Liar

by Cole, Fiona

  Climbing atop the table, I held his stare and crawled across. My breasts swayed with each move, and I loved the way his eyes dropped to watch. When I finally reached his side, he leaned forward and gripped my jaw.

  “You’re so fucking sassy, aren’t you?”

  “You like it.”

  He grunted and leaned forward to nip at my lips sharply. “I do. Now get on my fucking lap so I can feed you.”

  I managed to not knock anything over when I got off and perched on his lap. He kissed up my neck and stroked my arms, lulling me to relax against him.

  “What do you like?” he asked in my ear.

  “Everything,” I sighed.

  He nipped at my ear, pulling me out of my haze. “I meant the food.”

  Smiling, I pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I’m not picky.”

  It was a little odd to be sitting on his lap and having him feed me when there were five other chairs at the table, and I was a grown woman, but it was also relaxing and felt right.

  “Tell me about school,” he said, placing a ripe strawberry past my lips.

  “Good. Boring. How’s work?”

  “Good. Not boring. It’s why I like my job. It keeps me busy with new things—new places.” He smiled and nipped my jaw. “What do you want to do after college?”

  Wasn’t that the million-dollar question. “I don’t know. Something not boring.” I sighed, frustrated with not knowing what I wanted yet. “Nothing interests me so far. Maybe I’ll just become a socialite.” Placing my fingers under my chin, I bat my lashes. “I’ll shop all day and go to clubs for money. Maybe attend charity fundraisers.”

  “Yeah, right,” he said, laughing. “You’re too smart for that.” Warmth sunk deep in my chest at his compliment. “You’re good at the design aspect of the hotel. Vivian tells me you always have great ideas that they use—good marketing ideas. Carina keeps telling me she’s going to steal you from me.”

  Tucking my chin to my chest, I smiled. “I do love designing all kinds of things—fashion and interiors.”

  “You mentioned your dress, which I still think was lacking some material.”

  “You loved it.”

  “Too much,” he growled. “Did you decorate your apartment?”

  “And Daniel’s.”

  “I’m impressed but not surprised. I’m glad you get to use that skill set at the hotel. Pretty cool place to intern, huh?”

  “I guess it’s okay,” I answered with forced reluctance. Honestly, sometimes, I went into the hotel and couldn’t tell if the excitement was the work or the idea of being around Kent.

  He popped another chunk of fruit in his mouth and smiled up at me. His eyes were a beautiful brown, so much lighter with the sun shining through the large windows. They matched his mood, and I could get lost in them for hours.

  “Kent, what are we doing?” I almost whispered the question.

  “Eating,” he answered easily.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “I don’t know.” His answer was quick before popping another bite in his mouth and moving on. “What do you want to do today?”

  I pursed my lips and gave him a serious stare, not letting him off the hook. The light brown dimmed as he became more serious and stroked my cheek. I wanted to sink into his touch, but now that I’d asked the question, I needed the answer. I couldn’t believe the words had slipped out in the first place. Oaklyn accused me more than once of being a commitment-phobe, and here I was, asking for clarification.

  I boiled it down to just needing to know if I’d get to feel more pleasure. This had nothing to do with commitment or the warm goo sliding around my chest.

  “I like you, Olivia. I like fucking you. You make me laugh, and you make me come. Two of the most important things to me.”

  “I like you too.”

  “Then let that be enough.”

  Enough.

  The answer felt tenuous and fleeting like it could be taken from me without notice. Warning bells jingled softly, a quiet reminder that if I continued down this path of being with him, sitting in his lap and laughing with him, I could put myself in a position I hadn’t been in since Aaron. One I’d made sure not to be in for the past two years. Shoving the ominous siren down, I told myself to take advantage of all the pleasure while it lasted. I could spend more time with Kent, give my body to him again and again, and still stay separate.

  I’d be the mature woman I wanted to be with him. Not the girl who had old fears and scars clinging to me, making me whiney and scared. It wasn’t me. He was mature, and I wanted to match him—be his equal.

