Envy

by Amarie Avant

  As dusk claimed the sky, they sat in the car and made promises, best friend promises. Hand in hand, they ambled back into the house. Everyone was sitting in the living room, on the sectional couches or rugs, bellies protruding, watching television.

  “Raven, you haven’t opened your gifts.” Remote in hand, Damien paused the TV. They had been watching the football game, so there was a round of grumbling as he did so.

  “It’s okay, Dad,” Raven tried with a smile, “I opened Royael’s gifts earlier, so let’s not start a mob.”

  Her sympathy landed on deaf ears. Charlene placed a wingback chair in the middle of the room. Raven took a seat, and Uncle Oscar handed her scattered presents that were under the tree.

  “I’m surprised there isn’t coal in that,” a cousin joked as she pulled out a sweater from a candy-cane gift bag marked “Granny.” It matched Charlene’s, which had a lopsided Christmas tree.

  “Gosh.” Raven toyed with the locket around her neck as she continued to open presents. She even got Royael’s ceramic handprint wrapped in newspaper. They’d threatened to kick her out—for the sake of a paused football game—when she’d stopped to put on a pair of leather Chanel boots with spikes that Charlene had bought, to which, she giggled. “Y’all know my boot fetish is fierce!”

  “All right, ReRe. This is the last one. Somebody really loves you,” Oscar assured with a whistle as he handed her an impeccably wrapped navy blue-box. The shiny paper was sleek to the touch, not a crease out of place. A gauzy silver ribbon was like the icing on the cake.

  Raven rubbed her hands together as the box sat in her lap, then pulled at the tie. The ribbon floated to the carpet. Biting her lip in excitement, she pulled the top off the gift box. “It looks unnecessarily expensive. Y’all know I don’t like flashy things.” Which was true, but she’d relish the care someone had taken on the gift wrap.

  She looked at Liam. He must have gone to one of those designer stores to have it wrapped. He shrugged.

  Oh, is Mom trying to make up for missed holidays? Raven imagined Charlene floating through a high-priced boutique.

  Moving the tissue paper, her lovely smile of contentment twitched. She had to make it plastic and keep the frown upside down. Who gave me this? It’s not funny! The hard beam on her face made her cheeks ache as she forced herself not to rifle through the tissue paper to see if a card or note was on the gift.

  “What’s in the box, Scrooge?” questioned one of her cousins.

  Raven held onto that cheek-shattering grin. She should hold up the gift and show every single person in the room … they were that type of family!

  “You’ve been evil all day. Grumps, what’s in the box?” another teenage cousin said.

  The crackle of the stone fireplace made her skin burn. The heat got closer and closer. The Natalie Cole Christmas music sent an eerie prickle down her spine as she faded out of the present. Only seeing blue eyes and wavy blond hair, she looked through her family.

  Roy. Royland. Alder.

  Controlling her breathing, she thought of her father. Air swished quietly past an overzealous smile. Cramming all recollections of Alder to the darkest parts of her mind, Raven’s sparkling, happy eyes stopped on her mom.

  Mustering enthusiasm and appreciation, she said, “Thanks, Mom.”

  Charlene’s mouth slowly opened, but Raven gave her a look of adoration. “It’s a secret gift from my mom, since we’ve missed so many Christmases.”

  Charlene’s eyes furrowed, but she didn’t challenge the lie.

  Eyes moving away from her mother’s lips as they finally voiced a, “You’re welcome,” Raven looked down at the box. I’m fucked. Liam will hate me if only he knew…

  She inwardly hoped nobody noticed the slight shake of her fingers as she placed the lid back on the gift.

  * * *

  Grab the entire series now!

