Chapter 19
Vaughn helped me dress, his fingers grazing over my skin in a way that left trails of heat in their wake.
Goosebumps rose along my arms, my body reacting to his touch even as I tried to steady my breath.
His lips brushed against the side of my neck, soft yet purposeful, sending a shiver down my spine as he zipped up my dress.
"You don’t play fair," I whispered, my voice barely steady.
He chuckled, the sound low and rough in my ear. "I never claimed to."
I turned slightly, feeling the warmth of his body behind me. "Can I have my panties?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
His hand tightened slightly on my waist as he murmured, "No. Those are mine now."
I shot him a warning look over my shoulder, but there was no real heat behind it. "Vaughn…"
His grin widened, a devilish glint in his eyes. "You don’t need them," he said, brushing a kiss over my bare shoulder. "Not with me."
There was something thrilling about the way he said it, like he had no intention of letting me have control. And the truth was, I didn’t want it—not with him. I liked the way he took charge, the way he made me forget everything else.
He helped me into my coat, his fingers lingering on my collarbone before he led me to the elevator.
The moment the doors slid shut, he had me pinned against the wall, his mouth on mine.
The kiss was hard, possessive, the kind that left me breathless and aching for more.
I clutched his shoulders, my body melting against his.
When the elevator dinged, signaling our arrival in the lobby, I barely had the sense to pull away. My heart raced, my lips swollen from the force of his kiss. Vaughn straightened his jacket, looking composed while I struggled to regain my composure.
The cold winter air hit me as we stepped outside, a light dusting of snow covering the sidewalks. Vaughn’s driver was already waiting at the curb, the car door open. I paused, glancing at Vaughn, the unspoken question hanging between us.
"Come home with me," I said softly.
His eyes flickered with something unreadable for a moment, but he nodded, his hand finding mine as we stepped into the limo.
The warmth of the car enveloped us, and the door barely shut before Vaughn’s hands were on me again.
He pulled me onto his lap with ease, his fingers tracing along the edge of my thigh, brushing against the bare skin he had deliberately left exposed.
"You’re still so wet," he said, his voice thick with satisfaction as his fingers stroked the slickness between my legs.
My breath hitched, my head falling back against his shoulder. "Don’t stop," I whispered, my voice shaking with need.
But he did, just long enough to open his slacks. I blinked, dazed, as he fished out a condom from his wallet, his erection straining against his boxers. His movements were quick, practiced, and before I could process the shift, he was lifting me, positioning me over him.
My hands gripped his shoulders, my nails digging into the fabric of his coat as he lowered me onto him. I bit down on my lip, a soft moan escaping as he stretched me, filling me in a way that made my head spin.
He curled his hands around my hips, guiding me slowly at first, his eyes locked on mine. The intimacy of the moment felt overwhelming, but I couldn’t tear myself away from him. Every part of me was attuned to his touch, the heat of his body pressed against mine, the rhythm of our movements in sync.
The limo stopped at a light, and I glanced out the window, my pulse quickening at the sight of pedestrians walking past, oblivious to what was happening mere feet away. The thrill of it—the risk, the secrecy—made the moment even hotter.
Vaughn’s grip on me tightened as he thrust up into me, his eyes darkening with lust. "They have no idea, do they?" he whispered, his voice rough.
I shook my head, my breath catching as he drove deeper into me. "No idea," I echoed, my voice barely audible.
His hands moved to the small of my back, pulling me closer as he buried himself inside me with a groan. The car rocked slightly as we moved, the leather seats creaking beneath us. I could barely hold on, my fingers clutching at his hair, his shirt, anything to anchor myself to him.
The city lights blurred outside the window as Vaughn quickened his pace, his breath hot against my neck. I clenched around him, my body tightening as the pressure built, the intensity of the moment pushing me closer to the edge.
"I’m close," I breathed, my voice trembling.
"Let go," Vaughn growled, his lips brushing against my ear as his thrusts became harder, more insistent. "I want to feel you."
That was all it took. My body tensed, and then I was falling apart around him, a soft cry escaping my lips as the pleasure washed over me in waves. Vaughn wasn’t far behind, his hands gripping my hips tightly as he shuddered against me, his release sending warmth flooding through me.
For a moment, we stayed like that, tangled together in the back of the limo, our breaths mingling in the quiet. Vaughn’s hand slid up my back, his touch gentle now, soothing, as I slowly came down from the high.
I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to face the world outside the privacy of the limo, where reality would inevitably come crashing in. But as Vaughn pressed a soft kiss to my temple, I knew this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
And the truth was, I didn’t want it to be.
I woke with a start, my heart pounding in the darkness. For a second, I couldn’t remember where I was or why everything felt so…wrong. And then it hit me. Vaughn.
