Consumed (17 page)

Sadie

I’m in the university’s library studying when Noah pulls up a chair across from me. I gasp and look around to see if there would be witnesses if he attempted to harm me. Luckily, there are others nearby.

“Good afternoon, Sadie.”

“What do you want, and how did you find me?” He’s in a white polo shirt, and his blonde hair is spiked in a preppy style. His appearance doesn’t pair with the evilness lurking behind it.

“Believe it or not, it’s coincidence. I attend this college.”

I sit silently, staring him down. I had already decided I wasn’t letting him bully me if I saw him again.

“I talked with Simon, and I wasn’t aware you two were dating.”

“He said that? I mean, yeah, but he told you?”

Noah’s eyes squint, and I don’t think he’s buying my cover-up. “Yeah, he did, but he’ll willingly hand you over to me soon enough. I have ways of getting what I want. It will be interesting to see how important you are to him.”

He leans across the table, and I lean back.

“One night, Sadie. It’s all I want.”

“Go to hell.”

He smiles. “When I’m told I can’t have something, it only makes me want it more. Keep running that dirty mouth of yours and see where it gets you.”

“My sister is a cop, so you’re not wise to threaten me.”

Noah throws his head back in laughter.

“You have no concept of how funny that statement is. Oh, that made my day.”

I glance around, and two people are glaring at us.

“Please leave.”

He rises, still wearing that sadistic smile.

“Until we meet again.”

Chills shoot through my body, and they’re not the exhilarating kind I recall experiencing from Simon’s touch. Simon Cassano. What the hell has he been saying about us? I think I will go ask him.

Simon

I’m in my office working after getting Adrian settled. I stuck around to help Theo get him back to bed. We removed all the alcohol from the penthouse, and Theo is going to stay the night to keep an eye on him, which is bullshit when he has a family at home, but Zev and I have to watch the clubs and lounges tonight.

My phone vibrates, so I pull it from my pocket.

Sadie:
Your bartender here refuses to tell you I’m here, so could you please come out and speak to me?

Oh, hell, she’s here. If I see her, I will cave.

Me:
Go home, Sadie. I’m sorry, but I can’t see you.

Sadie:
Fine, that guy from the strip club, Noah, wants some one-on-one time with me, anyway.

What the fuck?!

Me:
DON’T LEAVE!

I call my bartender and order him to send Sadie to my office. If Noah is with her, I will kick his ass on the spot. My foot taps the floor as I think of what to say to her. The knock on the door has me out of my chair in a split-second.

So help me, she’s gorgeous. She’s out of sorts, Sadie, with her hair pulled up and glasses on, all schoolgirl and shit. “Sadie, hi.” She shoves past me, so I shut the door and turn to face her.

“What did you say to Noah?” she asks.

“Why? What did he do? Did he hurt you?”

She rolls her eyes. “Unbelievable. You’re the asshole who hurt me.”

“I’m sorry, but seriously, is Noah harassing you?”

“Yes, but I can handle him. I’ll get Victoria after him if I have to.”

I shake my head no. “Sadie, he’s the Commissioner’s son. Your sister technically works under him.”

“What? That explains why he found the threat so funny, but he’s an evil asswipe. How can that be his father?”

“I couldn’t agree more, and he’s no one you should be hanging around.”

“Is that why you told him we were together?”

“Yes, and I’m sorry, but it was the only way I thought I could keep you safe.”

“So, that’s the only reason. Not because you were jealous or anything?”

“Of course not.”

“It’s good to know you won’t mind me dating other people while we’re in this fake relationship. I’ll go now.”

I step in front of her, blocking the door.

“
Jesus
, you smell great,” I say.

Her arms cross over her chest. “You aren’t allowed to smell me.”

I snicker, unable to resist her cuteness.

“You can’t stop me, doll. I got a whiff of you the second you walked through the door.”

“Move so I can leave.”

I stare at her perfect complexion and sad eyes. I want to make her laugh. Hell, I want her to make me laugh the way she’s capable of doing. I need to hold her in my arms again and talk to her about random shit. “No, I’m not ready to let you go.”

Sadie

He’s going to crush my heart all over again if I don’t get out of here. Reaching behind me, Simon takes hold of my ponytail holder. Slowly pulling, he releases my hair, taking my guard down with it.

My eyes close from the fervid craving his are projecting. I feel my glasses come off, so I open my eyelids in time to see him set them on his desk.

“You don’t like how I look. Is that it? I don’t dress slutty like one of your waitresses or have mammoth boobs.”

He grins, and I want to smack him for being so damn attractive. “You mean the waitresses who wear our required uniforms over their fake breast meat?”

“Simon,” I say, letting out a little giggle. “That sounds gross.”

“They’re boring is what they are.” His hands palm my breasts through my light blue tank top, and I suck in a punctuated breath. “Your tits are the farthest from boring. They move with my hands and respond to my touch.”

I close my eyes again, my breaths now shallow and brisk. “Yes, they do.”

