Chapter 8
Evie
Itiptoe my way to the door trying not to wake Caleb.
The last thing I want to do is deal with him this morning.
He came in trying to wake me for sex last night, and I had to pretend like I was deep asleep to avoid him touching me.
Truth is, I couldn’t sleep. I kept replaying the evening, feeling a flutter of excitement every time I thought of Torch.
It was one of the best nights I’ve ever had, and I didn’t want to ruin it by having Caleb’s hands on me.
I need to end things with him. No more waiting until later.
No more stalling the inevitable to spite my dad.
I’m done pretending I have feelings for him.
If he wants to stay in Vegas, I’ll be happy to get myself another room, but I don’t want to share a bed with him anymore.
It felt like Torch was about to kiss me last night, but then he pulled away, telling me he should leave before he crossed a line.
I don’t want Caleb standing in his way anymore. I want to be kissed by Torch so badly.
I take the elevator down, using the special key that Torch gave me last night. It allows me access to the member-only parts of the hotel. In case I needed to come up and see him, I could get to his floor. Right now, I’m heading to the private pool. Although, I can’t remember what floor it’s on.
When the doors open, I realize I was mistaken.
This looks like the place where the Steel Sinners gather.
The place is filled with men in leather jackets.
There’s a pool table, a bar, a theater-sized screen, and leather chairs.
As if they all sense me at once, all heads turn, their eyes landing right on me.
Thankfully, the elevator doors start to close, and I’m no longer locked under their curious stares.
I quickly press a different floor. Seven.
I think Torch said the pool was on the seventh floor.
The doors open again and I’m praying I have it right this time. When I see a sign on the wall with an arrow pointing toward the pool, I step off the elevator, taking a breath as I turn the corner. But the air seizes in my lungs and my feet halt in place.
Torch is up against the wall with another woman, and she’s rubbing her nearly naked frame against his chest. Drawing his attention straight to her huge boobs.
“Torch, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. When are you going to come to my room and fuck me? I’m only here for three days this trip, then I have to go back.”
I duck back around the corner, bracing myself against the wall so I don’t lose my balance. My racing heart is almost making it impossible to hear.
“Angora, I’m not going to be able to visit with you this trip. There’s a very important client in town who needs all my attention. I’m sorry to have to disappoint.”
Client. That would be me. The one he’s trying to impress to ensure my father gives the Steel Sinners his money.
“I am disappointed,” she whines seductively. “I’m very disappointed. You know how much I long for that big dick of yours. I’m not going to be back for another month. Can’t you make just a little time for me?”
My stomach sinks as reality settles in. The closeness I had felt last night was nothing more than an act. He’s merely trying to impress “his client.”
I steel my shoulders and lift my head, before I turn the corner, heading straight to the door at the end of the hall.
Walking right past the jerk and the bimbo with him.
She’s exactly his type, exactly what I would’ve pictured for him.
Big boobs, long legs, silky black hair. Exotic eyes and tan skin, with sex appeal oozing from her pores.
And here I am in my little red and white polka dot bikini, looking like a kid with my silly sneakers on.
A kid who he’s babysitting.
A kid who he took out for milkshakes last night.
Now, I know the real reason he didn’t kiss me.
“I’m sorry, Angora. I… Evie?”
My shoulders stiffen, wanting to keep on walking and ignore him, but that will just prove how immature I am.
“Good morning.” I plaster on the smile and turn. “I’m just heading to the pool. I assume it’s that way.” I point toward the door, hoping my finger isn’t shaking as bad as my insides.
“Yeah, here, let me take you. I’ll see that you get a cabana.”
“No need.” I shake my head. “Please carry on. I’m a big girl.”
I give them both a nod and steadily make my way outside.
Breathing in deep as soon as I’m through the door, but the air almost stifles me.
Maybe sitting by the pool is a bad idea.
But there’s only one way back in, and there’s no way I’m walking by that man again.
I’m going to sit down with my book and do everything in my power to forget he ever existed.
I’m going to read about the ghosts in this city and not think about the woman who was cuddled up with Torch, rubbing her chest all over him.
Why do they all go for the same type?
My dad… Torch… They all like the bimbos who crawl all over them. The ones who offer sex on a platter. Even Caleb’s been making comments about me not being sexually expressive enough. The women he keeps pointing out for his fantasy threesome are just like the one Torch was with.
“Are you a secret ghost hunter in your spare time?”
I look up from the scrambled words on the page, and I’m thankful my eyes are covered with dark-tinted sunglasses.
“It’s just something I’m interested in.”
“Did you sleep alright, babe?”
“I slept fine.” I return my attention to my book.
“You sure? Seems like your mood is a little salty.”
“Don’t you have better things to do with your time?”
He takes a seat—right on my lounger. The one next to me is open and perfectly fine, but he’s now crowding my space, filling my nose with his aftershave. He looks good this morning dressed in his jeans and a white T-shirt. I doubt he could wear anything that would make him look bad.
“There’s nothing I’d rather do than spend time with you. Now, why are you tensing away from me?”
“Maybe because you smell like that woman’s perfume.”
He actually smells like her tanning lotion. Like big, bouncy coconuts.
“Ah, I see.” He leans in closer, crowding me even more. “She means nothing to me, Evie. I can promise you that.”
And I’m sure I mean nothing to him either.
“You better back off before my boyfriend comes out and sees you trying to come onto me. He’ll punch your lights out.”
“I’d like to see him try.” His smirk dips into a snarl. “When are you going to end things with him, Ev? After last night, it’s clear you don’t have feelings for him.”
“What I do is none of your business.”
He leans in closer, stealing my breath and fogging every single thought.
“It is very much my business. I can’t slip my fingers down this little polka dot bikini until you’re a single woman. I can’t rub against that swollen clit until you’re free for the taking.”
A moan betrays me, slipping from my throat as tingles flutter in my stomach.
“See. You need it, don’t you? But I can’t do a damn thing to ease that ache until you cut ties with that loser.
” His fingers brush along my inner thigh, teasing goose bumps along my skin.
Making me sweat between my legs. “Now, why don’t you run along inside and put the poor guy out of his misery, so I can finally give this little pussy what it needs. ”
I can’t think. Can’t breathe past the need pulsing between my thighs.
Can’t hear past the pounding of my heart beating hard within my ears.
He wants me to go inside and break up with Caleb.
He’s right. I should do it right now. Right now, so I can get the relief my body is searching for.
I’m about to agree, about to stand on trembling legs and go back to my room to wake Caleb, but then a familiar voice cuts through my thoughts.
It’s my father.
I turn my head and see that he’s walking out with the tramp clung to his arm.
“What is it, baby?”
Torch’s head turns and as soon as he spots my dad, he pulls away from me, taking a seat on the chair next to mine.
It’s obvious he doesn’t want my dad to see him in this compromising position with his daughter.
It might very well interfere with the deal he’s after. We couldn’t have that now, could we?
It’s always the same. Everyone always wants me for my father’s money.
I grab my book and towel and stand. He starts to rise too as if to follow me, but I stop him.
“I’m going to my room. You should stay and cozy up to my dad so you can get him to sign the deal. Caleb and I will be spending the day touring Vegas so you’re off the hook.”
Without a backward glance, I turn and leave, heading back to my room. Turns out it’s no longer my dad I want to spite; it’s Torch. Which means… I won’t be breaking up with my boyfriend until we get back home.