In Wicked Chains (The Wicked) Page 7

  Natalia shrugged. “I haven’t looked at the card.” She placed the flowers on Harper’s desk. “Do you want me to?”

  “Uh, no. That’s okay, Natalia. Thanks.”

  “There are actually two bouquets, but there’s no card on the other one.” Natalia backed toward the door. “Should I bring it in here, too?”

  “That’s not necessary, keep it outside.” Harper waved her out and waited until the door closed behind the young woman before she opened the plain white card.

  You never asked, he never volunteered: Maysin Winthrop-Ferreira. Followed by a phone number and address.

  She flung the card away, gaze clinging to it as it floated to the floor beside her desk. Heart pounding out of her chest, Harper swallowed a moan. She’d tried her best to put him from her mind, a battle she always ended up losing, and here he was, torturing her, constantly taking over her thoughts, her fantasies.

  It’d all still been harmless when she didn’t know his name. And wasn’t that ironic? She’d fallen in love with a scarred face and a heated touch, knowing nothing about the man who occupied her dreams helped to keep her sane.

  Who sent this? Who knew about them?

  Was it Maysin? Did he want her to call him, drop in on him sometime? He knew her position on them being together, knew it wouldn’t work. She didn’t think this was his doing. He would personalize it, she hoped.

  But this meant someone else knew about them, knew her heart.

  Harper picked up the phone on her desk with trembling fingers, punching in the numbers she’d already committed to memory. It meant nothing, only that she had a good memory.

  Listening to The Notorious BIG’s Who Shot Ya? as Maysin’s call-tone, the phone shook against her ear. Butterflies wreaked havoc in her tummy.

  “Yeah.”

  Harper broke out in cold sweats. Tears burned her eyes at the familiar voice, and the way he affected her.

  She whimpered.

  “Hello?” Annoyance crept into his voice. “This isn’t the phone you want to play on, fucker. Speak or I hang up. Now.”

  She jerked at his barked words. “Maysin.” Shit, she couldn’t hear her own voice over the beating of her heart. “Maysin.” There. Clear enough to make out the needy, pleading tone.

  He inhaled. Loudly. “Harper.” It wasn’t a question. He recognized her voice.

  And suddenly she couldn’t find hers. The phone threatened to slip from her slippery palm, and her body reacted to the sound of her name on his lips with tightening nipples, dampening panties.

  “Harper.” Her name shook. “Speak to me. Please.”

  Speak. Say what, that she loved him, needed him? Should she come clean about being blackmailed into marrying a man she dreamt of killing in his sleep?

  “I miss you, Harper. I miss your touch and the taste of your lips. The sounds you make.”

  A groan left her throat. Her fingers tightened around the phone. She wanted to hang up, wanted to demand he come free her, rescue her from the ties keeping them apart. She wanted, but never could have.

  Tears dripped off her chin. “I miss you, too.” She closed her eyes, called up the crystal clear image of that rugged face, beautifully scarred. The green eyes that saw into her soul and the long hair. So soft. “Maysin.”

  “I’m here, love. Always here. Are you okay?” His concern humbled her, touched her heart.

  “Someone knows about us.”

  “What?” His voice rose. “Who?”

  “I don’t know.” She twisted a finger around the telephone coil. “Two bouquets of lilacs were delivered to my office.”

  “Your favorite.” That deep tone dropped lower, driving chills down her spine.

  Her eyes widened. “Yes. How do you know what?”

  He chuckled. “They’re all over your house and the fragrance clings to your hair and skin. It blends with the jasmine lotion you wear, making you smell just…eatable.”

  Harper licked her lips with a shudder. “I-I, um. So the flowers came with a card.”

  “What does it say?”

  “You never asked, he never volunteered. Plus your name, number, and address.”

  Silence filled the moment between them.

  “You didn’t know my name before now?”

  “Only your first name.” She shrugged. “I never bothered to ask…”

  “And I never volunteered.” He exhaled. “How is that even possible? How could I not have given you my information?”

  She cut off his self-berating. “I-we were always um, not focused on that.” They were always humping each other, is what she meant to say, losing themselves in the uncontrollable pull.

  “Yes. We were always…focused on other things.”

  She chewed her bottom lip.

  “What’s the name of the florist on the card?”

  “Diamond Floral Arrangements.” She repeated the address to him as well. “What are you going to do?”

  “Figure out who sent the flowers, which in turn will tell me who knows about us.”

  “Okay.” She breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Is there an us, Harper?”

  “Maysin, you know the answer to that.”

