by Ashley Jade
I’m trying to gather my bearings when the lights above me change colors, illuminating the room in a red glow.
“Take it easy, sweetheart.” The man next to me nods at the now packed dance floor. “Cocktail hour just ended, and you’re already hammered.”
I blink in confusion. I’m not drunk. Anxiety shoots through me like a rocket and I clutch my chest. It’s becoming an actual struggle to draw in air.
Oh, God. I’m having a panic attack. Right here in front of all these people.
“Why don’t we go somewhere more private for a little while?” the man shouts in my ear so loud I wince. “This way I can look after you.”
The man tugs on my hand, but I yank it back.
Nausea churns my insides. I need to get out of here, but my feet won’t move, no matter how much I plead with them to.
Cain. I need him. He’s the only one who can help me through this.
Instinctively, I peruse the room for him while I pull out my phone, ignoring the little voice inside mocking my efforts.
Angelbaby123: I feel like I’m going to pass out. I’m on the dance floor.
I think I spot him, but strobe lights start flickering and the music changes—filling my ears with uneven beats, dark harmonies, and intense tempos.
My senses kick into overdrive, making it impossible to concentrate, but I scan the room in a last-ditch attempt anyway and send a text directly to his phone instead of the app.
Eden: Please, Cain. I need you.
“Fine, be that way,” the man next to me snaps. “I was only trying to help, you drunk bitch.”
“What?” I can’t understand a word he’s saying. I want to ask him to repeat himself, but the lights flash…and then it’s nothing but darkness.
A few people scream, but it’s drowned out by a spooky, evil laugh that crackles through the speakers.
A moment later, the lights turn back on, sheathing the room in a blood red hue again.
My legs finally get the signal and I put one foot in front of the other. I’m halfway to the exit when the lights go out for a second time. It’s so dark I can’t even make out shapes, let alone walk.
Terror spirals through me when a muscular arm wraps around my waist.
I open my mouth to yell at the asshole who won’t take no for an answer, but I’m slammed against a wall.
“Wh—” My eyes adjust, enabling me to see the tall figure wearing a black mask in front of me. My heart takes flight when I inhale the scent of Cain’s aftershave.
“Cain.” I smile, feeling both relieved he came to my rescue and stupid for ever thinking he would bring me here to hurt me. “You found—” My voice catches when he presses his palm over my heart. The part of me he owns and controls. The part of me that will forever be tethered to him.
I look down when his hand compresses, painfully constricting the organ. “What are you doing?”
I try to maneuver out of his hold, but he’s too strong. Whenever I inhale, he pushes down harder. Fear pumps through my veins and I grip the collar of his jacket, urging him to stop.
White spots form in front of my eyes and the hand gripping his collar falls limp at my side. It physically hurts to breathe. I’m going to pass out if he doesn’t let up in the next few seconds.
I flatten my back against the wall, hoping to catch a shallow breath, but the crushing weight becomes so unbearable, I give up.
My knees buckle and I start to fall—but suddenly the force is gone.
I suck in air so fast I cough, and try to push him away, but he leans in, his mouth hovering over my ear. “Remember that feeling, Eden.” His voice is deep and raspy…different. “Because it’s only going to get worse.”
My blood runs cold. It’s not Cain.
“Who are you?”
I feel his lips curve against the shell of my ear. “A friend.”
My cheeks heat when he nuzzles my neck and plants a kiss where my pulse is beating erratically. “My friends don’t hurt me.”
I know I should be running away and finding Cain, but I need to know who this man is and how he knows my name.
And why my body responds to him the way it does…even though it’s obvious he wants to harm me.
“You’re right.” His teeth scrape my flesh as his hand slips through the slit in my dress. “I’m definitely not your friend.” The vehemence in his tone is chilling, yet his touch is soft like velvet. “Consider me a messenger.” He gives me an evil grin that makes my stomach drop. “Cain’s waiting for you upstairs.”
I blink in confusion. “Cain sent you to get me?”
That doesn’t seem right, although it’s not entirely out of the question. Cain has people to do his bidding for him. But it’s weird he would send one of his employees to fetch me.
The tip of his finger slithers up my thigh and I glare at him. “I suggest you keep your hands to yourself, sir. Because if Cain ever finds out you touched me, I guarantee you’ll be out of a job.” I crinkle my nose. “And probably a few teeth.”
He smirks. “It’s a shame we didn’t meet under different circumstances.” He captures my hand with his free one and kisses my finger. The one I cut on broken glass. “Last bedroom on the second floor.” He plucks the string of pearls against my hip bone. “The one next to the closet.”
With that, he releases me.
Chapter 2
Damien
I look at my watch. Eden should be arriving in approximately one minute. Two if she second guesses her decision on the way up.
Three if she starts wondering why her little pearls are damp after our encounter.
I light my cigarette and take a long drag before I chuck it over the balcony. I have just enough time to grab a good spot and watch the show unfold.
The small suite Cain’s currently in shares a bathroom with another suite—enabling me to slip inside undetected.
Turning the knob, I enter the adjoining bathroom. Given I can’t hear them on the other side of the door, my guess is they never made it to the bedroom and they’re screwing in the foyer.
