Chapter 39
Evan
The Rothmans’ annual summer party is already in full swing by the time I make it out to the Hamptons. The rich and powerful scatter across the manicured backyard, drinks in hands, laughter spilling between conversations.
My eyes scan the scene in front of me, searching for the familiar faces of my friends. My search comes to a stop when my gaze lands on her.
Anais.
She’s laughing at something her friend just said, fucking radiant in a floral summer dress that clings to her every curve.
I swallow. Hard. Fuck me, she is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.
Even among a crowd full of stunning women, she shines like the sun.
There’s just something about her that draws you in and drags you under.
How I ever thought I could resist her… hell if I know.
My thoughts flash to this same party one year ago.
Everything was completely different then.
She had drunkenly cornered me outside the bathroom, declaring her love like she had every right to.
If someone had told me then, that a year later I’d be standing here, completely infatuated with Anais Lauder, I would never believe it.
Actually, I’d have laughed in their faces.
Guess the joke’s on me.
Because despite my attempts to stay away from her, I crossed the line. I willingly walked straight into that fire, arrogant to think I’d come out untouched. That I would get what I wanted and remain the same cold, detached asshole I’ve always been.
I’m a fucking idiot.
A humbled fucking idiot.
Since the night she stayed at my apartment, I’ve done everything I can to put distance between us.
She’s noticed, of course she has. She has even gone as far as storming into my office and demanding we talk.
Every time, I’ve turned her away. Told her I was too busy, that we’ll talk later.
For the first time in my life, I’ve been working from my home office.
I even made Janice delegate Anais tasks. I’m a fucking coward. I know it.
Still, I hide away, buying time. Trying to delay the inevitable.
Anais knows something’s wrong. Her blowing up my phone is evidence of that.
Brat: I know you’re avoiding me. Come on Evan, we have to talk about this.
We really don’t have to talk about anything.
Brat: Mature of you leaving me on read…
After that, I’d stopped reading her messages all together. If she wasn’t interning at my company, I might’ve blocked her number. Not that it would stop her finding me...
You don’t want her to stop finding you… That voice. He can fuck off, too.
It’s been a week since I last touched her.
A week since I silently let her go. Every day, it gets harder to look at her.
My hands twitch with the need to touch her soft skin.
My cock begging me to take him home. But I’ve wrestled back some control.
Warned my limbs, and my fucking dick, that if they so much as twitch in her direction, then I won’t hesitate to cut them off.
Extreme? Yes.
But desperate times. They need to know I’m serious.
“Who are you staring at?” Harrison’s familiar voice filters through my thoughts. I tear my gaze away from his sister, my heart hammering in my chest, skin hot. Christ.
“You need a fucking bell around your neck. Sneaking up on me like that,” I snap, running a frustrated hand through my hair.
He laughs, but I’m deadly fucking serious.
“What’s got you so on edge, Maxwell?”
“Nothing.” I bite out.
I see him watching me out of the corner of my eye. He takes a sip of his drink, his expression curious. I don’t look at him. Can’t. “So, who were you watching like a stage five creeper?”
My muscles tense. Fuck. Did he catch me staring at his sister?
No. He couldn’t have. If Harrison had any idea of who I was watching, he wouldn’t be so calm.
He’s drawn a line in the sand about Anais since she turned eighteen – and has reminded me and all our friends weekly.
This is why he can never find out. I might have confusing feelings for Anais, but my friendship with Harrison started when we were in the womb.
I can’t risk losing my best friend over something that might just be a phase.
I clear my throat. “No one. I was looking for you assholes.”
“Hmm. And I here I thought maybe, just maybe, you were lining up your next victim.” I turn to glare at him. He raises a brow, smirking. “How long’s it been since you got laid? Two months?”
A week actually. But I can’t exactly tell him that I was making love to his sister – and yes, it was making love – before I kicked her out of my apartment.
“Should I be concerned about your interest in my dick?”
