“You did call for him a lot. But I’m pretty sure it was me who answered your prayers, doll.”
“You need to leave. We need to get dressed to meet Zach and Biff.”
He nods, taking a step back. “We do. You’re right. But this isn’t over, doll. Not by a long stretch.”
“Great,” I groan. I can’t help but question my irritation with him when he turns and I get to watch his sculpted arse walk away from me.
He scoops up a few items of clothing and his phone from the bedside table before walking for the door.
“Wait, you can’t go out there like that. You’ll give some old lady the fright of her life,” I say in a panic, rushing after him.
“Aw, you jealous, doll? You want this all to yourself?” He holds the clothes from his body to show me everything once again. Not that I need to see it; the image of him standing naked and proud is now burned into my brain.
“Ugh, do you know what? Do what you want. Get yourself thrown out for indecent exposure. See if I care.”
He laughs before pulling the door open to reveal the pristine living area beyond. But when he starts walking through the space, he doesn’t go towards the exit but through a door opposite mine.
Realisation hits me at the same time his hand wraps around the handle.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I moan.
“What? Zach might be treating us to this luxury, but even his wealth has limits. You thought he got you a suite to yourself? We’re roommates, doll. And I’m right across the hall for the taking, whenever you want me.”
“Keep dreaming, Trick. Oh, is that how this happened? Did you trick me into bed? Make up some bullshit story about it being your last living day on earth so I’d feel sorry for you and give you a pity shag?”
“Oh doll, there was nothing pitiful about last night.” He winks before slipping inside his room. “You’ve got twenty minutes,” he calls before kicking the door closed behind him.
I cry out in frustration and storm back into my own room.
It didn’t even occur to me yesterday that he might be in the same suite. I feel stupid for not thinking it. It makes total sense now.
“Fuck,” I shout into my empty but very messy room. The bed is a mess, the sheets twisted and upside down, a sure sign of a good night, and my stomach clenches. I’m irritated with myself, but I’m not sure if it’s more because I allowed it to happen in the first place or if it’s because I don’t remember what was clearly an eventful night.
Ignoring the state of the room, I go back to the bathroom and turn the shower on before pulling my toothbrush from the holder in the hope that freshening my mouth will help towards me feeling almost human once again.
The steam billows from the shower by the time I’m done, and I step straight under it. The heat burns my skin, but I don’t turn the temperature down. Instead, I welcome the slight burn, use it as punishment for drinking so much that I don’t remember what happened last night.
By the time I step from the room, my face is clear of make-up, exposing the dark circles under my eyes and my slightly green complexion. I’ve not been sick again since I first woke, but my stomach’s still churning like it’s still a real possibility.
I’m wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a Ralph Lauren jumper as I walk into the bright light of our living space. Carter is sitting on the edge of the sofa, waiting for me. His hair is wet from his own shower and swept back from his face, and he’s wearing his standard slim t-shirt and pair of well-worn and ripped jeans. His tattoos are on display, and even from here I know he smells too tempting. Damn him for being so hot and oh-so-wrong for me.
“Let’s go.” I march past him, and he chuckles.
By the time I’m at the door, he’s caught up with me. “You know, I might be offended that you don’t want to spend time with me if it weren’t for my memory of you clawing at my back last night like you couldn’t get enough.”
My skin heats at his words before I die a little inside, realising that I’ve no way of knowing if that’s actually true or not.
“All talk of last night needs to not happen until I’ve had at least five coffees, and even that might not be enough.”
Pulling the door open, I storm towards the lift in the hope I can leave him behind. Obviously, that’s just wishful thinking, because no sooner have I pressed the button for the ground floor is he stepping inside and taking all the air from the enclosed space.
As the lift starts to descend, the only thing I can focus on is his scent and the sound of his breathing. My skin tingles, teasing me as to what last night could have been like when he had his hands on me. Although tender, my core aches to remember how he felt filling me until I fell over the edge.
“What?” I bark, not looking over at him but knowing he’s staring at me.
“You need a reminder, don’t you? You need a play by play of what happened inside your room last night, and this morning. You’re too much of a control freak not to know, and it’s—I’m—driving you crazy.”
“All I feel is regret. It shouldn’t have happened, and I’m mortified with myself for allowing it to.”
“You didn’t allow anything, doll. It was inevitable. We both knew that from the second I found you in the lounge yesterday.”
Yesterday? How the fuck was that only yesterday?
My muscles ache with exhaustion. A long-haul flight followed by the events of yesterday and then a night of very little sleep is not what I needed after the week I’ve already had.
“It wasn’t inevitable. It was stupidity on my part.”
“Wow, you really know how to make a guy feel special.”
“Sorry, your feelings aren’t really top of my priority list right now, Trick. My sanity is more important.”
Thankfully, the lift dings, announcing our arrival, and the doors open. I step out before Carter has a chance to and head for the restaurant we agreed to meet Zach and Biff in.
They’re both sitting at a table over by the windows when I walk in. I mutter something about meeting friends to the guy welcoming diners and march past him. Carter’s trailing behind me. I don’t need to look to know he’s there. I feel him. It annoys the shit out of me.
I come to a stop, putting the bright sunlight burning my eyeballs to my back and pulling out the seat opposite Biff, dropping down into it as Carter does the same beside me.
“Well, aren’t you two a sight for sore eyes,” Biff says with a laugh, her eyes bouncing between us. “Have a good night after we left you, then?”
“Can we not talk about it?” My voice is bordering on begging. The last thing I want to admit is that I’m pretty sure I spent hours shagging my brother’s best friend and don’t remember a thing.
Reaching out, I wrap my fingers around her mug of coffee and steal it from right under her nose. She looks much more put together than I feel right now. I need it more than her.
I’m just about to lift it to my lips when her words stop me. “Wait, what’s this?” she asks, staring down at my hand. “Is that a fucking wedding ring?”
My eyes fly down to where she’s staring, and it’s like my entire world falls from beneath me as I focus on the thin silver band wrapped around my ring finger.