My lips quirk. This is working out better than I hoped. With Cain in the foyer, he won’t have enough time to dislodge himself from his new fiancée before being caught.
Eden’s going to have a front row seat to Cain’s betrayal.
And my, oh, my…what a show it is.
Creeping behind the open bedroom door directly across from where they are, I watch as the woman drops to her knees and takes him into her mouth.
Cain grips the small table behind him. I assume it’s to stop himself from winding her hair in his fist and shoving his cock down her throat.
Amused, I observe her lick around his pink mushroom head daintily, as though she were a queen enjoying a snack in the public eye.
Cain’s jaw works as he caresses her head, offering some encouragement. It’s almost comical. He’s trying to be a gentleman when he doesn’t even look like he’s enjoying himself all that much.
Can’t say I blame him though. His soon-to-be wife doesn’t seem to have a kinky bone in her body. As if proving my point—her movements stop altogether when he grips her hair and tries to push his dick farther inside her mouth.
“Don’t treat me like a whore, Cain. It’s rude.”
I bite my lip. Cain might be able to convince himself marrying this woman is for the best, but I bet his cock is seriously regretting his arrangement with the governor now.
If there’s one thing I know about Cain…it’s that he craves all the things he shouldn’t. He’s tempted by the forbidden.
His fiancée will never be able to satisfy him…because society says she’s exactly what he’s supposed to have.
That alone should be enough for me to feel vindicated, but it’s not. Not by a long shot.
I want Cain so drunk off lust he can’t see or think straight.
I want to take everything from him and then bring him to his knees…both figuratively and literally.
And then, when he’s at my mercy�
��I want to destroy everything he ever cared about. Everything I took from him.
His hopes. His dreams. His precious stepdaughter.
After I expose who he really is. All his secrets and sins.
“Sorry,” Cain mutters through clenched teeth before his voice takes on a softer tone. “It felt so good, I couldn’t help myself.”
The woman beams, lighting up like a Christmas tree. Despite her father being governor, it’s clear she doesn’t recognize a bold-faced lie drenched in sweet talk coming from a politician when she hears one.
Then again, Cain can be awfully convincing when he wants to be.
And his latest stepping stone isn’t immune to his charms, because when she starts up again, she’s a little more eager to please. She even manages to get half of it in her mouth and draw a low moan from him.
Just in time for the door to open.
A grin pulls at my cheeks and my cock jolts to life.
Eden has no idea she’s my bait. The pretty fish for my hungry piranha.
The look on her face is a mixture of outrage and anguish. My fallen angel is so shocked, so overwhelmed at the sight, she can’t even move. She just stands there, her glassy eyes darting from Cain to the woman—completely devastated. Looking every bit the gorgeous tragedy she is.
The one I created.
Margaret stands up, fixing the top of her dress. “Excuse you. Can’t you see this room is occupied? Get out.”
Ignoring her, Eden’s eyes flick to Cain, taking in his tousled hair, undone bow tie…and the dwindling erection he’s stuffing into his pants.
She’s like a crime scene investigator who needs to process every piece of evidence before accepting what’s right in front of her.
She doesn’t want him to fall from the pedestal she’s placed him on any more than he does.
Because deep down she knows…the fall won’t kill Cain.
It will only kill her.
“Cain,” Eden chokes out, her broken voice barely above a whisper.
Cain’s brows draw together, it hasn’t quite dawned on him yet due to the mask she’s wearing, but it’s clear something about her holds his interest given the way he’s studying her.
The spell is broken when the governor’s daughter crosses her arms over her chest. “Do you know this woman?”
Cain clears his throat, his expression quickly changing from enthralled to impassive. “I have no idea who she is.”
Margaret, not one to be played for a fool, squints her eyes at Eden. “How do you know my fiancé?”
Eden rocks back as though she’s been sucker punched. “Fiancé?” Her slim, curvy frame shakes so badly I can practically feel the ground tremble from my spot behind the door. “You’re—” Her hand clutches her chest. “You’re getting married?”
And there it is. Betrayal and heartbreak in its rawest form.
The look on Cain’s face is priceless as recognition dawns on him and he realizes his world is about to come crashing down like a sledgehammer.
And this is only the beginning.
“E—” He catches himself. “Our engagement hasn’t been announced yet.”
“How could you—” A sob breaks free, but she shakes her head and balls her fists, fighting through the sting. “When were you planning on telling me?” A bitter laugh erupts, and she looks up at the ceiling. “God, who am I kidding? You weren’t—”
“Who the hell is this woman, Cain?” Margaret shrieks.
“Yeah, Cain,” Eden taunts, sauntering toward him. Her infuriation is now as palpable as her heartbreak. “Who am I?” Cain looks like he’s going to have a coronary when her fingertips graze her mask. “On second thought, I should probably stop being rude and introduce myself.” She licks her red lips. “Welcome her to the fa—”
“That’s enough.” Cain snatches Eden’s wrist a second before she pulls her mask off. “I think everyone needs to calm down and remember we are at a public event.” Cain looks at Margaret. “I need a few minutes to deal with her. I’ll meet you downstairs shortly.”
