Pure Lust: The Complete Series Box Set (31 page)

I gave Edward a plastic smile and let him tuck my hand into the crook of his arm before he led me off into the crush. From the corner of my eye, I saw the look Stacia directed our way. I wanted to hate her, wanted to tell Edward how much I disliked her being there, but after the past week, I didn’t think I had the right to make demands of him on anything. Or any right to judge another woman's desire for my fiancé. Not after what I'd done.

***

After a couple hours apart, Kendra and I finally managed to steal a few moments just outside on the balcony. It was dark out, but the lights placed here and there kept the darkness from being too complete. We’d chosen one of the darker corners, though, because we were both trying to hide. Me from the curious and disapproving looks from Edward's friends, Kendra from her admirers.

“Some party,” she said over a glass of sparkling water. She had a shoot in the morning.

I had a glass of the same. Even the thought of alcohol made my stomach turn right now. I took a sip of the almost-certainly-expensive water and glanced at her. “Edward doesn’t do anything small scale.”

She gave me a sideways look. “Are you happy?”

“Happy? Of course I’m happy.” Even as I voiced the lie, I tried to figure out why I had to lie. Aside from Flynn. Aside from the fact that I’d cheated on my fiancé. Why had I cheated? Why had I gone out with a guy I probably knew I shouldn’t trust anyway? Why was I so messed up?

Kendra's voice drew me from my thoughts. “Then how come you aren’t in there, walking around with him and having fun, doing the new fiancée thing?” She sighed, the sound almost sad. “Gabs, you don’t look happy.”

“I am,” I insisted again. I couldn’t even tell her the truth. She wouldn’t understand and she’d already tried so hard to warn me away from Flynn. Granted, she’d been a bitch about how she’d done it, but she hadn’t been wrong, had she? “I am happy, Kendra. I’m just stressing. The wedding. Edward’s mom…none of the wedding planning is really falling to me. I just—”

“Excuse me.”

The voice was low, almost hushed.

Both of us stiffened as a form emerged from the shadows, gazing at Kendra with rapt eyes.

I wasn’t quite able to hide my irritated sigh, but Kendra was already smiling graciously. She was taking to the insta-fame a lot better than I was, and I wasn't generally recognized on sight.

“Hello.”

He started to blink rapidly, smoothing down his suit and patting at his hair. “Yes, hello. Yes.” He licked his lips and stuck out a hand. “You’re Kendra, aren’t you?”

“I am.” She shook his hand.

“I was…” He swallowed and looked at me. If he knew who I was, it didn't show. “Yes, hello. I…that is, my partner and I, are doing a charity fundraiser to benefit the youth of the city and we were needing a spokesperson for the event. Could I, that is, if you don’t mind, can I beg a few moments of your time?”

Kendra shot me a look that clearly said it was my call.

I tipped my water at her. “Your public calls.”

They hadn’t even made it ten feet when a low voice behind me said, “I thought they’d never leave.”

I jumped, my entire body going cold. Spinning around, I started to back up. The heel of my shoe snagged on one of the stones and if Flynn hadn’t caught me, I would have ended up falling on my ass. Honestly, I would have preferred falling on my ass.

Shoving at his hands, I twisted away. “Let me go.” I tore away from him with a ferocity that surprised me.

He gave me a bemused smile. “What’s the matter, Tennessee? Afraid your beloved prince will see? Or is something else bothering you?”

“Yes.” A knot was threatening to choke me. I curled my hands into fists “
You
.”

He blinked, confusion stamped on his features. He shoved an unsteady hand through his hair and took a stumbling step toward me.

Shit. He was drunk. Flynn was bad enough sober.

“I sh—
think
you’re gonna have to esh—explain that one to me, darling.”

I backed away another step, determined to keep as much distance between us as I could. “You’re drunk,” I snapped.

“Well.” He paused to consider this and then nodded. “A bit. Maybe more than a bit. Possibly a lot. Not totally smashed though.”

