With a clear mind, I was set. I would invest in me, get a new camera, and pick up the pieces of the life I’d forgotten.
“How’s my favorite landlady?” Ben broke me from my deep thoughts as he approached and sat beside me. His company was welcome.
“Landlady sounds like an old woman dressed in a muumuu carrying around a Pomeranian.”
“Small dogs creep me out.” His voice was like easy-spread butter—soft, creamy, and delicious. That accent could make women fall to their knees.
“I knew I liked you for a reason.” I smiled. Flirting never hurt, especially with how gorgeous he was. He peeled off his shirt and began applying sunscreen. I couldn’t help but watch. Maybe I’d get him to lather my back—it’d be a perfect excuse for his hands to run all over my body.
“How’s the new job coming along for you, my favorite property manager?”
“That sounds better,” I said, chuckling. “It’s okay,” I mumbled, shutting the book I had stolen from Zach’s room. It was something boring about science, faith, and purpose on Earth, but he didn’t have much of a selection. I’d need an excursion to the bookstore, or have a go at Grace’s bookshelves.
“Oh? Just okay.”
“Yeah, there’s not much to do.” I turned my body his way and bit my lip just enough to intrigue him. “I’m trying to find ways to occupy my time.”
“I can think of some.” He winked. His flirting should’ve made my insides tingle, but it didn’t. Not like when Zach looked at my breasts and made a comment or the way he stared at my legs and gave a small grunt under his breath. Something was wrong with me. I was fantasizing about Zach when a Hollywood hunk was half naked a foot away.
I changed the subject. “I saw your cameo.”
He gave a half-crooked smile. Swoon-worthy, mega hunk. No wonder Renee had a crush. “Yeah? I told Madison Strahan that next time I’d be her leading man.”
“You’ll get there.”
“I just landed a superhero role.” His aqua eyes lit up at the news, and I could tell he was bursting to share. “I can’t reveal much, but it’s huge.”
“Congratulations! That’s amazing,” I said. “Maybe we can do an exclusive interview on my blog.” I wiggled my brows.
He laughed. “That’d be great. I’ll ask my agent. It’ll be announced later this month, so I’m enjoying the anonymity I have while I have it.” He was sincere, although he wanted the fame. I didn’t judge. Most actors longed to be prominent. My brother was one of those weirdos that liked the art more than the recognition.
“We should celebrate. How about we hit up that ramen place you were telling me about last time?” The last date I’d been on was with Danny DeMarco. I needed to prove to myself that I was changing. I also needed someone who could outshine Zach in the bedroom. That experience was scorched into my brain, and a man like Ben was sure to wipe it out.
“Sure. Let’s go tonight.” He winked then put on his aviators before leaning back and looking delectable.
I was on my way to becoming the person I had left behind—this time older, wiser, and more knowledgeable than before.
Chapter Thirteen
· hilary ·
An afternoon of swimming and sun wiped me out. I scarfed a sandwich, showered, and proceeded to get ready for my date with Ben. The doorbell pulled me out of my makeup application trance.
A beautiful woman stood smiling on the porch. Her dark, curly hair cascaded down her shoulders and over her large breasts. Olive skin accentuated dark chocolate eyes.
“Hi, is Zach home?”
She held a familiar device in her hands. “No, he’s…at work.” I hesitated. “I think.”
“I’m Isabella Sanchez, I work with Zach at the restaurant.” She stuck out her hand, and I shook it. Her grip was firm, as was mine.
“Hilary Matthews.” The competitive streak in me held onto her hand, waiting to see if she’d let go first. She put up a fight, but in the end, I persevered. Ha.
“Oh, you’re Evan’s sister?” Her voice was eager, excited. “Zach’s mentioned you.”
I gave her a hard look. “I’ve definitely heard about you, too.”
Her smile fell, and she tucked her hair behind her ear. “Zach left this at the restaurant. I figured he’d need it.”
She handed me his laptop. I took it and held it against my chest, wrapping my arms around it like a shield. “I’ll give it to him.”
“Thanks. Tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.” She spoke carefully. She turned to walk toward her car and lifted her hand up in a farewell gesture.
