Broken Ever After (34 page)

“
I was too busy thinking about something else.” I blushed and looked away, eyeing his watch.

“
Oh God, it’s seven o’clock.”

“
And?”

“
My parents are supposed to come here today. Do you know when? Before work? After?”

“
Maybe they’ve already been.” He grinned down at me.

“
You wouldn’t be alive if they had” I laughed.

“
Maybe they heard you screaming my name and ran off mentally scarred by it.” He said as he kissed my neck.

“
Don’t say that!” I covered my eyes thinking about it. “You need to move, I still need to shower.”

“
You’re kicking me out?” He pouted at me, faking puppy eyes.

“
Don’t look at me like that, you need to get up.”

“
Like what?” He rubbed his nose against mine, his eyes looking even more devastated; tears welling in the corners. Oh boy, he was good.

“
I mean it, get up!” I tried to shove him off me, but he captured my wrists, holding them above my head.

“
No. You are my prisoner now. After all of your teasing I think I deserve to stay with you all day like this.” He began kissing my neck and I was quickly forgetting that I needed to get up. “I want you again.” He whispered in to my ear. I wrapped my legs around him and my arms around his back pulling him closer to me, feeling the flex and ripple of the muscles in his back as he took his time to work my body in to frenzy once more; commanding me to look at him and see within him.

I couldn
’t help but see the difference between Riley and Jamie. Every time I was with Jamie it felt like raw sex, like we were in a race to reach the finish line, like we needed our fill of each other, hungry for the other in a way I didn’t know existed before him; but Riley was different.

Riley was careful in his movements
, his delicate touch over my skin caressing me, like he was afraid he was going to break me with his big hands. I found myself pushing into his touch, willing him to grip me harder. He was patient and controlled, taking his time to give us both what we needed. We came together hard and intense, his eyes fixed on mine as my world shattered to pieces under him. I was lost in him, lost in his beautiful blue eyes. I felt like my grip on sanity and reality would falter as I fell apart with him.

I ran my fingers down his face
, committing it to memory. How did I not notice the scar just above his left eyebrow before now? I ran my thumb gently over it. “Where did that come from?” He stiffened, his face changed. The tenderness was gone, replaced with anger? Hatred? Guilt? I couldn’t tell.

“
It was from the guys that killed my dad. They cut me, threatening to kill me too if my dad didn’t be quiet. I remember the silence as they plunged knives in to him; it was so eerily quiet. I haven’t been able to sleep in a quiet room since, I always need the TV or radio on.”

“
I’m so sorry, that’s awful.” I wiped tears from my eyes then pulled his face to mine, kissed his scar gently then led a trail of kisses back to his lips; I felt his face relax under my touch, the warmth reappeared.

“
It’s ok… somehow. It doesn’t feel as painful as I thought to tell you.” He kissed me once more, eased out of me taking care not to hurt me and helped me up from the floor.

Riley
excused himself to the bathroom, so I stood shamelessly and gloriously naked, checking my phone to see if my parents had called. There was nothing but texts from Austin and Jamie. I shifted my weight on my feet feeling my thighs sliding together from wetness running down them.

“
What the?
Oh my God!
” I whispered to myself as I ran my hand over my inner thigh, examining my hand.

“
I happen to think that is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Apart from you.” I looked up to see Riley, his naked form leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom, his arms folded over his chest making his impressive biceps bulge. Blue eyes passed over me unashamedly. I didn’t feel uncomfortable under his gaze; he had a sexy smirk as he watched me, looking like Zeus, Adonis and Apollo all rolled into one, his eyes dark with a hint of the danger that Ares and Hades held.

I raised an eyebrow at him
, not following what he was saying, my thoughts too clouded from looking over his body, my throat too dry to speak. “Watching that drip down your legs is turning me on again.” I looked down to see that indeed it was. He walked over to me like a hunter stalking its prey, his hands coming to rest on my hips, his thumbs tracing over my lower abdomen. “Knowing that it’s mine and it’s still in you right now.” The caveman called to my cavewoman, making me want him again.

Oh shit
, we didn’t use a condom. Panic flooded through me; why didn’t I think about it before? “What’s wrong, baby doll?”

