by Kat T. Masen
As if she knew her son well, she changes topics swiftly. Soon after dessert is served, the younger ones excuse themselves from the table. I take the opportunity to retreat to the kitchen to help clean up, willing the questions to stop. It takes every part of me to resist asking him who this person is or even about London.
None of it matters.
Period.
An hour later, I exit the kitchen to find everyone but Will. According to Mom, he has an early morning business meeting with Dad and said goodbye. Annoyed he didn’t even have the decency to say goodbye to me, I storm off to my room to compose myself.
The room always brings back the nostalgia of my childhood. A few stuffed toys sit on a daybed looking out the window, along with a white bookcase where I keep a few things. It isn’t our primary residence, but we stay here sometimes for weeks on end.
A pale blue box catches my attention. I move toward it, lifting the lid as I pull it out. Inside sits mementos I keep, including photos from my childhood. I recall the day Mom handed me a bunch of photos and my shock to learn you could actually get them printed.
There are so many memories, all of them make me smile. Then, I stumble on a photo of Will and me. He’d have been a teen, and maybe I was about five. His eyes are shut tight as I kissed his nose. I don’t remember it, but I do remember that no matter how much he taunted me or we argued over trivial matters, he always protected me.
We have this history, which is the very reason nothing can ever happen between us. But none of this erases my annoyance from him walking out tonight without a goodbye. What’s his problem, anyway?
I decide I need to find out and clear my conscience once and for all.
I place the box back and exit my room to find my parents.
“Mom, a friend wants to catch up for a late coffee a few blocks away. Do you mind if I head out for an hour?”
“Go ahead, honey. Dad and Uncle Rocky are watching sports and drinking. You know it’s going to be a long night.”
Kissing her cheek, I race out of the room and exit the apartment until I’m out on the street. I hail a cab, prompting the driver to take me mid-town.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m standing at Will’s, overcome by nerves. What the hell am I doing here? Or better yet, what the hell am I going to say?
I knock on the door, crossing my arms, only to panic from the thought of another woman being here. Shit.
The door swings open to Will rolling up his sleeves. The second his eyes fall on me, he appears uncomfortable, his eyes closing momentarily.
“Amelia? What are you doing here?”
I push past him, entering the apartment, not wanting to have this conversation in the foyer.
“Am I interrupting you… or anyone else for that matter?”
“Uh… no. It’s just me.”
“Oh, but I’m guessing she’ll be here soon, the woman who has piqued your interest?”
“Amelia.” He lowers his head.
“I don’t even know why I’m here,” I shout, pacing the space between us. “I lied to my mom and said I was going out for coffee. I just…”
“Why did you lie?” He moves closer, and highly aware of his actions, my breathing falters. “Tell me, truthfully, why did you feel compelled to lie about coming here?”
“I don’t know,” I answer, barely above a whisper, dropping my head to hide my shame. “I’m confused.”
The graze of his finger touches my chin, and slowly, he lifts it until our eyes meet. “We can’t be together, Amelia.”
“I know,” I choke, holding my breath until my lips part slightly. “Just tell me to go.”
His gaze shifts, a look of torment as his eyebrows pull together, deepening the crease.
“I can’t do that…”
“Why?” I beg of him. “Why can’t you tell me to go?”
Slowly, his head tilts upward, the piercing gaze which has tormented me in my sleep and invaded my thoughts in my waking moments, swinging like a wrecking ball ready to destroy everything I’ve worked so hard to ignore.
“Because it’s you, Amelia,” he whispers so delicately. “You’re the one I can’t stop thinking about.”
Eighteen
Will
Her mouth crashes onto mine, the warm sensation spreading throughout my body at the taste of her strawberry-flavored lips.
My hands wrap around her thighs, pulling her up while carrying her toward my bedroom. The walk is only a few feet away, yet the distance, while short, feels like miles long. Our kisses deepen, soft moans escaping her beautiful lips as we come up for air, breathless with our attention anchored on each other as if our lives depend on it.
Using my foot, I push the door open to the dimly lit bedroom. Outside, darkness has fallen, and on this cold night, frost has blanketed the large windows, the normally white-gold moon hiding behind the pillows of clouds.
Standing at the foot of the bed, I pull away, though still carrying her. Her gaze falls upon my lips, hungry and impatient while her chest rises and falls. I beg myself to think clearly, ignore whatever it is consuming me right now, and feed my body this drug it so desperately craves.
I open my mouth to speak but shut it again, conflicted by all the emotions fighting for attention at this moment.
“Tell me to stop.”
Her lips crash back onto mine with urgency, almost as if she won’t allow me to step away. Slowly, I place her on the bed as she sits on the edge, looking up at me, her emerald-green eyes watching me so innocently that I know this won’t end well.
For her.
For me.
For our family.
But even with those thoughts, I’m distracted as she toys with my belt, her hair sliding across her shoulder, exposing her neck. Her skin, so delicate and pure, taunts me, making it hard for me to control my urges.
With the pull of my belt, my pants fall. I unbutton my shirt, leaving me only in my silk boxers. I climb on top, kissing her deeply before insisting she straddle me. Trailing my finger down her chest, she begins to undo the buttons of the maroon-colored dress she is wearing, the soft fabric falling past her shoulders, exposing her white-lace bra and panties.
