28

28

STACEY

Dez and Tylar landed yesterday, but I was too tired to go with Luciella, Aria and Base to pick them up. After our night out, I was hit by a migraine and stayed in bed for nearly two days before I peeled myself from the mattress.

I’ve not reached out to Kade. He’s kept his distance too, since I’ve not seen him. No calls or messages. Although, I only just stopped feeling him inside me – the ache between my legs has been a harsh reminder of the neediness of my body around him.

Tylar pulls me from my daze. “Are you coming to the bar? It has pool tables!”

She’s sipping on her cocktail while we sit next to the pool, the sun blazing down on us. Base and Dez are throwing a ball between them while downing beers. Lu is between them, trying to catch it and complaining that they’re not playing fairly, and Aria is sunbathing with an open book on her face.

Ewan is working with one of his contractors, a job he’s been setting up near Tobias’s institution for a while.

And like I said, Kade is MIA.

“Um, are you okay?” Ty asks when I don’t reply.

“Oh, sorry.” I shake the uneasy feeling off. “Yeah. Sure.”

She tilts her head, sunglasses nearly bigger than her face showing my reflection. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nod once.

To be honest, I’m nervous as hell. I asked Kade’s mum if she could put me on the visitation list to see Tobias, and tomorrow morning, I’ll be sitting down with him – the psychopath I used to study religiously. Every article, every documentary, even the leaked interview with him from the day he was arrested – I poured over it all, fascinated by his mind and the way it worked; the way his eyes, devoid of anything, darkened whenever Aria Miller was mentioned.

At that point, I had no idea there would be a time I’d fuck his son. Repeatedly.

I’m not nervous to see Tobias – I’m terrified.

My phone vibrates as we pack up and head back into the hotel. Dez slaps Tylar’s ass as he passes us in the corridor, and she side-eyes me, probably wondering if I noticed.

They aren’t very discreet. They haven’t taken their eyes off each other since they arrived, and I know the little red mark on her throat was made by his teeth.

He winks at her as he enters his room, Base trailing behind. But I overhear it before I can get into my own room – Dez tells his friend that Kade is leaving his girlfriend’s house soon and will meet them later.

Girlfriend. As in, Kade has a girlfriend. He’s in a relationship. And we’ve been messing around.

He was inside me a few nights ago and then he just… vanished.

I can barely control my temper as I slam the hotel-room door, ignoring Tylar’s concerned expression as I march into the bathroom and lock myself in. I breathe deeply, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

Kade has a girlfriend. Since fucking when? Why the hell didn’t he tell me?

When I was on my knees for him, about to suck his cock, he told me it meant nothing, and I was fine with it remaining as nothing. But this is low. This isn’t who I am, someone who sleeps with taken, completely unavailable men.

I feel dirty and used.

He isn’t mine, and I lay no claim on the idiot. But I want to slap him hard enough that his girlfriend asks who the handprint belongs to.

I practice a fake smile, wash my hands and leave the bathroom to find Tylar texting on the bed while Luciella hunts for an outfit.

I try not to think of that night while I sit down next to Ty. His hands on me. His hips snapping into me, his large cock hammering my tight pussy. The flush I can feel on my cheeks and the way my thighs tense is far too annoying. We fucked. We argued – as usual – and in good old Kade fashion, he vanished. And now he apparently has a girlfriend.

Luciella sighs as her phone dings. “Base keeps asking me on a date.”

“Then go on a date with him,” I say as Tylar says, “Go for it.”

“Absolutely not.”

I shrug. “But you like him.”

“What? No I don’t.”

I can see right through her lie, but that’s okay. Luciella has always been like this. Her family has a bad name, but she’s made it her life’s mission to be a good person, to not step out of line or get into any sort of trouble.

Including staying away from Sebastian Prince.

Once we tidy up the room and get dressed, Lu goes to see her mum while Ty paints my nails.

“You’re seeing Dez again,” I throw out quietly. “I’m happy for you.”

She blushes. “Please don’t say anything. I’ll tell Lu, but I like being in our bubble where it’s just us two. She’ll get mad and try to make me split up with him, and I’m not ready to even consider that.”

“I get it.” I watch her stroking the brush on each nail. “Don’t break up with him. Promise?”

“I promise.” She smiles, painting my thumbnail. “I tried to stay away from Dez, but I felt so lost without him, Stacey.” She caps the nail polish, blowing on my nails. “I’ll tell Lu soon.”

