The Companion Love Trap: A Fake Dating Vacation Rom-Com

Chapter 10

I checkedmy phone again like a preteen waiting for an Insta-like, only to shove it back into my shorts when there weren’t any new messages. While I’d been prepared for Everly to leave my messages on ‘read,’ it didn’t mean I liked it. I hadn’t seen her in almost a week, and her ignoring my texts made my inner possessive stalker come out.

“Because you needed a reason,” my inner voice scoffed.

Buns nudged me with her nose, reminding me why I’d come out here, and it wasn’t to stare wistfully off into space as I thought about Everly.

“Sorry, Buns. Come on.”

Then I continued down the path as my corgi’s butt trotted in front of me, going over the details of their flight, trying to calm my anxiety. I knew it was a risk showing up on this cruise, but it felt worth it. I’d whittled my way into her life over the past year, obtaining bits and pieces of her like an addict starved for his next hit. Everything I learned about Everly, from her past to her crazy jobs, made me love her even more. And now I believed we’d arrived at that point where she’d either let me drag her over the line and be mine forever, or she’d keep running.

I’d much prefer it if she stayed put for once.

Not that I wouldn’t keep chasing her if she ran because I would. But there was only so long you could do that before a girl resorted to a restraining order, and I didn’t have the time or energy to fight one at the moment.

As I returned to the hotel, I caught sight of a golden-legged beauty in a green dress with brown hair flying out behind her as she strolled through the lobby like her ass was on fire. Everly didn’t see me, too focused on heading toward the elevators, her giant sun hat covering her face. Immediately I looked to where she’d been, finding Jace and Kieran standing stock still, their gazes fixed on her.

When the elevator door shut and sealed her away, I approached the duo, despite my agreement with Jace to stay away for a day. But I needed to know if something had happened and, at the very least, how she was. I was a self-proclaimed Everly junkie, and I needed more.

“Things already rocky in paradise?” I asked, drawing both of their attention to me.

Jace gave me a cocky smirk, his hazel eyes trailing over me as he took in every inch. When he spotted Buns, he instantly dropped to pet her, stopping midway before he touched her.

“Can I, Gato?” he asked, looking up at me from his lower position and giving my cock all kinds of ideas—like how to fuck that word out of his mouth.

I wasn’t a tomcat, so he better be using it to mean hottie. Pfft.

I swallowed and shifted my stance as he loved on Buns. Of course Buns would like him. He was a dog in human form. I glanced back at Kieran, afraid if I kept watching Jace, I’d get myself arrested in the hotel lobby for indecent exposure when I inevitably shoved my cock down his throat.

“Well?” I asked when neither of them said anything. Kieran’s brow creased as he tried to work out how he knew me.

“You’re the guy from Howlers. Jace, why is the owner of Howlers in our hotel?”

His gaze dropped to his friend, who Buns was licking. Jace sighed at Kieran’s question, giving my corgi one last scratch behind the ear before he stood.

“Because he’s in love and obsessed with Everly just as much as you, so I consulted with him to get her here.”

“Consulted. Right,” Kieran said like the words tasted sour. “You do know she’s a person? You can’t just move people around on a chessboard for your own pleasure. And I’m not in love with her,” he added, crossing his arms as he tried to stare down his friend. Despite being taller, he didn’t quite achieve it with Jace.

Jace rolled his eyes, crossing his arms as he addressed his friend.

“It worked, didn’t it? She needed a job. You needed a fake-girlfriend. You already have a connection but haven’t ever talked to one another.” He threw his arms up. “And now you have. Most people just say you’re welcome.”

I didn’t miss how he ignored Kieran’s refusal about his feelings. Kieran’s jaw ticked, his fair skin turning red the longer he glared at Jace. He opened his mouth but stopped, noticing the people around us, and shut it.

“Perhaps we should take this to our room.”

He stormed off before Jace could answer, heading to the elevator bay almost in the same fashion as Everly. Jace lifted an eyebrow at me and motioned for me to go ahead. I guess he wanted to continue this with me, too.

“Let me guess,” I said as we walked together, “you didn’t tell him it was her until they met at the airport.”

“Guilty.”