Biting down, I use every muscle I have to control my fucking dick from blowing right here, right now. Every forbidden fantasy of her, all of them have become a mind fuck over the last two weeks, is happening right in front of me.
It’s a blessing and a curse, the fruit and its temptation, and in this moment, my throat begins to thicken as I pinch my eyebrows together, losing all hope of resisting the one person I’m not supposed to touch.
But as our gaze locks, the silence speaks loudly between our shallow breaths, and she removes her bra—her beautiful tits beg me to devour them. My eyes widen at the sight. They’re fucking perfect. Just as I had imagined them—round, supple, perfectly positioned light pink nipples, fully erect and expressing how turned on she is right now.
I can’t hold back, running my fingers along the curves, taking them in my mouth as she moans so carelessly, arching her back. My tongue rolls around her nipple, sucking gently with a small tug of my teeth. I knead them between my fingers, unable to control my urge to ravage her, begging her silently to let me have her completely and hoping she doesn’t get scared, pulling away at a moment’s notice.
Yet her moans deepen, pleasure and pain all rolled into one. Every sound, so beautiful, warns me she’s close when we haven’t even begun.
“If you need me to stop.”
She shakes her head, quick and panicked. No words are said until she shuffles off, removing her panties and letting them fall to the ground.
Fuck.
I stare between her legs, admiring the landing strip and well-manicured bikini wax. God, how could a pussy be so fucking perfect? This isn’t the first one I’ve seen, I’ve lost count. So, why in the hell does this feel all brand new?
Desperate to clear my rambling mind, my boxers come off without a second thought. She hovers back over me, but not
before removing a condom from my drawer. The foil packet stills my movements.
Great, I completely forgot for the first time ever.
Tearing the packet between my teeth in desperation, I quickly place it on the tip of my shaft and slide it down. What I would do to feel her bareback.
Clutching the back of her neck, I draw her close to me, my mouth eager to kiss her deeply. I give her one more chance to walk away, knowing that whatever the hell happens tonight, it’s doing things to me I’ve never experienced before—an out-of-body experience consuming me in unimaginable ways.
“If you tell me to stop…”
“Will,” she breathes, sliding herself on as her mouth parts slightly. I close my eyes, biting down as the sensation grapples my shaft and pleasures me without even the slightest of movement yet. “Fuck me, please.”
Her begging spurs on the beast within me. I grip her hips, watching her body ride me. Goosebumps cover every inch of her, and her nipples are hard as I pinch them softly. Her cries are mixed with moans, the sound fighting for attention with the grunts my body expels.
Shuffling my body, so I’m sitting up, it allows me to bury myself deeper within her.
Amelia’s face is in line with mine, so close as we lose ourselves in the heat of the moment, and kissing her becomes an addiction I don’t want ever to cure.
Pulling away while arching her back, she calls my name until I slide my hand behind her neck again and beg her to look at me.
And at this moment, our eyes connect so profoundly, my emotions run wild in fear.
This isn’t just a moment, and let’s say this is one time, how I do I even begin to forget how easily I’m willing to give up everything to be inside her. How desire drives me to make careless decisions because the smell of her skin is nothing like I imagined it to be. I’m lost, wandering the paths of hell because the taste of heaven is lingering on my lips.
But then she scrapes her thumb on my bottom lip, causing the feverish spell within me to intensify.
“Come with me,” I demand with a rasp. “I want you to come with me.”
Her lips crash onto mine, the taste so delicious. I beg my body not to release now, willing the restraint to last just a little bit longer, so we both feel the rush in sync. “I’m ready, Will.”
My hands lace around her neck, our foreheads touching as I thrust inside her. She rides my cock, a rhythm building momentum until all I feel is her muscles tighten around my shaft. My body jerks forward, a shiver following as a deep grunt escapes me, and my body basks in euphoria.
My eyes blink rapidly, sweat dripping off my forehead while I try to gather my bearings and gain visibility again. The momentary flash of lights blinds me, as does the pleasure overcoming every inch of my body.
Our breaths, uneven, echo inside the room.
Slowly, she slides herself off, collapsing beside me and pulling the sheet over her. I discard the condom, tossing it on the floor, and turn to face her.
“Now what?” I ask, breathless, spreading tiny kisses on her arm.
“I don’t know,” she answers truthfully. “I thought you were a one-time guy.”
Slightly hurt by her assumptions, I climb back on top of her to make her understand the truth. I’m held hostage to her deep stare, shades of green locking me in some sort of trance.
“We can’t be together,” I remind her.
“I know.”
“It’s forbidden.”
“Completely taboo. You’re like family.”
“You’re like a little cousin,” I tell her, my eyes falling onto her lips, the stir below awakening my desire again. “Though not so little… a beautiful, sexy, gorgeous…” I kiss her shoulder until I’m on her lips, “… woman.”
“Plus, I’m not actually related to you.”
“Still off-limits.”
“Completely off-limits,” she agrees while running her hand in my hair before a smile plays on her lips. “But I guess one more time wouldn’t hurt, right?”
