Forbidden Love

I walked into the living room and toward the makeshift bar in the corner. Individual bottles of French champagne and cocktails dressed the bar while waitstaff wandered around the crowd of familiar faces with food packaged in cute little takeaway boxes. Friends from school and many social circles filled the ten-thousand-square-foot apartment. Then Grace’s cousin, who was here, went and invited a ton of gorgeous men she knew.

My apartment was across two floors, and the party was in full swing with the DJ in the living room, spinning old-school retro and house music.

It was after nine, and I’d already consumed quite a few little bottles of champagne as did Pepper. I’d lost count of how many she had had but by her mood, she was on fucking cloud nine and ready to take home a man and forget about Jake.

I tried messaging Barrett twice already tonight, to which I hadn’t received a reply. I couldn’t help but be annoyed. This was my housewarming. He was my boyfriend, and out of everyone here tonight, I wanted him to be here to enjoy it with me.

“This view is sensational, Lourde,” Grace said, taking in the view of the river from Washington Street.

“I’m certainly not complaining,” I respond.

“Oh, it's Dane calling,” she said, looking down at her phone.

“Go, take it. I’m going to get another champagne.”

I walked inside, where a tall guy I wasn’t familiar with walked toward me. “Hey, you must be Lourde.”

“That’s me!”

“Cool place, I’m Seb. I’m good friends with Gabby.”

Gabby, Grace’s cousin I was talking about, with the little black book of gorgeous men. And boy, was she right. “Oh, right. Well, hey, enjoy the party,” I said, watching his face fall. I walked past him toward the bar when a familiar face caught my attention. “Cool place, sis,” Connor said, hugging me.

I looked over his shoulder and saw Ari, Magnus, and Barrett looking wickedly handsome in navy slacks and a black V-neck t-shirt that clung to his tanned biceps. His dark hair swept to the side and begged my fingers to thread through it.

“Hey,” I said, trying to sound more sober than I actually was.

“I like what you’ve done with it. It’s better than remaining empty. Moved out and a job in the space of a week. Someone’s been busy.”

Guilt slashed through my chest, but I willed it away. “Right, yeah. Hey, Magnus, Ari, hey Barrett,” I said. And the look he cast my way was dark and devilish, sending a shiver up my spine. How could we have this insatiable pull over one another after such a short period?

I cleared my throat. “I’m going to get a drink. Who’s up for some shots?’’ I asked, wanting to get loose with Barrett and free from the guilt plaguing me about my brother.

Connor grabbed my arm. “You seem different,” he said.

My heart pounded in my chest. “Three glasses of champagne, different?” I said offhandedly, trying to throw lightness into the darkness.

“No, it’s more than that,” he said, his blue eyes serious and questioning.

Shit. I was about to open my mouth and be truthful with him when something behind me diverted his attention.

“Pepper, Grace, how are you?” Connor straightened, and I took a step back and away from his Spanish Inquisition. Thank the Lord for Pepper and that show-stopping dress.

His eyes never left Pepper’s dress. I mean, why would they? She looked gorgeous. I looked across and found Magnus and Ari both staring at her and Grace too. Barrett’s half-hooded gaze in my direction sent a beeline to my panties.

“Doesn’t Pepper look stunning?’’ I inquired, trying to distract myself from the sex-on-legs in front of my brother and his friends.

“Ravishing, Pepper,” Ari said, leaning in and giving her a kiss on both cheeks, followed by Magnus.

“Yes, very nice,” Connor said, sounding weird. Was it just the champagne, or was he staring at Pepper way too long?

I turned around to find Pepper staring at Connor. Gross. That was my cue to take my leave from any more questions.

“I’m getting a drink. Who’s coming with?” I asked, tossing my hair over my shoulder.

“Me,” Barrett said, and immediately I felt a shiver when I heard his voice.

“Me too,” Ari said, and I wished I hadn’t put the offer out there. As much as Ari was cool, I just wanted Barrett all to myself.

I shimmied my way to the bar, moving past the bodies of dancing people.

Barrett was so close behind me I could smell his bergamot scent.

“A champagne for the lady, a Peroni for me, and the old fellow will have a whiskey,” Barrett said, ordering on my behalf.

“Hey,” Ari said, checking out the gorgeous girls I went to school with who were seated next to us.

Barrett lowered his lips on my ear. “I just want to take you to the bedroom and run my tongue down your seam until you scream my name.”

Quickly, I picked up the bubbles and took a long sip before putting it back down in the bar. “I think I’d like that very much.”

“Patience, dollface.”

He lifted his face back up, and we both turned to find Ari staring at us.

“You two have to tell your brother before he sees what I see. You look like you guys just want to jump each other.”

“Shit. How does Ari know?”

“It’s so obvious, it’s ridiculous,” Ari said, sipping his whiskey. “Even the blind can sense your attraction and fucking hormones.”

I laughed, but shit, it really wasn’t funny. “You’re right. Look, tomorrow. Let’s just do it tomorrow. I want to enjoy tonight without the drama,” I said, toying with the straw in the champagne bottle.

Barrett slid his hand into mine carefully so no one could see and squeezed it.

“Yeah?” he questioned, and I couldn’t help feeling what I saw in his eyes. He wanted this. He wanted us. I don’t know why I ever doubted him just because he hadn’t said three little words.

“Yes,” I said, squeezing his hand back. “I don’t know why I’ve waited this long.”