32. Chapter 32
Chapter thirty-two
— CARDIGAN BY TAYLOR SWIFT
“Wait, you guys kissed weeks ago, and I’m only hearing about this now? What the fuck?” my sister snarks, throwing a middle finger to us on the other side of FaceTime.
“I’m sorry! I never knew the right time to tell you with all the wedding stuff.”
Teags is still laughing as my sister’s jaw drops further open than it was before.
“Liv, I’ll spill all the details at some point, okay? But help me get ready. It’s the last fake date in my contract, and I cannot wait for today to be over so Vince and I can be a real couple.”
“Are you guys not a real couple?” Teags asks.
“Yes and no. We have to hide right now, but in a few weeks, we won’t have to anymore.” I smile, excited that I can finally show off my relationship to the world. My real relationship. I’m not jumping right into it since Vince and I decided to keep us mostly private for the time being.
I can still post pictures without his face or maybe a soft launch to the world a few times. I just have to be careful about any noticeable features. But for the next few weeks, our romance is just ours, and I’m thankful something is going according to my timeline for once .
“I’m happy for you, Bree. You’ve got that glow about you, and it’s nice to see you happy again.” My sister sniffles across the line, and Teags nods her head in agreement.
“Before Liv makes us all cry, show us the outfit, hottie,” Teags says, and I laugh as I run into my closet and change.
My hair’s already done. I decided to straighten it today, and I threw my favorite light pink bow to tie back my hair. My usual jewelry sits on my fingers and neck, and as I slide on one of my favorite floral print sundresses and a pair of sandals, I feel a little more like myself.
I grab my phone from my vanity before I set it up so my girls can see the full outfit.
“Damn, sis! I love that dress,” my sister smiles.
“Normally, I hate the color pink, but you look beautiful in it, so I guess by proxy, I like it,” Teags says, and I laugh. Her hating colors other than black will never cease to amaze me.
“Thanks, guys, but—” Two knocks on my door halt my words as Vince strides into my room, wearing his usual—an all-black ensemble.
“See, now Vince’s outfit is something I could see myself in. He’s got it down,” Teags says as I see Vince’s face twist in confusion.
“Hi, Vince!” my sister practically shouts.
“Liv. Teags. Nice to kind of see you guys,” Vince says, waving toward my phone before he locks eyes with me. “We have to get going, angel.”
“Oh my God, is that his nickname for you?” my sister says as my cheeks heat up.
“I’ve got to go, guys. I’ll text you later,” I say as I hurry to end the call. “I just have to get my purse…”
My words trail off as Vince lifts the purse I was going to bring and throws it around his shoulder. “Already grabbed it. Is everything you need in it? Sunglasses? Lip gloss? Tylenol for when Alex eventually annoys you? ”
I smack his arm lightly. “You look absolutely adorable with my purse around your arm.”
“It’s part of my boyfriend duties. You’re never allowed to carry anything again as long as I’m around,” he says as he wraps an arm around my waist and presses a kiss to my temple. “Let’s go, baby. I don't want us to be late.”
I cock my head at him. “You mean you want this to be over as soon as possible so we can finally be together without Alex hanging over our heads?”
Vince surprises me with a kiss, and I melt into him before we walk down the stairs to the car.
The car slows to a stop in front of a small coffee shop, and before I get out, cameras are flashing. Deja vu hits me square in the chest as I think back to the first fake date we had. It’s crazy to think about all that’s happened since April. Now it’s August, and so much has changed.
Connie promised that only the photographers we wanted here would be here, but the sidewalk is lined with what looks like at least twenty-five photographers, even more spectators across the street.
I sigh heavily before I put my sunglasses on, Vince’s eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. I see Emerson and Chris get out from the car behind us, trying their best to clear a path.
Vince moves to get out of the car, but I practically jump through the middle console to grab his arm. “Wait.”
“Are you okay?”
His eyes dart all over my features as I answer. “You’ll be okay in front of me, right?” I ask, and his eyes soften immediately .
“Bree, I’m fine. I recovered, and this isn't as crazy as last time. I’ll be in front of you the entire time, and I’m not going anywhere.” His hand reaches for my face, and I lean into his soft touch, the world around me ceasing to exist when we’re together. Thank God for tinted windows.