I gave an affable smile in return. I wanted to be rude, but I couldn’t, not when she seemed…nice, and as pretty as Zach claimed. How many women had come after me? Was I different to him in any way other than the fact that I was Evan’s little sister? I was insistent about a physical relationship with him when he had a plethora of women at his disposal. Who was I compared to all of them?
I went upstairs and continued to get ready. I’d wear something sexy. Did I own anything sexy? I needed to feel spicy. It wasn’t long before I heard shuffling downstairs that signaled Zach was home. I wasn’t sure why nerves got the better of me. I put on my jean jacket over the short, barely there summer dress I wore and spritzed on some perfume. One last look in the mirror and I made my way to the ground floor.
“I see Isabella dropped off my computer.” Zach glanced up from the screen and did a double take when I entered the living room. He was sitting at the bar but stood from the stool, the sound of the chair scraping against the wooden floor loud in the space.
“Yeah, she thought you might need it.” I brushed past him into the kitchen and filled a glass with water. I took a few sips and set it aside.
His eyes swooped up and down my body then met mine. “Where are you going?”
It had been a while since I’d dressed up, and he was enjoying the view. “Dinner.”
His eyes zoomed in on my legs. He opened his mouth to say something. My gaze went to his lips, then his stubble-covered jaw. I wanted to kiss him, to feel that scruff between my legs. The sexual tension between us was unmistakable. It wasn’t imagined. His voice broke through, quiet and tender, but his eyes were hungry as he approached. “With who?” I didn’t answer. His body hovered near mine. “You have a date?”
I glanced out the window. Ben walked from the house across the street. Zach followed my gaze and turned back to me. “Ben? You’re going out with Ben?” His tone was harsh, the same as earlier in the day, as if he were chastising me. “You’re seriously doing this?”
“Screw you, Collins,” I spat, then drew away from him and reached for my purse.
“Excuse me?”
“Stop judging who I go out with. Why don’t you call Isabella? Maybe she’ll keep your vast appetite for women satiated for five minutes. Or is a one-night stand your rule with all of us? From what I’ve heard, they rotated in and out of this place before I got here.”
His hands curled into fists, and the side of his jaw ticked as he clenched it tight. The knock on the door cut the discussion short. I wouldn’t let Zach ruin my evening, and I wouldn’t let him invade my every thought. I gathered myself before greeting Ben with a friendly smile.
“You look beautiful,” Ben said.
“Thanks, handsome.” I winked.
Ben nodded toward Zach, but I didn’t look back. I was ready for this date and wanted to get Zach as far from my mind as possible.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was casual, and the food was amazing. We gabbed about Ben’s upbringing in London, and what led him to act. I told him about my time in school, along with my indecisive nature. He wasn’t intimidated by my education like most guys tended to be. My dreams of picking up photography sounded wonderful to him, and he was willing to let me take his photo once I got a camera.
He was courteous, his stance strong and stately. He looked like a Disney prince, but he was more than just his looks. He was friendly, kind.
After dinner, we stopp
ed at Amy’s Ice Cream. He offered to share a small size with me but soon discovered my appetite was larger than the average woman’s—or man’s for that matter. He got a kick out of it, after the initial fright.
We sat outside, listening to the people chat, the crickets chirp, and the passing of traffic. My text alert went off, and I reached into my bag. Zach’s name flashed on my screen, and my heart jumped.
Please, Hilary. Don’t make a stupid decision tonight.
I stared at my phone and then tucked it away. Ben clutched my hand. “Everything all right?”
I cleared my throat. “Fine, it’s nothing. Zach’s being a dick.”
“Are you two dating?”
“Um…” I swallowed, unsure how to admit to him or myself what exactly was going on with Zach and me. “It’s…no, we’re not.”
I stared down at Ben’s hand over mine. He was so lovely, so sympathetic, but he was also intuitive. “But you want to be?”
I met his gaze. “He’s just over-protective. He and Evan think they can tell me what to do. They have an opinion about everyone I go out with.”
“It shows how much they care.” His smile was small, his mind somewhere else. “Let’s call it a night.”
