by Ebony Olson
Steffen nodded and left the room again.
I handed the glasses and bottle to Alex. “Come on. I’ll show you the real beauty of this place.”
I packed my inherited items back in the box and led the way up to my room. Alex raised a brow and whistled again at my room. I left the box on the bed and opened the balcony door, closing it after us and leading the way around to the terrace. Despite it being mid-summer, it was still chilly enough that I was glad I hadn’t taken off my coat yet.
“Well this makes my place look like a hovel.” Alex sighed, watching the city lights over the roof tops.
“I love your apartment. It’s the perfect bachelor’s pad for a man your age.” I chuckled.
“I would like to point out your boss is a year younger than me and this is his bachelor’s pad.”
“Well, technically it’s the bachelor pad for all three of them. I’m the only one not allowed to bring a lover back here.”
Alex lifted a brow. “And why do you think that is?”
I shrugged. “Mr. Rafal is slightly sexist. Women must wear skirts or dresses, no pants at work. I would hasten a guess that his idea is that women of quality should not be screwing around, but waiting for their prince charming to come and save them from their tower and their virginity.”
Alex laughed. “He was at JJ’s with you the night before he hired you. If he saw you and Jasper together, I’m pretty sure he knows you are not a virgin.”
“That he does.” Darius’s voice came from the side.
Alex and I turned to see Darius walking toward us from the direction of my room. He was freshly showered, hair still wet, his skin still a little damp. He wore jeans and a t-shirt, a real one, straining around his biceps and chest. He wasn’t as built as Zander, but this outfit did nothing to hide his physique. In fact, it damn well highlighted his body with neon arrows that yelled ‘sex on legs’.
He pulled on a sweater as he walked toward us, his shirt lifting to glimpse his well-defined abdomen. I imagined biting my way across those abs. Abandoning that thought before it gathered steam, I focused on where he approached from.
“Did you come up here via my room?”
Darius took a seat opposite us. “Steffen informed me you had a guest. I came up to say hello.”
“Via my bedroom?” I frowned at him. “Were you hoping to catch us having sex?”
“Definitely not.” Darius shook his head at me. “You know my rules, since you were just explaining them to your friend.” Darius looked at Alex. “Mr. Hark, a pleasure to see you again.”
Alex nodded. “Mr. Rafal. I actually believe Mora was explaining the hypocrisy of your rules.”
Darius frowned. “It’s not up for debate. You want to have sex with her, it doesn’t happen under my roof.”
Alex cringed; I laughed. “You never have to worry about that with Alex and me. Our relationship is entirely sex free and always will be.”
Darius quirked a brow. “And why is that?”
“I’m sorry?” Alex frowned.
“Why would you never have sex with Mora? She’s beautiful, young, intelligent...”
“Related to me,” Alex finished pointedly. “Incest is not something practiced here in Western society.”
Darius looked between us. “You’re related?”
“On my father’s side,” I clarified for him, without answering the real question he was asking, which was how. “So you can chill about Alex and I spending alone time together.”
“Actually, you only have to keep Jasper out,” Alex added.
Darius raised that brow in question again. I slapped Alex’s arm and hushed him, to no avail.
“She’s only been with Jasper. He was her first and only. One day he’ll get sick of playing the field and they’ll marry and have babies.”
“Jasper was not my first,” I argued.
Alex sat straighter with interest. “Really? Because I was sure you were a virgin when you arrived in England.”
I blushed. “Yes, well, I was.”
“And I knew the night Jasper got in your knickers for the first time, because I was there at the club when he took you home.”
“I remember,” I groaned.
“So, you were pretty busy with college and working.” Alex paused for effect. “When did you find time to meet the one, lose your virginity and break up with him?”
I blushed really hard with both men watching me intently. Darius especially. I cleared my throat. “Look, there was a guy I met at one of the charity events dad took me to a couple of months after I got here.”
“You lost your virginity on a one night stand?” Darius asked, voice low and unhappy.
I fidgeted. “Don’t call it that. It wasn’t like that.”
Darius crossed his arms. “What was it like?”
I swallowed looking away from those bunching muscles. “I didn’t intend to sleep with him. I saw him, knew my flirting with him would goad my father and went for it. We danced a couple of times. We talked. We went our separate ways.”
“How did dancing and talking lead to sex?” Alex queried, enjoying getting the story from me finally.
I sighed. “Dad saw me dancing with him and got angry, as I expected. He told me to leave. I think dad thought if I left then, I couldn’t get into any more trouble. I ran into the guy at the front door. He kissed me good night.” I closed my eyes at the memory. “It felt right.”
I opened my eyes and met Darius’s. He was studying me, as if he couldn’t figure me out. “Do you regret it? That being your first time?” Darius asked.
“No,” I answered factually. “Despite the circumstances, what came before, what came after, it was perfect, so much more than I’d imagined it.”
Darius blinked. I’d surprised him.
“Please tell me it was not some old cretin or power-hungry asshole.” Alex sounded appalled.
I laughed. “Not an old cretin. When I met him, he was just a nice guy who kissed really well.”
“What happened,” Darius was still assessing me, “after?”
