Page 1 of The Desire

Prologue

REMINGTON

“Merry Christmas,” Nic announces as we all sit around the table in his suite at his hotel in Rome.

This time last year I was off in the Bahamas, but instead, Nic insisted that Flynn, Forrest, and I spend Christmas with him and his family. It’s different than spending it on my own, but I couldn’t say no to him when he needed us. Since my mum and dad started traveling to Inverness in Scotland every year to be with my sister and her family, I try to find an excuse to be anywhere but there with them.

Kids, a cramped house full of noise, people, and of course, the cold that seeps right into your bones and brings bucketloads of snow that can leave us all snowed in together. All things that don’t rate high on my list of fun experiences at the best of times, but especially the kids part; not my scene at all. I always make sure I see my parents before they leave and give them presents to take up to my sister’s for the rest of my family. And then I plan my escape vacation, or I blame work. We are, after all, in the hospitality industry, and it’s a busy time of the year. I make out how important I am, and that I can’t be far from the office, in case we have a major problem.

This trip counts as work, especially since I’m currently dining and staying in one of the Darby Hotels which is who I work for. The only thing I hate is seeing the disappointment on my mother’s face every year, but I’m sure as soon as she is with her grandchildren, she forgets all about me.

Raising our glasses with Nic’s toast, I look around, and I can see on everyone’s face that we’re all glad he finally went after Tori. This woman had him twisted inside out, and it wasn’t fun to be around him while it all fell apart. He was a freaking nightmare the whole three months she was away, but it did make him wake the hell up—his words, not mine, although we were all thinking it.

Nic drove me, especially, fucking crazy the whole time! Wanting updates almost hourly it felt like, on where she was, was she okay, did she need him, was she seeing anyone else? The last question almost killed him waiting for my answer.

I wanted to say, “No, you dickhead, why would she do that? She is so desperately in love with you, but she’s just off doing what women do—which is making you pay for hurting her.”

Better him than me. I’m not the settling down kind of man.

There’s too much to do in life, and being committed to anyone will just slow me down. Work is restrictive enough, but I love my job, so it doesn’t worry me. Being head of security and IT intelligence for Nicholas Darby and The Darby Hotel chain is like my dream job. Working alongside three men who have become my best friends and in a job that has me traveling all over Europe, I couldn’t have landed a more perfect role for me.

Life changed a few years ago when Nic took over the family business, and once the four of us connected, we had the dream team. He’s the boss but never treats us like that. We work on the basis of mutual respect and brotherhood. You have my back and I’ll have yours. It’s as simple as that.

Before I started working here, I had been wandering from job to job over the years, which has helped me gain valuable experience in my career field. But it also allowed me to see amazing things, have adventures, and chase the adrenaline rush, which is what I crave the most.

I almost killed my mother with worry when I was growing up. I was the stereotypical kid with no fear, jumping off roofs, riding bikes like a maniac, sitting on the handlebars while friends were steering. But as I got older and turned eighteen, not needing her permission for anything, the daredevil stunts just got more intense. The first time I told her I was going bungee jumping, she threw her hands in the air and declared, “I give up. I don’t want to know anymore until after you have done whatever crazy-ass thing you are going to do and that you have survived.”

Life just got more exciting from that moment on. The thrill I’ve felt in every single danger I faced is the best rush. Sure, sex is up there but in a different way. They say variety is the spice of life, and believe me, I have had plenty of spice. I slept my way around the world— in a respectful way, of course. I’ve met a lot of beautiful women who have turned my head but none of this love at first sight that people talk about. Lust is a powerful thing, and I think people confuse that with love in that first initial interaction. It makes for great sex, but then real life comes into it, and that lust can very quickly turn into a drag of trying to mix your life with someone else’s wants and needs.

I’m a selfish bastard, and I’ll freely admit to it!

Flynn’s voice jolts me out of my thoughts. “Yes, Nic, finally you are merry, and the grumpy jerk has left the building,” he declares as we all clink glasses to celebrate the happy season.

“If there weren’t parents in the room then I would reply to that comment, but I’ll refrain right now.” Nic smirks at Flynn and the rest of us, including Nic and Tori’s parents, who are just laughing at them both, knowing that Flynn is right.

Dinner was perfect, as expected. Nic would not settle for anything less, and you’d have to be a ballsy chef to serve anything less than the best quality to the four top executives of the whole company. Time has gotten away from us, and the parents left a few hours ago, leaving us four men, Nic’s girlfriend Tori, and her best friend Elouise.

“This was nice, but it’s time for you all to fuck off now.” Nic stands and motions to the door.

“Nicholas, you can’t say that.” Tori jumps up, but she’s wobbling a little on her feet, and he wraps his arms around her protectively.

“You bet I can. I only have an hour left to play Santa Claus with you before the day is over.” Nic’s glare tells us all what that means. And I’m not waiting around to witness any more of this over-the-top loving between these two.

“That’s my cue to leave,” Forrest declares, standing up from his place on the couch, while the rest of us follow. The table is scattered with wine and champagne glasses, evidence of the great night of laughs and fun we had.

“Did you FaceTime Mum and Dad yet?” Flynn asks Forrest as they head toward the suite door. For two brothers, they couldn’t be any different if they tried. Although they have similar looks, personality wise, it’s like chalk and cheese.

“No. Come back to my room and we can do it at the same time. That way we can support each other to get through the crying and constant talking over each other that we are going to get. She has already thanked me twenty times for sending them to New York for a holiday. You know this call is going to painful.” Forrest, for once, is a bit more relaxed than normal. He is the serious one in the group, and it makes sense because he is the chief financial officer, a job that would bore the shit out of me, but he loves it.

“Ugh, if I have to,” Flynn complains.

“You do, so move your ass.” Forrest rolls his eyes at his younger brother as they leave.

To be honest, we are all very relaxed after good food, beautiful wine, and great company all night. No one is drunk, but you can tell the defenses are down, and it’s nice for a change.

“Rem, can you see Lou to her room, please?” Nic asks, his hand landing on my shoulder, squeezing it in appreciation.

“It’s okay, I’m only a few floors below you,” Lou says in her sweet little voice as she comes up beside us.

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