  Author Note:

  Okay, so I had an author’s note at the beginning of the story. It was a last minute thing, since COVET had an author’s note (begging readers to continue with the storyline revolving around teenagers LOL) Any who, this is a re-release, as previously indicated. I do hope you enjoy the changes I’ve made. With COVET reviews, someone wanted Liam to be more alpha. I tried to make him an alpha in ENVY, but Raven is a she-alpha already! After this series, my next story will include an alpha through and through, not Victor deranged, but he’ll have blood on his hands all the same. As for Liam, we had a chat. He wants to grow into his balls ;) Trust me, those balls will be big, hairy, beautiful by the time I’m done with them. The kind of balls that you rub, cuddle and love. And lil’ Re will have toned her ass down. She’s been through much, and it ain’t over yet. See, proof that I read all my reviews, even the scary ones.

  Pahlezzzz (in my Royael voice) go post your review

  January, Swiss Alps, Switzerland

  A MONTH BEFORE

  * * *

  Diamonds glittered in the sky and trees soared all around Liam’s vacation home. Dressed in a thermal, with a new camel blazer, the cold had begun to creep into Raven’s soul as she sat on the patio. A sea of stars sprayed across the dark of night. She placed the non-alcoholic wine to her lips. At that exact second, warmth blossomed from her hair follicles down to her frosted toes. Liam.

  The moment he stepped out onto the patio, she sensed her childhood best friend. Raven turned in her seat and offered him a smile, to which he nodded. He had a glass of whiskey at his side. His denim jeans hugged lightly at his package; her eyes zipped upward, but he saw it. The desire that enveloped her stronger than the chill. The fire in his hazel eyes sparked just as hot as the glowing stone hearth before her.

  “Your move,” Liam’s words still twined in her ear from earlier that day, and Raven felt like a total idiot. Yes, she had to have been dumb to consent to this after-Christmas-vacation even if they were celebrating their daughter’s sixth birthday. Royael was a New Year’s baby, after all. But this place … This home away from home of his exuded romance from the powdering of snow falling before them, to the hearth that was aglow, and one sole cashmere blanket wrapped around her legs, which had his name written all over it.

  Damn, it is my move. Our happiness as one depends on me. “C’mere.” Raven smiled, biting her lip. As he sat down beside her, the spiced leather of his cologne further warmed her to the core. Raven tried to remind herself that they were just friends while wrapping them both into the blanket.

  They’d been in Switzerland for almost three weeks. Though the attraction was so thick the sweet scent of sex surrounded them, they did not cross that line. But Liam was so patient and kind, and Raven’s mind was full of torment and chaos. Once we return to ‘life’, I have to figure out what to do about the Christmas gift. I won’t fuck up what we’re working on. My secrets must be safe from the man I love—forever. Raven decided it was a wise chose not to become intimate with Liam until her misdeeds were dead and gone. As if he felt her subconsciously moving away, Liam’s strong arms wrapped around her even tighter.

  She smiled. “I thought it was still my move?”

  “Trust me, Re, you hold the entire deck of cards,” he said, minty condensation puffing out from those kissable lips.

  Raven elbowed him softly. If she didn’t look off into the darkness, she didn’t have to think about the mysterious gift she’d gotten for Christmas. Someone in this world hated her guts, hated her enough that it would mask even all of the shit Liam’s family did to keep them apart.

  “Talk to me,” he ordered.

  You are the reason my heart continues to beat, so I will never tell you my plight. Raven masked her shame by straddling Liam on the wicker chair. For a split second, his chiseled features where still soft with concern. Lying to him didn’t need to be the foundation for their burgeoning relationship. So Raven pressed her pelvis down onto his swelling cock. Through the premium denim, Raven’s womanhood begged for the thick length of him. I should just let him bang my brains out and stay here too. Fuck him unti
l he’s blinded to the type of woman I truly am—

  “What if we move here, Liam?” The words were out before Raven had a moment to consider them.

  Those lips which knew every inch of her body curved just slightly. “It’s a beautiful place, Re, but you’re always complaining about being cold,” he said, taking the opportunity to hold her even tighter. His biceps bulged around her, comforting, saving, and if she were the devil he knew, she’d tell him the truth.

  “Hmmm,” Raven continued to gyrate on his lap. Her legs locked tightly around him, she assured, “Long as these arms stay wrapped around me, I can make it. Besides, this is no colder than the Ice Queen.”