The pit in my stomach grew as Ben took me home. I didn’t want to face Zach. My emotions were all over the place, and I didn’t fully understand them. Ben walked me to the door, and the goodnight kiss I had semi-hoped for only ended up landing on my cheek.
I entered the house, slammed the door behind me, and turned the corner to see Zach on the couch. A pile of scripts sat beside him, and one was clutched in his hands. He stared at me and set the script on the table. “Did you have fun on your date?”
I ignored him and turned sharply, ascending the stairs. He trailed behind me. “What’d you guys do? Did he kiss you?”
“We fucked. In his car.” I shoved off my jean jacket as I entered my room and threw it into the closet.
He huffed. “Oh, yeah? Did he make you come the way I did?”
I turned to see him rooted in my doorway. Dammit, he looked amazing leaning on the doorjamb with his hands in his pockets. Was he jealous? He had no right to be. I offered, he always rejected. Anger lanced through me. “He was better. And I sucked his cock, which I never did for you.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and chuckled.
I scowled. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because you’re full of shit.”
“Fuck you, Zach. Why don’t you go sleep with that Salma Hayek look-a-like and leave me the hell alone?” I removed my jewelry and slammed it on my dresser, only glancing at him through my mirror. He advanced rapidly. “Don’t even think about it, Collins.”
He tugged my arm and twirled me around. “Enough of this shit,” he growled. My breath hitched as his lips landed on mine. His kiss was frantic, needy, as were his hands that crawled down my back to my hips. He pulled me flush against him, his hard-on evident through his jeans and the scrap of my dress. I grasped onto him, my hands bracing the back of his head.
“Don’t you dare stop,” I said in breathless anticipation between kisses.
Our movements accelerated as he pushed me against the wall. He seized the backs of my thighs, lifting me off the ground. My legs wrapped around him, and he pushed, the bulge of his jeans hitting me in the right spot. A rough moan escaped my lips. I clutched his shoulders as my body hummed.
“I need you inside me.” My hands fumbled with his belt and jeans as he lifted my dress higher, grabbing at the tiny scrap of lace beneath. I gasped as he ripped it away.
His hands moved to my ass, and I grabbed his cock, stroking him a few times and placing him at my entrance. I rubbed him over me to lubricate him. He was breathless, his words strained. “What are we doing?”
“Fucking,” I told him. His eyes traveled down to watch as he entered. “Oh, God,” I whimpered as we both watched our bodies join. Inch by glorious inch, he buried himself inside me to the root. Feeling him again was what I had ached for, was desperate for, as if our bodies were meant to be connected. “Finally.” I shuddered as he groaned.
He began to move. Hard and fast, he drove into me, making me cry out senselessly with each shove. He was big, stretching me to the point of pain. It combined with the pleasure and had me begging for more. His breathing became heavier, his eyes locked on mine, hooded and clouded over with lust. The slapping of him against me, my sighs, his grunts, made my desire surge. I tugged him closer, taking his mouth to mine, letting our wet tongues tangle.
He held my body tightly to his, slanting his hips in the right way, pounding against my clit. His mouth traveled down my neck where he sucked on the skin behind my ear. I moaned out sharply, clenching my eyes tight. “Fuck, yes.” I dug my fingernails into his flesh and sank my teeth into his shoulder.
I pleaded for more, begged him to go faster, deeper, harder. I was on the verge. I threw my head back, let my lips part, air rushing from my lungs as spasms hit me. My insides tightened, my body arched against him, and I convulsed, vibrating with the intensity of the orgasm.
I cried out his name as his thrusts increased and a strangled groan unfurled from his throat. The heated, violent blast of his release caused another burst of pleasure to rocket through me, and I drew taut within his arms, letting another cry fall from my lips as I milked every bit of him. It was everything I’d desired—passionate and instinctive. The last time I’d had an orgasm this intense was with him. He brought it out in me, made me feel renewed.
He held still as we regained our bearings. My hand cupped the base of his neck, and I raked my fingers through his thick hair. He lowered my shaky legs, my feet unstable. His warmth and wetness trickled down my inner thigh, turning me on all over again. However, the worry was evident in his expression.