One of his hands slip into the back of my hair.

“Sadie, I let your curls down because I want my fingertips against them. I removed your glasses, so I can get a better look at the eyes that are like a turquoise ocean, and so I can be that much closer to you when I kiss you.”

His hand in my hair pushes my head forward until our mouths are colliding, his tongue forcing it open. He explores every crook of it, living in the moment the way Simon always does, but I have a feeling he doesn’t think about the consequences until after the fact.

His thumb circles my nipple, and I can’t resist the urge to pull him against me. His erection is hard, his hands and mouth hungry, and I want him now more than ever.

Pulling away, he presses our foreheads together. His breathing is harsh like mine. “I want to be selfish, Sadie, but my world isn’t safe enough for you.”

“Noah said you would treat me like a cheap whore.”

Simon grips my cheeks and leans back to stare into my eyes. “Fuck, Noah. I’m doing this because I don’t deserve you.”

“If you felt like you did, would you be with me?”

“You would be mine, sweetheart. All mine.”

“I don’t care what you do with your job. I don’t care if you’re in the Mafia even as long as I don’t end up dead in Lake Mead.”

His eyes urgently look back and forth between mine.

“Sadie, that’s just it. I can’t guarantee someone like Noah wouldn’t dump you there if you get involved with me.” He picks up my glasses from his desk and sets them back on my nose.

“Don’t come back here, and stay away from Noah, too. This life isn’t for you.”

“Staying in a protective bubble isn’t feasible, and it’s not living. I want a man who is willing to brave the world with me. The good parts and the bad. I guess you’re not him.”

Turning on my heels, I leave Simon with that.

Victoria

“I’m calling for back up and busting down this door, Vic, if you don’t open it!” Reggie yells from outside my front door. “I know you’re in there because I hear your television.”

I step from the couch and swing the door open.

“What?”

“Let me in, and stop being difficult. Tell me why you called in to work for two days and won’t answer my text messages or calls.”

Stepping aside, Reg passes me. Fiddling with my hair, I attempt to make my messy bun not so disheveled before I stroll back and plop down onto the ass indention I’ve worn into my sofa.

He surveys my coffee table, which is covered in miniature Reece Cup wrappers, potato chip bags and empty ice cream pints.

“Talk about the munchies. Have you been smoking weed?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“PMS then?”

“Fuck you.”

His eyebrows lift. “I’m kidding, Vic. What happened? We’re friends, so tell me, and maybe I can help.”

“I ended things with Adrian because our lives are too different. That’s all it is.”

“Bullshit. It’s a whole lot more, but you don’t want to tell me.”

“OK, you’re right, and you need to accept that I can’t tell you more than that.”

“I guess ending things isn’t what you wanted.”

“No, but staying with him wasn’t an option, either. Have I missed anything exciting at work?”

“No, and I want off this damn administrative duty.”

“Yeah, I’m not missing that.”

Reg sits next to me on the sofa and pats the thigh area of my pajama pants. “You need to shower and eat some vegetables.”

“Why bother?” My head is against the cushion as I turn it to look at him. “It hurts, Reggie. I finally let someone in, and he broke my heart.”

“I’m sorry, and if there’s anything I can do, you tell me.”

“Thank you. I can always count on you, and that means so much to me. I’m sorry I’ve been a pain in the ass as a partner. I know I can trust you, so I’ll try to do better.”

Reggie’s eyes suddenly seem sad, and they remind me too much of Adrian’s, so I look away.

“Vic, come back to work tomorrow. It isn’t good for you to lie around this place.” Reg picks at my t-shirt, so I look down.

“Are you saving this to have as a snack later?” He lifts a piece of a barbecue potato chip from the fabric and smirks.

“Way to go and crash my pity party. Ugh,” I say with a groan, “OK, I’ll get it together.”

Adrian

“Come in,” I say after I hear a knock on my office door.

“Hey, bro, feeling better?” Simon asks.

“I feel like total shit, but I sent Theo home this morning to be with Karen and the kids, so here I am. I need to stay busy, anyway.”

“You had us all worried last night.”

“I’m sorry you had to see me like that.” I lean back and swivel lightly in my chair.

“I’m sorry about Victoria. I know you cared about her. It’s all the more reason I should remain single.”

Abruptly, I sit up and lay my forearms on my desk.

“Victoria told me you fucked Sadie and then disappeared. Once she called and bitched you out, I had to hear it.”

Simon does his usual and drags a chair over to prop his feet on before taking a seat in another. “Bro, I understand why Victoria was pissed, but it’s not what you think. I wasn’t trying to have a one-night stand with her sister. I like Sadie. I like her a lot actually.”

“Then why can’t you be with her?”

“The difference between Sadie and Victoria is Sadie doesn’t seem to care about our shady dealings. She wants to be with me, but I’m trying to keep her away from the bad shit we’re involved in.”

I think about my mother’s request. All she wants before she dies is to know her kids are going to find happiness. I also know firsthand how it feels to lose your chance at that happiness.