“If you don’t want to be caught before then, maybe try to be a little more discreet,” I say with a giggle. “He had his hand on your ass at the bar next to the pool and then kissed your cheek.”

“Lu was too busy arguing with Base in the pool to notice.”

I snort. “That’s true. Those two have been bickering this entire trip.”

“What about you and Kade?”

I glance up at her. “What?”

She gives me a knowing look before she stands and examines her work. “You suit dark nail polish,” she says, changing the subject. “Matches your soul.”

“What did you mean about me and—”

“She suits that colour, right, Lu?”

Luciella’s back, staring into the mirror and swiping red lipstick on her lips. “As dark as her cold heart.”

“Fuck you both.”

“Base and Dez are coming out with us tonight and I am not happy.”

Tylar smirks as she looks away, and I try not to giggle. She has no idea how much Base has got under her skin.

I pull on my jeans and top, looking at my phone as it dings.

Kade: Are you going out tonight with Luciella and Tylar?

I peer up at my friends, both now fixing their hair and make-up in the mirror as I type back, my pulse thrashing in my ears.

Me: Why? Does your girlfriend not want to hang out with you anymore?

As soon as I hit send, I regret the petty, jealous and downright childish reply. Why can’t I just ignore him and get on with my holiday?

“Okay. Let’s go!” Lu exclaims, a smile plastered to her face, and when she opens the door, Base and Dez are leaning against the wall, both dressed immaculately. The former looks Lu up and down with a smile that lights up his entire being as she groans and shoulders past him.

She glances at us. “And that leaves tomorrow night to have some girl time before we head back to Scotland. Away from these assholes.”

She definitely said that so he’d hear.

“Sounds like love to me,” Base mutters, and she elbows him in the side.

While I’m in the Uber, I feel my phone vibrate, but I ignore it. In the bar, it burns in my palm, and I itch to read the messages I’m sure are from Kade, but I refrain.

The place is small, not too busy and doesn’t smell. But before I can get a good look around, my gaze lands on a tall, muscled figure at the bar, a tattoo crawling up his neck, dark hair a mess as usual. Kade turns to us, lifting his beer bottle up as his friends head towards him.

I look away and go find the chair furthest from the pool table the boys have chosen, and Tylar orders us drinks. My phone vibrates again, my eyes flickering to Kade as he taps on his screen. Another notification comes through.

Groaning, I give in and check it.

Kade: The fuck are you on about?

Kade: I don’t have a girlfriend. When would I have time for that? You think I’d fuck you when I was with someone else?

Kade: Although, jealousy looks cute on you.

I narrow my eyes at the screen. Muttering a prick under my breath, I type back quickly before my friends see.

Me: Cockiness looks ugly on you. I’m not jealous either. And don’t lie. Dez said you were leaving your girlfriend’s place to meet them. I really don’t care, but don’t come near me again.

Glancing up, I see his thumbs rapidly work his phone, his brows knitted in anger, and I can’t help but feel a little relieved, because somehow, I believe him. I watch him chew on his lip, still typing back to me. When the notification comes through, he looks up at me, and we hold each other’s stare until I feel treacherous heat creeping up my spine.

Kade: I don’t have a fucking girlfriend. I had to lie to them. Once I finish this game, go to the bathroom when I walk out. It’s easier to talk.

Me: Now you want to talk? No thanks.

“Who has you scowling at your phone?” Ty asks, and I quickly turn my screen off.

“No one,” I reply, and her eyes flicker to the boys.

“Is this my drink?” I point to the red cocktail, and when she nods, I take a huge gulp. “Please tell me we aren’t staying here all night.”

Ty and Lu both say the opposite at the same time.Luciella grumbles and drops her face into her hands.

We then talk about what our plans are for when we get home, since Lu is desperate to get away from Base and cutting the trip short. The conversation goes on for hours, and Tylar and Dez stand at the bar multiple times, smiling between themselves. Lu has watched them a few times, but after I mouth to her to stop it, she shrugs and downs a drink Base has bought her.

She doesn’t drink much, so I reckon she’ll be going home soon. Either Aria will pick her up, or I’ll take her, or Base will get an Uber back to the hotel with her like he did last time. He even put her into bed and sat with her until she fell asleep.

Another drink, and Ty and Dez are nowhere to be seen. I’ve given Lu a bottle of water while we sit on a pool table opposite the one Kade and Base are playing at.

I try to ignore him. But I’m struggling, especially when his fingers trail down my spine as I squeeze past him to place my drink on the small table.

Luciella boos her brother’s best friend as he pots one of his balls. “You are shhhhhockingly bad, Sebastian.”