He smirks. “Nah. Just don’t want you coming to me for advice when it finally shrivels up and dies from lack of use.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s biologically impossible. And if it wasn’t, you’d be the last person I’d ask for help.”
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He sighs. “You need to get your dick wet, Maxwell. It’s a disservice to mankind that you’re wasting what God gave you.”
“Jesus, fucking Christ, will you shut up.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, irritated.
“Whatever,” he mumbles. “Anyway, I’ve got something to tell you–”
He’s cut off by the rest of our friends.
“Maxwell, Lauder.” They all greet simultaneously.
I nod at Parker before gesturing to the event. “Bit extravagant don’t you think?”
He huffs a laugh. “The Mayor is here. Mom wanted to impress him.”
“And I thought she couldn’t top last year’s entertainment.” Jameson muses, glancing at the world’s biggest pop star, with a grimace.
“Fucking ridiculous,” Nathanial adds. “Though, I wonder if she needs any company for tonight.” His eyes light up as he stares at her with interest.
Trust Nathanial to think with his dick. Always hunting for his next lay. I mean I like sex as much as the next guy, but the guy’s a walking hormone.
And… that’s my cue to leave.
“If you idiots will excuse me; I need the bathroom.”
“Not an idiot. And we don’t need to know about your bathroom habits.” Hayes mutters, taking a sip of his scotch.
I slip away into the house, heading for the private bathrooms.
The Rothmans always insist on luxury mobile restrooms, but I refuse to use them. So Parker always keeps a side door open for us.
I take care of business, tuck myself away, wash my hands and pull the door open… and freeze. I blink, checking I haven’t conjured her in my mind, but no, like Déjà vu, it’s her. Anais. I should’ve known she’d follow me.
Staring, I push my hands into my pockets. Her expression is hard; no trace of the girl she was outside.
“You’re avoiding me.” It’s not a question, but a fact.
Because it’s true. I have been.
I sigh. “What do you want, Anais?”
She reels back as if I slapped her.
My heart pangs in my chest, that damn ache growing painful.
She straightens, her lilacs locking on me. “I want to tell my brother about us.”
“What? No.”
“The sooner we tell him, the sooner he can start forgiving you.”
“What the fuck, Anais? No. There is no us.”
She flinches but quickly recovers. “There is.” Her voice leaves no room for argument.
I glance around, making sure no one is lurking in the shadows watching us. Then I close the distance, pinning her against the wall, and caging her in with my arms. My thigh wedges between hers.
“Anais,” I breathe, voice low. Being this close to her is dangerous. Her scent invades my nostrils. And without thought, I bury my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her intoxicating scent like a starved man. Fuck. I really shouldn’t have done that. Now I really am screwed.
“Please, Evan,” she pleads. “I know you’re pulling away because of Harrison. But he’ll come around.” I bite the erratic pulse point in her neck, then run my tongue against the throbbing flesh, soothing the skin. “I want you.” She moans, grinding her pussy against my thigh.
Something inside me snaps. I shouldn’t be doing this.
I really shouldn’t. But… my lips smash to hers in a punishing kiss.
Because quite frankly she deserves to be punished for making me lose my fucking mind.
Like a starving wolf, I hungrily devour her.
My cock hardens in my pants, heart hammers in my chest. She’s a fucking drug and in this moment, I’ll gladly be her addict.
Fuck me. I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want this woman.
And it’s been too long since I had her last. I want to crawl inside her and make myself a home. I want to…
I’m so far gone, I don’t hear the sound of footsteps on the tiles or the gasp that follows. All I feel is Anais pulling away from me, and the displeasure surging inside me that she’s ruining this moment.
And then I hear it. The shrill, poisonous voice of a person I never expected to be here.
“Well, well, well. So, this is why you won’t get back with me? Because you’re fucking your best friend’s little sister.”
I spin around so fast, I’m surprised I don’t get whiplash.
And there she stands.
Smug and gloating.
My ex-girlfriend.
Valentina.
Fuck.