“I don’t want you getting hurt because of me again.”
“I’d put myself in the line of fire a million times over if it meant you were safe,” he whispers, his lips dangerously close to mine.
“Don't say that, Vince.”
“I meant every word, angel. Every day, I wake up in your arms thankful that it was me he hit, not you. Now, let's end this fake dating contract so we can go back home and I can soothe all your worries.” Vince taps my nose and exits the car.
I lean back in my seat, take a deep breath, and when my door opens seconds later, I grab Vince’s hand. The two of us rush inside the small shop, effectively avoiding all the cameras.
“Good?” he asks me when we get inside.
I do a quick sweep of the place and spot Alex in the back, not looking in our direction. “I’m good.”
My sandals glide against the floor, and when I sit down across from Alex, his mask slips back up, and his fake smile takes a seat at the table. “How lovely it is to see you again, Bree. You’re looking like an angel today.”
“You can’t call me that,” I tell him, his face twisted in confusion. “That nickname belongs to someone else.”
“My apologies.”
The two of us sit in silence for a few minutes as we drink our coffees. Alex bought me one before I got here, and he got my order right, which surprised me when I took my first sip.
“Can I ask you something?” I say, slicing through the silence that engulfs us.
“Go for it,” he agrees, taking a sip of his coffee .
“Why do you hide who you are from the world? Why do you act like an asshole in public when I saw a glimpse of the real you in that bookstore months ago? That version of you was much more…real, and I liked your company that day. It was different.”
“How do you know that was the real me? Maybe that was another persona I put on that the media seems to love.”
I sigh heavily before I answer. “Because I’ve done the same thing. I’ve worn the same mask, faked the same smiles when cameras were around, and I eventually got sick of it. It’s hard adjusting yourself to different situations, so why do you do it?”
He takes a moment to think about his answer, and before I think he’s going to give me some fake answer, the mask drops. “It’s easier. Hollywood assumed I was this young asshole, so instead of fighting it, I embraced it. You have to be tough, and a bit of an asshole, to show people you have what it takes.” He runs a hand through his hair. “If people assume I’m some playboy, when I actually do it, nobody’s surprised. It’s a good way to keep my name in the headlines, but I guess too much of it won’t help me get cast in things if all directors see when they look at me as a womanizer. That’s where you came in.”
“And Lily? Where does she fit into all this?” I ask, wanting to know the truth I’ve suspected the entire time.
“We’re…complicated. The two of us never seem to fit. Every time it was going well, one of us would mess it up. I’d compare us to two perpendicular lines. We’ve crossed paths, but then we keep going without one another since it never seems to work out how we want it to.”
Wow, that was incredibly poetic and not at all what I was expecting. “Do you want to know what I think?”
“It can’t hurt, right? Hit me with your best shot, Bree.” He smiles sadly.
“I think you’re so afraid of messing up the long-term you both seem to want that you run away before anything bad can happen. You keep yourself at an arm's length to protect your heart, but one of these times, you’ll realize that the possibility of getting your heart broken is worth it in the end.”
“And why will it be worth it?” he asks, his eyes lifting to meet mine.
I turn my head to where Vince stands against the wall, locking eyes with him as I speak. “Because feeling true love is the best feeling in the world.” I turn my head to Alex again. “And I’m a person who would rather experience it all with the possibility it ends poorly rather than lock myself away and never feel it at all.”
I used to be a girl who thought she was never destined for love. It felt easier to lock myself away and fall into romance novels where the couples live happily ever after.
But Vince was the person who changed that for me. He sees me for who I am, and despite my insane life, he chooses to stick by me, day after day.
I never thought I’d have someone in my life like Vince Evans, and I’ll fight like hell to keep him safe from the claws of my lifestyle.
“That’s a beautiful statement.” He sits back in his chair. “You’ve changed a lot since that first meeting. You look nothing like that girl from the boardroom.”
I smile to myself. “It’s been a hectic year, Alex, but I’m hoping after all is said and done, we can still be friends.”
