Chapter Twenty-Five #3
“You told me to wait for you.”
I’m a fucking idiot.
I should’ve known my father would send Mathew.
It was only a matter of time, and now that he has London in his sights, my twin isn’t going to let up.
Mathew has always wanted what he can’t have, especially where I’m concerned.
London is no exception.
Do not make him think it’s a big deal. Keep your cool, Mason. If Mathew catches even a whiff of what she’s doing to you, it won’t just be your ass on the line.
I move back and shake my head. “From now on, you need to wait in your room at the housing complex.”
I’m grasping at straws to mitigate the damage, and I can tell by the look on London’s face that she knows it.
We’re too far gone, but it doesn’t mean I can’t try.
Her gaze slides away. “Alright. I’ll go.”
I growl and block her from leaving. “You need to stay the hell away from Mathew.”
London looks up at me. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You have no idea what he’s like,” I tell her. “He might seem charming and friendly, but he’s as ruthless as they come.”
London’s eyes move over my face. “You mean like you?”
“I am nothing like him.” My words sound more forceful than I intended. “I mean it, London. Stay the fuck away.”
“He’s your brother.”
“And?”
“I don’t understand what you want from me. You tell me to stay, but you don’t like it, and now you’re wound up because I was talking to your brother—”
“We have a deal,” I interrupt coldly. “Or have you forgotten?”
London’s eyes flash as she draws herself up to her full height. “How could I? You remind me of it every chance you get.”
I close the distance between us so she’s backed up against the nearest wall. “You need reminding. Which part of me owning you don’t you understand?”
“All of it,” London replies defiantly. “You don’t own me. I owe you a debt. There’s a big difference.”
I raise my hand and tilt her chin up. “Someday, you’re going to stop justifying all this to yourself and just fucking enjoy it for what it is.”
London’s breath hitches when I release her, and my fingers move to her jaw. “I don’t think you even know what that is anymore.”
I dig my nails into her shoulders, but she doesn’t flinch.
It makes me want her more.
How is she not running for the hills?
How can she still look at me with kindness and concern?
“There is no man behind the mask,” I tell her. “Stop trying to fucking see what isn’t there.”
London’s eyes tighten. “I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care what you believe.” I yank her hair back and move my face so my lips are inches from hers. “I could have you on your knees if I wanted.”
London’s eyes are wide when my lips descend on hers, hard and unyielding.
Her body melts against mine and softens, but her eyes remain wide. I thread my fingers through her hair and yank again. Her eyes flutter shut abruptly, and her fingers move to the back of my neck. They curl at the nape, and she angles her head, giving me better access.
Jesus fucking Christ.
I bite on her bottom lip,, and London’s mouth parts, allowing me access.
My fingers move from her shoulders to the small of her back as I plunge my tongue into her mouth.
She tastes like strawberries and wine, and the mixture goes straight to my head.
Her fingers glide down my back and rest against my behind.
I don’t know who’s more surprised when she digs her nails there.
I growl and pin her arms behind her back.
Abruptly, I wrench my lips away and pepper her face with hot, open-mouthed kisses.
Her breathing is ragged and uneven when I move to her blouse and rip it, sending buttons flying in every direction.
Then, I lower my head and exhale against her skin, sending a ripple of goosebumps across her skin.
I can smell how much she wants me, and it makes me want to take her right there.
I imagine driving myself in and out of her as I press her against the wall.
I don’t care if the entire house knows.
A shock goes through me as I realize I don’t even care if my brother knows.
Careful, Payne. You’re treading on some very thin ice.
London mumbles something unintelligible as I rub myself against her and drop her hands.
One hand falls between us and cups me over the fabric of my trousers, and the other moves back up to my shoulders, kneading the muscles there.
My hands move to her back, unclasping her bra and allowing her breasts to spill over.
She says something else, but I can’t hear her over the roaring in my ears.
London’s eyes fly open when I spin her around so that her front is pressed against the wall. I pin her arms behind her and continue to move against her. “This is what you want, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” London breathes huskily. “Yes.”
I press my lips to her ear and exhale again. “I can smell how much you want me. Do you have any idea how intoxicating that is?”
