Page 14 of Together We Burn
“This will backfire,” I state as I get to my feet. “And when it does, it will be on you, Will.”
Re-entering Will’s office, I closed the door silently behind me. He wasn’t happy when I said I needed to speak to Stefany before continuing with our meeting, but watching her kiss Mac, even for show, riled something primal deep within, urging me to go after her and claim her.
I walked across the room, stretching the tension from my neck as I waited on whatever snide remark Will undoubtedly would say at my chasing after Stefany. But his gaze was focused on whatever he was watching on his computer screen, brows furrowed in confusion.
“What is she doing?” he muttered, angling the screen for my benefit without removing his stare. A grainy live picture of Stefany walking to her car, popping the boot and rummaging inside filled the screen. Straightening, she pulled out what appeared to be a baseball bat and casually swung it over her shoulder.
We watched in confusion as she made her way to an Aston Martin, paused in front of it, and swiftly brought the baseball bat down on the hood. No sound came from the screen, but I cringed as her second hit descended on the front window and cracks splintered across the glass.
“Is that your car?” Will asked, an odd look passing over his face as we watched in shock as his most valuable asset rained terror on the eight-hundred-thousand-dollar car in the underground parking lot.
I ignored him, pulling my phone from the inside pocket of my suit jacket and pulling up Stefany’s contact. Alex might have got her a new cell, but at least he was smart enough to keep her original number.
“Having fun?” I asked when she answered, her breaths coming in short pants down the line. I chuckled as she turned toward the security camera and gave it the middle finger. “As much as I enjoy watching you being all feisty and shit, I think I should tell you that’s not my car.”
“The fuck it isn’t,” she growled, facing her mess. “I’ve seen it. Aston Martin Valhalla in marine blue.”
“That is correct; I do own one. But that one isn’t mine. Believe it or not, I walked here today.”
A strangled scream came from the phone, followed by three beeps as she disconnected my call. I laughed as I put it away and glanced at Will staring back quizzically as he leaned in his chair.
“Not your car, huh?”
Turning my attention to the monitor, Stefany tilted her head back and stood motionless. I thought the image had frozen until she moved from the frame, bat trailing along the ground behind her.
“Nah, it is,” I said, “but thought it was better to stop her now with just a smashed-up windscreen and dented hood than a completely wrecked car.”
Will shook his head, fixing his cuff links as he muttered, “You're both batshit crazy.”
“Drink?” I asked, ignoring his comment and going over to the minibar and pouring myself a scotch neat. Will nodded, his obsidian eyes never wandering from me as I fixed his glass and returned to set it in front of him.
Clinking the bottom of my glass with his, I took a sip of the smoky beverage. I winced as the alcohol stung the cut Stefany so graciously left behind. But it was when Will said, “You’re fucking her,” that I nearly choked.
It wasn’t said in accusation; it wasn’t even said loud enough that he thought I wouldn’t hear, but the scolding tone to his statement meant Will was pissed.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” I replied coolly, turning my back and pacing his office. Will’s icy cold stare bore holes into the back of my head and would have made a lesser man cry, but he didn’t scare me. I had known him long enough to be immune to his intimidation technique. Christ, I used the same one when I was in my boardroom filled with my investors.
“I explicitly told you to keep your hands off her, Jake,” he said, and even though I wasn’t looking at him, I could picture the sneer lining his face as he reached for his glass and downed the contents.
It didn’t matter what stipulations he’d set when discussing my involvement in all this. While she was doing recon on me, I had all I needed to know at my disposal. Years’ worth of past assignments, training techniques, even her mandatory psych evals—ones that had long stopped since Will took over from his father. He didn’t need some shrink to tell him my girl was slightly unstable in all the best ways.
And that’s what she was, my girl.
Right from the start, from the very first moment I’d seen Stefany, the fallen angel was mine. And she didn’t play by anyone’s rules, but her own—Christ, her headcount alone was enough to show that. If Stefany was down to fuck me, I’d be an idiot to say no.
“We are both consenting adults,” I stated, swirling the scotch as I walked. “But if it makes you feel any better, we were fucking–as in, we aren’t anymore, and I doubt she will let me fuck her again any time soon. And I didn’t let her touch me.”
“And pray tell, how does that make it any better?” he asked, steepling his fingers together and holding them to his lips. I tapped the edge of the glass to my lip as I thought about that.
In my head, it made perfect sense to touch her and give her pleasure without taking any for myself. Knowing that only I knew the truth of what this was. Knowing I would eventually hurt her, but becoming attached to her regardless, made it seem like it was the right thing at the time. Give into the temptation, if only for a taste.
I should never have let myself kiss her, touch her, fuck her, but the minute I laid eyes on her, all bets were off. Will’s stipulations were long forgotten when I stepped into that coffee shop. I could admit I had been a weak man when I saw lust and want shine from her eyes whenever we were together. I guess the fact that I hadn’t taken her bare was the only straw I tried to clutch onto. That thin layer of latex kept me from truly having her the way I wanted.
The thought of us one day, soon if I could help it, using each other's bodies to take out all the anger, the pent-up hatred we both undoubtedly felt toward her mother and, to an extent, Will, filled my head. The mere idea of sinking raw into her dripping wet cunt made my dick very excited. Something that wasn’t ideal when faced with her boss.
Will sighed when I didn’t answer. “Stevie is different and has been through so much in her twenty-eight years.” I shifted from foot to foot. Something similar to regret lined my stomach, hating that my actions were now included in her list of shit she had to endure. “I may not always show it, but I care for the girl. My brothers care for her, and because of that, I didn’t want her getting unnecessarily attached to you when it wasn’t real.”
That was the thing, though. For me, it was real. I knew it had to have been for her too. Even while playing each other, our chemistry was explosive. And I wanted that back. I was a possessive motherfucker. I’d never given up until I had what I wanted—Stefany’s heart and soul.
