Chapter 18
Brielle
Two hundred people are here.
I don’t even know that many people.
Hell, I can count on one hand how many people I would’ve invited—zero.
“Is this how many people we’re inviting to the wedding?” I ask Kane, a bit overwhelmed.
When he said he’d handle the engagement party, I didn’t ask questions, but maybe I should’ve.
“Yes,” he says, sliding his arm around my back and guiding me over to the next group of people we need to greet. “It would be rude not to.”
While we’re chatting with a few of his employees who made the move with him to Harbor Point, I notice my family standing on the other side of the room.
Matteo has his arm slung over Dani, who is hella pregnant and looks absolutely adorable.
Dominick has his arms wrapped around Peyton’s waist, glancing down at her like she’s his entire world.
My mom is looking at her husband like he hung the damn moon.
I glance at Kane, who’s chatting about something work-related, and he looks over at me, granting me a small smile. I wonder if this is as good as it’s going to get for me—getting a smile from a man who will never love me the way my brothers love their wives.
The thought is both heartbreaking and depressing.
“Excuse me,” I choke out. “I need to use the ladies’ room.”
Kane’s brows furrow in confusion, but before he can question me, I slip out of his hold and go in search of the restrooms.
The engagement party is being held at Ocean Blue, a hotel that Kane’s company owns. It’s located just outside of Harbor Point, on the water, and I must admit, it’s a beautiful property.
After going to the bathroom and reapplying my lipstick, I head back out, but I must make a wrong turn somewhere because rather than end up back at the party, I find myself opening the door that leads to the beach.
The ocean breeze sends chills throughout my body, but I revel in the rare cool evening since South Florida doesn’t have enough of these types of nights.
I step out onto the deck and lean against the railing, inhaling the salty air. I close my eyes, and I’m taking a calming breath when a strong pair of arms wraps around me from behind, making me jump.
“Shh, it’s just me,” Kane says. “You seemed upset in there, and when I went in search of you and couldn’t find you, I got worried.”
“Don’t worry.” I chuckle humorlessly. “I’m not going anywhere. I have nowhere to go.”
Kane spins me around and looks down at me, his eyes trying to read me.
“What’s the matter?” he asks when he doesn’t find whatever it is he was looking for.
“Noth—”
“Don’t lie to me.”
His tone sounds like he actually wants the truth, so I decide to give it to him.
“I’m a closet romantic,” I admit with a small laugh.
“I love weddings and romance books. I always thought when I got married, it would be for love. When I was little and my dad locked me in my room for being bad, I would play with my Barbies—the ones I kept hidden so my dad wouldn’t find them—pretending she met the man of her dreams and he swept her off her feet.
They would fall in love and get married on the beach.
It would be an intimate wedding with a red-and-black theme because I loved red roses.
And only their closest friends and family would be there to witness them vow to love each other forever.
“Then, after a few years of traveling and enjoying each other’s company, they would have a half-dozen babies and live in a house on the beach, and he would love her more than anything in this world.”
My eyes fill with tears, and I turn away from Kane, not wanting him to see me so vulnerable. Thankfully, he lets me, and for the next few minutes, I quietly cry as I accept that my life will never be like my Barbies.
“I got you an engagement present,” he says.
“Another gigantic ring?” I half joke.
“No,” he says dryly. “The Pilates studio is yours.”
I spin around in shock. “What?” I gasp. “What do you mean, it’s mine?”
He pulls an envelope out of his tuxedo coat and hands it to me. “I had my legal team look over the contract, and the papers are ready to be signed, if this is what you want.”
I slowly take the envelope out of his hand and open it, and inside is a contract between me and the seller for North Harbor Point Pilates.
“You bought me the Pilates studio?” I whisper.
“No.” He shakes his head. “I made it to where you can buy it with your money.”
I choke on a sob.
Most women would want a man to buy it for them, but Kane knew I needed this for myself.
I need to purchase it with my own money, so it’s something no one can take away from me.
It’s why I didn’t go to my brothers. They would’ve bulldozed right over me, buying it as their company and giving it to me to run.
Their hearts would’ve been in the right place, but that’s not want I wanted … what I needed.
“Thank you,” I tell him, my hands trembling with emotion. “This … this means so much to me.”
“I know you have your brothers, but if you need any help while you’re figuring it all out, I’m here,” Kane says. “I might not be your dream husband, but I’d like to think I’m a knowledgeable businessman.”
He hits me with a lopsided grin, and for the first time, I wonder if maybe it’s possible to have everything I dreamed of with Kane.
He might not love me the way my brothers love their wives, but what he just did for me speaks volumes. I shared my dreams with him, and instead of telling me I was stupid—like Andrey would’ve done to my mom—he not only listened, but he made one of them come true.
“Thank you,” I say again, reaching up and palming his cheek. “This is the best present I’ve ever been given.”
