Dangerous Stranger (Beautiful Entourage #4) (18 page)

Even though she was a mess, she still looked beautiful to me. “You were drinking at a bar and some guy was harassing you. You called me to come get you and I put you in my bed and we went to sleep.” I decided to leave out the good stuff. It would only embarrass her, and then I would have to explain why I got naked with her since I liked men.

She picked at her eggs but didn’t eat them. She seemed lost in a cloud of confusion. Then suddenly, dramatically, her eyes widened to the size of acorns. “Oh my god…”

I sat next to her with a cup of coffee in my hand. “Remember now?”

“Vaguely…it comes and goes.”

“Why were you that drunk?” I tried to keep the anger out of my voice. She wasn’t my girlfriend so I had no right to get angry with her. It was a little early to show my true colors.

“I was out with my friends…” She ran her fingers through her hair and abandoned her food. “I had a lot of drinks because I was pissed off about Cameron…I don’t really remember much else.”

“Do you remember me getting you?”

“No,” she said quietly. She kept moving her eggs around with her fork.

“You better eat that.” I sounded more controlling than I meant to.

But she did as I asked.

“You do that often?”

“No,” she said immediately. “Never.”

“Just because someone hurt you doesn’t give you the right to put yourself in dangerous situations. What you did was irresponsible and wrong. Do you have any idea how much you scared me? You can’t do that to me ever again. This is never going to work if—” I realized what I was saying. “You need to take care of yourself. What would have happened if I hadn’t made it in time? That guy was about to drag you out of there. And then—” I couldn’t finish the sentence. It was too terrible to think about.

“It won’t happen again.” She didn’t look at me like she was ashamed.

“Promise me.” I needed to hear that otherwise I would never let her go out again.

“I promise.”

“Look at me when you say it.” My voice held my command.

She turned to me. “I promise.”

That was what I needed. “Thank you.”

Ophelia finished her breakfast in silence.

I just watched her.

“Thank you for getting me…”

“You’re welcome.”

There were a few crumbs left when she pushed the plate away. Her eyes were still squinted like the lights were on too bright, and her movements were sluggish like every thing hurt.

“You can head back to bed if you want,” I said.

“No, it’s okay. I’ve been in your hair enough as it is.”

My hand moved to hers. “You’re always welcome here. I was just a little mad…because you scared me. That’s all.”

“Yeah?”

I held her gaze and nodded. “Yeah. Now go back to bed.” I gave her a smile. “I’ll have lunch ready when you wake up.”

She smiled back at me then walked into my bedroom.

I watched her as she went, looking at those beautiful legs and remembering the way they felt when they were wrapped around me.

Ophelia

That night was a disaster I never wanted to remember. I wish I had called Max to pick me up instead of Jett. Now I was embarrassed anytime I looked at him. I knew he was disappointed in me and how reckless my behavior was. That night could have ended a lot differently, and not in Jett’s bed where I was safe.

The week went by and I tried to move on and stop thinking about it. Jett and I went to the gym like normal but the relationship wasn’t the same. I felt like I betrayed him in some way. I couldn’t explain it or put my thumb on it, but the tension was there.

I wish there was something I could do.

Only time would make it easier. My friends checked in on me the following day, hoping I scored, but all I ended up doing was sleeping with a gay man, who happened to be my brother’s boyfriend.

When did my life become this?

I sat at the kitchen table and flipped through a magazine.

Max came out of his bedroom then grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. “You seem down lately.”

I assumed Jett hadn’t told him what happened. If he had, Max would have mentioned it by now. “I’m just stressed out.”

“Everything okay with Jett?”

“Yeah. We’re just friends.” I don’t know why I blurted that out.

He nodded slowly. “Okay…”

I returned my attention back to the magazine. “How are you guys?”

“Good. No complaints.”

“Good.” But I knew I didn’t mean it.

“Is the thing with Cameron still bothering you?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I’m over it.”

“Then what’s bothering you?”

“Nothing,” I said defensively.

He held up his hands in surrender. “Okay…I’ll back off.”

I flipped the page so hard it tore.

Max went back into his bedroom and shut the door.