“Simon, be with her. You’ve given up too much already for this cause. I’m telling you; you will regret it if you don’t.”

“Says the one who is letting the woman get away.”

“Victoria is a cop. Have you ever read an officer’s oath?”

“No, but I would bet money that you would come before any of that shit, especially once she saw the big picture. Those Hart girls are passionate. Victoria would get it.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Victoria

Reggie is quieter the rest of the time he is over, but I’m down with that. It’s the cool part of having a guy friend. He doesn’t expect me to talk about my feelings in great length.

We order pizza and laugh through the film
Horrible Bosses
. We also think up creative ways we could take out our own bosses. It’s the first time I have smiled in two days.

After the movie, Reggie turns on a UFC fight, so I hop in the shower, feeling in better spirits. I finish combing out my damp hair and hear the knock on my front door. I’m throwing on a tank top and sweatpants in record time and hurry to the small living room.

My eyes open wider as I see Reggie talking to Adrian at the door. “Let me in.”
Shit
, I didn’t expect him to show his face. Reggie turns to me.

“Do you want to talk to him or not?”

“It’s fine.”

“OK, do you want me to stay or go?” Reggie asks.

“Can I talk to you for a second in private?” I reply. He moves, allowing Adrian in, and then follows me to the kitchen. “Thank you for your company tonight. It helped a lot.” I look down at the floor and drag the corner of my lip between my teeth. “I know this isn’t easy.”

His hand goes to my waist, and he kisses my forehead.

“It’s not easy, but I’m trying. Call me if you need me, and don’t put up with shit from him.”

I smile at Reggie with the attempt at conveying what he means to me. “I’ll be fine, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I follow Reg back to the living room and watch uncomfortably as Adrian shoots him daggers. Damn, he looks handsome, and I smelled his delicious scent from the kitchen, the citrus hanging in the air.

The door barely shuts before he’s stalking toward me. His jeans hug his muscular thighs the way I love, and his a slim, black t-shirt follows suit.

“What the hell is he doing here when you’ve obviously just stepped out of the shower?” he asks.

I throw my hands on my hips. “He was comforting me as a friend. He came by to check on me since I haven’t been at work for two days.”

“I can’t even describe what I feel seeing him here with you. You’re mine, Victoria, and we’re finding a way to work through this.”

“Adrian, I can’t.”

“You want to forgive me.” A hand snakes around my waist while another tips my chin. “I’ve been out of my mind missing you. We can conquer this.”

“I don’t know.”

Dipping his head, his defined jaw works his mouth along the skin of my neck. It skims to my ear, and my body betrays me, aching for his hair-raising touch. “Yes, baby, you’re mine. Juice Box, I missed you. I love you.”

His hand slips under my pink tank, and a growl sings in my ear as his fingers pinch my nipple. His other hand is squeezing my ass, and his mouth is sucking on my earlobe.

My body completely gives from sensation overload, and I’m putty in his hands, moaning from the pleasure only he can give me. “That’s it. Come back to me, my pearl,” Adrian says huskily.

Without warning, he’s scooping me up into his arms and marching down my short hallway. He drops me onto my bed, and I let out a shriek.

“Another man was in your house while you were showering and naked. I don’t fucking like it.”

“You let me down.”

“I know, and like I told you the other night, I’m sorry.” He strides to my dresser and begins opening drawers.

“What are you looking for?”

“Since you’re a cop, the less I tell you about my business the better, but one thing you are never to question again is whether I love you.”

He turns around with a purple scarf in his hand.

“Adrian, I don’t need you tying me up and giving me another lesson on trust. I know you would never hurt me physically. It’s what you’re doing illegally that I can’t accept.”

“I can’t stop that.”

“You have to if we have a future.”

“Are you telling me I have to choose?” His fierce determination is now replaced with worry.

“My father died in an automobile accident on his way to Submission. He was investigating you, Adrian. Supporting you means betraying him. I can’t do that and live with myself.”

His forehead wrinkles before he shifts away and returns my scarf to the dresser. “Did you know him?” I ask.

“No, I have to go.”

“But–so that’s it? You’re choosing money over me?”

He whips around, appearing astonished. “You think I do this for the money?”

“I don’t know what you do it for, but you’re telling me whatever the reason, it’s more important to you than I am.”

Adrian’s hands go into his coarse, raven hair.

“Fuck! No, that’s not how I feel.”

I’m sitting up in my bed as he walks to me. Leaning over, he cradles my face, his gaze earnest and panicked. “What you’re wanting me to do affects my entire family and many others. It’s not a decision I’m allowed to make alone.”

Lips barely press to mine. “I love you, and I want to give you everything you deserve. Please give me a little time to figure this out.”

Clutching the chest of his t-shirt, I nod my head.

“I will on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t leave. Please … make love to me and hold me for one more night.”

His hand lovingly strokes my cheek and then my hair.

“Juice Box, how will I give you up? God, it can’t come to that.”