“
We didn’t use a condom.” I looked up at him sheepishly, his fingers stroking lightly over my worried expression.

“
I saw the doctor’s appointments in your schedule; you still get the Depo right?” I nodded, worrying my lip with my teeth. When had he seen my schedule? It was in my phone which was password protected.
Shit
, my iPad was synced to my phone. “I’ve never been with anyone without one before. You’re the first girl I’ve ever wanted to truly come inside of. You don’t even know how good it felt.” He whispered seductively in my ear.

One of his hands left my face
, caressing its way down my body, settling between my legs. His fingers slipped across the folds of my sex through the physical evidence of both of our pleasure.

“
Tell me I’m the only one that’s done this.” He said as he slipped a long finger inside of me. I gasped, feeling my whole body jump with his touch. I fell into him, gripping onto his arms to support me. “Tell me no one has ever come inside this beautiful pussy like I have.” His thumb began to rub circles around my clit, making my legs buckle. His other arm held me up as he walked me backwards to my bed, laying me down before lying beside me. “Tell me.” He growled as he pulled the lobe of my ear into his mouth. The walls of my sex tightened around his finger wanting more. “You have a greedy little pussy. Tell me I’m the only one that has fed her.”

“
Only one. You’re the only one, Connor.” I gasped pulling him back on top of me.

Just after midday, after having a couple more hours of sleep with Riley, I was woken up. The hard length of his body was pressed up against my back, his arm draped over me holding on to one of my breasts, his legs hooking around mine. My phone was buzzing on my nightstand; I tried to wiggle out of Riley’s arms without waking him, unsuccessfully.

“
Where are you going? What’s that noise?”

“
My phone, I can’t reach it.” He let me go for a second, waiting for when I’d picked up my phone and pulled me back across the bed to him, “It’s Austin.” He shrugged at me. “Hello?” I answered.

“
Olivia, where the fuck have you been? I’ve been trying to call you for an hour! I was ready to leave work and come home.” Riley began kissing my neck, his arms circling around me to pull me closer to him again.

“
S- Sleeping, why? W-what’s up?” I tried to push Riley away slightly, aware that my voice was a little shaky.

“
I was trying to make sure you were ok, but you weren’t picking up! Neither was Riley, I can’t get a hold of him. I thought something had happened to you.” Riley flinched at hearing his name. “Do you know where he is? He’s supposed to be contactable at all times.”

“
Huh?” I pushed Riley away again.

“
Riley, do you know where he is?”

“
Riley? H-how would
I
know where he is? I’ve just woken up. I’ve not seen him. At all. Since last night. At. All.” I muted my phone while I rambled off a lot of swear words.

“
O-kaaay…It’s lunch time, Olivia. Oh never mind. Have you spoken to Jamie at all today?” I flinched in Riley’s arms, his frame tightened around me.

“
Nope. Not since he came here last night being a total dick and Riley threw him out.”

Austin told me that Jamie had been calling him to ask about me but wouldn
’t tell him what had happened. I went over the details of how I’d found Jamie in bed with another girl and how Riley had to remove him from the apartment. After ensuring that he wasn’t coming home until the evening, when my parents would be here, I relaxed into Riley again.

We eventually managed to drag ourselves from bed and
into the shower. Together. I became very well acquainted with my shower wall as Riley pinned me up against it again. Taking three hours just to get showered and dressed was surely a new record. My hair had dried into a mess with being pressed into my pillow again and having Riley’s fingers pulling through it. I managed to straighten it while Riley went to check up on his phone calls. Mum and dad had called me so I called them back to find out that they were coming over for dinner; I checked the ingredients in Austin’s fridge to see what I could make which amounted to zero. Deciding I needed fresh air before I ended up back in bed again, I went off to Riley’s room to tell him that we needed to go to the supermarket. He was in his office, within his room talking on the phone.

“
I’m not doing that. No, there is nothing you can do that will convince me otherwise. End of.”

Riley stormed out of the room which was originally a spacious walk
-in wardrobe that matched mine. He stopped in his tracks, startled by me standing there in his room.

“
What was that about?”