  He gave her waist a little squeeze. “Damn, you know the first time you called my mother the Ice Queen, it hurt my feelings.”

  “Yeah, well …” Raven added, “Elise and I are good now, so …” If that demon stays in her lane, I won’t have to murder her too. That, truly, was a lie. But a lie she made before their pact at Christmas. Besides, people like Elise and his grandfather, Pierre Delacroix, never changed. So there was no shame in the lie.

  Liam seemed to want to bring up the apology. The apology that his mother never gave. Perhaps, Raven had lied and said Elise apologized for all her own misdeeds because somewhere deep down inside, the women were truly and utterly the same. No, not the same—Elise had no morals, didn’t care to. Raven had begged and begged God to forgive her of the sins she’d committed.

  “Are we in limbo, Re?” Liam’s tone was smoother than the wine she’d just drunk. He rubbed her flat abdomen softly, “Shit, I fucking love you, Raven. You and Prince.”

  “Prince? What if we’re having another pretty prin-cess,” Raven asked, smile masking the fear she held for their unborn child. If someone hated her, then their six-week-old baby’s life wasn’t safe, either. Her lips almost quivered at that. She reached down and planted another kiss on his lips.

  “We’re having a boy,” Liam assured, “but I could get you pregnant every day of the week …”

  “Hmmm, every day of the week?” She chuckled, kissing a trail down the angular strength of his jawline. Then those enticing, whiskey-tasting lips claimed her attention once more. Her teeth scoured over his bottom lip. His dick thumped against her thigh.

  “Fuck,” he groaned as Raven once again twirled her lips, allowing her pussy to roll over the front of his jeans.

  Totally helpless, she couldn’t complain when he started unbuttoning her thermal then Liam’s fingers trickled against the small of her back.

  “Fr-freezing!” Raven gasped.

  “Uh-huh.” He pushed her hands away as she tried to pry his from around her waist. “I haven’t had this much action in so long. You’re a big girl, Raven, no bowing out.”

  She nibbled Liam’s lip as his other hand snaked up and pulled the back of her hair so he could suck on her neck. Silky moans ran away from her pink, swollen lips that hungered for more. Tempted to fulfill her every desire, Liam yanked at the button on her jeans. Paranoia made her hands claim his.

  “Not out here.”

  “I’m on fire, I can’t wait …” He held her hand as she started to get up. His fingers clasping her tinier ones, Liam argued, “Re, this is why we can’t live here. If I can’t fuck you as I please, where I please, then we can-not-live-here,” he said, attempting to keep her still, but her soft little hand slipped through his.

  With a naughty grin, she beckoned him to the door. Then, her phone vibrated in her pants. Shit! Raven had forgotten she’d stepped outside for solitude that evening. The gifter had texted her about calling at that exact moment. The motherfucker wanted to keep her on pins and needles.

  “Um, it’s my mom,” she said quickly. Besides this fucking psycho stalker, I would never lie to you. Moving away from the door, she added, “Just give me a minute. We’ve been playing phone tag all week long.”

  Raven sighed as he reclaimed his seat. Should’ve told him to go get ready, but he’s already ready! Pulling the phone out of her pocket, she meandered toward the end of the extensive patio and pressed the TALK button. “Hello?”

  “I’ve come to the conclusion that you’re not taking the gift seriously.” The androgynous caller was an automated annoyance in her ear. “Have you decided to adhere to the stipulations presented?”

  “I’m thinking about it,” she retorted. Her mind soared in time back to the gift. A mere letter, a single slip of paper held captive her darkest sin.

  “Very well, though it would behoove you to consider my offer.”

  “It’s not an offer!” She gripped a handful of snow from the wood railing. Had the cutter she’d spoken with before a session with her psychologist, Dr. Stanton, been correct? Her teeth grit to the icy prickling. It’s no substitute. Liam is the only antidote.

  “Perhaps the impeccable wrapping has you assuming this is a motherfucking game.” The scalp-sharp words dug into Raven’s soul as she glared into the dark forestland. “Nonetheless, you will soon realize that I have indeed been gracious regarding my requests. For now, enjoy your very last vacation.”