I eyed the distance between me and the door, or at least me and the biggest pool of light. It was a fair distance. The noise coming from inside the mansion would make it difficult for anybody to hear anything from outside. And I…well, I wasn’t so certain I wanted to make that much noise. I really, really wasn’t.

Sober Flynn might've kept his promise not to say anything to Edward. I wasn't so sure drunk Flynn would do the same. Either way, I didn't trust him.

“Just go away, Flynn.”

“I can’t.” He shrugged and gestured to me. “‘I’m here on bish—
business
. Got a few clients who need more pictures of you. You’re my biggest draw right now, Tennessee.” He gave me a wide grin and folded his arms over his chest, sliding his gaze down over me.

I echoed his pose, but mine held none of his cocky confidence. If I could have, I would have run. My entire body flushed, and only half of it was shame. “Go away,” I whispered it this time. “Please. I already told you, I’m not doing any more work for you. Ever.”

“Aw, bullshit. You enjoy it too much.” He shoved a hand into his pocket and a few seconds later, plucked out a card, displaying it. “Times, payment offered, the works, Tennessee.”

He held it out to me.

I glared at the card, then at him, trying to pull up anger to burn away everything else. I could handle him when I was pissed.

“No.” I backed away, shaking my head. “Don’t you get it? I’m not doing this. You’re ruining my life. I’m not working for you again
ever.”

This time, something in my voice got to him and he stilled. He looked at the card and then at me. For a long moment, he didn’t say anything and then he shoved the card back into his pocket, a sneer drawing his lips tight. “You better think this all through, Gabriella. You’re so certain you’re ready to throw away good money just because you got your panties in a twist?”

“My…” Through a sheen of tears, I stared at him. My voice broke as I demanded, “My panties in a twist? You son of a bitch, I cheated on Edward with you! You promised you wouldn’t do anything and I ended up drunk and then naked in your bed and you think my
panties
are in a twist? They ended up on your fucking floor!”

“So that’s what this is about.” He snorted and spun away. I watched as he shoved his hand through his hair and stared up at the canopy of trees that spread out over us. After a moment, he looked back at me. “You know, you should just do the smart thing. Do the job or I’ll just show Edward the pictures.”

Every cell in my body tightened as anger became a living thing inside me. “I’d rather he see the damn pictures than keep working for you.”

“Even if I show him the ones with Cody?”

“That's low, Flynn. Even for you,” I spat out, brushing at my cheeks. “They're your brothers.”

“What about if I tell him about our little night out?”

My blood ran cold, but I just stared at him. He wouldn’t do that. He loved Edward too much and he didn’t want to hurt him or make him angry. Then again, he'd just threatened to let Edward know that Cody had been in on my modeling sessions. Who knew how low this bastard would go?

And that was it. I didn't know. I couldn't keep doing this, making myself sick with worry. My shoulders slumped. “You do what you have to. I’m not doing this anymore.” I turned to leave.

“I will show him the pictures, Gabriella.” His voice came in a low, heated growl and I realized he meant it.

Raggedly, I whispered, “I hate you.”

“Yeah, well. I don’t really like you right now either, Tennessee. But cheer up…nothing happened last week.”

He started to shove past me, the reek of expensive alcohol surrounding him.

I shot out a hand as his words registered, doing something I told myself I’d never again do. I touched Flynn McCreary.

“
What
?” I demanded.

He twisted out of my reach, but instead of pulling back, he caught my chin in his hand and angled my head back, almost painfully. Then he lowered his head, staring down at me with a brutal, burning gaze, his mouth barely inches from mine. “You heard me. Nothing happened. You’re still all good and pure for your beloved Edward.”

He let go, rubbing his hand on his pants as if the feel of my skin was somehow tainted. He turned to stride off.

“I…” Swallowing, I stared at his retreating back. My brain was spinning and my stomach churning. “What...how could you let me think that?”

He froze at my question and spun around, storming back to me.