I fidgeted with the hem of my skirt. “He fell asleep. I got dressed and went home.”
“What was his name?” Alex glared.
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter, Mora. For guys it’s different. We are so keen to start having sex we would screw the lunch lady to lose the big V,” Alex argued exasperated.
“Speak for yourself,” Darius cut in. “My lunch lady was hideous.”
I smirked. Alex tipped my chin toward him. “It’s different for girls. You are never getting that back. It should have been someone special, someone who meant something to you. You were seventeen. He took advantage of you and I will kill him for it,” Alex growled angrily.
“He was special, Alex,” I beseeched. “He was the first person who made me feel like I belonged, like I was special, and that I was wanted. The words he said to me that night meant something to me. I wanted to be with him, if only to hold that gift of belonging inside me a little longer.” I unclenched my fist from my chest. How could I explain to my brother that I loved that man, for only one night, but it was the love of a lifetime I felt for those few special hours.
“Who was it?” Alex pushed, but there was gentleness in the request now.
I exhaled. “I’m not going to tell you, Alex. That night is sacred to me.” I closed my eyes brushing my thumb over my lips. “The way he kissed me.” My hands caressed down my neck. “The way he touched me. The way he looked at me.” I opened my eyes. “The words he murmured to me.”
Darius shifted in his seat, his head cocked to the side still studying me.
Alex sat back. “Do you need to go to your room and have some alone time?”
I smiled picking up my wine glass and taking a drink. “No. I’ll take care of myself later. I actually didn’t start masturbating till after that night, and I tell you now, even as a memory, that man broug
ht me to my first orgasm.”
Alex stuck his fingers in his ears. “Oh my God. No wonder you had to move out of dad’s.”
Darius sat up straight. “You are brother and sister.”
Alex closed his eyes realizing his mess up. When they opened it was to look at me. I met his eyes and asked my question. Alex shook his head slightly. We both sighed with relief. No one knew who my father was, not many more knew who Alex’s was.
“Yes.” Alex sighed lifting his glass of wine to his lips. “Mora is my baby sister from a different mother.”
The door to Zander’s room opened and he switched on his bedroom light. He was still in his gym gear looking sufficiently worked out. I watched as he pulled the shirt over his head throwing it in his laundry basket as he walked to the bathroom and shut the door.
I sighed with a sensual smile.
“Perv.” Alex jabbed me in the ribs with his elbow.
“Yep!” I took another drink of the wine.
Darius looked up and realized we were sitting in the dark. “I might need to install a sensor light out here so Zander is aware when he has an audience.”
I chuckled. “He knows. That’s why he kept his pants on and went into the bathroom to strip. It’s also why he shut the door.”
Darius glared across the table. “I take it that was a lesson learned?” I shrugged. Darius clenched his teeth. “He looks at you like a younger sister.”
“Which I’m happy for him to do. I’m not wanting anything to happen between us. I just like to admire a very well-developed physique. Most of the guys at work think putting on a suit is all the sex appeal they need.” I sat forward topping up my empty glass.
Alex frowned. “The suit works, Mora. Trust me.”
I looked at him. “I’ve noticed. Tell me, how are things with your girlfriend and mistress?”
Alex growled. “Leila wants to move in with me. Sophie wants… more.”
Darius sat forward. “In my observations of other people’s relationships, cheating never ends well.”
“I always thought that. Sophie just happened,” Alex said into his wine. “And then she happened more regularly.”
“Be careful, Alex. That’s my best friend you are talking about,” I grumbled.
“Which is how, I am guessing, she became a mistress instead of just a one night escape,” Darius sympathized.
Alex stayed quiet, not answering.
I shook my head. “Just end it with one or both of them, Alex. The longer you leave it, the worse it’s going to get. Sophie’s my friend. I’ll be forced to hate you if you hurt her badly.”
Zander’s glass doors opened. “Hey, I didn’t know there was a party up here tonight,” Zander smiled taking in the extras.
Most nights, it would just be Zander, Warren and I up here talking, or in the media room watching a movie together. In the two months I’d been living here, I’d spent a lot of time with the brothers and grown close to Zander in particular. He really did treat me like a loving big brother. He reminded me of Alex a lot that way.
Zander took in Darius’s presence but didn’t make a big deal out of it. Instead, he walked to Alex. “Hi, I’m Zander Mann. Who are you and what are you doing with my little sister?”
Alex raised a brow and laughed. “Strange, I don’t remember having any brothers.” Darius knew now, there was no point hiding it from the brothers.
Zander’s smile fell. It made me smile. “Zander, this is my brother, Alex Hark.”
We spent another thirty minutes chatting. Zander and Alex were a lot alike and got along well. We joked and discussed our days. Darius sat there, occasionally contributing to the conversation, but mainly just observing. I could feel his eyes like heat across my skin whenever he sat watching me. Eventually, Warren came out, also freshly showered and informed us dinner was ready.
After dinner Alex left. I retreated to my room and sat on my bed staring at the few items of my grandmother’s possessions I’d received. I hadn’t kept in contact, so it was just as much my fault that it took me three months to find out she passed away. I’d call her for her birthday, and a few other times throughout the year, but I’d let the ball drop.