  “Do I? If Mercier wasn’t in the picture, if you weren’t marrying him, would there be an us? Would I be holding you and making love to you, or would I still be relegated to images of you in my head to bring myself off?”

  “Don’t think of me,” she hissed. “Don’t think of me when you’re with someone else.”

  “Who says I’ve been with anyone else since that first night?” he shot back. “Who says I’m not still waiting for you? Hoping you’d want me more than you fear him?”

  Jesus. She shook her head. “No. Waiting is a waste of time, Maysin. Don’t wait for me. I’ll never come.”

  He chuckled dryly. “Ah, Harper. I’ve told myself that a million times. I’ve forced myself to date other women, even called one your name while she blew me. Yet here we are.”

  She choked back the hurt and feelings of betrayal at his confession. “You fucked somebody else?” Why was she so angry? They’d staked no claims. She was already taken.

  “Sure as hell can’t have you, now can I?”

  The heavy sarcasm couldn’t be missed, but the words tore her apart.

  “No, you can’t have me. Want to know why?” She spoke in an even tone, the one she used in the courtroom, “There’s no us, just a few stolen moments when I allowed myself to forget who I am. That’s it,” she yelled. “That’s the extent of it and now it’s done. Over. For good.” She slammed down the phone and burst into tears.

  Chapter Seven

  Elina stayed away from everyone for two days, ignoring calls and emails. She went to work on the third day, immersing herself in those kids she loved so much and sharing a few laughs with her co-worker, glad for the reprieve from thoughts of Kingston.

  She pushed him to the back of her mind. The only place he could be if she ever wanted to function again. No sleep came to her at night. Nightmares kept her up and she couldn’t find her mp3 player. Most likely she’d left it at Kingston’s place.

  She splurged on a new stereo system and flirted with the deliverymen. They didn’t seem put off. She’d exchanged numbers with the taller of the two, a milk chocolate cutie with a gap between his teeth and dime-sized dimples. Maybe she had it in her yet to move beyond Kingston.

  Perched at the edge of her balcony, she stared down at the people twenty-three stories below on the street. Going about their lives, enjoying it, living, while she pined away on a Friday night. Usually on Fridays she hung out with Sasha over at Wik’d, drinking, having fun while she watched Kingston from afar.

  Wishing she was the new woman in his arms. Well, she’d been in his arms. She could still go to the club, still enjoy herself like she always did. Only this time, she sure as hell wasn’t going in there alone. She pulled out her cell phone, scrolling through her contacts until she found the number for her coworker, Adrian.

 
A devious act, but she was still her father’s daughter.

  She walked into Wik’d at around midnight, wearing new clothes and draped over Adrian like a mink coat.

  Peeling away from his side, she approached the bar and waved to catch the bartender’s attention. Timmy looked from her to her date with an eyebrow raised. Elina had the feeling she’d be seeing a lot of that tonight.

  “Hey, Timmy. Are they downstairs?’ She reached behind her back and grasped Adrian’s hand. Sweet boy. She smiled as he laced their fingers.

  “Yeah, all except King. He’s not here yet.”

  “Thanks.” She turned to Adrian. “My friends are downstairs, want to meet them?”

  “Sure.” His blue eyes sparkled. Cute. “The one you want, is he there, too?” Too bad he’s totally gay.

  She shook her head at his question. “Not yet. He’ll be here, though.”

  Adrian pursed lips tinted with a hint of sparkly lip-gloss. “I don’t get why you have to go through all this. Why don’t you simply tell him how you feel?”

  “Because the freaking pendejo won’t admit what he feels unless pushed.” She circled his waist and guided him toward the basement stairs. “Let’s push, hmm?”

  They descended into the basement together, hands wrapped around each other. Elina pointed to the table way in the back crowded with people, obscured by fragrant smoke.

  “There they are.”

  “Introduce me, darling.”

  They giggled and approached as ten pairs of eyes looked up. Surprise was on everyone’s face except Sasha’s. Her friend didn’t blink.

  “Oh, my. A veritable man feast,” Adrian whispered under his breath. “Don’t know who to drool over first. Or longest.”

  “Behave. Besides, they’re all taken.” Elina pulled him to stand beside her. “Guys, this is Adrian. These are my friends. Maysin with the ponytail. Myka and Justice with the baldness. Niko with the tattoos and his woman with the pink, Sasha.”

  The women waved, the men nodded.

  “Pull up a chair, Adrian.” Justice waved him over. “Have a beer and a cigar if you feel like it.”