His hands shot out and I flinched as he grabbed my shoulders. An ugly, brutal anger twisted his face as he hauled me closer. I could feel the strength in his grip and knew that he could truly hurt me if he wanted to.

“I’ll answer that question as soon as you answer mine.” His words were a low hiss. “How could you think I’d do that? You were drunk off your ass and you think I could have taken advantage of you? Fine. You think that low of me, so I let you think whatever you want. You were too drunk and close to passing out in the car. I wanted to get some water and food inside you so I took you to my place, but you were already half out of it. I got you to drink some water and then you got sick. That helped, but you still stripped out of your clothes and came on to me. Then you passed out in the middle of yelling at me for not fucking you. I left you in the bed and slept on the lounge near the windows. End of story.”

He let me go and stormed off, leaving me staring after him.

Shaken, I sagged against the brick wall, wrapping my arms around myself.

Tears burned my eyes and I didn’t even try to hold them back this time. I wasn't sure if I was crying for what I'd thought I'd done, for what I really had done, or for the fact that I'd thought the worst of someone who'd done all he could to keep his promise.

Chapter 8

“Thank you for coming.” Edward smiled at yet another guest as he went to leave. He was seriously the quintessential party host. He was the quintessential everything.

I was lucky to have him. And now I didn’t have anything to feel guilty over. Well, not exactly. Sure, I'd thrown myself at Flynn, but I'd been drunk. I hadn't been thinking clearly. I shouldn't feel guilty about that. So why did I?

I didn’t know, but it wouldn’t go away. I supposed if I thought about it, I could've figured it out, but I didn't want to think about that ever again.

I focused on smiling and blanking my mind as the guests continued their slow trickle towards the exit. Most of them had already gone, but as if by some unspoken cue, the rest were now getting ready to go.

With one exception.

The lovely and icy beauty that was Stacia Vanderbilt still lingered by the bookshelves, staring at them as if she’d never seen anything so fascinating. Except every few moments, I’d see the look she’d give Edward. And she made sure I saw it too.

I didn’t let it get to me.

I couldn’t. I would prove I was the better woman.

Edward caught my hand and rubbed the inside of my wrist with his thumb as he bade good-bye to a couple with spiked, multi-colored hairdos. They’d gushed over Kendra and one of them had mentioned a previous photoshoot. I was pretty sure she'd said something about them designing lingerie. I liked them. They’d stopped a few times to chat with me and they were funny, sharp and had made cutting comments about some of the other guests.

“I hope to see you again sometime, Gabriella,” the woman said. I thought her name was Naomi.

“Me, too.” I managed my first real smile in several hours and caught her hand, squeezing it.

Then there was just Stacia.

Edward glanced toward her and then at me.

He leaned in and kissed me softly, just a light brush of his lips over mine. “A few more minutes.”

It took more than a few as she deftly deflected all of Edward's subtle hints that it was time for her to go. I idly wondered if I could create a character like her. The woman who wouldn't leave. I could see it as a sketch in my head. Her hosts would come out in their pajamas and she'd still be talking as if nothing had changed.

I’d gone through another glass of sparkling water before she left, but my head was clear and my bladder was full. I went to the rest room as he escorted her all the way out, unsure that I could trust myself to give her a polite farewell. When I came out, he was waiting for me.

I smiled at him and opened my mouth to say something. I wasn't sure what, but I didn't have a chance to figure it out, because in the next moment, I found myself with my back up against the wall and his mouth on mine. There was a hunger in his kiss that he had only ever hinted at and it caught me off guard. When he pushed up the hem of my dress, heat blistered through me.

He cupped my ass, only thin silk between our skin. I gasped as he picked me up. His voice was rough as he ordered, “Wrap your legs around me.”

I did and he wrapped one arm around my waist. The house blurred around me as he started to walk. In just a couple minutes, we were in the bedroom and he all but threw me down on the bed, coming down on top of me in the next breath.