He grinned over at me, his eyes shining and not a hint of remorse in sight. His mischievous streak would be fun to fuck out of him. Our shoulders bumped into one another, causing our forearms to graze, sending electricity through me. He cleared his throat, and I wondered if Meu Dengo was nervous. I smirked, liking that I affected him just as much.

“How was she? She hasn’t texted me back since last night, and that was only to blow me off. Not the kind of blowing I prefer.”

“She was great yesterday. We spent the day together.”

His smile was smug, and I just knew something had occurred between them, just not the what. I’d have fun pulling that from him later.

“She was a bit upset when Kieran appeared to reject her, but she stood her ground. On the plane, they were talking and seemed to have bonded. I couldn’t hear everything they were saying, but just the fact Kieran spoke that long to someone new was major. Except when we deplaned, she shut down and rushed to her room.”

His hazel eyes glanced at me, his forehead creased as he frowned, trying to work out the mystery that was Everly. Good thing I had a PhD in her. Nodding, I knew exactly what had happened. Jace seemed to relax, submitting to me without even realizing it.

Yes, you’ll learn to let me take care of you too, Meu Dengo.

The elevator opened, and Kieran stepped in, holding it for us. As the doors closed, I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms against my chest, and propped my feet out in front of me. Buns sat down next to them, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she panted. She was so happy; I couldn’t stop the smile as I gazed at my dog.

“I’m going to guess you and Everly connected on the plane?” I asked Kieran when I looked up. His blue eyes met mine in the reflection, and he nodded. I hadn’t interacted with him much and wondered if he was always this closed off or if it was just me. He was a contradiction I looked forward to unraveling.

“She got scared then. When she starts to feel things too much, she runs. She’ll order room service and spend the night shoring up her walls for tomorrow. But it’s good news.”

The elevator dinged before I could say more, and I followed them out, trailing behind as they walked a few feet to a door and opened it. Kieran peered at the one next to theirs, which I assumed meant it was Everly’s room.

When we entered their suite, I bent down to let Buns off her leash. Jace had instantly gone over to the kitchen, grabbed a bowl, and filled it with water. It warmed my heart to see him caring for my dog. Maybe I wouldn’t have to punish him too much.

“Thanks.”

His eyes glanced up at my words, his grin in place as he nodded. Seemed Everly wasn’t the only one with walls. Oh, this would be fun. Good thing I’d packed my emotional hammer. I had a lot of demolition to do.

Kieran left his suitcases at the opening of a door, then took a seat on the couch, kicking off his shoes and spreading out his long legs. Jace sat next to him, creating a delicious image in my mind. One casual, one suited, and heaps of sexual desire.

Observing them together, I noticed how Kieran shifted toward Jace, letting him lead. Jace might be shorter and smaller, but the man exuded confidence and a domineering energy that made you want to submit to what he said, even if you didn’t know why.

But my energy was bigger and more commanding. I’d have Jace bottoming before this trip was over. No doubt. Need and anticipation raced through me at the thought. I now had two goals to achieve while on board.

“You were saying something about walls?” Jace asked, spreading his arms on the back of the couch, one hand gently rubbing Kieran’s shoulder. I watched in fascination how Kieran melted under his touch.

“Everly’s… complicated. I won’t betray her trust by sharing certain details, but she’s a big believer in taking care of herself.” I scrubbed my hand over my short beard, smiling as I thought of the girl who’d captured my heart with her fierceness. “She doesn’t want to be a burden or feel trapped, so she rarely depends on others. She lives by the motto ‘do what I want when I want.’ And she very much does that.” I chuckled, remembering some of the times she’d pushed that boundary with me. “She’s not a girl you’ll be able to tie down, so if that’s your end goal, you’ve already lost.”

“Why are you here?” Kieran asked, assessing me and apparently not hearing anything I said. Smirking, I gave him my full attention and enjoyed how his body responded—red cheeks, shortened breath, and goosebumps on his arms.

“Everly and I have been playing this back-and-forth game for over a year, and I’ve decided not to let her run anymore.”

“Isn’t that the definition of trapping her?” Jace asked, lifting one eyebrow in a challenge.

