Forbidden Lust

So one drink turned into three at the party, and on the short ride back to Barrett’s, I was feeling slightly buzzed. I blotted on some lip gloss as I exited the Uber and approached the house.

I hadn’t seen Barrett since this morning. It wasn’t like I expected him to be waiting for me or anything. I smoothed down my new summer dress. Cinched at the waist, it hugged just below my mid-thigh and was shorter than most of my other dresses. Pairing it with needle-thin stilettos, I fucking loved it.

I walked into the foyer and noticed a light coming from the living room. Was he up?

It was after eleven, but if Barrett was up, it couldn’t hurt looking my best. He was only used to models and gorgeous women. I wouldn’t put myself in that class. I ate, for starters. Be it a tuna salad paired with a Frappuccino, I may skimp on one thing, but I didn’t go without. I also took care of myself, working out most days in the gym at home or taking spin classes.

My heels clicked against the wood floor. He wasn’t in the kitchen. I dropped my key on the counter, where the stools were tucked neatly underneath.

“Lourde.” My heart thundered as he rounded out my name. My gaze fell to the living room. Barrett sat in the armchair with his laptop in the dimly lit corner. Behind him, the ocean crashed as the moonlight lit up a line of the ocean floor.

“You scared me, Barrett.” It wasn’t dark in here, but it certainly wasn’t lit up either. The lighting felt more intimate now he was here. I walked toward him, swaying my hips ever so subtly. He wore gray sweats and a fitted black t-shirt. His tanned forearms were exposed and rested on the arms of the chair.

Slowly, his gaze drifted from my face to my breasts, down to my waist, landing on my thighs. My body thundered. One look and he’d doused me in kerosene, ready for lighting.

“You shouldn’t be wearing that,” he said through a pinched expression.

“What? You’re not serious?” That was the last thing I expected after that fiery gaze. I kicked off my heels and threw my bag on the couch. I was fucking livid.

“Deadly serious.”

“You’re an asshole, you know.” Breathless, I shoved my hand on my hip.

“I know.” He kept staring at me.

“And what’s wrong with this?” Purposely I twirled, slowly turning around with my hands outstretched before standing in front of him with my legs crossed.

He lowered his laptop screen.

“You don’t normally wear things like that.” He raked his teeth on his bottom lip.

“Well, all men like to see a bit of skin. Don’t they?” I was skirting a dangerous line, one I wasn’t sure I could follow through on. “Case in point. You and those women last night.”

“I don’t want all men to see your skin.”

“So you and my brother can have all the fun, but I can’t?”

He smiled. Like he’d won at some game. My skin hummed, and my veins flushed with rage.

Asshole.But I wasn’t one to back down without a fight.

“Perhaps I ought to show some more skin.” With my hands in a claw grip, I pulled at my hem, shifting it higher up on my thighs.

Before I knew it, he was standing in front of me, both hands squeezing my wrists still.

“Don’t,” he said, his pupils dilated, so the ring of green in his eyes was mostly black. His strength sent shivers up my arm.

“What are you going to do about it?” I said in a husky voice I didn’t know I had, wondering if we were still talking about my choice of clothing or something else.

He stood, still squeezing my hands firmly in place, and glared down at me. His hooded eyes dropped to my lips, then back up to my eyes. I wanted to run my hand across his angular jaw and sharp nose and plant my lips on his in a dirty all tongue kiss.

“Nothing,” he said, letting go of my hands and sitting back down. He flipped his laptop back open.

“Exactly,” I said, completely and overwhelmingly left raw and untouched.

I’d never craved a man more in my entire life. I needed his hands on my skin the way they blazed and set my skin alight. Barrett had to be my fun. My escape. If he didn’t want anyone else to touch me, then he had to do it. He could be my fuck buddy for the summer. Too bad my stupid crush was one-sided. Wasn’t it?

I marched up the circular staircase, making sure my footsteps were elephant loud, and headed straight for the shower, scrubbing his touch off me in an effort to stop thinking about him.

Frustrated, pent up, and left wanting more, I curled up into bed. Then everything faded to black.

* * *

His lips trailed my neck, eventually landing on my mouth. Softly at first, then with an overwhelming desire, our tongues collided. I heard him moan my name. Lourde.

“Lourde.”

There it was again. Was I still dreaming?

“Lourde?” A crushing weight landed on my body. I tried moving, but I couldn’t. My dream drifted away, replaced by overwhelming fear. Suddenly, I opened my eyes, blinking and adjusting to the darkness. A familiar face was on top of me. I wasn’t dreaming.

Hunter?

I screamed, but he quickly stifled it with both hands across my mouth.