Chapter 20 #2
Her reflection was as pensive as before and when she wrapped her hand around my fingers holding the glass, I shifted my eyes in her direction.
Vanessa took the drink from my hand, saying nothing as she brought the rim to her lips. It was almost mesmerizing the way she dragged her tongue across beads of liquid that had trickled down the edge.
My balls tightened.
With her eyelashes skimming across her glowing cheeks, she took a sip. Then a gulp. When she drained the glass, the action brought a smile.
The way she shuddered kept my attention. I retrieved the glass, heading to the bar while she remained staring out at the shimmer of sun cascading across the pool’s surface.
I filled two glasses. At this point, tonight was all about babysitting, which I was prepared to do even if it meant staying awake all night. I’d require her to try to get some sleep.
As if she’d obey my rules. I smiled again from the thought.
She finally acknowledged my presence as I returned, blinking several times and I knew she was trying to abate the tears. She certainly hated showing any sign of weakness around me.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I didn’t know you enjoyed bourbon.”
“There is a lot you don’t know about me, but I’m talking about your help with Donovan. I truly appreciate it. Very few people have offered help in the past. It’s a messy situation. Very draining.”
Her genuine words of appreciation were something I wasn’t used to. Not just with her. From anyone. “I did what any decent human being would do. You needed help.”
“Decent human being. At first, I didn’t think that was possible with you. I apologize.”
Unable to help my actions as always around her, I folded my index finger, brushing my knuckle from one side of her jaw to the other.
She quivered for an entirely different reason than usual. Our connection was deepening, yet neither one of us knew how to handle the subtle change.
“You were correct in your initial assumptions of me. However, I wasn’t going to allow him to hurt you any longer.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me. He’s my brother.” Her eyes didn’t reflect what she’d just said. Instead, there was fear and resentment, confusion and hurt.
I cupped her face, thankful she didn’t try to pull away.
“He already has even if not physically. When he’s high on drugs, he’s not your brother.
He’s incapable of understanding what he’s doing to himself or to anyone else.
Boundaries mean nothing. All he can think about is scoring more drugs to keep the high because that’s the only time he feels like he’s living.
Like he can do anything he wants. And like the man he used to be. ”
A tiny smile curled on her upper lip. “Sounds like something you know from experience.”
Huffing, I rubbed my jaw. I hadn’t intended on getting this personal. Not just with her. With anyone. “Like you, I have a brother who’s been in and out of trouble. When he’s clean, he’s an asshole. But when he’s high as a kite, he’s…”
“A monster.”
“Yes. Someone I don’t even know.”
“Is he clean and sober?”
I nodded, although I couldn’t remember for how long or if I’d even checked on him over the last eighteen months. I simply hadn’t cared enough, the arguments and angry words spouted off keeping us at arm’s length. “Yes. For now.”
“They are different people. I just don’t know what to do. I’m afraid Donovan won’t stay in the facility.”
“I learned a long time ago that anyone facing this particular demon has to want to get better. That’s not an easy task. I applaud you for making your brother your priority, but if he fails, this isn’t on you. You cannot blame yourself.”
Her face brightened. “Also said like a man who’s been through this before.”
I brought the glass to my lips. “Perhaps. Is Donovan resting?”
“Yes. I realized he doesn’t have any clean clothes. I thought about heading out to Target or something. Just to get him a few things. I don’t know what to do.”
“We’re about the same size. I think I have a few new things he can have.”
She surprised me by placing her hand on my chest. The chemistry was instant, a bolt of lightning shattering my personal space. Fuuuuck. I wanted this woman. How fucking ridiculous given what she was going through.
“Do you keep new clothes lying around just in case you have wayward guests?” Her laugh was slight, but a sweet, welcome relief.
“Maybe.”
“You’re full of surprises as well. Just when I’m ready to lock down my hatred of you, you do something sweet and out of character.”
“Well, don’t get used to it.”
Her fingers curled around my shirt and she inched closer, tilting her head. “Don’t sell yourself short. Every once in a while, you can let your guard down with people and trust them.”
“Sadly, the thought has been shot down more than once.”
“Then you’re hanging around the wrong people.” Every breath she took was ragged and I could see her rapid pulse beating in her long neck. She wasn’t just nervous for her brother. She was anxious around me.