“I’d like that, Bree. I’m sorry for being an asshole and for disrupting your event. I’m an idiot, and if I could go back in time, I’d do it all differently.”
“Well, you can't go back,” I say as I stand up from the booth. “What’s done is done, but what you can do is focus on the future and who you want by your side when things get tough. I see how you look at her, Alex. Maybe Lily is a grand gesture kind of girl.”
He stands up from his chair and looks at me. “Hug it out? ”
I nod and his arms wrap around me, camera flashes peeping through the window as we pull apart. “Thank you for asking this time. We’ll chat soon.”
“I wanted to make sure that bodyguard of yours didn't chop my arms off for not asking. I’ll probably need a bunch of advice at some point, so don't block my number after you leave.”
A laugh escapes me as I grab my purse. “I won’t. Take care of yourself, Alex.”
“You too, Bree. Let me know if you ever need anything.”
My sandals tap across the floor as Alex leads me over to where Vince is, his hand against the small of my back. “Ready to go?”
He only nods, a weird look on his face aimed at Alex, before a cold blast of air conditioning causes my body to shiver. Without thinking, Vince shrugs off his jacket and puts it around my shoulders, as if it's the most natural thing he’s ever done.
“Ready to run?” he asks me, and I smile before I grab his hand.
“Let’s go.”
He opens the door, a path already cleared by Emerson and Chris for us, and we’re able to run straight into the car, so much so that I can’t even hear any of the questions the paparazzi asks.
Vince shuts the passenger door and glides around the car, sliding into the driver's seat a few seconds later. “So, what now?”
“Well, Connie and Alex’s team will leak that we’ve parted amicably, and it’ll probably float around on the internet for a few days until something else diverts attention from it.”
“Ah. Got it,” Vince says before he puts the car in drive. “You two go ahead. We’ll follow you home,” he says through his ear piece.
I grab my phone and text the girls.
Bree: I’m free of Alex! Though our last conversation was pretty deep. I think I gave him relationship advice?
Teags: You gave your fake boyfriend who’s now your fake ex-boyfriend relationship advice for him and his famous ex-girlfriend when you never believed you were meant for love?
Liv: My head hurts.
Bree: Yes, I did.
Teags: Just making sure I had all the facts straight.
Bree: Liv, Vince is coming to your wedding as my date, not just my bodyguard.
Liv: I kind of figured.
Bree: Just making sure. I’m so excited.
Teags: Yay, love!
I laugh to myself, Vince’s jacket falling slightly off my shoulders as I do. When I pull it back up to normal, I feel like a creep when I lower my nose to smell it.
Citrus and sage notes enter my nose, and I breathe it in, memorizing it for later.
“Are you smelling my jacket? ”
My eyes bulge from being caught in the act. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He only grunts in response, and when I look over at him, his features are tight with an emotion I can’t place. Anger? Annoyance?
“Is everything okay, Vince? You look…tense.”
“I’m fine.”
“Based on that response, you’re most certainly not fine. What’s going on?”
His knuckles tighten around the steering wheel. “He touched you.”
I tilt my head at him. “Is this about the hug? He asked before he did that, Vince. I swear—”
“Good, but even so, I can’t help it.”
“You can’t help what?” I ask as I adjust my legs in my seat. His voice is deeper than usual, more lethal, and I’m getting turned on just listening to him speak.
“The urge to kick his teeth in for touching what’s mine, Bree. You turn me into a goddamn maniac. I’m not worried about him, but I still hate that his hands have touched your skin. Just saying that makes me sound crazy.” His eyes turn to mine, fire burning inside them. “The things I think about doing to anyone who touches you… God, it makes me feel insane, and I don't give a flying fuck.”
I clench my thighs together before I grab his hand from where it rests on the gearshift, placing it on my leg as he continues to drive.
Eventually, I untangle my hand from his. The coffee shop is about an hour away, and we’re about fifteen minutes from home when my leg falls asleep and I have to adjust how I’m sitting, which causes Vince’s hand to slip higher where it sits on my thigh.
He looks over at me, an unspoken question in his gaze. “Is this okay?”
