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

Chapter 14

I threwmy cards into the middle of the table and glanced down at my watch to check if enough time had passed so I could leave. Typically, I didn’t mind these poker games. It was easier for me to ‘bond’ with the investors and not overthink making a good impression. Cards made sense, and I could hide my feelings well, allowing me to win most hands.

But not tonight. Tonight I was distracted, and it was all because of a beautiful brunette with curves for days. And it seemed so were the two men currently at the table. They’d been asking questions and making snide remarks since the moment we’d escaped the dining room.

“So, honestly, how much did you pay that girl to be your date? We all know you and the fruity photographer are together,” Harold Huber said, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Believe what you want, Harry.” My words were clipped, my anger riding along the edge. Jace had stepped away to deal with some issue, leaving me alone at the table. Barry glanced at me and then back to his friend, clearing his throat. He was friendly, but he let Harold bully him.

“It’s just a little suspicious, is all, Kieran. She’s lovely, though,” he said, ever the peacemaker.

“She’s something,” Harold sneered. “It does make me wonder, though, how you’re managing your money.”

“How so? You get all the financial reports, and my personal affairs are not your concern,” I gritted out. He knew his comment would enrage me, but I couldn’t directly deny him anything right now, not with my latest product on the line.

He chuckled like he was in on a joke I wasn’t. He shrugged one shoulder as he tapped the table to bet, and the dealer flipped the next card.

“If I were buying a hooker for a week, I’d get one that wasn’t so fat. So, either you’re poor and can’t afford top grade, or you’re gay and don’t know what a hot piece of ass is.”

The rage I’d been holding back erupted, and I tossed my cards down, the chips scattering as I did. A hand pressed into my shoulder, keeping me in my seat. I could’ve overpowered him, but my body responded to his touch, relieved he was here.

“Gentleman, it seems I missed something.”

Barry dropped his eyes; his cheeks red as he stared intently at his cards. Harold smirked, not fearing anyone or anything because he was a rich white male and nothing in his life had ever been hard. His idea of roughing it was having to take a regular ride-share car and not the premium.

“I was just telling Kieran how shocked I was to learn he had a girlfriend.”

Jace took his seat, his hand squeezing my shoulder before he let go. The dealer dealt him in; his eyes were hard as he tried to ignore the blatant hostility at the table.

“Oh? Outside of these trips that the company hosts to reward the investors and give a first shot at investing in the new products, then I’m not sure when you would’ve had a chance to meet her. Maybe we should do a weekly newsletter and update everyone on when you take a shit or stub your toe? What do you say, Kier?”

He tossed chips into the middle, not even looking at his cards before raising the bid. He turned to me, lifting an eyebrow. I relaxed, more than happy to let him deal with them. Everything was easier when Jace was around.

I held back a laugh as I took in the other two men’s faces. Harold looked more like a dog’s backside with the way his lips were puckered than the wealthy businessman he was. Barry shifted nervously, uncomfortable with the topic but too chicken shit to say anything.

Not that I was any better, but I wasn’t friends with the asshole.

“No. Hmm, then I guess you’re not at liberty to know every detail of his dating life, either. Kieran is a private person, so of course, he wouldn’t splash his relationship around until he was sure how he felt. I had to convince him to bring Everly, knowing how much the group values commitment and stability.”

The words unspoken were so loud.

Traditional. Marriage.

I hated that I cared what these men thought of me; using their approval to reinforce what I believed about myself. It had never been more obvious how stupid that was—especially from these two. They might have a say in what business they invested in, but it didn’t mean they had carte blanche to judge my life.

I glanced at Jace, grateful he was my best friend. I’d been so angry with him when I spotted Everly in the airport lounge and realized she was my fake date. Out of all the things he’d done over our friendship, blindsiding me with the one woman I had feelings for felt cruel. Everything in me had tightened up, the urge to bolt never as strong as I’d stared into her eyes.

Did she know it was me? Would she like this version? What if I was a letdown?

Only Jace’s hand on my arm stopped me, his presence reassuring. Learning her name and hearing her words snapped me out of my fear and anger. I’d heard the hurt hiding behind her professionalism, and I hated myself for making her feel that way. I’d give her anything if she asked. When she hinted at her activities with him, my body locked up as my mind concluded that the panties I’d jerked off in had been hers.

My muse. My pulse. Mo Chuisle.

The more time I spent with her, the easier it was to relax. Everly had the same effect as Jace, grounding me while pushing me to take flight. They were both the wind in my sails and the string keeping me from flying off. Jace and Everly stood up for themselves, knowing who they were without others’ approval. I never thought I could do that, but the more I was around Everly, the easier it was to believe.

I needed to tell her who I was, and I needed to show Jace I appreciated him. I could protect him for once like he was always doing for me.

“Gentleman, it’s become abundantly clear that no matter what I do, you’ll still see me as beneath you. Everly and Jace are two of the best people I know, and neither are open for you to ridicule. Have a problem with me, then I’ll listen. But unless it directly affects the products I invent and your investment, I don’t see how it’s any of your concerns. So, excuse me; I have a beautiful and sexy woman to devour with my best friend.”

I dropped my cards onto the table and pushed my chips toward the dealer. “For having to deal with their bigoted and idiotic comments.” The man’s eyes bulged as he looked at the stack. I didn’t even glance at it, knowing it didn’t matter to me. But hopefully, it would to him.

Jace stared at me, his eyes shining brightly as I stood and buttoned my suit. I said nothing to him, only turning and leaving the casino floor. He’d catch up, and I needed to get some fresh air before I broke out in hives or vomited for speaking up for the first time in my life.