I blinked, turning my head slowly, careful not to move too much as if that would make it all disappear. But there he was—Vaughn, lying next to me, his chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths, completely at peace.
What the hell did I do?
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry. The sheets tangled around my legs felt foreign, the weight of the night before pressing down on me like a heavy cloak.
I tried to steady my breathing, but the truth kept crashing over me.
I had slept with Vaughn. Vaughn. Colson’s son.
The one person I shouldn’t have touched with a ten-foot pole.
My gaze drifted over his body, the way his chest moved with each breath, his muscles relaxed under the light filtering through the curtains.
There was no denying how attractive he was—lean and fit like his father, but with a rougher edge, less polished.
Colson always carried himself like a king, every step calculated, every look designed to command.
Vaughn was different. He had the same presence, but it was wild, untamed, like he didn’t care who noticed.
And yet… they were the same in so many ways.
The way Vaughn had taken control last night, the way he moved, his confidence—it was like Colson’s ghost had been there, reminding me of what I’d lost, of the twisted power Colson had over me.
But Vaughn, he wasn’t bound by rules or expectations. He wanted me, and he took me.
I closed my eyes, fighting the wave of guilt that rose in my throat. This was wrong. I shouldn’t have let it happen. I’d already crossed lines with Colson I could never uncross, and now Vaughn? What the hell was wrong with me?
Vaughn stirred beside me, his hand reaching out unconsciously to brush against my hip.
My breath hitched, and I froze, watching him.
His face, so peaceful in sleep, made it easy to forget the dangerous game we were playing.
I bit my lip, unsure whether I wanted him to wake or stay lost in whatever dreamland he was in.
I needed to move, to get out of here before he opened his eyes and this all became too real. But I couldn’t. I was rooted to the spot, staring at him, taking in every detail of his face—the strong jaw, the slight stubble, the way his dark lashes fanned against his cheeks.
I reached out, my fingers hesitating just above his skin. What was I doing? What was this? I let my hand fall back to my side, a soft sigh escaping me before I could stop it.
Vaughn stirred again, this time his eyes fluttering open as the blue light of dawn arrived. I met his gaze, my stomach twisting into knots as he blinked the sleep away, slowly focusing on me. His lips curved into a lazy smile, and for a moment, I hated him for how easy it all seemed for him.
"Morning," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
I swallowed, unsure how to respond. "Morning."
He shifted onto his side, propping his head up on his hand as his gaze roamed over me, his smile deepening. "You look… conflicted," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes.
I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest. "Conflicted doesn’t even begin to cover it, Vaughn."
He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You regret it already?"
I paused, staring at him. Did I? I didn’t know. Regret felt too simple for something this complicated. "I don’t know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Shouldn’t I?"
Vaughn’s smile faltered, and for a brief second, I saw a flicker of something—uncertainty?—in his eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by that familiar confidence, the kind that made me both hate and want him at the same time.
"No," he said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. "You shouldn’t. This…" he gestured between us, "was inevitable, Joey."
"Inevitable?" I echoed, narrowing my eyes. "How can you be so sure?"
He chuckled, his fingers trailing down my arm, leaving a path of warmth in their wake. "Because I know you. You wanted this just as much as I did. You fought it, sure. But deep down, you knew this was where we’d end up."
I wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong, that I didn’t know anything. But the truth was, he wasn’t entirely off base. I had wanted him. From the moment I saw him, there was something between us, something dangerous and forbidden, something I couldn’t resist.
I looked away, focusing on the sunlight spilling through the window. "What happens now?"
Vaughn’s hand slipped under my chin, tilting my face back to his. "Now?" His gaze darkened, the playful edge to his voice fading. "Now, we keep going."
"Going?" I repeated, my heart skipping a beat. "Vaughn, this… what are they going to say when they find out I’m fucking my… stepson?"
His thumb brushed over my bottom lip, his touch featherlight. "Do you care?"
Did I? I was a billionaire. Women who looked down their nose at me all my life now were bowing at my feet. But would they continue when they found out I was sleeping with Vaughn? It would eventually get out that we were together.
"Suppose I do?"
Vaughn leaned closer, his breath warm against my cheek. "You have nothing to feel guilty for. I know that’s your problem."
I shivered, caught between the logic of my mind and the pull of my body. He was right—this wasn’t simple. Nothing about us ever would be. But part of me, the part I hated to admit, didn’t want it to be over. Not yet.
"I can’t think straight with you like this," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He smiled, pressing a kiss to the corner of my mouth. "Then stop thinking."
It would be the easiest solution if I just turned my mind off and enjoyed what Vaughn and I shared. As he threw the covers back and crawled down my body, I let myself go.