looks incredible,” I say, skimming my hand along her waist to bring her in towards me for a kiss.
Her warm mouth tastes like peppermint and I can smell the fragrant perfume on her body. Megan is truly the most elegant woman I’ve ever met, and I don’t doubt my plan for a second. She has an array of brothers to choose from, and I need to make sure I’m at the forefront of her thoughts. There’s no way I’m gonna let her go out of my life without tasting her in every way.
“You ready?” I ask her, imagining what she looks like underneath that dress.
“Yes,” she says as I take her hand and lead her into the limousine.
I hand the roses to her and she smells them gratefully.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she says.
“I wanted to,” I say, sliding in next to her.
The driver takes off and I’m happy to see the mansion go. It’s the one time in my life that I actually want to get away from the place I call home. I’m just not willing to share Meg with my brothers anymore. Tonight, I need to make a lasting impression on her—and that’s exactly what I intend to do.
“Champagne?” I say, holding up a bottle of Dom.
“Of course,” she replies.
I pour us both a couple of glasses in crystal champagne flutes and we clink our glasses.
“To you,” I say, looking intently into her eyes.
For a second, we’re connected. For a second, we both know that we’re connected.
There’s this unspoken sexual tension going on between us that will likely get hotter throughout the night.
She sips her champagne, and I look at her profile just thinking how lucky I am. I don’t know how Meg walked into our lives but I have no intention of ever letting her go.
“So, where are we going?” she asks.
“That’s a surprise for you to find out,” I say.
She relaxes into the leather seat and is content just to be whisked away.
And then something seems to startle her and she says, “Well, are we going very far away from the mansion?”
“Why?” I ask. “What does it matter how far away we go?”
She stumbles over her words a little bit and says, “It...doesn’t. It’s fine.”
Her nervous reaction makes me wonder what’s up. Meg should be happy to get away from that place. It’s been her home and workplace for too long. Little does she know what I have in store for her tonight.
“Just relax,” I say to her. “It won’t take very long to get to where we’re going.”
My words seem to soothe her anxiety, and she sips her champagne as she looks out the window.
I hold her hand, and for a moment we’re both feeling the heat that flies between us. There’s no denying our connection, but what she doesn’t understand is that I have a suite at the Ritz Carlton booked and ready for us to take advantage of. I’m going to wine and dine her, and then take her up to the room and ravage her. This will be a night she’ll never forget.
“So, are you ready to get away from the house for a while?” I ask.
She looks at me with those big green eyes and it’s hard not to take her right here, right now. But I hold back. I want things to be special with Meg. I want her to know she’s more important to me than a one-night stand. How important, I’m not yet willing to quantify—but she’s rare. I’m sure of that.
“I am. But I love the mansion. It’s very beautiful and it’s starting to feel like home,” she says.
“That’s good,” I say.
Inside, I’m wondering with jealousy what she’s experienced with my other brothers. We’ve always competed for women, and it’s always been sort of a game. But something about Meg makes me feel like this is real life and that I can’t mess it up.
We drive for a while and eventually get to our destination. She looks knowingly at the Ritz Carlton and seems pleased that we’re here.
They let us in the gates, and the familiar valet offers to park the limo
usine to which my driver says no.
“We’ll be staying the night,” I say to both the valet and the limo driver.
The driver speeds off and Meg is left holding the roses in her arms. She looks beautiful, cast against the dusky light of the setting sun.
We walk into the Ritz and everybody knows who I am. It’s part of the territory that comes with being a Belcourt brother. I’m used to the attention, but tonight I also know that the eyes following us are on Meg. Who could resist looking at her? She’s sophisticated, classy, and gorgeous.
I don’t mind sharing the limelight with her. She deserves every inch of praise that she gets in life. And it makes me feel proud walking with her, someone so obviously at ease in her own skin.
The hostess leads us straight away to our VIP table in the back.
“It’s so night nice to see you again, Mr. Knight,” she says, looking at me with hungry eyes.
Meg doesn’t know that I slept with the hostess and most of the waitresses here. When you get out into the country, there are fewer places to meet people, and so I’ve run into many one night stands after the fact and it’s always awkward. I don’t plan on telling this to Meg. She knows that I’m a playboy, so there’s no point rubbing it in.
“You too, Whitney. It’s nice to be back at the Ritz,” I say.
Meg shoots me a knowing look, and I can tell she understands that something’s happened between me and this hostess. She’s not dumb. But at the same time, she’s nice enough not to bring it up or to break my balls over the fact that I know this woman.
Soon we’re seated at our table, and the hostess has arranged for the flowers to be taken up to the room.
The waiter approaches us and his eyes are all over Meg. It causes me to feel possessive of her, and I wonder where this feeling is coming from. I normally don’t care so much about the women I date, but there’s definitely something different about Meg.
“May I take your drink order?” he says.
Meg looks over the cocktail menu. “What would you suggest?”
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