  “Okay.”

  His broad smile had me smiling too. How could I not when he looked so happy like he didn’t have a care in the world?

  “Good. Now, what do you want to do today? I’ll give you my whole day because I have to leave again tomorrow.”

  The smile dropped from my face, just like my heart dropped to my stomach. “What? Again?”

  His brows furrowed at my reaction, and I berated myself.

  Don’t be clingy. Don’t be clingy. Be a mature woman. Who cares if he leaves? You are Olivia Witt. Your emotions are not at the mercy of some man giving you attention.

  I tipped my lips and lowered my lids to a seductive stare, wriggling on his lap over his cock. “Well, that sucks. I will sure miss you, Mr. Kent.”

  “Then, let’s make today count.”

  15 Olivia

  “You did what?” Oaklyn whisper-yelled across the table. We were in a private room at the library, studying, but the door was still open.

  Not liking her judging tone and narrowed eyes, I lifted my chin in defense. “Don’t judge me. You’re living with your professor.”

  “He’s not my professor,” she ground out between clenched teeth. “And he’s also not old enough to be my father. Also, Callum isn’t a relative’s BFF.”

  I shrugged her arguments off. “Yeah, but all Kent’s experience is so good. It may never happen again. He was very vague.”

  Her jaw dropped, and she stared at me like I’d just told her I’d been probed by aliens.

  Hardly.

  I’d been probed many times by Alexander Kent. My lips twitched into a smile, remembering our weekend. We’d had plenty more sex, christening as much of that hotel room as we could. But we’d also laughed so hard we’d cried. He’d gone out and bought games. We played strip Twister—a game I was sure he made up—which of course, led to sex. So much delicious sex.

  “Stop looking at me like that,” I demanded, schooling my features into something serious.

  She blinked a few times, sitting back and looking at me like she was seeing me for the first time. Any argument she’d been preparing for a moment before vanished as she studied me. “I just can’t remember the last time I saw you smile like that.”

  “Like what? I smile.”

  “Yeah, just not like that.” Her smile was slow, and I braced myself for whatever put that gloating look on her face. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and pointed an accusing finger my way. “That’s how I smile when I think of Callum.”

  I scoffed, brushing off any insinuation that I smile about Kent the way she smiles about the love of her life. “Then why aren’t you congratulating me on my happy sex smile?”

  She rolled her lips between her teeth, thinking over her words, but the knowing look was still there. The one that said she knew something I didn’t. The longer she looked, the more I didn’t want to know.

  “You like him,” she declared.

  I scoffed. “Of course, I like him. It’s really, really good sex. But it’s just sex.”

  She opened her mouth to share her thoughts when a knock came at our door.

  “Hey, Livvie-baby.”

  By a miracle, I was able to hide my scowl at seeing Aaron appear, his nickname grating on me like nails on a chalkboard.

  Oaklyn wasn’t as successful in holding back her scowl, in fact, she even let a sound of disgust slip free
. “We’re busy, A-a-ron.”

  I bit back my choked laugh as Aaron scowled at Oaklyn. He hated that nickname, which meant Oaklyn used it as much as possible. However, he let it slide, sitting in the chair next to me, scooting close enough to toss his arm around my shoulders.

  “Livvie wants me here,” he said to Oaklyn, before turning to brush his nose along my ear. “Don’t you, baby?”

  I really didn’t.

  The thought should alarm me. I’d messed around with other guys and never had an issue when I’d meet up with Aaron again to fool around. I wasn’t exclusive to anyone—it was safe that way. But after my night with Kent, Aaron’s touch sent a wave of dread washing over my skin.

  “Actually…” I shrugged my shoulders to dislodge his arm. But before I could continue, my phone vibrated on the table.

  Kent.