I poured myself a glass of wine and drank the whole thing in one gulp, hoping that would erase whatever was on my mind.

***

I tossed and turned that night in bed. My sheets wrapped around my body and hugged me. Sweat trickled down my body because of the heat of the room and my dreams. I kicked them off then felt cold so I pulled them back up. But I kept tossing and turning.

Then the dream came to me, hot like a poker right out of the fire.

Jett leaned back against his headboard and gripped my hips as he guided me up and down. Sweat was on his chest, and his eyes burned like simmering coals. He breathed hard while he rocked into me from below.

I massaged my tits while I sheathed him over and over. My hair flowed around my shoulders and bounced up and down every time I moved. His eyes burned into mine while he watched me.

“You’re so gorgeous, sweetheart.”

My nails dug into his shoulders harder as I rocked into him. His large hands gripped my ass and helped me move up and down his cock. “Jett…” I pressed my face to his and looked into his eyes.

“I’m so in love with you,” he said through his labored breathing. “Deeply, madly, and truly.”

His words lit the stick of dynamite and the explosion reached throughout my entire core. A scream came out of my throat as the delectable orgasm reached every nerve and fiber. “Oh god…”

His face moved into my chest and he sucked one nipple as he released inside me. “Sweetheart…”

I kept my arms tight around him as our sweaty bodies touched each other. My fingers moved into his hair as I treasured him against me. I never wanted to leave because the touch felt right. “I love you so much.”

He looked into my eyes and cupped my face. “I love you.”

The dream ended and I sat up in bed, covered in sweat and breathing hard. I pulled my hair out of my face then opened my eyes and looked around my bedroom. Jett wasn’t there and I was alone. But I remembered every detail of the dream. The sex wasn’t the most memorable thing. It was the gentleness of the way he kissed me, the way he made love to me while looking me in the eye, and the way his hand moved into my hair like he wanted to keep me forever. He said my intimate nickname, making me feel loved and cherished. It was a dream that I wished were real.

Then I realized it wasn’t one of those dreams that meant nothing, like when you mowed your great aunt’s lawn and she paid you in beetles. It hit me hard in that moment, and I knew exactly why the vision had come to me.

And I knew I had that dream many times—and not just tonight.

***

I was a terrible, terrible person.

Jett wasn’t just my friend. He was my brother’s boyfriend, a man I wasn’t only attracted to, emotionally dependent on, but he was someone I saw as more than a friend.

I had feelings for him.

And he was my brother’s boyfriend.

And he was gay.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I was in denial for the longest time. I kept the feelings deep down so I wouldn’t realize them. But now I couldn’t deny it anymore. Every time I saw Jett, butterflies rose up in my stomach. I couldn’t stop smiling, especially when he gave me that cocky grin. I lived for the moments I shared with him. I didn’t work out every day because I cared that much about being fit. I did it because I got to see him. I spent all my spare time with him because it was the only place I wanted to be.

He was the only person I wanted to be with.

My brother was one of my closest friends and I was crushing on his boyfriend.

I should be slapped hard across the face.

What was I going to do? I couldn’t be around Jett anymore. These feelings would only get worse. Maybe if I avoided him long enough I would stop thinking about him all the time. Maybe the dreams would stop.

What other choice did I have?

***

Sweetheart, you want to hit the gym?

I stared at Jett’s text message and read it several times. I thought about his beautiful face and gorgeous body. Shivers ran down my spine and I felt like I was floating on a cloud.

And that was why I couldn’t see him.

Not today. I’ll see you later.
It was so hard to write that message. I was blowing him off and being vague about it. I would rather spend time with him but I was going home alone.

Everything okay?

I hated the fact he knew me so well.
Yeah, I’m just busy.

Okay.

How long would I be able to keep this up?

***

I was watching TV on the couch when Max joined me. “How’s the writing going?”

“Well,” he said. “I think I’m onto something.”

“Let me read it when you’re done.”

“If I ever find the courage,” he said with a light laugh. “Jett is coming over, by the way.”

I sat up quickly. “When?”

He eyed my quick movements suspiciously. “I don’t know…in a few minutes.”