Something else I couldn’t blame her for.
“Maybe so. I’ll make certain he doesn’t leave this house so you can rest.”
“I don’t know if I can. He’s still antsy, but I can tell the burst of energy is about to run rough. He’ll need another fix, or he’ll become more…”
“Violent?” I asked. “I can handle him. He needs food.”
“He only eats pizza.”
“Pizza. Hmmm… A favorite of mine. I think we can make that happen.”
“My knight in shining armor.” She crawled her fingers up my shirt while darting the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip.
“Hardly. Just a guy who doesn’t like to lose.”
“Mmm… What did you say to Donovan in the car?”
“What did I say?”
She cocked her head in response, her nose wrinkling.
“I simply told him that you were his champion, but that he needed to do this for the right reasons including wanting to live. That he needed to want to thrive.”
“Oh, you didn’t tell him you’d beat his ass if he relapsed?”
Laughing, I wrapped my arm around her, dragging her against the heat of my body. “Well, perhaps I did once or twice.”
“Whatever you said it seemed to influence him. Time will tell but thank you. And don’t let that go to your head. You might not ever hear that again.”
“Lady, I don’t need a thank you.”
“Then what do you need?”
Oh, the question was full of holes. What she needed was the truth, something I enjoyed skirting around. “What if I said all I need is you?”
“Then I’d say you were lying.”
“You also don’t know me very well.”
“Then prove it.”
Vanessa enjoyed tossing down a gauntlet in her constant attempt to prove me wrong. From day one, I’d wanted nothing more than to win. The reason hadn’t mattered. That was my nature, the competition what I thrived on. The rush of adrenaline. The thrill of victory.
Watching others wallow in defeat.
A family trait.
A proven method of success.
A necessary evil to obtain the utmost power and financial gain.
As before, none of the above applied to Vanessa. At least not in the way I’d set out to enjoy.
She pushed away, not out of hesitance, but simply as a testament to her desires never to succumb. The look in her eyes was different, still a test yet something deeper.
Darker.
We stood silently, enjoying the taste of Kentucky whiskey. This was a different line drawn in the sand. When I took the glass from her fingers, she immediately clenched them into a fist. Her breath remained scattered and she shored her shoulders as if preparing for an attack.
Maybe that’s what I had planned, typical for me. Only with a beautiful woman, I used methods of seduction and filth. Yes, I would continue doing so with her and the earlier proclamation I’d meant.
She would eventually beg me to fuck her.
But not now.
This was still midway through the adventures of a cat and mouse. When I gripped her arm, yanking her close, she rose onto her tiptoes, the defiance in her eyes flashing.
My cock twitching.
My heartrate rising.
As soon as I shifted my hand to the back of her neck, she gasped. Not from pain, but from excited anticipation.
I crushed my lips over hers, immediately tasting the tang of bourbon on her breath that seemed so much sweeter. She rolled her hand over my shoulder, tangling her fingers into my hair, the slight tug amusing.
Perhaps the wildcat believed she would best me in the carnal games.
She was wrong.
The competitive thought faded as her body molded into mine, her soft curves a perfect fit. The scent of her perfume mixing with the dark hint of desire was overwhelming. At this point, my cock was aching to the point of sheer pain.
I would never be able to get enough of her.
As the kiss became rougher, even more passionate, all thoughts of the contract and the fake marriage faded.
We both felt a presence only seconds later, our bodies stiffening at the same time. With the moment broken, we turned our heads toward the door.
Donovan stood in the entrance, his expression pinched and his body swaying. I’d seen the look before. I knew exactly what came next. My brother had needed help.
And I hadn’t given it to him, at least not in the way he’d needed.
Karma was reminding me I was a son of a bitch.
“Donovan,” Vanessa whispered with apprehension in her voice.
He studied me, his gaze full of anger, but when he looked away, the smell of defeat was in the air, but perhaps also something else.
The hunger to lose the chain wrapped around his neck.
“Any chance I can get some food?” he asked.
Vanessa let out a sigh of relief. “I think we can make that happen. Yes?” Her question was directed at me.
“How about a homemade pizza?”
He seemed surprised and nodded. “As long as you have pepperoni.”
That I could do.
Fixing the problem was way out of my league.