“
Huh?” I nodded to his office. “Err well that depends on what you heard doesn’t it?” He stated matter of fact, raising a brow at me.

“
You said something about not doing something and no one is going to make you, or something like that.” He nodded and seemed to think over what I just said.

“
It was a call from a previous employer that wanted me to come back, but I told her no.”
Her?
My stomach flipped at the thought of women trying to poach him away. I was reminded of what Logan had told me about him.

“
How come?” His scowl softened into a sexy grin. He stepped forward and planted a soft kiss against my lips then whispered to me.

“
I think we both know why I don’t want to go anywhere, Ollie.” I stiffened before stepping backwards.

“
Don’t call me that.”

“
What? I thought it was cute.”

“
Well it’s not. Just don’t ok? I erm- I came to tell you I need to go to the supermarket. My parents said they were coming for dinner so I figured I’d make something. Are you coming or should I take Logan?”

“
No I’m going with you.” I nodded, leaving to fetch my purse.

***

Standing in the kitchen preparing dinner for my family and Riley felt a little weird. We agreed that we couldn’t tell anyone what had happened between us as that would mean that Austin would fire him which couldn’t happen, so we said we’d keep our relationship between us for now.

He
’d chosen to ask me out on a date in the middle of the supermarket, while I was trying to decide between two coloured peppers.

“
I don’t know which one to choose.” I sighed.

“
How about you pick me?” I’d looked up at him confused. “Look, this is moving really fast and I don’t want to stop it. I really like you, Olivia. I don’t just want to sneak into your room when your uncle isn’t looking. You’re worth more than that. Will you go on a date with me?”

I
’d stood frozen on the spot, dropping the two vegetables to the floor.

I smiled to myself as I chopped up the vegetables
, picturing his face when I’d eventually agreed. Riley’s arms slipped around my waist, his nose buried in my hair.

“
Mmm…” He sighed appreciatively. “You smell so good.” He nosed my hair away so he could get to my ear. “I want to taste you again.” He whispered into my ear before sucking on my earlobe. My knees almost gave way as I stumbled on my heels. His hands worked their way down to the hem of my skirt, lifting it so he could run his fingers over my panties. My insides twisting with longing for him again; I dropped the knife that I had a death grip on. “You’re so wet, I want to feel you.” He wedged one of his feet in between mine, pushing them apart; his hands gripped the top of my panties pulling them down to my mid-thigh.

His fingers found their way back to my slick opening; one hand paying attention to my clit while his other pushed two fingers deep inside. With lips roaming over my neck he murmured things into my ear.
“So beautiful… Do you like that? You’re so wet… You drive me crazy, Olivia… I want you… You make me so hard I can’t think straight… Come for me.”

I did
, stood there holding on to the kitchen counter with dinner half prepared in front of me. Removing his fingers from inside of me he slipped them into his mouth to lick the taste of me from them.

“
Mmm… Dessert is ready”

“
You are disgusting.” I shook my head and let my hair hide my smile from him. “And dessert is for after dinner.”

“
What can I say? I’m greedy. I want it after dinner too.”

The doorbell ringing startled us both. I quickly pulled up my
underwear, flattened my skirt and smoothed my hair.

“
That’ll be my parents, I’ll get it.” I smiled up at him. “You can’t exactly be shaking my dad’s hand right now.” I winked. I took a deep breath and pulled the door open. There stood my mum and dad; mum was beaming down at me, dad was his usual, serious self. He was so different from his crazy, younger brother.

“
Hey you two.”

“
Look who we found down in the lobby.” Mum reached sideways and pulled. Jamie appeared at her side. “He was just dropping the most gorgeous flowers off at the desk for some lucky girl and I dragged him up.”

“
What? Why? Why would you do that?” I asked her, my voice raising an octave with every word. “What are you doing here?” I looked to Jamie as I froze in the doorway.

“
Olivia, don’t be rude.” Mum scolded me as she walked by into the apartment. “Come on in Jamie.”

“
Mum he can’t-”

“
Olivia. What on earth has gotten into you? After all he did to help you with your exams, you could at least be nice. Come in Jamie.” She waved him in. I stood fixed to the spot by the door. Riley appeared beside me.

