Chapter 6
E verly
Someone was watching me. I jerked up in the bed, disorientated by the unfamiliar surroundings. My brain caught up. Connor’s apartment. Right. After he’d left, I’d taken the paperback from the top of his book stack back to his bed and started reading. I’d only meant to pass the time, but it was still the middle of the night, and I wasn’t used to staying up all that late.
The thriller lay discarded on the sheet where it had fallen from my grasp. Beyond it, reclined in a chair, and with one ankle propped up on the other knee, Connor waited.
I blinked at him, my alarm settling into something else. “You used to do that often. Watch over me.”
“I used to do a lot of things.”
Desire curled in my belly. Connor’s gaze dropped to my chest, his hoodie removed before I slept. If he used to love my body, he’d been obsessed with my boobs. They were big, so much they stretched out most clothes I wore, including the silk camisole he’d kidnapped me in. Under his gaze, my nipples pebbled, and I resisted the urge to roll my shoulders. Present myself better for him.
It was strange how easy this was. Being around him all but naked. I never let any man see me so undressed.
His nostrils flared, and with what looked like effort, he centred his focus on my face. “I brought your things. Your father left an answerphone message while I was there. He’ll be away until Tuesday.”
Summoning my father was a bucket of water to my libido. “Have you spoken to him since you left us?”
“Not directly, no.”
Indirectly, then. What did that mean? By one of his staff?
Connor shifted his position, both feet now on the floor and his forearms on his knees. “Ye should know that two men were prowling the house when I was leaving. They came to your bedroom. One almost caught me.”
“God. Are you okay?”
He inclined his head. “I said almost.”
“The threat was real, then.” I wrapped my arms around myself, thankful for being here and not there. Waking to strangers in the house again would’ve been terrifying. “I need to call the security team. If those men hung around, they can scare them off, and they’ll also coordinate with the housekeeper to get the door fixed. My father will need a report. I’ll tell him I went to stay with a friend.”
Connor extended his arm to lift a holdall he must’ve taken from my wardrobe. He tossed it to the foot of the bed. “Your phone’s in there, knock yourself out.”
I unzipped it to find my phone right on top, then dialled the number for the security team. Quickly, I related what had happened then hung up without letting them ask any questions. Then I texted my father, though I almost certainly wouldn’t get a reply unless the happenings angered him. There was a missed call on my screen, and a message saying it was Genevieve. She’d sent her number as promised.
I hid my smile and set the phone down. Connor was still watching me.
“Check I brought everything ye wanted.”
“I’m sure you did.”
There was a challenge in his eyes. “Go through it all anyway.”
I extracted my lilac-coloured dress then another, an older one I hadn’t asked for but wasn’t sorry to see. “You rolled them to stop them creasing. Thank you. Is there somewhere I can hang them up? Or are you moving me to another room?”
He worked his jaw then pointed to a wardrobe. “For now, I’ll keep ye here.”
I climbed from the bed and opened it, taking out hangers to arrange my clothes next to his. He had a couple of suits, plus built-in shelves which housed jeans and plain shirts. One on the bottom captured my attention, and I pulled it free. It was the rock band t-shirt he’d worn the first time I ever saw him.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I sensed him right behind me. He reached around and plucked the shirt from my grip, placing it once again on the shelf.
“Go back to the bag.”
Turning, I was face to face with him, though had to peer up because he was so much taller. He caged me in for several seconds, his gaze all over my body and the thin nightwear I’d slept in. From being so close, his view was straight down my cleavage, our bodies almost touching.
I gulped. “I returned your hoodie to the bathroom. If you tell me where my dressing gown is, I’ll put that on so you don’t have to look at me.”
“Who says I don’t want to look?”
I flushed hot, but thankfully he gave me the space to return to the bed. Flustered, I hid my reaction to him by exploring my possessions as ordered.
Next from the bag was my underwear. A sheer bra and matching knickers with tiny floral detail and see-through panels which had no concealing features. Another two sets were in the same style. “Interesting choices.”