  The call disconnected. She shoved the phone back into her jean pocket. A trickle of water ran through her fingers. She grabbed another piece and felt the euphoric sting then placed it down and turned around.

  Her eyes barely met his as she walked back over. “I’m going to bed.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m knocked up and tired.” Yawn fake, she gave it her best—inwardly praying for a smidgen of Charlene’s acting genes. She walked into the cabin, leaving Liam to his thoughts.

  2

  You’re not a good fit for our company… Though your experience with the Delacroix Corporation is remarkable …

  At the Dallas extended airport parking, Liam pressed the “unlock” for his Range Rover. He and his growing family had only returned from Switzerland two weeks before, and he’d hit the ground running. He was accustomed to working hard, and moreover, had grown used to solidarity. Liam had attended a hundred interviews.

  Either the businesses he considered working for assumed he was just some dumbass that Pierre had given free reign over the American D-Hotel acquisition or he was secretly sent by Pierre to infiltrate their system. Some of them weren’t even Fortune 100 companies for Christ’s sake, so he could understand their paranoia. But Jonathan Liam Delacroix Lemaître Junior a mole? Fuck that, the conspiracy was disrespectful.

  “No, not disrespectful. I am no longer the legacy. I’m a fucking mortal.” Liam gave an irate chuckle at that thought. He’d been groomed in such a matter to believe himself, a Delacroix, had to apologize for nothing. Though the world brushed against the tip of his fingers, his portfolio spoke volumes without the backing of a name.

  Alligator briefcase overhead, he slammed it on the asphalt and kicked it toward the cement wall. The composite of charts inside—the proof that he’d single-handedly chosen the best options for the Florida, Beverley Hills, and Chicago D-hotels—seemed to mean nothing. Dusty marks trailed the briefcase when he picked it up. He flung it into the backseat and got in the car.

  “I got a brand new baby on the way, and I can’t even get a job!” He punched at the steering wheel and skirted backward, jerking the gear to drive and slammed on the gas.

  That short trip to Switzerland weighed on his mind. Managing spending money was a new, unexpected evil. Never in life had he deliberately glanced at a price tag.

  The radio to his Range Rover was connected to his cell phone. It began to light up with a call from Shawn, his oldest friend from Brinton Prep.

  “Bro-bro, how did the interview go?” Shawn asked.

  “Next topic,” Liam replied, heading toward the carport exit.

  “Man, like that?” He sighed heavily. “Okay, I’m gonna talk with Dad. He’s hiring a few juniors at the firm, we’ll get him to pick you instead—and I mean, not as a fucking kid, dude, you’ll go in as an exec.”

  Liam bit his fist for a second. He’d felt like shit for having to ask Shaw
n to borrow his private jet to Switzerland. Telling Raven that he’d left Delacroix Corp was on his to-do list. But she was pregnant, and so it was right there at the bottom said list, since he didn’t want her to think it had anything to do with her. The love of his life has been pregnant and hormonal, but asking Shawn’s father for a job too, that was a bruise to his own ego.

  “I’ve got a few more leads. Besides, your dad has made my investment account golden. I’m good for now.”

  “Shit, you could live like kings for the next few years.” Shawn added to his need for a pep-talk. “And if you make me Godfather, your son will be shitting diamonds into his diapers.”

  Liam laughed, merging into the airport exit along with other cars, shuttles, and taxis. He had a few friends bidding to be Godfather. He was prepared to respond when the radio chimed once more. “Shawn, it’s Pierre on the other line.”

  “Oh …” His friend’s voice was heavy. “We’ll chat later, but keep that in mind about being the godfather.”

  After a quick goodbye, Liam pressed the touchscreen. “What?”

  “Shouldn’t I be asking the questions?” Pierre’s voice surrounded Liam from the speakers. “You haven’t been to work in over a month. That orchestrated car accident wasn’t too severe. I’m positive that your little Raven has been given a clean slate of health—physically. I won’t even mention mentally. You’ve had enough time to—”