I don't answer. Instead, I move his hand slightly higher so it’s tucked under my dress. His fingers are mere inches from me. If he was to touch me right now, he’d feel how wet I am. He’d know I’ve been turned on since he admitted to being jealous of how Alex touched me.
He knows we were fake, but he still got all riled up anyway.
And fuck, if his possessiveness didn't turn me on almost instantly.
His eyes keep hovering between my eyes and where his hand sits, and I know he’s too much of a gentleman to go any further, so I bait him a little bit.
“Vince…” I whisper, trailing his hand towards my pussy. “Touch me. Please.”
“We’re almost home,” he whispers, his control dangling by a thread.
“I’m aching, baby. Please,” I say as I set his thumb over my clit and start to move it. “I can’t wait until we’re home.”
“Fuck, Bree,” he says as he takes over the motion, his finger dipping underneath my underwear as he continues to drive. “You’re fucking soaked. Did you like hearing how insane I felt? Did you like when I claimed you as mine?”
Fuck, this feels good. Before I can answer, Vince thrusts a finger inside me, and I moan in the passenger seat.
I’m about to open my mouth to say something when his phone rings, and Nico’s name flashes on the screen.
“He always has the worst fucking timing,” Vince grumbles as he removes his hand, licking the finger that was just inside me before he answers the call. “What the fuck do you want?”
For the rest of the ride home, Vince’s hand rests on my thigh as they talk business. When Vince parks in my garage, I lean and whisper in his ear.
“We’ll continue this later. I’ll meet you in your room.” I don't bother to see the look on his face because I can feel the heat of his stare as he watches me walk inside.
— SO IT GOES… BY TAYLOR SWIFT
“We’ll continue this later.”
Those four words haven't left my mind, and all throughout the meetings Nico made me sit through, it’s all I’ve been able to think about.
Bree Hart is my fucking undoing, and I never want to be put back together.
She makes me fucking feral. Never in my life did I think I would be the type of guy to finger someone in my car as I drove home, but that’s exactly what I did. Since we talked about the intimacy in our relationship, I’ve been wanting her to make the first move.
And fuck, has she surprised me. My girl is catching me off guard more than I care to admit, but God, if I didn't love the way she grabbed my hand and took what she wanted, what she needed .
It was almost the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
The thing that tops that list is remembering what she looked like writhing on top of my desk last week, her dress all bunched up as I finally tasted her. Every time I step foot into my office, I hear the echo of her moaning my fucking name as she came all over my face and my fingers.
Making Bree Hart moan is like hearing angels sing.
I’ve been sitting in my room catching up on some pictures that the guys sent me of Nellie while I’ve been gone. Since I was recovering, Nico and the rest of our team helped to take care of Nell .
It was weird, but it feels nice to have a solid team I can trust to take care of things. I don't say it often, but I love the guys I work with. They feel more like family lately, and I couldn't be more thankful for that.
For the first time in my life, I feel like I belong—not only beside Bree, but with the people Nico and I hired. They’ve all been with us since the beginning, and it feels good to have such a trusted environment around me when I’m not used to having anyone.
I have roots now, I think. I’ve officially settled into who I want to be, instead of chasing after something I’d probably never find. I’m done running, and it’s finally time to build a life of my own—here, with Bree and her family.
No more jumping from case to case, trying to protect as many people as I could because I couldn't protect my parents.
I have Bree now, and she’s all I need.
As if I summoned her, two soft knocks tap against my door, and when I open it, my jaw drops.
Because Bree is standing at my door in nothing but a black lace bra, matching panties, and black heels, red lipstick painted on her lips.
Holy fucking shit.
“Can I come in?” she asks, a sly smile gracing her beautiful features.
I can barely speak, so I nod my head. I close the door and turn around to see her sitting on the edge of my bed.
I feel like I’m on autopilot as I grab her chin. “Look at you, dressed in black, making me all flustered, Bree.”
“I promised that we would finish what I started. I don't break my promises, Vince.”
She’s doing a number on me right now, and I can barely think, barely breathe, without wanting to rip her clothes off and touch every single part of her body. I want to feel her long nails drag down my back, leaving marks I’ll see the next day.
But not yet. Not tonight. Tonight, I have other plans for her .