She makes another unintelligible sound as I use my other hand to press her breasts together.
Someone clears their throat, and I pause. “This had better be important.”
“Your brother is waiting for you in the study.” Carlisle’s voice cuts through the fog. Slowly, reluctantly, I release London and turn around to face him. He is staring at a blank spot on the wall. I run a hand through my hair and adjust my suit.
“I’ll be there shortly,” I tell him evenly before throwing London a look. “We’ll finish this later. Go to the guest room.”
London reaches for the tattered remains of her shirt and holds it over her chest. “I thought you wanted me to leave.”
“Guest room,” I repeat. “I won’t be long.”
I stride from the living room and into the hallway. Outside the study, I stop to take a deep breath and push the door open.
Mathew is waiting by the window with a drink in his hand as I kick the door shut and cross to my desk. Then, I unholster my gun and set it on the desk between us.
My brother raises an eyebrow and says nothing.
I level him with a look that would’ve made anyone else cower. “I see you’ve been helping yourself to my whiskey.”
Mathew takes a long pull but doesn’t turn to face me. “You have good taste.”
I pause to roll up my sleeves. “That’s not why you’re here.”
Mathew has always known how to get under my skin. Even when we were little, he knew which buttons to push to make me snap.
Being an adult has made it worse, and having him around makes things more complicated than they should be.
How much of the truth does he know?
“You need a better view.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re not here to discuss the view.”
Mathew takes another sip of his drink and turns to face me. “She’s hot. I can see why you want to keep fucking her.”
I scoff. “I keep her around because it’s convenient.”
Mathew barks out a laugh. “You’re a better liar than that, Mason. Come on, there’s something else going on here.”
“Being around Father has made you paranoid. I told him I’ve got things under control.”
The easy smile falls from Mathew’s face. His expression is now cool and calculating. “He expressed some concern, but to answer your question, I’m here of my own accord. Dad likes it when people take initiative, and I thought I’d make sure he knows you aren’t the only option.”
I let out a low, humorless laugh. “You really think coming out here will make him reconsider you as the head of the business?”
Our father didn’t just choose me because I was born first.
Even with me out of the picture, Mathew isn’t the next choice, and I wonder how long it will take him to figure that out. I feel the need to warn him he’s always going to chase our father’s approval, and that it will always be out of reach.
I also know he won’t listen to me.
Mathew, like our father, is too stubborn for his own good.
He’ll learn his lesson the hard way, like we all did.
Mathew’s eyes tighten around the edges. “You’ll fuck up enough and make my job easier.”
I snort. “You’re delusional if you think that will be enough to convince Father.”
I’d been his first choice, but I wasn’t his only one.
Our father has circled Oliver for years, and while I hate that I haven’t been able to keep him out of the loop, I’ve done everything I can, including making sure he stays on another continent.
Making a deal to keep my younger brother far, far away from all this wasn’t hard, not when he reminded me so much of my mom.
He was one of the last reminders I had of her, and I promised her I would protect him.
I will see that promise through, and nothing, not even my twin, will stop me.
Mathew walks over to the cart in the corner. His eyes stay on my face as he reaches for the decanter and pours another drink. “Father know you’re keeping her around? He’s going to lose his shit when he finds out.”
“He knows.”
Mathew stops pouring and looks at me. “Damn, I should’ve tried harder to charm her. She must really be something if you’re willing to piss him off.”
“Stay the fuck away from her.”
Fucking hell. What happened to playing it cool and making sure he knew London was just a means to an end? You can’t have him finding out that she’s chipping away at the mirror.
Still, the words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, and I can tell it’s exactly what Mathew wanted.
He didn’t just come here to challenge my position.
Mathew has always lurked in the shadows, waiting for his moment.
I can tell he thinks his conniving and scheming ways have paid off. He’s going to use her against me, but I haven’t figured out how, and I want to kick myself for overplaying my hand.
Goddamn it all to hell.
Why can’t I play it cool anymore?
Mathew has never been able to get the upper hand, but for the first time since I can remember, he has an edge.
Mostly because he doesn’t know how to feel.
You can still salvage this. Play it off. Don’t let him see how much she means to you. Do whatever it takes, or you know what’ll happen.