“It started off as a joke, really,” her voice was low, “I’ve been avoiding this date for months. So Markian brushed me off one day saying that the only way he’d stop bugging me was if I dragged him to court for it. I said maybe I will.”
“That’s all?”
She sized me up again. Her brows cocked – it is a habit of hers I guess. She was skeptical in telling the tale so she mentioned instead, “You do know that we’re supposed to be rivals, right?”
“What?”
“My dad hates your dad. He told me no Hathaway should ever be a friend of mine.”
It was my turn to laugh out loud. I eased my way in to tell her the full story. It was also my chance to coax her into giving me details about hers. I’m not sure why I was doing it, but I was interested in her. For now.
“My dad doesn’t hate your dad. They were actually best buds all the way through college. They fell for the same girl and –“
“She chose your father?”
“No, she slept with them both while she was your dad’s girlfriend. From what I’ve heard Markian Reeves never forgave my old man for betraying him like that. My father of course regrets it and has apologized many times.”
“Mark can be relentless. But are you defending your old man right now?”
“Of course not. I’m just saying you and I being friends isn’t a big deal. We’re not from rivalling families per say.”
“Are you sure Mr. Hathaway has apologized though? It’s not like Mark to hold onto age-long grudges.”
“Well… they keep emailing each other back and forth. It’s like a bromance if you ask me.”
“Wow.”
I loved Anna’s expression as she fell into thought. I don’t know what her father had told her, but I had seen Earnest’s emails to Markian and vice versa. He often complained to me about them. He often bugged my mom to give him unofficial counselling sessions as well – just to discover why Markian might have responded to his last email in a certain way.
It was cute. I think old Markian Reeves is my dad’s favorite obsession and pastime.
Anna gulped down her third glass. I gave her a concerned look but did not have the audacity to tell her to stop. I’m not sure how well she can hold her liquor or what her capacity might be. She seemed fine till her third drink.
“If what you’re saying is true, I can talk to Mark. He can use an old friend,” she mentioned casually.
I nodded, “I’d like Earnest to stop obsessing and actually communicate with Markian as well.”
“Bring him over someday, if it’s not too much.”
“I can try.”
I finished my first glass. I continued to watch her, not sure why my heart was rising in upbeat at certain moments.
“So,” I continued, “Care for a dance?”
“I don’t dance. Don’t mind me, you go on.”
Yeah right. Like I dance. I asked in case you like to.
I stayed put.
“Hathaway, I take it back.”
“Take back what?”
“I said pretty mean stuff to Brown about you. I called you a jerk, ill-mannered and brainless. I’m sorry. I appreciate you being here right now.”
Despite myself, I smiled. She was actually really cute. I saw the sincerity in her eyes and said by instinct, “You’re not so scary after all.”
Her brows raised again – this time in challenge, “You never know.”
“I think I’m getting an idea.”
“You still want to know why I wanted to hire you?”
“Of course.”
We clinked glasses again. She started, “I’m sort of notorious in our circle for getting into fights. Let’s say… it’s a hobby.”
“Being a street thug?”
“Not a good response Hathaway.”
I raised my hands in submission, “Sorry. Go on.”
“It’s all a major coincidence. I mentioned to one of my… friends that Mark was forcing me to consider marrying Ray Elliot, Shayne Elliot’s son. I came to know that Ray had quite a notorious history as well. I mean, I’m not one to judge, really. But gambling debts? I thought I had to protect Markian.”
I was confused. The bar had gotten busier now that we had almost hit past ten in the night. I saw quite a few people hovering at the table for drinks. I focused on Anna, alert that nobody did anything inappropriate.
You see, that’s the thing about me too. I forget. Like I forgot that Anna was more than capable of protecting herself. Still, it couldn’t hurt to watch out.
I asked, “Don’t you think your father would know of something that huge?”
“Of course,” she said with a casual air, “So I did brush it off as rumor. Unless Mark was desperate enough to marry me off to a compulsive gambler, there was no way Elliot could be one. Then I heard he had a girlfriend, then there was something about him insisting on a custom made wedding gown. I also heard there was pictorial evidence of him making out with a minor girl.”
The lawyer in me became wary. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be part of this conversation if it led to her confessing to something not in accordance with the law. I believe she got that from my expression because she smirked mischievously and said, “Don’t worry. I didn’t look at any evidence. Why should I? The man is nothing to me. But there were so many rumors around I figured it’d be better for all of us if we didn’t get involved. Hence, I considered sending a legal notice to dad instead, to let him know that I am serious about not meeting Ray Elliot.”
I sighed. I couldn’t help the chuckle when I heard the entire story, but it was sort of funny. Logical, yet with so many loopholes it was almost naïve. I’m glad she didn’t go through with the plan.
She pouted in response, “Don’t laugh,” she sulked, “The notice would have been much better. Now I have to find a way to describe tonight to dad without letting him know that his dear candidate sent in a replacement.”
“What? Why?!” Even I was mortified by this. How could she not be?