He chuckles, taking a drink of his beer and leaning his hip against the table. “Will you scream my full name when I pin you to the table with my dick?”

Kade nearly chokes on his drink. “Come on, man.”

“I’m going to the bathroom,” I announce and jump off the table.

The place is next to empty, so I can hear the footsteps behind me as I make my way down the small corridor, into the narrow passage that has three doors.

“Stacey.”

My skin buzzes. I stop, taking a deep breath. “What?”

He pulls my elbow. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“I saw your message – I’m aware.”

His blue eyes watch me, and I can tell he wants to say something. Maybe to say it was a mistake.

Because it was.

I cross my arms. “You said you wanted to talk. So talk.”

An older man appears behind us, and we move out of his way – then when someone else walks out, he swears and pulls open the door to the maintenance room and tugs me inside.

As the door closes, we hear the squeal coming from Tylar as Dez pulls out of her – both completely naked with the smell of sex in the air.

I cover my eyes and turn around. “Sorry!”

Kade mutters, “Fuck’s sake. Put your dick away.”

“Why are you guys here?” Ty asks, and I turn around to see them thankfully hidden. She covers her breasts with Dez’s top. “Were you looking for us?”

“I wanted to talk to Stacey,” Kade says. “Can you fuck off?”

“We were here first, asshole!” Dez zips his jeans up and stands in front of Tylar while she fixes herself. “What are you two doing in here? Screwing around again?”

Tylar doesn’t even flinch at the words. And when I stare at her, she gives me a tight smile. Of course she knew. Perfect.

She kisses my cheek as they leave, and Dez – very disgustingly – tosses his condom into a box full of rubbish.

The door closes, and it’s just us two. The force is igniting, but I refuse to let any heat build or think of how well we fit together so intimately – how addictive it is.

“I didn’t mean to vanish right after that happened,” he says, taking a step towards me, hands in his pockets. “I know you think I’m disrespectful and whatever else you’ve thrown my way, but I fully intended to approach you the next day.”

“And what would you have said if you did approach me? Thanks for the quick fuck, snake? Sorry for fucking you while killing someone?”

“Do you want me to apologise for that?”

I gulp. “No. I just want you to leave me alone.”

“Do you?” Another step. “Because I’m a killer?”

“Because you’re my ex who can’t stand me.”

Kade tilts his head – another step. “What if I have good intentions? What if I said I don’t want to sleep with you but be your friend?”

“I could never be friends with you,” I say, unable to move as Kade invades my space. His muscular form towers over mine, and I strain my neck to glare up at him. “I’m nothing but a slut to you, remember?”

His eyes are burning into my apparently dark soul. “And I’m nothing but a piece of shit to you. It must be the entire aspect of loathing each other that draws us together.”

“I’m not drawn to you,” I lie.

I don’t move away when his hand comes up to push a lock of my hair behind my ear, his thumb stroking my cheek. “Well, I’m drawn to you, Freckles. And it infuriates me that I am. I could be inside someone else, yet all I can see is you.”

My brows furrow. “I don’t know if you were trying to be sincere there, but it made you sound like a total prick.”

“I’m not a sincere man. Maybe when I was a teenager, when I worshipped the ground you walked on, but now? I want to rip your clothes off and sink my teeth into your skin.”

My breath hitches as he comes even closer.

“I want to degrade you while you sit on my cock. Praise you as you swallow every drop of my cum. I want to brand every inch of your skin with my mouth and make sure you’re unable to even look at another man.”

I suck in a breath, holding it in my lungs as he lowers his forehead to mine.

“I want you, but I can’t have you,” he says. “You deserve way better than me. If you knew half the shit I’ve had to do, you wouldn’t be in this tight space with me now.”

“What have you done?”

Kade sighs, slightly pulling away. “The company I work for has their claws in me – that’s all you need to know.”

“What do you need to do for them?”

“Mani pārdodseksamunnāvei, laiaizsargātuvisus, kurusmīlu.”

Kade leans into me more, raising his other hand between us to tuck another strand of hair behind my ear. I tilt my head, utterly confused by whatever language he’s speaking.

He licks his lips. “Tajāskaitājūs, vasarasraibumi.”

“You’re speaking in a different language again…”

“Latvian, from when I was sent there for six months. I know four languages. Not well, but I’m working on them. It comes with the job.”

I tilt my head. “What does it mean?”

He half-smiles, backing away from me, his hands leaving me until I have enough room to breathe. He opens the door and pauses. “I hope you never find out.”