Chapter 21
Everything I’d eaten churned in my stomach as I followed Easton’s car back to his house. Just like my best friend, I was also in love.
Hell, maybe if I cried and vomited, Easton would end this arrangement so I wouldn’t have to.
But then I remembered Easton had already seen me vomit, and cry.
It was the night we decided on this dumbass agreement.
Easton had kept his word, every morning ensuring I hadn’t manifested feelings for him.
It was his way of reminding me that we were only sex, and we weren’t destined for anything more.
Easton’s arm pointed out of his car, indicating where to park in the swanky underground parking garage. My insides were jumping and ticking with emotions as I parked and got out.
Easton ran up to me, and from his frown I knew he was upset I didn’t wait for him to open my car door. The perfect fucking boyfriend.
Shit, I am going to vomit and cry.
No, Rachel. You will suck it up. You will go into his apartment, touch his perfect body one more time as a goodbye, and break off the agreement, never mentioning your growing feelings.
Cole may not have received my peptalk, but I sure was taking advantage of inspirational Rachel.
My hand was sweaty and a tad bit shaky when I placed it in Easton’s outstretched hand. He glanced down at me, his frown still in place.
“You okay?”
“Yes, just nervous to see your place. I hope you hid all your sex toys.” I leaned into his shoulder, pretending I was being playful and didn’t need him to hold me up.
“I keep those in my sex dungeon. How many times do I have to tell you I’m not a heathen?”
“Sex dungeon. Sir, you surprise me.”
“Got to keep you on your toes so you don’t get bored.”
We both fell silent as we took the elevator to the top floor. When the silence became unbearable, I allowed myself to ramble.
“You mean to tell me you live in a penthouse, and we’ve been slumming it in my tiny house? Sir, I’m disappointed in you.”
He growled, pressing me against the elevator wall. “You know how I feel when you call me sir?” He ground his erection against me and I arched into him. “You drive me fucking crazy.”
The elevator door dinged, signaling we’d made it to the top. Holding my hand, we walked to his door, he typed in his code, and the door quietly unlocked.
“Fancy,” I said when we walked into the spacious foyer. I stopped when he turned on the lights to let me see his space. It was magnificent. “Okay, fancy was not the right word, extravagant.”
The bottom floor was an open plan. The living area had large black leather couches, that quite honestly didn’t look comfortable. Everything was black and imposing, like the area didn’t want you to relax.
“Would you like a tour?” Easton asked while I continued to glance around.
“Yes, please.” I tore my eyes from the only beautiful thing besides Easton in the room … the large picture window framing the bustling city below. The lights shined as cars sped down the empty late-night street.
It was the only thing I liked so far, and it also oddly put my worries in perspective. Easton and I were tiny nothings when it came to the whole world, people down there didn’t care about my heartache and that made me feel better.
Jules was right when she said that this was my only time living as Rachel, and I better make it the best Rachel life I could. Unfortunately, the conclusion was I needed to let Easton go.
Easton, completely in the dark to my feelings, led me around the first floor. His kitchen was just as imposing, with scary, shiny black appliances, some of which I had no idea what they did. Fuck, even the downstairs bathroom’s toilet was black.
I followed Easton upstairs, and surprise, surprise, more fucking black. We ended the tour in Easton’s gigantic bedroom. His bathroom was also sporting black fixtures, although I admit the black whirlpool tub could convince me to give it a whirl with little to no cajoling.
Pun intended.
There was another large, picturesque window dominating Easton’s room. I put my back toward the large bed covered in a black comforter and stared out the window.
Can I have sex with him one more time? Or will sleeping with him after admitting my feelings to myself ruin me even more?
His heavy hands landed on my shoulders, his chin resting on the top of my head. “What do you think of my place?” he asked after a while when I continued to stare out the window.
“It’s very imposing, and black. Fuck, Easton, even the devil has some color,” I joked, refusing to allow the tears clogging my throat to alter my voice.
He hummed on the top of my head noncommittally.
“And there isn’t anything personal here. No pictures. No art. Nothing to show this is your place. Fuck, at this point I would be happy to see a sex dungeon.” I was being mean and spiteful. Pushing him away just like Jules had done to Cole, but the difference was Cole loved Jules.
Foolish me.
“My ex and I bought this penthouse together.”
I held my breath, afraid to break whatever spell Easton was in, since he was handing me information about the elusive ex, the one he said we’d never talk about.
“We were engaged.”
My heart squeezed, but I held strong and kept my mouth shut.
“I gave her full range to decorate however she wanted to. She gutted the place and made it her own. Apparently, black wasn’t just her favorite color, it was also the color of her heart.
” Easton swallowed, and I felt the movement against the back of my head.
“She cheated on me. In this bedroom, actually. With one of my friends.”
I reached behind me and grabbed Easton’s hand, allowing the tears to fall. That stupid woman ruined Easton, and unlike Jules, I didn’t think he was going to open his heart again, or at least to me.
“I bought her out. I don’t know why I didn’t let her buy me out.” He chuckled. “Actually, I do know. She loved this place, she was involved in all the purchases. Do you know there are appliances in the kitchen I still don’t know what they do, or how they work?”
My tears gathered speed, sliding down my cheeks faster and heavier.
“She fought me at first, saying I hated this place, and I did. She eventually relented since it was her betrayal that ended us. I haven’t had the urge to decorate. I’m barely here. I stay at work. I bury myself in work.”
“Do you have a couch in your office?" I asked.
“I do,” he answered with confusion in his voice.
“Is it more comfortable than those dumb leather ones downstairs? Because those look uncomfortable as fuck.”
Easton laughed behind me, and I smiled, tasting my tears.
“My work couch is comfortable, but not as comfortable as yours.” Easton picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” I asked, squeezing his ass.
I’m not strong enough to resist his fabulous ass.
“I’m taking you to your house and your amazing couch. I like your house better, it feels more like home.”