A knock at my door pulled me back to the present. “Come in,” I called, gently packing the items back in the box.
Darius stepped in, leaving the door ajar. He watched me pack away the items. He stepped forward collecting the koala off the bed. “Steffen told me you were crying earlier, that an angry phone call ensued and your guest needed to calm you down. It’s why I came up to check on you earlier, Mora, not to enforce my rules. You are an honorable woman, you would not risk your job and reputation for sex.”
I wiped the last of the tears from my cheek. “Thank you. I’ll apologize to Steffen for losing my temper.” I held my hand out for the koala.
Darius handed it to me and I packed it away.
“May I ask what upset you?” Darius watched me place the box in my half empty wardrobe.
“The woman who raised me died.”
Darius looked uncomfortable. “I am sorry to hear that. Do you need to go home for the funeral?”
I shut my wardrobe door a little harder than necessary. “The funeral was three months ago. Apparently, my mother forgot to have me informed.”
Darius’s eyes hardened, his jaw tightening. “I see.” He looked at the envelope on my bed with my name on it. “Is that her letter of apology?”
I laughed. “No. That is my nan’s last will in testimony and a check for my inheritance.”
Darius looked uncomfortable. I could tell he wanted to discuss something else, but was trying to be considerate of my emotions. I actually wanted the distraction.
“What do you really want to discuss, Darius?”
Darius hung his head a little. “That conversation tonight, about when you lost your virginity.” He tilted his head to see me. “Your brother is right. That man took advantage of you.”
I clasped my hands in front of me to prevent fidgeting. “It was my choice, Darius.”
“Still...”
“No,” I cut him off. “He didn’t know my age, he couldn’t have known it was my first time. I told him I wasn’t very experienced; he probably never knew he was my first.”
“You would have bled, Mora,” Darius argued.
I shrugged.
Darius’s jaw ticked with the tension of his frustration. He took a deep breath, did his counting in his head thing and calmed down. “Do you recall anything about him?”
I collected the envelope from my bed and shoved it into my work bag avoiding Darius’s gaze. “The young man I went home with was a nobody, but he made me feel like a somebody for the first time in my life. I recall everything about that night. How he made me feel, what it was like to be with him.” I swiped at the tear that escaped before he could notice. “Waiting for daylight wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“Why?” Darius stepped toward me, that keen observation studying me again.
I blew out a breath and finally lifted my eyes to meet his. “How many of your one night stands have you ever wanted to see again, Darius?” Darius flinched. I nodded. “I was young, I wasn’t naive.”
We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, reading each other’s emotions. I looked away first.
“I’ll need to go see someone about this will and cash the check. Do you mind if I take some personal time?”
Darius waited another two breaths. “Take the day tomorrow. Get your personal life sorted out.” He stepped past me.
“That’s not what I meant. It will only take an hour.” My personal phone started ringing. I picked it up, hiding the screen from view.
“Take the day anyway. Good night,” Darius spoke over his shoulder before shutting the door behind him.
Taking a deep breath, I answered the phone. “Hi, Marshall.”
“Alex told me about Freida. I am sorry, Mora. Is there anything I can do?
”
“Actually, there is. I need a lawyer to look over the will for me and make sure it’s all closed off properly.”
I heard Marshall chuckle on the other end. “You do not trust your mother?”
“Not as far as I can throw her,” I replied, walking to the window and looking out at the city lights. “I’m not saying she’s trying to swindle me. I would just like a lawyer to look it over.”
“Can you come see me tomorrow? I will have my lawyer look at it for you over lunch.”
“I can. I’ll be at your office by twelve.”
“I will organize it now.”
I took a deep breath. Was five years too late? “Marshall. I want to hear your side of the story.”
There was silence for a moment. “I will have Tabitha clear my calendar for the afternoon. We can do the lawyer thing at lunch, talk all you need for the afternoon, and, if you are still talking to me, we can have dinner with Alex after.”
I nodded, then remembered he couldn’t see me. “Thank you.”
Chapter Seven
I couldn’t sleep. Around two in the morning I made my way down to the kitchen for a hot milk. I really wanted to play the cello, but thought my house mates might not appreciate it. I was stirring the honey into the warmed milk when Darius fit himself into the doorway.
“Trouble sleeping?” he asked. His eyes looked me over. I wasn’t wearing much. Just an oversized shirt and panties. Of course, he was still in his jeans but with just that body hugging shirt.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” I asked focusing on stirring my milk instead of his body.
“I was working.”
“On what?” Work was a safe topic.
“My mentor has a charity event every year on Halloween. I have been running the event since I started Lynwood. It is the one event I still take care of every detail for personally.”
I gave him a quiet smile. “Let me guess, masquerade?” I drank my milk.
“You have something against masked balls?”
“No. I love them. The chance to be anyone else for a night.” I lifted my eyes and stretched out my neck. “The freedom of anonymity appeals to everyone.”
Darius watched me rinse my mug and put it in the dishwasher. “Would you like to sit and talk with me until you fall asleep?”