I tipped his chin down so his troubled eyes met mine. I smiled and kissed him, cupping his face in my hands. “Now that was some great sex, Collins.”
He smiled, tugged me close, and kissed my shoulder, his hands caressing my head and back. “Are you okay?”
“Mmm-hmm,” I hummed, satiated.
“That was…we shouldn’t, I didn’t—”
“It’s okay,” I interrupted, pulling away. “I’m on the pill.” He stared at me, his eyes wide. “I haven’t been with anyone since you, Zach. I’ve been tested. I’m clean, and I’m figuring you are, too.”
I strode away from him toward the bathroom. He tucked himself into his jeans and followed. The expanse of his body took up the doorway. He was rumpled, his hair stuck out everywhere, and his lips were swollen. He was perfection.
“Why do you think that?” he asked.
I tugged my dress off my body and turned on the water to the large tub. His eyes washed over me as I knotted my hair on top of my head. “Because you wouldn’t have put me in that danger.” He exhaled. I extended my hand for him to hold. “Now, get that muscular body undressed and take a bath with me.”
A small grin took over his lips as he drew near. He was enjoying this every bit as much as I was, and wanted it just as badly. What it meant was vague to both of us, but for now, it was all we needed.
Chapter Fourteen
· zach ·
“Then why’d you accept the deal and not tell me?” Evan needed arrangements made for his trip to Japan. The plan to meet with him had been set up the night before. Of course, that was before I defiled his sister against the wall of her bedroom. He was here with me while Hilary went to Grace’s house to work.
“I didn’t think about it, honestly.” Hank plopped onto the couch beside Evan, his head resting in Evan’s lap. Evan didn’t hesitate to pat the dog’s head. “We’ve all been so busy, and with the wrap-up of the film on the way, it slipped my mind.”
“It’s Japan, not a short getaway to Boston. I need to make sure things are organized on time for you.” Irritation seeped into my tone, my patience growing thin. I was balancing too many plates, and one small fumble would send them crashing to the ground.
I had no time for shit to go wrong. “I told Mike no when you said yes.”
“It’s not a big deal, Zach.” The frustration in his voice was palpable. “I’m not going on some extended holiday. It can’t be that difficult to book a week-long trip.”
“Well, you wouldn’t know, would you? It’s not like you have to do the dirty work.” The weight of his responsibilities was crushing. As his lackey, I took on the brunt of the requests. Evan was the talent. He was the perfectly running machine. I was the mechanic beside him, oiling and caring for the entity that was his stardom.
Evan straightened, his blue eyes sharp and unwavering. I wanted to apologize for my snide remark, but Hank scuttled to the door before it even opened. Josh strolled in, greeting his dog. He moved toward the bar and plopped a bag onto the counter. “I brought energy, boys.” He tipped the bag over, the contents dispensing. “Tacos.”
Evan and I glanced at each other, then Josh. “You brought us…tacos?” Evan asked in shock as he walked over. “You never bring us food that’s not made with protein powder.”
“Marla’s pregnant,” I groaned.
Josh grinned, shaking his head. “No, not yet.”
“You got laid this morning,” Evan said, grabbed a foil-wrapped taco, and unrolled it. “Didn’t you?”
Josh chuckled and gave Hank some of his food. “Not that it doesn’t happen a lot, but it’s one of the perks of having my wife work from home, mates.”
“Grace works from home,” Evan countered. “Once I’m not filming, it’s all day, every day.”
I scoffed and attempted to stay focused on the schedule in front of me as they chatted about their women. Evan yammered on about Grace and the engagement ring plans. He needed Marla’s help, and on and on. He needed to get it over with—bite the bullet and ask.
Meanwhile, I kept having flashes of Hilary naked in my arms, her body pressed against me. Her hips had met mine, thrust for thrust, which I recalled…vividly. I pumped into her fast, and she liked it rough. Did I bruise her? That turned me on, made my dick strain, wanting more of her. Did that make me a crazy bastard? She enjoyed it, though; the bite of her teeth and sting of her fingernails branded my skin, the marks still there. I relished it, and I came fucking hard as she clenched me tight. It was the most brutal orgasm.
A Promise Broken Page 10