I press my lips to his to give him a quick kiss.
Only the moment our mouths connect, I crave more.
Later, I’m going to blame my sexual desperation on the lack of connection I’ve had recently mixed with my emotions being in hyperdrive, thanks to Kane’s selfless gift.
But right now, my only thought is how soft yet strong his lips feel against mine.
His hand comes up, and his fingers delve into my hair as he deepens the kiss, and I part my lips, welcoming it.
Our lips curl around one another, and when mine part, his tongue slides in, finding mine. He tastes like whiskey and control, and before I can stop it, a moan escapes from the back of my throat.
Kane once said that even though I hated him, I couldn’t help but want him, and he’s not wrong. I want Kane Morgan more than I’d ever admit.
My hands come up, and I claw at his chest, needing more. And without breaking our kiss, he lifts me onto the edge of the wooden rail and parts my legs.
“Tell me you want me to make you come,” he murmurs against my mouth, once again giving me the control I crave.
“Make me come.”
The words aren’t even completely out of my mouth before Kane’s mouth is back on mine.
His fingers tighten in my hair, and his other hand slides beneath my silky dress and panties, expertly parting my folds and finding my clit.
The juices between my legs are flowing, and he uses them to create friction as he rubs delicious circles along my clit.
I’m wound so tight that it only takes a few strokes before I’m moaning into his mouth as I come all over his fingers.
The last time this happened, I pushed him away, told him it would never happen again, but this time, I don’t bother with the lies because we both know it’ll happen again and again. Because I can’t stay away from Kane. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t falling for him.
He pulls his fingers out from between my legs and breaks the kiss. “Always so fucking responsive for me.” He lifts his fingers to my mouth and swipes my arousal across my lips. “Taste yourself. Taste how much you want me.”
Without thought, I glide my tongue along the seam of my lips, and Kane grins a wolfish grin, loving that I listened to him. I want to tell him to go fuck himself, but the taste of myself has me squirming in my spot, wanting more than just a quick orgasm.
As if he can hear my thoughts, he says, “Soon, Princess. Soon, I’ll give you everything you need.” He takes his fingers and brings them to his own mouth, making a show of licking each digit. “So damn good.”
He presses his lips to mine in a soft kiss that isn’t as emotionally charged as the last one, but is filled with so much reverence that an outsider would think the man kissing me actually loves me.
Looks can be deceiving.
“Why not now?” I breathe out, wanting him to fuck me right here, not caring who could possibly see. My pussy is in need of a good fucking, and that orgasm was only a tease.
“Because, as I told you before …” He gives me one more chaste kiss and then lifts me off the railing and onto the ground. “The next time I fuck you, you’ll be so desperate for it that you’ll beg me for it. And I don’t think you’re quite there yet.”
I am … I am totally there, but I don’t tell him that.
Instead, I nod and take his hand, letting him guide me back to the party, where we spend the rest of the evening celebrating our engagement.
For some reason, when people congratulate us, rather than me forcing a reaction, I find myself genuinely smiling at the thought of marrying Kane.
Kane
This woman is fucking with my head.
I had a plan.
Destroy the waterfront deal, which would not only burn the Antonovs’ and Russos’ connections, but it would cost them millions.
Then I spent the night with Brielle and let a woman guide my emotions.
I should’ve learned from my father’s mistakes.
But here I am, making them.
It started with the marriage. I convinced myself I was righting the wrongs of the past.
Then I threw in an heir.
Again, it’s what’s owed to my family.
I told myself I would keep my heart out of it. Treat it like a business deal.
But the more I’m around her, the harder it’s becoming to keep my heart locked away.
I reach under the sink and grab the pharmacy bag.
I thought it was a good idea at the time, but now I’m second-guessing myself.
Fuck! I’ve become weak.
I put the bag back. Stare down at it. Grab it again.
“Hey, Kane … can you—” Brielle opens the bathroom door and glances at me curiously. “What’s in the pharmacy bag?”
“An out-of-date prescription,” I lie. “Found it when I was making room for your stuff and forgot to throw it away. What’s up?” I ask, changing the subject.
She looks like she wants to question me, but instead, she turns around and lifts her blonde tresses, exposing her flawless back. “Can you unzip me, please?”
“Of course.” I fold up the bag and shove it into my tux jacket and then walk over to her.
As my fingers run down her back, lowering the zipper, Brielle outwardly shivers, and I grin, loving the way my touch affects her.
“There you go,” I say once it’s undone. “And in case I forgot to mention it, you looked beautiful tonight.”
I lay a soft kiss on her flesh, and then I leave her in the bathroom to finish getting undressed.
I consider throwing the bag in the garbage, but doing so will mean admitting I’ve gone completely soft for this woman.
So, instead, I head to my office and place the bag in my drawer, locking it for safekeeping.
It’s just a slight deviation from my plan, I tell myself.
But my goal is still the same.