My dick is already hard, and this time, I need to feel her properly, not with a fucking condom. I can control this, just pull out before I come, and no one pays the price.
I slide myself in, her arousal utterly wet as she moans even louder than before.
She feels perfect.
Like everything that’s missing from my life.
There’s just one problem.
Nothing will change the fact that she’s Lex Edwards’ daughter. The man who reigns over all, the ruler of his kingdom, and as of now, I’m his biggest threat.
The man about to steal his princess.
Nineteen
Amelia
My eyes jolt open to the sound of a siren blaring outside the building.
Releasing a groan, I struggle with the morning glare coming from the large window near my bed. Where am I again?
The familiar room, one I had spent much time in, begins to register—it’s our townhouse on the Upper East Side.
I bury my face into the pillow, pulling my quilt above my head to drown the outside noise with the intent to fall back into a blissful sleep. With the temperature perfect, warm, and nothing like the cold outside, it’s ideal for spending the morning after Thanksgiving.
You’re the one I can’t stop thinking about.
My body jerks up, sitting in an upright position as the memory of last night comes roaring back to my center of attention. The beat of my heart begins to quicken, and throughout my whole body, a pleasurable tingle spreads like wildfire as my mind replays the touch of Will’s hand against my skin.
How his eyes did something to me, I just can’t explain. They held me captive, tortured me with desire, begged me to say and do things that even my wildest of imagination never dared to explore.
But it wasn’t just the weight of his stare. It was everything his body did to me. We moved so effortlessly, in sync, like a band playing in harmony to a tune. Every inch of his perfect body had me mesmerized—his toned arms, the sculpted chest, and, of course, his perfect size cock.
I gulp at the memory, knowing damn well what we did last night was wrong.
My body did things I’d never experienced, dangerous things I’d only read in romance novels. I became possessed, throwing all rationality out the door to succumb to whatever it is that makes me crumble beneath his touch.
I fall back, staring at the ceiling, trying to decipher what this all means. I’d be a fool to ignore that what happened last night was amazing, despite it being wrong.
And surely, without a doubt, he enjoyed it. We fucked twice in the space of an hour, and he had no problem finishing.
Yet, I’ve heard enough stories about him through Mom and Aunt Nikki to know that he enjoys his women only for one night. And why would I be any different?
As I continue to lay in bed, I toss and turn, regretting my actions, filled with remorse to then craving more. Unable to think straight, I hop out of bed, wincing as my sore muscles ache with every sudden movement. Grabbing my phone, I drag my tired self to leave my bedroom with the hope that Mom has brewed coffee because I desperately need it.
I turn the corner into the dining room, my eyes peeled to a story Andy put out about last night’s dinner back home. I smile at the caption of his turkey, missing him so much since we rarely spend time together anymore.
“Good morning, honey,” Mom greets politely.
Caught up in another story of a friend, I laugh while returning the sentiment to Mom until Ava blurts out. “You look like shit. What the hell happened to you last night?”
My eyes lift, and there at the table, they fall onto the same blue eyes which devoured me last night. Shit. Will is sitting beside my father, dressed in navy business attire with a devious smirk on his face. He appears to be put together, freshly shaven, and sexy.
Highly aware that I’m only wearing my night shorts which barely cover my ass, long socks, and an old ratted tee, I’m pretty sure my hair is a tangled bird’s nest.
“I, uh… didn’t sleep
well. The noise…” I swallow the giant lump inside my throat, hoping my skin doesn’t flush over. “Sirens and stuff.”
“Well, you look like death,” Ava scoffs with a mouthful of toast.
“Thanks for the reminder, dear sister.”
I quickly take a seat across from Will, though avoiding his stare as Mom asks, “Coffee?”
“God, yes…” I clear my throat. “I mean, please.”
I relish the warm liquid with a cup in my hand while trying to figure out an escape plan. Avoiding eye contact is necessary, and surely, if I ignore him, my parents or sisters won’t suspect anything.
“Are you heading back to campus tonight?” My father asks, placing his phone down to focus on me.
“Uh, yeah.” I scratch the back of my neck. “I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on.”
“I’ll have the driver take you.”
“Honestly, Dad, it’s okay. I can take a train.”
“I’d really like it if you would accept my offer of a car, Amelia,” he almost demands.
I think about it again. Perhaps it’s not such a bad thing. I could spend more time in the city, but what for? He hasn’t even said two words to you.
“I’ll think about it, but if I agree, nothing flashy. I don’t want to be treated differently because you’ve gifted me a Porsche or something like that. How about something economical, good for the environment?”
“You know, Daddy,” Ava goads with a wide smile. “I’ll take the Porsche. I like to be treated differently and don’t care for the environment.”
Dad scoffs, shaking his head in amusement, then turns to Will. “Do you hear what I have to put up with? Nothing flashy. Like she expects me to walk into a used dealer to buy her some beat-up old truck.”
“Now, now. Go easy on her.” Mom laughs before patting my hand. “You know I’d normally defend you, but being a car enthusiast, I’d take your father’s offer.”
“I’ll think about it,” I say, wishing they would focus on anything else besides me.