“Uncomfortable with what I picked?”
“I wouldn’t normally pair this kind of lingerie with business wear.”
“No? I’ll enjoy the idea of ye being in meetings with dull corporate wankers and having one of those slutty little numbers underneath your demure outfit.”
Slutty little numbers . My heartbeat quickened even more.
Something was happening between us. A rising tension I hadn’t expected. He was taunting me, and it was thrilling. Sex with him had been life-changing for me. I couldn’t even imagine what it would do to me now. How different he’d be.
My fingers trailed on something else in the bag. Then I froze.
Connor smirked. “Bring it out.”
I did, my cheeks flaming, but I didn’t want to back down from the provocation. “This wasn’t on my list.”
My vibrator. My only real outlet for the kinds of feelings he was generating, although nothing else came close to what he did to me.
“I’m surprised ye even own something like that.”
Oh, screw him. “If you keep me here long enough, you’ll get to see it in action, too.”
His smile dropped, and I internally cheered my tiny victory over him. Seems I wasn’t the only one who could get rattled. Connor pursed his lips then stood and casually reached back to pluck his shirt over his head in a fluid motion that revealed an expanse of flesh, covered in a myriad of tattoos.
Wide-eyed, I traced the inkwork. Skulls, flowers, and two crossed blades decorated his chest. On the backs of his hands were the Scottish flag, known as the Saltire, and a skeleton jaw on the other. More artwork disappeared under his waistband, and my curiosity spiked for wanting to see them all.
At sixteen, he’d had none of this, yet I didn’t mourn the covering of his beautiful flesh. He’d always wanted to hide the scars on his body, and now the job was complete.
“If you’re done drooling, I need a shower.”
His words pulled me back into myself.
“Do whatever you like,” I snapped back.
His gaze held mine, and something dark and needy passed between us.
“Ye really don’t want me to follow that order, temptress.”
God, I did. But at the same point, I’d never allow it. Nor would he. We’d been there, and all it caused was heartache. No matter the lingering attraction, we were grown adults who’d been burned, and I for one would never go back.
Or couldn’t. Not without repercussions I wasn’t willing to endure.
He walked away, and I waited for the sound of running water then scampered to the kitchen and quickly texted Genevieve.
Everly: I’ve got my phone back. Thanks for sending your number.
The sky outside the big arched windows was brightening with the start of day, pink-lit clouds spreading across the city. They reflected on the river below, making a pretty sight. Although it was Sunday, I’d normally be working and tended to get up early regardless.
I cruised the kitchen for coffee and breakfast supplies. A silver coffee machine had an array of pods, but there was no real food in the place that I could find, only leftover takeaway cartons and some kind of protein shake.
My phone buzzed.
Genevieve: Of course. Like I said, we’re neighbours, so if there’s anything you need, just ask. It’s good timing that you’re here, actually, because there’s something I wanted to talk to you about as well.
Everly: Ask away.
Genevieve: Meet me on the roof in an hour?
I tapped my lip, unsure of how to reply. I liked having the secret of my rooftop friendship group, but there was no way I could sneak up without Connor seeing.
A few minutes on, and the water stopped, then the deadly, beautiful man appeared at the end of the hall. A dark-grey towel wrapped around his waist, and he used another to scrub water from his brown hair. Droplets ran down his chest, and my insides tightened.
“I keep opposite hours to ye,” he said. “I’d usually rest now and get up in the afternoon.”
“A night owl,” I answered softly. Tiredness hung over him. I hadn’t noticed it before, but he’d shed layers. I gestured at my phone. “I’ll work while you sleep. Don’t worry, I won’t stare at you.”
His smirk returned. “Do whatever ye want to me in my sleep.”
The statement was so loaded with innuendo, I couldn’t stop a laugh. “Same, big man. Go rest.”
He did, giving me the freedom to text Genevieve back and agree to meet her. Maybe I’d get a few answers of my own.