Forbidden Love

“Good, because being a part of this secrecy isn’t cool. Now cool your jets till the party is over, so you don’t get us all in trouble,” Ari said.

“Relax, Ari, Connor won’t know a thing.”

“Well, by the way Pepper’s pulling his attention, you might be right. You sure know how to throw a party, Lourde. The Hamptons and now this? I really love what you’ve done with the house and in such a short time. We all had dinner together before this, and Connor mentioned you’d only just moved in this week.”

“That's true, but I’ve always known what furniture and style I like, so it was pretty easy.”

“And you know shit about interior design, Ari. I don’t know why you even say you do.”

He laughed. “Is it that different from clothing and couture? That’s all about color, textures, balancing moods. My grandmama taught me a lot about her haute couture business.”

“Would you ever consider working in fashion?” I asked, surprised to hear about Ari’s depth of knowledge on the topic.

“I don’t need to work.”

“Neither do I, but that hasn’t stopped me. This last week was amazing for me. Working has given me more purpose rather than just waking up and wondering what I should do each day.”

Barrett looked down at me, giving me a bone-melting gaze that set my heart cocooned in a blanket of warmth.

“Meh, I’m cool,” Ari said, checking out some of my model friends who just arrived at the party, then finished the rest of his whiskey before slamming it down on the bar.

“I’m going to think about it now and see if these lovely ladies would like to see Ari’s special gift basket.”

“Ari!” I squealed.

“Yeah, man, not in front of Lourde.”

“You two. So cute.” He propped his eyebrow to Barrett and stared at him before sauntering toward the group of tall, lean blondes.

“What was that about?” I asked.

“Ari’s attempt at a warning. Nothing for you to worry about, Lourde.”

“You make out like me worrying about you is a bad thing, Barrett.” I crossed my arms across my chest.

He looked at me, confused. “I worry about this last week you’ve had and that you haven’t really shared any of your hardships with me.”

“It doesn’t concern you.”

“But it does. We’re in this together, aren’t we?” I asked, an underlying question in my voice. I couldn’t help but ask.

“Of course, we are, Lourde. This stuff with the business is just someone out to get me, that’s all. I don’t want you worrying about that.”

“Of course, I’d worry about that. It’s normal.”

“Would you worry if someone was out to get me?”

“Like the guy that was trying to chat you up when we arrived?”

“What?”

“I saw him. He wanted you, Lourde, he was into you, and when you walked away, his stare lingered like a fucking hyena to raw meat.”

“I… I… are you jealous of him? I don’t even know who he was!”

“All I know is you’re mine, and I don’t want to share you with anyone.”

He gave me that hooded stare again, and fuck, what were we even arguing about?

Somehow, he’d pulled me away from my housewarming party, and now my panties were loose around my ankles with his face between my thighs.

“Do you know how hard I am?” He swiped at my clit, and I quivered.

“This is so dangerous,” I breathed out, gripping the nearby curtain rods as he delved into my folds. “Ah,” I groaned out.

Relentless, he punished me with his tongue, devouring me like he hadn’t seen me in days or weeks.

“Oh God, Barrett.” I hissed, biting into my cheek and absorbing his assault.

“I’ve wanted to taste you since you left me this morning, dollface. All I ever think about is you, Lourde,” he said, plunging two fingers into me and dragging my wetness to circle my nub.

Heat scaled my collarbone and up my neck. “Fuck, Barrett,” I screamed out in muted cries as I shook around him, gripping his head for support.

He buried his face into my folds, pulling another orgasm from me and leaving me breathless.

He got up and was staring at me when I eventually opened my eyes.

I clawed at his belt buckle. But he pulled away. “We’ve been gone too long,” he said, chasing my lips with a kiss.

“Oh, please,” I whispered.

“Got you this time, dollface. You don’t want to get caught now, do you?” His words were a temptation I contemplated for a moment.

All my relationships had always been in the public eye to scrutinize and splash about. I didn’t want that for us. Going public would change that, and I wanted to cling to us for as long as possible. History had shown me nothing lasts forever, but I wanted forever with this man, and it scared me to death.

“No, I don’t want to get caught.”

“Good girl. Now come on before there are questions about the hostess disappearing at her own housewarming.”