I had to get out of there before Jett arrived. I jumped off the couch then pulled a sweatshirt over my head. After I grabbed a magazine and a book, I shouldered my purse then headed for the door.

“What are you doing?” Max asked.

“I just remembered I have to go to he office.”

“You’ve never had to go to the office at night before…”

“Well, things change.” I walked out. “Bye.” I shut the door quickly then practically ran down the stairs so I could get out of the building before Jett entered. If we crossed paths, it would be too awkward.

I crossed the street and moved passed people, grateful that I avoided running into him. When I arrived at my office, I shut the door then turned on my lamp. Then I read a magazine at my desk and waited for the night to pass.

***

I managed to avoid Jett for almost two entire weeks. Whenever he came over, I left the apartment. Whenever Jett asked me to do something, I made an excuse not to see him. Even though I was limiting my contact with him the distance didn’t stop the feelings. They were as strong as ever.

When I got off work that day, I walked out and headed the opposite way of the gym. I told Jett I sprained my ankle and I shouldn’t work out anymore. That got him off my back for a while.

“Hey, sweetheart.” His voice wasn’t full of warmth like it usually was. Actually, it was ice-cold.

I stopped and turned to him, seeing him lean against the building. He wore dark jeans and a deep green t-shirt. I hated the fact he looked hotter than ever before. His hair was slightly messy but it looked good on him. His gorgeous body invited me to him and I somehow resisted.

He approached me with his hands in his pockets. “What’s the deal?”

I kept a straight face. “Deal? What deal?”

“Why are you avoiding me?” He searched my eyes, looking for a lie.

“I’m not.” I stepped away. “I’m in a hurry and I should get going.” I was already falling under his spell.

He grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me toward him. “You think I’m stupid?” He got in my face, the anger brewing in his eyes.

“No, I just—”

“Don’t lie to me. Why are you avoiding me?”

“I just…I’m busy.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“You’re busy?” he asked incredulously. “
You’re busy?”

“Why are you spending so much time with me anyway?” I asked. “You should be spending it with Max.”

“Whoa…what?” He stepped back like he was stung. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You spend too much time with me. The only person you should make that much effort with is Max.” I was on the offensive, trying to make him angry enough to leave me alone.

“How about you let me worry about my relationship with Max? And I can have other friends.”

“Just leave me alone, okay?” I tried to walk away.

“No.” He snatched me again. “Is this about the night at the bar?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?” He searched my face again.

What could have happened that night that would make me stop talking to him? “Yes. I just need space.”

“Space from what?” he snapped. “Last time I checked, we were good friends that spend a lot of time together. Now you drop me quicker than a hat. What’s that about?”

Why wouldn’t he just back off?
“I have other friends, Jett. I have other responsibilities and obligations.”

“Oh really?” he said coldly. “Like the two friends that ditched you at that bar? If I remember correctly, I was the one you called to help you. I was the first person you thought of. You trusted me to save you. And now you’re just dumping me?”

“I’m not dumping you. I just don’t want to see you every single day.”

“Why not?” he asked. “We’ve been doing it for the past four months. What’s changed?”

This was getting too hard. I tried not to let the tears build up. I loved Jett and I hated hurting him. “Just give me space.” I didn’t know what else to say. There was no excuse I could make other than the truth. Nothing would make sense. “Leave me alone.”

Jett’s eyes fell with sadness and he looked devastated. The aggression left his voice. “I’m sorry…for whatever it is I did.”

God, I was a terrible person.

He stepped back, a resigned look on his face. “I guess I’ll give you some space.” He turned away and walked up the street, his shoulders sagging under an invisible weight.

***

I’d never felt worse.

I hit rock bottom.

Jett and I hadn’t spoken in weeks. He didn’t reach out to me again, and I didn’t talk to him.

I felt like I lost a piece of my soul.

He was my best friend, not just the man I loved, and not having him was like living without air and water. He was always on my mind, and whenever I wasn’t distracted by something, he was in my thoughts.

How did I fall in love with a gay man?

A gay man who was dating my brother?

I deserved to feel this pain. This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been stupid. Only someone truly messed up in the head would be in this situation. First, I stayed with a man who clearly didn’t love me, and then I loved a man who would never love me back.