“
They don’t know about you two, do they?” He said between gritted teeth. I shook my head. “I’ll have a word and he’ll leave a.s.a.p.”

Nodding
, I headed back to the kitchen to finish preparing dinner for everyone, throwing visual daggers across the room to Jamie as he chatted with my mum and dad. Riley kept close by in case Jamie got any ideas about trying to approach me. When no one was looking – except Jamie, he’d run his hand tenderly over my cheek, grip my rear, plant quick kisses on my lips and forehead or whisper into my ear all of the naughty things he was going to do to me once everyone had gone home.

***

The awkward atmosphere at dinner was palpable. Austin, visibly nervous that anything could happen at any minute; Logan had been debriefed by Riley so they were both throwing glances between themselves while I sat pushing food around my plate. Mum, Dad and Jamie were still chatting away like nothing was wrong with this entire situation. I eyed the door as it knocked; Logan left to answer it while I continued to stare at my uneaten food in silence.

“
Miss Stevens, there is a delivery for you.” I looked up to the doorway to see Logan carrying in a giant bouquet of what looked like a hundred red roses towards the table.
You have
got
to be kidding me!

“
Oh my goodness! Those are beautiful!” My mum exclaimed. “Jamie those look… just like…” She turned to face him, her gaze flicking between Jamie and I. “Is there… something we… should know?” She looked dumbfounded.

“
Not any more, no.” I responded.

“
Olivia.” Jamie warned.

“
I’m pretty fucking sick of pretending right now.” I slammed my knife and fork down onto my plate, looking over to my mum and dad. “We
were
together. You know when we went away and saw Jamie at the hotel? He planned that. He came because we were together then; we had been since the beginning of that week!”

“Liv.” Riley whispered, squeezing knee in a warning.

“We couldn’t tell you because you’d flip out at me dating a teacher; well I was until I caught him in bed yesterday morning with someone else, so that’s what is wrong with me. I’m sick of
constantly
pretending to feel something that I don’t. I’m sick of sitting here and pretending that everything is ok when it’s not!” I pushed away from the table and stood up, tears welling in my eyes and my lip quivering.

“
You hurt me Jamie and I’m sick of trying to pretend that I don’t care because I do. I told you everything. I let you in. I loved you. You broke your promise to me. You broke
me
and I’m sick of pretending like I’m not hurting because it hurts like fucking crazy and I
hate
you for it.”

Knocking my chair over
, I darted from the room to my bedroom, glad that Riley had organised for my door to be fixed while we nipped out.

With my hand clasped over my mouth to stop the sobs escaping me
, I kicked my shoes off in the general direction of the wardrobe, docked my phone and turned my music up loud to try and drown out my thoughts.

Opening up my balcony doors, I let the wind blow through my room; taking
a lungful of air I screamed.

Eyeing
the contents of my vanity table, I swiped my arm across it sending everything to the floor; then followed my vanity as I pulled it forward, tipping it over. It felt cathartic to go about my room destroying everything. I really wanted to do it to Jamie, but there were too many people to stop me.

Running to the bathroom, I looked at myself in the mirror. Hating the reflection that I saw - a silly, broken girl, I screamed.
On the counter sat three artfully placed rocks that I’d collected while out walking with Uncle Austin because they’d matched the slate of my bathroom floor. I picked one up testing its weight in my hand before using it as a tool to rid my reflection from the wall. I hit the stone against the mirror watching as the cracks started to form. I hit it again and again, until the pieces started to dislodge.

I could only watch as the broken
image of myself shattered into a million tiny pieces around the sink, ricocheting off of the counter and landing at my bare feet. All of the pieces seemed to fall in slow motion; I wondered if that was what my heart looked like at that moment it broke. Then I felt something else - something real. Pain. Actual pain. Searing heat slashed through my hands and feet as the mirror fell and cut my skin.

Mirror surrounded me on all sides; stumbling, I fell to the floor,
my bare legs landing on the pieces. Blood was pouring from each of the cuts; I tried to pull out some of the small pieces that had lodged in my flesh but it hurt and I couldn’t see through the tears in my eyes and the blood that just kept coming. “
AUSTIN! DAD!
” I screamed.