  “It’s the guy I’m interning for,” I explained, fumbling the phone in my rush to pick it up. I cast a quick glance up at Oaklyn to find her waggling her brows. I stuck out my tongue and brought the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

  “Hey.” One word and a shiver worked its way down my spine. Heat spread in its wake as I remembered all the ways his words had made me come this weekend. “Just wanted to call and check in. I wanted to make sure you were feeling okay and weren’t too sore.”

  Trying to hide my smile, I dropped my chin and turned away from Aaron. “No, I’m okay,” I answered neutrally.

  “See, she’s smiling,” Aaron said victoriously—loudly. “Obviously, she wants me here.”

  “Who’s that?” Kent’s voice went from soft and sensual to hard.

  “A friend from school.” I opened my mouth to explain more, but I didn’t need to. Besides, I kind of liked the idea of him being jealous. It was only fair considering the fire that had consumed me when I had known he was with Paige.

  There was a long pause, and I held my breath, wondering what his next words would be. I didn’t know him well enough to know how he reacted. Would he hang up? End it here and now? Would he get mad? Not care?

  “Will you be home later? I can call you back?”

  I expelled the breath I’d been holding. “I should be home later to talk.”

  “Livvie-baby, you may be home later, but I plan on making you too busy to talk. Your mouth will be busy with other things,” Aaron said softly into my hair—just not softly enough to not be heard through the phone.

  “Aaron,” Oaklyn growled.

  I couldn’t say anything. The phone almost slipped from my fingers as I turned, slack-jawed, to face him. Burning heat scalded my face, and I wanted to junk-punch him for being such a disgusting, stupid jerk.

  “Never mind,” Kent’s voice pulled me out of my shock. “You’re busy. Have a nice night, Olivia.”

  “Wai—”

  But I never got the chance because he hung up before I could explain.

  I gently set the phone down on the table, taking deep breaths to regain my composure. But no matter how many deep breaths I took, when I turned to see Aaron’s smirking face, only one thought ran through my head.

  I was going to fucking kill him.

  * * *

  Kent

  The plastic of the phone dug into my palm, and I waited for the sound of it to crack. I took deep breath after deep breath, but nothing was calming the pulsing beat of jealous rage flooding my veins.

  I remembered that voice. It was that little fucking shit from the pizza place. That smarmy fuck that obviously had no respect for Olivia. Yet, she was spending time with him—I checked my watch—at freaking seven in the evening.

  “Fuck,” I growled, forcing my fists to relax and set down the phone before I crushed it.

  I was going to murder that kid. Then I was going tie Olivia to the bed and spank her with my belt before fucking her and reminding her who she belonged to. My cock hardened, completely blotting out any voice trying to remind me she didn’t belong to me.

  Instead, I clung to the image I’d created and let the pleasure of taking control wash away the tension cramping my muscles.

  The door to my hotel room opened, and I turned my back to hide my arousal. But seeing Daniel stroll in, had my erection completely fading and the tension roaring back. Because I was fucking his niece. I had done filthy, dirty things to the girl he looked at like a daughter of his own, and I was a horrible friend because of it.

  “What’s wrong with you?” he asked.

  I struggled to relax my clenched jaw and fists. Rolling my shoulders back, I went for my usual aloof tone. “Nothing.”

  It didn’t work. If anything, his brows furrowed harder. He scrutinized me like a bug under a magnifying glass. His stare was like the sun beating down and making me sweat.

  “Did something go wrong with the hotel?” he asked slowly. Daniel knew me better than anyone, and he knew when something was wrong, but it wasn’t like I could come out and tell him I was jealous of his niece fucking someone else when I’d just got done defiling her this weekend.

  And just like that, my anger was back.

  Olivia and that limp-dick kid weren’t here to take my anger out on. But Daniel was. “I said nothing. Jesus, can’t I just not be happy-go-fucking-lucky all the damn time.”

  Daniel threw his hands up in surrender. “Someone’s edgy.”

  “I’m fine,” I ground out.