I get down on both of my knees in front of her and place my hands on her thighs. Thighs that I want my head buried between. Thighs that I dream about suffocating me for just another taste of her.
I take one of my hands and drag it down her face, her jawline, until I cup the back of her neck and force her to look at me. “You’re in control tonight, angel. Where do you want me?”
Her cheeks flush instantly, and I bet if I dipped my fingers into her pussy, she’d be wet.
All mine .
“Take your clothes off and lay down.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, immediately following orders. I never thought Bree bossing me around would get my dick this hard, but holy fucking shit, I don't think I’ve ever been this needy.
I lay down on my bed, fully naked, and I reach for my cock, but I see Bree shake her head.
“Don’t touch. Not yet, Vince,” she says as she pulls her bra strap down over her shoulder. “Eyes on me, okay?”
I nod, no longer able to speak, because this feels like some sort of fantasy come to life. I see Bree focus on my dick, her eyes widening, no doubt at my size, and it takes all my control to stay where I am.
But I’m following orders.
Her eyes lock with mine as she slowly strips her bra off, her perky tits bouncing. God, what I would give to have those rosy nipples in my mouth.
I’ve never been so feral over anyone before, and Bree has no idea what kind of man she has turned me into.
Bree slides her panties slowly down her body and steps out of each leg before she throws them to the side. She’s now standing fully naked in front of me, looking like sin in human form.
She’s fucking ethereal, the low light in my room making her look sexier than ever .
My cock jerks, and I’m practically squirming, needing her touch, needing her .
“Angel, you better get over here soon, or I’m gonna come just looking at you.”
“Patience, Vince,” she says as she crawls toward me. Bree Hart is crawling toward me, looking at my dick like she can’t wait to have it in that pretty mouth of hers.
My cock flexes again, the idea of that happening making it too much for me to handle.
She ends up sitting on my stomach, and I’m about to beg her to touch me, to do anything, when I see her lick her hand. She reaches around and grabs my cock as she starts to pump, and any and all rational thoughts in my head are gone.
Her hands are soft, warm as she takes me in one hand and runs the other down my chest.
“Fuck, baby. Please don’t stop.”
“Is this what you need, Vince? Is this what you want from me?”
I'm about to say yes when another idea comes to my mind. “I want that sweet pussy of yours on my mouth. Can you flip over for me and sit on my face?”
“W-What? You want me to…” She trails off, a little shy as her hand moves off my dick.
“I know you’re in control tonight, baby, but I need another taste of you or I might die.” Dramatic, but Bree is like a drug I crave all day, every day. The first time I tasted her, I knew I had found my new favorite meal, and I’m fucking starved. “Do you trust me?”
“More than anything.”
“Then get up here and sit, angel. And while I taste your sweet cunt, you can put that pretty mouth of yours around my dick and smear that lipstick. ”
“Okay,” she says, smiling with excitement. She turns around, about to take her shoes off, when I stop her.
“Keep the heels on, baby.”
She nods her head as she positions herself above my face, her mouth perfectly in line with my dick, and she surprises me by licking the head, just that little contact driving me absolutely fucking crazy.
“Bree, I said sit on my fucking face, not hover.”
“I—”
“Suffocate me for all I care. I’ll gladly enjoy my last seconds on Earth with my tongue buried in your pussy.”
That’s all it takes for her to lower herself further onto my face, one whiff of her sweet pussy enough to make my dick even harder, and just like that day on my desk, I devour her. She’s already fucking soaked, and the minute she takes me to the back of her throat, I practically black out.
Her mouth feels so fucking good—warm, wet, and fucking tight as she sucks my cock, one of her hands braced out to steady her and the other wrapped around the base.
I’m not going to last long, and I don't even fucking care.
I take a long lick up her entire pussy, causing her to squirm and moan, the vibration creating an entire new sensation.
“That’s it, Bree. Do you feel what you do to me? Do you like knowing that you unravel me? How does it feel knowing you brought me to my knees earlier?”
My dick pops out of her mouth, her hand still working up and down my cock as she answers. “It feels good, Vince. So fucking good.”
My hands tighten around her thighs, forcing her to stay where she is so I can access her clit with my tongue. I nip at her pussy, her legs squirming before she takes me back in her mouth.