“I’m not trying to trap her; just get her to confront her feelings. I know how Meu Tudo feels for me, but she believes that means something it doesn’t.”

“Like what?” Kieran asked, confused. His brows were creased, and he stared at the floor like it had hidden the answer from him. It was so innocently cute I instantly wanted to soothe him, my protector genes emerging.

“Jace believes the two of you are destined, and I don’t disagree. I know she needs you like she needs to breathe. Performing is a huge part of her despite her denial. If I try to cut you out, then I’m not seeing Everly for who she is.” I dropped my hands and placed them in my pockets, rocking on the balls of my feet. “Thankfully, I don’t ascribe to monogamy in the traditional sense. Relationships can take on many shapes and sizes, and if Everly could slow down for one second and hear me out, she might realize it’s exactly what she wants and needs.”

“So, both of you plan to trap her in some twisted game?” Kieran sneered, the unusual anger surprising me. “I won’t be a part of it.”

Kieran stood with his shoulders back at his full height, about two inches taller than me. I respected him at that moment. He wasn’t afraid to stand up for her, showing me he was worthy of Everly’s love. Jace stood as well, turning his body as he spoke to his friend, his hand gently placed on his forearm. The love and care they had were visible, regardless of what they believed. I was envious of how freely they could show one another.

“Kier, that’s not it. Everly’s free to make her own choices. We’re only showing her the options. She has chemistry with the three of us, so if we agree up front that we won’t try to take her away from the other, we can find a solution that benefits all. Together.”

As Kieran looked between the two of us, I could practically see him running through scenarios in his mind; his eyes shifting back and forth looking for all the potholes.

“It’s going to blow up in your faces, but I don’t know how to stop you at this point,” he concluded, sitting back down and crossing his arms.

Buns trotted over to him, nudging him with her nose. His face morphed into a soft smile, the action so light it snared something in me I didn’t know existed. With Everly, I protected her from herself, but with Kieran, I wanted to keep him from the world.

Jace stepped closer to me, his arm brushing mine again as he spoke in a hushed tone so Kieran couldn’t hear.

“He’s like a newborn cub. Soft, cute, and vulnerable. There’s this primal need in you that wants to dominate him, right?”

I swallowed, nodding as I kept watching the mystery that was Kieran Byrne. How had I never seen it before?

“Yeah. That’s Kieran.” Jace looked smug for all of two seconds before it changed into a fierce glare. “If you misuse him or harm him in any way, not only will I cut off your balls and feed them to the sharks, but he’ll take everything from you and ruin your name. Never forget that he’s still a lion or that I’m the king of this jungle. You might have the upper hand with Everly, but he’s mine. I’m willing to share if he’s interested but don’t think I won’t protect him. Do you understand, Gato?”

For a split second, I felt his dominance powering over me, and I had the urge to bow my head in obedience. Still, that power turned to heat, promising a raging inferno when we inevitably collided. Oh, I couldn’t wait. But I admired his loyalty and defense of what was his. He was someone I could go toe-to-toe with, and I liked that quality in a person.

“I copy, Meu Dengo.” Our eyes seared into one another, his hazel ones melding with my brown ones, and it felt like time stopped for a few seconds while we both existed together.

“What do you suggest we do in the morning?” Kieran asked, pulling Jace and my eyes apart.

“Hmm?” In my standoff, I’d already forgotten his question.

“Everly,” he said like that was all he needed. But he wasn’t wrong. It said everything. I shrugged in response. There wasn’t a simple solution.

“I chase her. It’s our thing. She pushes me away, and I pull her back. Figure out the dynamic between you two, and don’t retreat.”

“I don’t know how to do that. I’ve never been great with women. So I don’t have a lot of experience.” His voice was low like he was embarrassed by that.

“Whatever you were doing on the plane was working, and you have a deep connection through music. Just be yourself, Kier. She’s got his possessiveness to contend with and my cockiness; she doesn’t need another one of us. Be the music that she needs.”

“I need to tell her, don’t I?” he sighed, biting his lip as he peered up. Buns was still between his legs, loving the head rubs.

“Up to you. But the longer you hide it, the harder for her to get over it,” I said, knowing how hypocritical I sounded. She didn’t know everything about my past, but I contended that I wasn’t hiding it. Everly just didn’t ask.