  He walked further into the room, patting my shoulder on his way to the minibar. “Well, I know how to make you more fine.” He passed me a glass and leaned against the bar. “Let’s hit up that club I told you about. You can take your frustrations out on some willing woman. I know how rough you like it.”

  Yeah, he did. Which was why he would flip if he knew I’d slept with Olivia. Because it wasn’t just knowing I’d slept with her, Daniel would know what I’d done to her—how rough I’d been with the sweet princess of the family.

  I scoffed into my drink. Sweet? Hardly.

  “My contact told me about some of their new equipment we can check out and possibly use for a room at Voyeur.” He took a sip of his drink and cocked his brow. A sure sign Daniel had a devious plan. “It’s been a while since we’ve been to a BDSM club. Maybe we can find a woman we both like.”

  It wasn’t uncommon for us to share a woman. We’d done it since we first met in college. But the thought of touching someone else other than Olivia had my stomach churning and a resounding no pulsing through me. Trying to be casual, I gave a shrug. “No, I’m good.”

  “You’re good?” he asked slowly, his brows rising into his hairline.

  “Yeah, I’m just not up for it.”

  “What?”

  Daniel stared at me like I’d lost my mind. And why wouldn’t he? When did Alexander Kent ever turn down a good time? Damn near never, and we both knew it. I stared down at the amber liquid I swirled in the glass. Anything to avoid Daniel’s assessing stare.

  “Holy. Shit.”

  “What?” I asked, still not looking up.

  “You’re seeing someone.” That had my gaze snapping up to his. His blue eyes sparked with victory. “The great Kent—biggest womanizer of them all—plays the field so he can have all the pussy—is seeing someone and only wants her.”

  Each description he used of me grated on my nerves. “I’m not seeing anyone,” I grumbled.

  “Oh, bullshit,” he called me out with ease. “Her pussy must be golden.”

  “Jesus.” I downed the contents of my glass, trying not to think too hard about how Daniel was calling his niece’s pussy golden.

  “Hey, maybe if she likes me too, I could join you one night to find out how golden her pussy is. I know you like them kinky.”

  I slammed the empty glass down on the table. “I said I’m not seeing anyone,” I shouted.

  Any teasing left Daniel’s face, and he wasn’t assessing anymore; he was back-tracking because rarely had I ever lost my temper on my best friend. “Okay, dude. Calm down.”

  I turned away and ran a hand through my hair. I needed to get
it together, but it was hard because he was too close to the truth. And just the mention of sharing Olivia with anyone caused a fire to roar through me. It should have been the loudest warning. I loved sharing women with Daniel. I loved sharing women. Period.

  But there was no way in hell, I ever wanted anyone to touch what was mine.

  Blaring alarm bells rang through my head, and I fought to swallow down the panic.

  I was beginning to care about her, and the realization had a rock sinking in my stomach because it was Daniel’s fucking niece—his family. But my body rejected the mere thought of staying away. It also rejected the thought of explaining to Daniel that I had feelings for his niece. We’d come to blows only once over a woman before, and it had ended in a pact of bros before hoes. But we’d been young and determined to not let anything get between us again.

  We were almost forty now. Surely, he’d understand if I was serious enough—if he knew that this no longer felt like a fling.

  He would understand. I knew my friend enough to know that eventually, he’d understand. I just needed to be sure that it was more than a fling. Olivia was spending the night with another guy, and here I was having an internal panic over feelings, lashing out at my friend.

  “We’ll just grab some dinner and some drinks. Talk shop,” Daniel said softly behind me. It was enough for me to portray a calm, I didn’t quite feel, and face him.

  “Yeah, that sounds good. I guess I’m just stressed from the hotels and possibly opening another Voyeur.”

  “It’s a lot, man. But I’m here for whatever you need.”

  He always had been, and I couldn’t imagine losing that. Maybe a couple drinks were just what I needed to calm down and take my mind off Olivia.

  Daniel was collecting his keys and heading to the door when I shot off one last text message. I needed to remind her whose dick made her come harder than any little boy.