My strides were long as I maneuvered around people, eating up the distance between Everly and me. I had no real intention of devouring her tonight, but I’d liked making them believe that. I knew I needed to tell her everything before I opened that door with her. Thoughts raced through my head, and I didn’t know how far I’d walked until the sight before me stopped me dead in my tracks.

Everly sat topless on top of Cruz, her head thrown back as she rocked on him, the chair moving slightly with her movements. They were hidden in the shadows, but my eyes and body were trained to always find her. Her tits bounced with each thrust, the two of them an erotic picture as they moved together. I hadn’t known how I would feel about Cruz being with the woman I wanted, but watching them, I found it arousing, with not a hint of jealousy in sight.

My cock grew as I remembered how she’d touched me during dinner; her honey and eucalyptus scent had imprinted on me, and I could smell it now. I loved to watch in general, often finding more pleasure in observing a woman taking what she wanted. Watching Everly as she grew closer to her orgasm was the sexiest thing I’d ever witnessed. My hand rubbed against my slacks, unable to stop myself.

Arms wrapped around me, sage and cedar greeting me, and I instantly knew it was Jace. His head rested on my shoulder, his hands running up my legs, and he pressed his lower half into me as he leaned in to whisper.

“Watching you hand those old fogies their ass was sexy as fuck, Kier. Finding you watching our girl be fucked by the Brazilian Ken is even hotter.”

He slipped his hand in my zipper, squeezing me as he came into contact with my rock-hard cock. I licked my lips and pressed back into him.

“Soon, we’ll all be taking her. What do you think about Cruz?” he asked, his lips leaving small pecks on my neck.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my eyes fighting to stay open to watch them and not give in to my own pleasure. Right then, Cruz sat up, wrapping his arms around Everly as he fucked her from below, her arms clinging to his neck. Jace squeezed my balls with one hand, stroking me quickly with the other. I braced my hand against the wall, my legs shaking.

The motion had Cruz’s eyes flashing open and searing into me as he smiled. He winked right before he doubled down and sent Everly crashing into an orgasm. Her moans were more beautiful than I imagined, and I was a lost cause, coming in my pants like a teenager. Jace kissed my neck before he stepped back and pulled me with him. I zipped my pants and let him direct me, trusting he knew where to go. My mind was mush, a mess of emotions trying to fight one another.

“Tell her, Kier. She’ll understand,” Jace whispered as he opened the stateroom door and pushed me in. I took a quick shower, climbing into bed a while later. Jace was already asleep, his soft snores filling the space. Everly wasn’t here, but I guess she stayed with Cruz tonight. I missed her and had secretly been looking forward to snuggling up to her.

My mind kept replaying the day and everything that had occurred. I recounted conversations and played them out to see if I’d said the best thing or if I could’ve done it differently. I looked at all the information my brain had observed that I’d been too overstimulated to notice earlier. The facial expressions, the body language, and the atmosphere all filtered through.

When I couldn’t make the thoughts stop so I could go to sleep, I climbed out of bed and dressed in black joggers, a black t-shirt, and my black hoodie. I was playing with fire, but maybe I wanted to. If Everly saw me in this, she’d know without me saying anything.

It was cowardly. But I couldn’t stop myself from going through the motions and slipping on tennis shoes as I grabbed the lanyard and stepped out into the dim hallway. The ship was quiet, and I made my way to the lounge where a piano sat. It wasn’t the nicest one, but it was close and one of the reasons we chose this deck. I shut the doors to keep the sound low, not wanting to wake anyone at this hour.

Just Everly.

With my hood up, I embraced the Phantom, allowing me to play, and my fingers moved over the ivory keys as music poured from me. The regret, fear, and shame I felt fell away as I escaped in the music, the melody taking my emotions.

I didn’t know how long I sat at the piano, each song melting into the next one. My arms were fatigued, and my body relaxed as I drained the last of my emotions. The final chord rang out in the room, the acoustics better than expected.

My breathing was heavy as I slumped forward on the piano, exhaustion finally entering my bones. It had to be why I didn’t realize someone had entered the room; I was too absorbed in my own world.

“Phantom?”

I snapped my head up and turned toward the voice, my body already knowing who it belonged to. The hood fell to my shoulders, and without my mask, it was clear as day who I was. Everly stood in a robe, her hair disheveled and her long legs on display. She gasped as she met my eyes.

“Kieran? I… I… I don’t understand.”

She wobbled on her feet, and I bolted up, reaching her before she fell over.

“Mo Chuisle.” Emotion clogged my throat as I tried to find the words. “I’ll explain everything.”

I carried her over to the piano, setting her on the bench with me. She didn’t pull away, her proximity giving me the necessary courage. I cupped her cheek, her eyes searching mine, looking for the answer she already knew.

“I’m sorry I didn’t say it sooner. I didn’t know how. It was why I was so scared at the airport. Not because I didn’t want you there, but because I was worried you wouldn’t like me if you knew. Playing with you is my favorite thing in the world.”

Everly didn’t say anything, staying quieter than I’d ever heard her be. She turned on the bench, her fingers falling to the keys as she started a melody. I knew the song, so I joined in with her, trading off as we did at Howlers sometimes.

Somehow it was even more intense now, with no barriers between us as we created music as ourselves, no secret identities to protect us. When the song ended, I stared at her and tried to decipher the emotions in her eyes.

“I…” She shook her head and stood. “I just need time to think.”

Everly took off, the door shutting behind her and leaving me and my battered heart behind. I stared at the door, hoping she’d return and knowing I’d be a lesser man if she didn’t.