“Are you kidding me?” she looked rather surprised, “I don’t want an internal war in the company just because of some dude. Mark’s gigantic pride would be hurt and Shayne would want to protect his boy from it. It’d all lead to an unwarranted mess. Totally not worth it.”
She surprised me.
Tonight was a night that would have to be one of my most memorable ones.
I don’t think I’ve ever had such a turnabout in opinion for any person in the span of a day, as I had for Anna Reeves. She was considerate and brave. She was also somewhat brainy for someone who was involved in brawls.
“You’re right,” I agreed, “But what about you? Aren’t you upset?”
She shrugged, “I’m good. My head cleared up after the booze. I mean I was feeling low because I expect basic decency out of people. But just like I didn’t want to see him because of all the rumors around him – Elliot might not have wanted to meet because of all the stuff said about me. We don’t know each other and we don’t want to either.”
“You could have figured that once you met. It would have been better if you mutually decided you didn’t want to get married.”
“I guess. But who would be willing to take the chance? What if the other party thought otherwise and agreed to the arrangement?”
“No one can force you to get married, Anna.”
“Of course. Still, war within the company again. It’s not worth it.”
“You realize that all of this is probably only in your head, right?”
“Obviously. It’s my opinion. I can only tell you mine, Hathaway.”
I liked how Hathaway sounded on her lips. It was endearing.
“If all your opinions are true…” I continued, “I still think it’d be better to meet. You don’t like the rumors around each other, but rumors are just that – rumors.”
She laughed at that. She checked me out without hesitation now – maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the falling night. She looked beautiful when s
he smiled.
“You’re cute.”
My God. My heart missed a beat when she said that. Then it thrashed around without control. I swallowed so I wouldn’t blush, but I don’t think that’s how it works.
“All rumors are based on a kernel of truth,” she explained, while I tried to hold in my breath, “take mine for example. Thousands of reasons you’ll hear on why I’m involved in violent messes. Doesn’t mean I’m not involved in them, right? The reasons could be rumors. The fact that I do it is not.”
I whispered to myself, “Why are you involved in them, Anna?”
Was this getting too personal?
I didn’t expect what happened next. Her voice lowered to a sweet hiss when she whispered back, “That’s too close, Hathaway.” And then her hand was tugging at my collar. She pulled me close, I almost stumbled off the stool. Her lips met mine.
She kissed me hard.
Oh. Fucking. Hell.
She was good. Very good.
Like I said, I am a stupid fucking moron many a times.
Chapter 7
Anna
I have done a lot many dumb things in my life. Kissing Henry Hathaway can be counted as one of them. I’m not sure why I did it. It could have been because he kept blushing while hearing me out. Or maybe it was because he was watching out for me, glaring and hissing angrily under his breath, if someone came closer. I think he was looking out in case anybody tried to grope me or something. It was cute.
I think I genuinely got interested in him right then.
He had seen me fight, right? I’m a trained martial artist. If anybody needed protection, it definitely wasn’t me. He knew that, and yet it didn’t stop him from doing what he was.
Henry redeemed himself in that moment. I forgave him for our first meeting and the mishap that night.
Not that I was mad or anything. Just saying, I wouldn’t use it to judge him or form a first opinion of him at this point.
My mind wavered as the night grew heavier on us, my heart fluttered more than once. Hathaway was inquisitive and ignorant at the same time. He gave off a wise air – he was a lawyer even if not a successful one – and more than anything, he was distracting.
It took me off guard, every time he peeked at my glass in worry. He was curious about me too, I could see that. It was also very distracting when he bit his lip in embarrassment. And when he tucked open the topmost button of his shirt.
Boy. It was getting hot.
He has a great chest from what I can see. I checked him out shamelessly quite a lot of times throughout our chat. He was attractive. More attractive than I wanted him to be.
I loved his serious expression when he tried to explain to me why I should have met Elliot in the first place. I know what I want. And I knew I wanted Henry Hathaway then.
So while I saw worry flash across his features after he asked me about my past, I pulled him close and kissed him on his lips. God, he tastes good.
Yes, hon. You are getting too close. But I don’t mind it as long as it remains physical.
He didn’t let loose. I plunged forth, pushing my tongue into the tenderness of his mouth, pulling him closer till he had left the stool. I stood up, deepening the kiss till he was ready to kiss me back. When he held my face to meet me with somewhat force, I pulled away.
I was out of breath. And he looked terribly lost.
I smiled. He was adorable. Definitely not a player. Definitely not the kind I sleep with usually. Strangely, my heart was beating with a speed that could match a run of mine on a treadmill at 15 kmph.
I grinned, signaling him to follow me out.
Of course, we ended up in the women’s restroom. It is where most people hook up. It was empty and dimly lit. I wasn’t sure how fast Hathaway was, I had assumed him to be quite inexperienced – but he was quick to lock the door. This time, he took the lead. His hands were all over me and his lips were on mine in no time. I kissed him back while he pushed me against the door and cupped my breast. I moaned.
“You better be sure about this Anna Reeves,” he whispered into my ear.