Eden’s eyes become tiny slits. “Deal with me? Wow, Da—”
Cain’s other hand slams over her mouth. “I said enough,” he seethes, the timbre of his voice taking on a dark tone. “Disrespect me again and you’ll regret it.”
Eden’s eyes go wide. It’s clear she’s never seen this side of him before.
There’s so much she doesn’t know about the man she loves.
With a huff, Margaret walks toward the door. “Deal with her quickly. And make sure this is the first and last time I see or hear about one of your little whores.” She gives Cain a look that could freeze a tropical island. “I would hate to have to tell Daddy that this little problem of yours prevented us from getting married. Or worse…led to you losing the upcoming election.”
With that, she walks out, slamming the door behind her.
Cain turns his attention back to Eden who’s attempting to get out of his grip.
With one hand still covering her mouth, he pushes her until her back meets the wall. “I never wanted you to find out this way.” He sighs heavily. “I wanted to tell you, but—” His face twists and he removes his hand. “Fuck.”
I smirk when I notice the impression of her teeth on his palm. Good girl.
“But you’re an opportunist who wanted to have his cake and eat it too,” Eden finishes for him, tears welling in her blue eyes again. “You didn’t want to tell me the truth. What you wanted was to string me along for however long you could before you pulled the rug out from under me.”
Cain snickers. “String you along?” He leans in, crowding what little space he was permitting her to have. “Maybe I should talk to that shrink of yours about these delusions, because last time I checked—you spread your legs and stuck your fingers in your cunt in hopes of getting my attention that night, not me.”
It’s clear Cain’s statement struck a chord, however, Eden recovers from the blow and raises her chin, meeting his stern gaze head-on. “Yeah, well…it worked, didn’t it?”
His lids lower, his stare settling on her ample breasts that trigger him with every intentional deep breath she takes.
I squeeze my growing erection. Triggers us both.
Eden might have the face of an angel…but her body was built for sin.
Perfect for enticing corrupt men like her stepfather. And depraved men like me, who have a score to settle.
It’s a shame the little lamb won’t realize she’s in the middle of a dangerous game until it’s too late.
Obsession can be deadly.
And the man she loves led her straight to the slaughterhouse.
His throat bobs on a swallow. “It did.” The tip of his finger dips between her cleavage. “But I’m not the first, nor will I be the last man to succumb to easy pussy, sweetheart.”
Hurt splashes across her face and she shoves him away. “I’ll be gone by the time you get home.”
She’s halfway to the door when he speaks. “Goddammit.” She freezes and I watch cautiously as he creeps up behind her, his hands twitching. “I told you to stop pursuing this thing between us.”
Eden looks down at her shoes, unaware of the evil rearing its ugly head behind her. “But—”
“Eden.” The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when he takes a step closer and raises his arms, his brown eyes darkening with malice. “I warned you.”
Chapter 3
Eden
Every word Cain utters is the equivalent of a dagger piercing my skin. I close my eyes as the last one slices through my flesh and bone—making a beeline for the shattered organ that still beats for him.
Despite his betrayal. Despite the pain pumping through my veins.
Despite the little voice in my head chastising me for loving a man who cares about politics and his image more than he’ll ever care about me.
The heart wants what it wants. Even when it’s broken.
“You can’t help who you fall in love with,” I whi
sper, tears prickling my throat. “Because trust me, if I could, I’d pick someone—anyone—else to give my heart to right now.”
Someone who deserves it.
I reach for the doorknob with shaky hands. If I spend one more moment in this room with him—he’ll sever the rest of me. The little shred of sanity I’m barely hanging on to.
My breath leaves me in a rush when Cain spins me around, then presses me against the door.
“Eden.” He says my name like a small prayer as he frames my face in his hands. “I know it hurts, but please try to understand where I’m coming from.”
I shake my head. I can’t. I won’t. Not anymore.
I’m tired of seeing things through Cain’s eyes and making excuses for the way he treats me when he’s never once bothered to see things through mine.
Because if he did? He’d see how much pain I’m in. And if he truly loved me the way I love him…it would kill him.
But he doesn’t. And now the stone-cold realization is staring me right in the face.
Loving someone isn’t dangerous.
Falling in love with the wrong someone is.
Cain Carter’s been the air I’ve longed to breathe from the moment I laid eyes on him…but right now? He’s suffocating me.
And I need to find a way to let go of the anchor dragging me down before it’s too late.
“Why should I, when you never once thought about what it feels like from my side? Then again, why would you? Why think about my side when your side is so much better, right? It must feel great knowing you’re loved by someone who would do anything in the world for you. Someone who lets you use them because one second of your attention is better than a lifetime without it.”
His jaw works. “You need to find a way to accept we can’t be together…just like I have.” I start to protest, but his fingers skim my throat, causing my heart to kickstart back to life. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
No, I won’t give in. I won’t let him shut me up like he always does. “You’re already hurting me, Cain. Because I’ll never know what a love like mine feels like in return. Even though you’re the key to my happiness…according to you, I’m the key to your destruction. Our two sides will never meet in the middle. I’m the girl you want to stay away from…and you’re the man I cling to.”
