CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
1289 Words
The most irresistible of desires, is often the ones we fight against the most.
NIKOLAS
I sit there, at the counter, staring at my bandaged hand.
It’s just a small cut but it hurts worse than it looks.
My uncle’s words float around in my head. Banging against my skull until I can barely think straight.
“I can only hope that your brother also sees you as the non-threat that you think he is.”
I lift my head as footsteps approach the kitchen, the sound of heels clicking softly against the hard floor.
“You’ve got to be kidding me” I whisper under my breath.
She sees me the minute she steps in.
I know she does because she hesitates at the door way, but then, like I knew she would, she squares her shoulders and comes in anyway.
Whoever Cameron is, no one could ever call her a coward.
She’s holding a few dishes in her hands and I scoff, staring at her.
“Don’t bother pretending to be the perfect housewife.” I say, my tone is completely flat. “Our staff do that well enough. And they dont have to f**k my brother first.”
If my crassness shocks her, she hides it well. Too well.
She allows the dishes to clatter gently into the sink and turns around to smile tightly at me.
“How’s your hand?” she asks glib.
“I’m going to ask you again.” I get up slowly, heading around the counter. “Who are you? And don’t give me any of the crap you gave my father.”
“You know who I am, Nikolas.” she smirks, even though she had taken a step back and I see that her hands are shaking. “Earl told me you weren’t the sharpest tool in the box but surely you can remember something you heard just minutes ago?”
My eyes narrow and before I even realize what I'm doing, I’m cornering her against the kitchen sink, my anger and frustration boiling over.
"You think you're so clever, don't you?" I sneer. "Waltzing in here, charming my brother with your fake smile and your smart mouth and your...your...curves" I gesture to her body, my eyes roving over her.
She scoffs. “My…curves.”
So, all that champagne I had chugged earlier to keep from punching my brother’s lights out at dinner, yeah well, I may be a little drunk.
Cameron folds her arms over her chest which of course only makes her boobs push up even more through the deep V of her dress.
Fuck me.
Her eyes flash with defiance as she looks up at me. "I'm not trying to charm anyone, Nikolas. I'm just being myself."
I laugh harshly, sweeping my hand through the air as if waving off a pesky fly. "Save it, Cameron. I know exactly what you're doing. You're using my brother for your own gain."
"That's not true," she protests, her voice rising. "I care about Earl, genuinely. Which is something you obviously know nothing about."
“Don’t you dare speak to me about my brother.” I spit. “You know nothing.”
She smirks at me. “I know that he’s better than you’ll ever be.”
I grab her arm, my finger digging into her skin. “Someone sent you here didn’t they?" I glower. "Someone sent you here and my brother is just a means to an end. Either that or you’re a two bit w***e looking to advance herself with my brother’s money."
Cameron's face flushes with anger and if anything it makes the light green of her eyes even brighter.
"How dare you," she whispers. "You don't even know me."
"I know enough," I say, jeering, my grip tightening on her arm as I spin her around to face the sink. “And I know your type.”
I’m too drunk and too mad to be doing this.
Water splashes up, soaking her gown and sticking it to her chest. "Look at you," I whisper, my breath hot against her ear. "You're already getting dirty. How long before you corrupt my brother completely?"
Her eyes flash with anger, but I see a flicker of fear beneath it.
Good. She should be afraid.
"Let me go," she demands, attempting to pull away and trying to hide the shakiness from her voice.
But I am stronger and not quite ready to let go of her just yet.
I hold her firm, turning her around to face me once more. "Admit it," I growl, the edges of my voice rough with something between lust and rage. "You're using my brother for your own gain."
Her voice trembles, but she refuses to back down. "I'm not afraid of you," she lies.
She’s a very good liar. A very beautiful, goddamn sexy one too.
"Oh, but you should be," I whisper, my lips now inches from hers. "I can see right through you, Cameron. And I won't let you hurt my brother."
"You're just trying to protect your own interests," she throws back, raising her eyes to meet mine. "You don't care about Earl at all."
My eyes narrow. "How dare you," I hiss. "I'm trying to protect my family."
"From me?" she says and then she throws her head back and laughs but there is fear in her laughter. "I'm not a threat to anyone."
But I just smile, my eyes locked on hers.
I should have looked away then, but I didn't, and now I can't stop.
I lower my face to hers, feel her breath, hard and fast against my skin. "We'll see about that.”
For a moment, we just stare at each other, the tension between us building like the force a thunderstorm about to hit.
There is more champagne and more desire coursing through my veins at this minute than there is blood.
Why did she have to be so beautiful? So alluring?
The longer I look at her, the closer I feel myself slipping.
No. I will not fall for this.
I release her suddenly, and she stumbles back, gasping for air.
As she turns to flee, I catch a glimpse of her wet gown clinging to her body.
My pulse quickens in my throat.
This isn't over. Not even close.
I have no idea who Cameron is, but I am sure, now more than ever, that she is not just some random girl my brother pulled off the streets.
No. She is smart and calculating and a good liar.
I watch her disappear into the hallway, my injured hand smarting, my mind reeling with conflicting emotions.
Earl may be a bastard. But he is still my family.
I want to protect my brother from her manipulations, but a part of me, the part of me that is hard as a rock right now, wants to claim her for myself.
As I turn to leave, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.
My eyes are dark, my face is twisted with desire.
I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling.
I will not let my desires cloud my judgment.
That is Earl’s department and despite what anybody says, I am better than my brother.
Cameron is a threat, and I will stop her, no matter what it takes.
She’s hiding something. I can smell it. And when I find it, I am going to use it. Against her and against my brother.
I just have to make sure that I don’t get lost first.
And maybe along the way I can figure out why the hell it feels like it might be too late for that already.
- Writer
