Page 14 of Liars and Liaisons

“What, kiss total strangers? Take them to bed?”

“Ididn’t—”

“Oh, but you did, Little Echo. Quite thoroughly, might I add. Some might even say you were rather enthusiastic about it.”

Heat fans my face, like an open flame to a candle, but the full memories won’t slot into place. It’s like trying to pick up glass that’s shattered into a thousand little pieces, but some of the shards are missing or cutting me open.

How could I do this to Nate?

I went looking forhimlast night. Wanted my first time to be his, and yet I’ve given it to some random mistake and can’t even remember any of it.

Squaring my shoulders, I lift my chin. “I didn’t know who you were when that mistaken kiss took place. I never would have approached the likes of you.”

Someone pushy and brazen, clearly not used to being rejected or told off. His arrogance is palpable, and it makes me want to hurl a shoe at his head.

He crosses the room in several quick strides, and I watch, pathetically numb, as his legs eat up the distance easily. A flick of his thick, corded wrist sends my wallet soaring, and I snatch it and bend to grab my dress before he can change his mind.

“The likes of me.” His green eyes almost glitter in the room lighting, like the early morning sun scattering its shine across a small pond. “What exactly did my dear brother tell you about me?”

“Your—” My sentence cuts off as confusion constricts my vocal cords. I scan his face—the cut of his high cheekbones, the angry set of his jaw.

So familiar and yet I’m only now comprehending the relation.

Hisbrother.

Since I’ve met the oldest James heir, Harrison, I can only assume this is Grayson. The youngest, and supposedly the least sane of the three. Rumor has it that he left his university teaching job a few months back after some sort of psychotic break. Now, they say he spends his time hiding in a cabin in the woods, refusing to come out, except to steal from the attendees of the wild parties he throws on the weekends.

Jewelry, cash, identities. The belief among the general public is that he’ll take anything, and you’ll never see it—or him—again.

My blood freezes.

Oh God.

What have I done?

He chuckles, towering over me.

I can’t believe I didn’t notice the slight differences in his frame versus Nate’s—Grayson has an inch or two on his brother in height, not to mention several pounds of muscle. Nate isn’t out of shape by any means, but still, it’s clear the James son before me cares far more about his appearance.

“Disappointed, Little Echo?”

“What—you can’t call me that,” I rasp, shaking my head. “Don’t give me a nickname like we’re friends.”

His brows rise. “It’s fitting, considering the only thing you seemed capable of last night was calling for God so loud that it rattled the walls of this hotel room.”

I steal a glance at myself in the mirror, noting the crimson searing my cheeks, my neck. A trait of mine I didn’t used to mind, but that I’m quickly coming to resent.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I stand up straighter, focusing a glare at Grayson. “So, what? You found a drunk girl downstairs and took advantage of her? No wonder no one in your family ever talks about you.”

“I thought you were supposed to be sweet. All sunshine, no rain.” Malice drips from his intense stare as he leans in, eyes narrowed.

Our faces are so close that, if I exhaled, my nose would brush his.

I don’t let myself breathe.

“You weren’t drunk. If that’s what you want to tell yourself to feel better, fine.” A devilish smirk slides across his mouth, and he reaches out, twirling a strand of my hair around two fingers.

I have a sudden flash of him doing the same last night, of him kissing me against a wall and tilting my entire universe on its axis.

---