Wicked Lord (Lords of Stonewall University #2)

1. A Trophy Wife

A TROPHY WIFE

Lorelei

An unexpected nervous flutter cramped my gut as Brock extended a hand. “Would you care to dance?” Mossy green eyes locked on mine, a practiced smile sliding across his lips. A smooth waltz played in the background, but I could barely hear it over the sudden wild thundering of my pulse.

I eyed my would-be fiancé, and then the circle of socialites watching our every move. It was the first summer event of Copper Cove’s mythical social season and everyone and their mother had come out in their finest.

The picture-perfect Brock Haversham was the center of attention tonight.

As the son of a rich Texas oil tycoon, he didn’t often attend the East Coast charity event scene, and the horde of single ladies were dying to sink their manicured nails into him.

His father had recently bought a summer home here in Maine, an escape from the brutal Texan summers, according to my dad.

He and Brock’s father were acquaintances, having met at some party for the U.S.

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in D.C.

And now, in just a few short months, Brock and I were to be engaged.

I stared at his hand like it was a venomous snake, coiled to strike.

Despite the smooth smiles and gentlemanly demeanor, there was something about Brock that had my hackles raised.

This was only the second time I’d spent any sort of quality time with the guy, and he’d been on his best behavior all night. Maybe I was just going crazy?

According to my dad, I should be thrilled by this advantageous pairing.

His words, not mine. I was freaking twenty-one and had zero interest in getting engaged right now.

My life was just getting started, and I didn’t want to be tied down to a thirty-six-year-old and start popping out babies, no matter how much money he had.

“Lorelei?” Brock’s eyes narrowed as he stood there with his hand hanging in the air between us.

“Oh, right.” I placed my palm in his, and again, that overwhelming feeling of wrongness skated up my spine.

Oh, God, how was I supposed to have sex with this guy if I couldn’t even stand touching him?

Stop, Lorelei. You’re getting ahead of yourself here.

So far, Brock hadn’t done anything remotely psychotic.

And I knew psychotic, because I’d fucked the king of unhinged men, Killian Davenport, on and off throughout my sophomore year at Stonewall University.

He was one of the Lords, a powerful group of guys within the Sigma Delta fraternity who ruled the campus.

Hell, they seemed to rule the whole town of Copper Cove.

Thankfully, I had the summer off so I wouldn’t have to think about or see the jerk who broke my heart when he picked the love of his life over me.

Burying those thoughts to the furthest corners of my messed-up psyche as Brock escorted me to the dance floor, I forced myself to keep an open mind.

Jealous gazes swiveled in my direction—a good number from my own sorority, the Zetas—and practically drooled over my date.

Maybe being a trophy wife wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

When we reached the center of the dance floor, Brock swept me into his arms. His hold was formal, arms stiff as they encircled me. This guy definitely worked the cotillion circuit in Texas, no doubt about that.

“You look beautiful, by the way,” he whispered as he led me into a waltz.

“Thanks.” A stupid blush coated my cheeks.

When was the last time a guy actually paid me a compliment? Was I really that deprived of male attention? I did look beautiful in the pale pink ballgown I’d been forced to buy from a thrift store.

“You look good, too,” I mumbled.

OMG, kill me now. Did I just say that out loud?

I hated to admit it, but I found Brock crazy intimidating. Maybe it was the age thing or the money, but I’d never felt this way around anyone. That must have been it. He wasn’t this scary bad guy, but maybe he was just that different from the college guys I’d dated.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to know you better.” Those eyes dipped to mine, and a swirl of heat brushed across my cheeks again.

Before I said something stupid, I pressed my lips together and nodded.

“What sorts of things do you like to do in your spare time? Are there any charities that you’re involved with? There are a number of worthy organizations in Houston that I think you could take a liking to. All the wives are involved—”

“Wait, in Houston? We’re going to live there?”

“Well, of course we are. Where else would we live? That’s where my business is.”

Shit… how had I not even thought of that?

“Sure, we may come here for a week or two in the summer, but that’ll be the extent of it. You’ll have to remain in Houston, managing the manor and staff. And eventually when we have children, they’ll keep you busy.”

It took every ounce of willpower I possessed to keep the fake smile spread across my face.

“Anyway, I think it would be beneficial for us to spend some quality time together before the official engagement announcement.” He paused and sucked on his bottom lip. “To make sure our interests align, if you know what I mean.”

No, I had no idea what he meant. Then his gaze turned downright predatory as it skimmed my plunging neckline. “Oh, you mean like sex?” I blurted like an idiot.