Her moans around my dick are getting me close, but what sends me over the edge is Bree cupping my balls, massaging them in her hands, and before I can stop it, I’m coming down her throat .
Stars are exploding behind my eyes as I come harder than I have in my fucking life.
“Fuck, Bree.” I moan, barely decipherable to my ears as all the sounds mix together. The feel of her mouth still sucking me dry makes my dick hard again as soon as I’m done.
That’s what she fucking does to me. It’s the first time she’s touched me, and I can’t get enough. I’m ready to go again, but my girl hasn't even come yet.
That changes now.
“Flip around and grab the headboard, angel. I wanna see that gorgeous face of yours when you come all over my mouth.”
She complies, her legs shaking already.
“Don’t be afraid to grind your pussy on my face. Take whatever it is that you need from me.”
“Vince, fuck,” is all she can say when I nip her clit. I grab her ass and steady her body on my face. It fits perfectly in my hands, and I squeeze it a few times, memorizing every fucking inch of her beautiful body.
“This pussy was made for me, baby,” I say as I lick, suck, and devour her. I feel her body start to shake, and I know she’s about to come. “Come for me, Bree. Let everyone know who’s doing this to you.”
Her legs tighten around my head, and a few seconds later, I feel her coat my tongue and face as she comes. Her screams are like music to my fucking ears as I hear her nails grip the headboard, scratching hard as I silently wish she would do that to my back.
Maybe in the future…
I lick up every drop of her release, and as she slumps against the mattress, I grab her and pull her towards me. “Come here, beautiful.”
She can barely speak as I grab a blanket, throw it over us, and wrap my arms around her.
“Tired? ”
“Exhausted, but I feel so fucking good, Vince. So good.” She slaps my chest with her palm as she kicks her heels off her feet.
I grab her face, kissing her until she’s breathless, her lipstick smeared. Her face is shocked, as if I did something she wasn't expecting.
“What? You don't think we taste good together?” I smirk, winking at her through my own Bree-induced haze.
“I guess I wasn't expecting you to kiss me after I—”
“Get that thought out of your head right now, Bree.” I never understood why some guys are fucking weird about that. I don't mind tasting myself on Bree’s lips. I like knowing that her lips were just wrapped around my dick. “Do you want to stay here tonight or go back to your room?”
“I think I need a shower before bed, but I don't want to walk around naked with all the cameras.”
The cameras . “If anyone saw you in that set you walked over here in, I’m going to have to kill them.”
“Oh, shit,” is all Bree says through a giggle. “I was too nervous to think about that when I walked down the hall.”
“Fuck. Let me—”
“Don't bother Nico. You know if he watches it back, we’ll never live it down. Plus, you shouldn't kill your best friend over something like this.”
“He’s not my best friend. You’re my best friend,” I say to her.
“I’m your girlfriend, Vince. Nico’s your best friend.”
“You’re both to me, angel. Nico is my business partner turned acquaintance turned annoying guy who pushes all my fucking buttons.”
“Exactly, and you wouldn't kill your best friend.”
I grab Bree’s chin and kiss her deeply before I pull back, my forehead against hers. “I’d make it look like an accident, baby.”
Her legs twitch. “Does that turn you on? Knowing I’d kill someone for looking at you the wrong way?”
“No,” she lies, her pink cheeks and shortness of breath giving her away.
I kiss her again, this time pushing my tongue into her mouth, and she opens for me. Good fucking girl. “Take one of my shirts and head to your room. Turn your shower on, touch yourself, and wait for me.”
“I thought I was in control tonight.”
“Don’t worry, you are. I’ll let you grab my hair and drag my face wherever you want it, angel. I have to solidify something with Tristan about the wedding first.”
She throws her legs over my bed. “Please don’t mention my brother-in-law before you bury your face in my pussy.”
“Sorry. I’ll make you scream my name a few more times if you do as I ask. How does that sound?”
She only kisses me, one of my shirts falling to her knees like a dress, before she saunters out of my room. When I hear her shower turn on a few seconds later, I smile to myself, knowing that tonight is just getting started.