Kieran groaned, throwing his head back on the couch as he sat back. He rubbed his hands over his face, tugging at the light strands. “I can’t deal with this right now. I need to prepare for tomorrow.” He stood and stalked away, heading into the room he’d propped his luggage.

“What did you do with Everly?” I asked Jace the second it was clear.

He smirked, falling back into the cocky guy I’d found outside my office door listening to me fuck Everly. He spread out his arms on top of the couch, one leg bent at the knee with his ankle resting on his leg. Jace was the epitome of cool guy right now.

Please push my buttons, Meu Dengo. Give me a reason to show you how well you’ll submit to me.

“I don’t kiss and tell, Gato.”

Growling, I zoomed across the few steps and pinned him against the couch as I entered his space. My legs straddled his, restraining them as I hovered over him. My hands pressed his arms into the sofa, keeping him helpless and at my mercy. He’d have to buck hard to throw me off him. Jace sucked in a breath, his chest hitting mine as he stared open-mouthed at me in shock.

“Try again, Meu Dengo. Tell. Me. Everything.”

“Nah. I don’t think I will.”

Oh, so he thought he could play the brat. News flash, hot stuff. Everly had the brat part down pat, and you’re nowhere near her brattiness. I nipped at his ear, licking up his throat.

“Did you fuck her?”

I moved my hands off his shoulders, placing one on his thigh and the other at his throat. His pulse beat rapidly against my fingers, belying the calm guy he pretended to be, his cock growing harder against my touch. He could pull me off him now if he wanted with his hands free, even though I had a few more inches on him and about fifty pounds. But he didn’t want to. Not really.

“No,” he whispered, licking his lips.

I squeezed his thigh lightly, my thumb brushing the tip of his penis through his shorts. He groaned, and his eyes fluttered closed. No more pretending, Meu Dengo.

“Good answer. Did she suck your dick? Did you make her gag around you?”

The dick in question twitched against my hand as he swallowed, his heart racing. He finally shook his head, and I pressed on his throat, directing him to answer.

“No.”

His voice was raspy; each word gritted out with need and restraint. He hated submitting to me, but he also liked it. I had a feeling Jace was always in control and didn’t know what it felt like to give it up.

Don’t worry, baby. I’ll show you.

“Want to try again, then? What did you do?” He shook his head, my hand squeezing his throat harder at his insolence.

“You like me saying it, don’t you? It gets you off. Fine. But your disobedience will have consequences. Don’t forget who’s in charge here, Meu Dengo.”

I moved my hand slightly, gripping his cock in my hand now. His eyes rolled back as he groaned.

“Did you finger bang her? Hmm? Did you feel her perfect heat around your fingers? Did she cover you in her cum to the point you could smell her on you for hours?” I whispered, biting his neck and sucking on his earlobe.

“Yes,” he whimpered, his cock twitching in my hand. I pressed my body more into him, rubbing my hardness against him.

“Shit,” he cursed, panting now with need. His pupils were dilated, and the desire was clear on his face. But he wouldn’t beg. Not yet.

“I can’t wait to take your ass while you eat out our girl, Meu Dengo.”

“Never,” he gritted, fighting against the arousal.

“Soon.”

I crashed my lips to his, our tongues battling one another for dominance, but I didn’t let him have it, pulling back before he could take what he wanted.

“Be good, Meu Dengo. I don’t want to have to increase your punishment.”

“Wait, what?” he asked as I let him go.

I picked up Buns’ leash and walked to the door, my dog following me without question. I didn’t turn back or give him any answers. The real game had just begun, and Jace would surrender to me soon.

I went across the hall to my room, smirking at knowing I was so close to Everly. I ordered room service and sent Meu Tudo’s favorite dessert to hers; even watching from the peephole as she accepted it, not caring if she thought it was from them. After just that slight peek of her, I instantly felt better. I picked up my phone and sent her another message, knowing she wouldn’t read it and loving how I could use that to my advantage.

I never claimed to be nice.

Cruz: You look beautiful, Meu Tudo.

Cruz: I’ll see you tomorrow. No more running.

Cruz: I’m coming for you, Meu Tudo.