His eyes widened as he pressed a thick finger to my lips. “Lorelei, I’m not sure how these things are handled among college students, but in the adult world, a little discretion is in order.”

That now-familiar freaking heat raged up my neck, blossomed across my face and ran all the way up to the tips of my ears. It was a damned good thing I’d decided on leaving my long, wavy locks loose so I could hide behind the blond curtain.

“Right, of course, sorry.”

He leaned in close, and his warm breath drifted over the shell of my ear. “Perhaps, you could meet me in the ladies’ room in a bit.”

“Oh… like today?”

“Yes, Lorelei, today. I’ll be traveling for the majority of the summer, and besides the week we have scheduled on my private yacht, I doubt I’ll be able to see you much before the official announcement in August.”

My lips must have screwed into a pout because he released a frustrated sigh.

“What’s wrong?”

“I guess I assumed we could get to know each other better when we spent that week away on your boat.” And it would give me a minute to process my entire life being turned upside down.

“But if we already know each other now, we’ll have an idea of what to expect for our time together next month.” His lip curled into a creepy grin.

Maybe the rumors I’d heard about Brock’s frequent visits to high-end escort services were true.

I never thought he’d make such a big deal about getting laid in the bathroom of a fancy private event.

Not that I’d ever been shy in that department before, but the desperation in his eyes had red flags waving like mad.

“Um, would you mind getting me a glass of champagne?”

He heaved out a breath of annoyance but nodded all the same. “Of course.” That plastic smile returned, and the moment his hands fell from my waist, I sucked in a breath.

Shit, what was it about this guy that had me so out of sorts?

I was fucking Lorelei Battenberg, and I did not cower in front of anyone.

Snapping my spine straight, I marched back to the table we shared with my parents and the Havershams. The great Senator Grayson Battenberg puffed on a cigar with his arm hung lazily across my mother’s chair.

She chatted with Mrs. Haversham, both of them giggling like schoolgirls while the men discussed oil stock prices.

Was this my future?

If my father was so adamant about tying us to this family, maybe he should just marry Brock. Surely, he wouldn’t be opposed to giving him a quick blowjob in the men’s bathroom. A wicked grin curled the corners of my lips at the visual.

It wasn’t that I hated my father. I just despised what he was making me do. It wasn’t fair to pin our entire family’s future on my shoulders because our finances were a disaster.

“Hey, Lore, I thought that was you!” A girl in a deep emerald gown waved from across the ballroom.

Oh, God, no. I flashed my fakest smile as my sorority sister sauntered over. “Hi, Tate.”

Tate Astor and I had met in the Zetas during rush week and had been the bestest frenemies ever since. She stared me up and down, and I prayed to every god in existence that she wouldn’t notice my Chanel gown was from three seasons ago.

“That’s him, isn’t it?” She cocked her head over her shoulder as Brock returned from the bar with a champagne flute in each hand. “He’s even richer-looking in person.”

I barely repressed the eyeroll. “Yeah, he’s more than I could have ever dreamed of.”

“Lorelei.” Brock handed me the glass and gave Tate a tight smile before returning his focus to me. “Shall we go do that thing we were supposed to do?”

“Sure, let me just introduce you to my good friend, Tate Astor. She lives at the Zeta house with me.”

“How lovely. A pleasure to meet you.” Brock took her hand, dropping a chaste kiss to the top of her knuckles.

Tate’s cheeks were so red they matched her flaming hair. “So nice to meet you, Brock,” she purred.

I took a long gulp of the champagne, finishing it off in one go, then reached for Brock’s flute. If he expected me to suck him off in the men’s bathroom, I needed to at least be tipsy.

“Are you quite ready?” he hissed, that look of disapproval reminding me way too much of my father’s.

I downed the rest of the champagne and shot him a cheeky grin. “Yup.”

Brock laced his arm through mine, jerking me into his side a little more roughly than was necessary, if you asked me. As he drew me away from Tate without so much as a goodbye, I whirled back around and waggled my fingers at my friend.

She tossed me an envious smile, and I convinced myself this would all be worth it. I would be the great Mrs. Haversham, and I’d be wealthy beyond my wildest dreams. Everything would be fine. It had to be.

When we reached the ladies’ bathroom, Brock’s head swung up and down the quiet corridor. Once he was convinced it was clear, he dragged me inside and locked the door. My heart hammered against my ribs at the cruel gleam in his eye as he stalked toward me.

I staggered back a step and hit the vanity.

“Now, turn around and bend over, so I can fuck that naughty streak right out of you, Lorelei. You need to understand how this relationship will work from day one…”