I finally let go. My voice was heavy with need, “I’m the one who kissed you, Hathaway. I started this.”
He smiled the smile of a wannabe devil. It was cute as fuck.
“Not for long,” he said.
His mouth was on my nipple, the knead tantalizing. He grabbed both my hands in one of his and forced them behind my back. He held them there so I couldn’t touch him. I bit my lip and pressed harder against the door. The pleasure in me was growing. His other hand lifted the corners of my dress and found its way to my panties. Once his fingers hit my slit, I could only press harder so as not to scream.
“So ready,” he teased, as desire pooled between my thighs. He nipped at my breast, then moved to catch my earlobe between his teeth. I hissed when his fingers plunged in me. He kissed my cheek.
“Are you always this easy?”
I heard the amusement in his voice. It triggered my mischievous side. It was way too easy to get my hands out of his hold. I pulled out, it was even easier to turn him around and push him against the door instead, even though he was taller. He rushed his fingers deeper into me in response and curled them inside. I almost buckled on my knees.
Bastard.
I could barely maintain my hold on him as he dug in faster. My body stopped listening to my mind, my heart was beating so fast, my pleasure rocketed to the sky. I didn’t want him to stop. I couldn’t think about my control. I humped against his hand and let him go. My final breakthrough was when his thumb pressed against my clit.
I screamed.
“Oh shit,” he whispered, pulling me closer so I could fall into his chest. His heart was hammering against my forehead.
I climaxed all over his hand.
Damnit, Anna.
Not so much for a playgirl, am I?
Henry
I’m nuts.
Anna’s heart beat could have surpassed a raging thunderstorm. She was panting against my chest, her forehead covered in sweat as she almost fell back from her orgasm. I held her close. But my mind went still when I saw her short of breath and clinging to my shirt for support.
It unclasped an emotion in me that wasn’t pure lust. I was happy. And I felt warm.
Like I said, I’m fucking nuts.
I’m not a player. I’m not inexperienced per say, but sex is personal to me. I don’t hook up because I need someone. She had to be my first time.
I was ready to slam my head back into the door she had pushed me against.
My arousal was intense. I needed to relieve myself desperately, I was so hard. But my insides were mushy with emotions uncalled for, my heart tender for someone I didn’t even know. I let the pleasure wash off her before removing my hand from between her legs. She was reluctant at first, but I pushed her further into me so she wouldn’t see my face. I wrapped my hands around her, telling my insides to stop scaring me.
This is a one time thing. It’s not a big deal.
Please stop feeling so warm.
You don’t know her!
I coughed to shut my mind. I talked of the most random shit that came to my mind, “Anna, uh. This… That was good.”
I could feel her move to look up at my face. I forced the back of her head into my chest again, tucked her under my chin, praying she would let me. She did.
“Hathaway?” Her voice was soft.
“Y-Yeah.”
“Are you alright?”
No. I’m freaking out.
“O-Of course. It’s just… Anna. Don’t get me wrong. I’m very… very flattered by… this. B-But can we stop now?”
Jerk. I knew what this sounded like. I couldn’t be here, trying to take care of her feelings while ending up doing the exact opposite.
She stiffened in my hold. I swallowed hard, not knowing what to do. I loosened my grab around her. I could feel her body shudder for a breath, and I wanted to die.
She finally looked up.
> That was the third and final surprise for the day.
She was smiling when our eyes met. I couldn’t read the expression on her face, or the dim gloom in her eyes. It wasn’t anything that I had seen tonight. She was almost a shadow of the girl I had met in the alley two nights ago. She might have been angry. Or she might just have seen some misplaced humor in the situation. I couldn’t place what she was thinking.
She whispered, “Sure.”
She came closer, only to turn the doorknob at my side and push open the door. I made way for her and she stepped out. I hadn’t noticed when she fixed her clothes. Before leaving, she turned around for a last time.
“Hathaway.”
I don’t know why my heart jumped up in hope.
“Y-Yeah.”
“When you’re looking for information, do it all the way. That’s why you’re failing as a lawyer.”
What?
She must have read my confusion because she smirked before saying, “You asked me everything. Except what was important. Why did I ask to meet you at two in the night, two days before?”
She turned back and left.
It bothered me more that her smile hadn’t reached her eyes. My heart fell to the pit of my stomach at my thoughts. And I don’t think I could breathe for the rest of the night.
Fuck me.
I really am a man who digs his own grave.
Chapter 8
Anna
I needed more.
Markian had already gone to bed when I returned home, which wasn’t all that surprising. He’s an early sleeper and an early riser. I couldn’t believe this entire day.
I threw my bag on the couch as I rushed into my room and flopped on the bed. I’m not someone who can sleep on soft covers, so my bed is always rock hard. It’s a habit I picked up at the orphanage and it hasn’t changed. I used too much force to fall down and ended up hurting my back.
But it was nothing compared to the humiliation I was feeling.
My heart twisted and tears welled in my eyes.
My Thug Bride Page 4