  They all sat around the table and quickly fell into their old rhythm of lewd jokes and reminiscing. No one made Adrian feel unwelcome, but Elina did feel the stares directed her way every once in a while.

  She didn’t smoke cigars nor drink beers, so she ordered a shot of Southern Comfort and sipped that. Under the table she tapped her foot, the tension and anticipation of seeing Kingston riding her hard. A soft hand landed on her thigh. She glanced at Adrian from the corner of her eye. He spoke to Niko about his tattoos, but rubbed her in a soothing gesture.

  She topped tapping. Adrian circled her shoulders, squeezed her gently, and she flashed him a grateful smile.

  “So, Adrian.” Sasha placed her glass of Nuvo on the table and focused her gaze on Adrian like lasers. “Tell us how you and El met.”

  Adrian grinned. “We work together at the daycare center, but we enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company outside of work as well.”

  “How long have you known each other?” Myka asked.

  “Quite a while now.” Adrian leaned over and dropped a kiss on her lips.

  “A while?” Kingston’s barked words echoed over Elina’s head.

  Where the hell did he materialize from?

  She tried not to flinch as Kingston continued, “You don’t say.”

  She gazed up into his thunderous eyes, then glanced at the big-boobed chick stuck to his side. The same woman she watched blow him in his office. A scowl clung to the silicon enhanced face as Big-Boobs watched Kingston glare at Elina.

  Elina turned her back on him. “I do say.” He brought that woman back here? What was this, he planned to continue as if he and Elina never happened?

  “Pull up a chair, Kingston.” Sasha waved him over.

  The next thing Elina knew, King and his bitch were crowded around the table, stifling her fucking air.

  Reaching below the table, she dug her nails into Adrian’s thigh. The poor man flinched and pushed his chair back.

  “Excuse us, guys. I’m taking this pretty woman here to the dance floor.” He held out a hand and she took it, trying to convey her relief with her eyes.

  “Since when do you dance, El?” Kingston scoffed.

  Adrian laced their fingers and helped her to her feet. “Since me.”

  Fucking genius answer. She smiled and waved at the group around the table. “I’ll be back later. Or not.” Though her knees went traitorously weak at King’s presence, she managed to walk out of the basement and up the stairs before collapsing on Adrian.

  “Damn.” He circled her waist. “You have got it bad.”

  A mournful chuckle left her throat. “Si. He’s made his intentions clear, hasn’t he?” Tears filled her eyes. “He came with her.”

  “Aw, honey.” Adrian kissed her cheek. “Here, let’s take the elevator to the third floor. You look like you can do with a sweat.” He ushered her into the elevator and pushed the button for the third floor.

  “I’d like to sweat him out of my system.” She brushed tears off her cheeks. “I’ve been in love with him for so long, I don’t know how not to be.”

  “One step at a time.” Adrian grinned. “First we get your blood pumping, then we see about getting you another man. Best way to get over a man is to get under another one.”

  She burst out laughing. “Nice. Who the fuck are you, Freud?”

  He joined in her laughter with a shrug. “Hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Works wonders for me.”

  The elevator doors opened onto the crowded dance floor. Couples lined the walls in all manners of public display, kissing, slow grinding. Elina spotted a man with his hand under the skirt of the woman he grinded on. The barely-clothed woman threw her head back, lips parted, and arched as she and her partner moved to the sensual sway of Usher’s Love in this Club. Elina turned her head, feeling like she shouldn’t be privy to the look of bliss on the couple’s face.

  She looked up at Adrian. “Dance with me.”

  Those blue eyes twinkled. “How dirty do you want to get?”

  “Filthy.”

  Usher’s song blended into Trey Songz’ Bottoms Up. Elina grabbed Adrian around the waist and slammed him into the wall. He grunted at the impact, but sank his fingers into her butt cheeks. She pushed a thigh between his legs, he did the same to her, and they moved, slow and sexy.

  The hem of her black dress slid up and up, dangerously close to exposing her ass, but Elina didn’t care. The room was dark enough, music loud enough, and her heart just broken enough to dismiss such a trivial thing.

  Adrian’s hot breath blasted her neck as he held her close, grinding his pelvis into her. She felt his cock between them, standing at half-mast, but for all that he was simulating sex with their dance moves, he was all about cock, not pussy. She didn’t mind it at all, she could lose herself, get as loose as she wanted without compromising herself.

  Adrian brought a safety Kingston didn’t, and while she appreciated it, she still disliked that it was Adrian touching her body and not Kingston.

  The raunchy music changed again, this time to hip hop. Adrian reversed their positions, pushing her shoulders into the wall. She went willingly, clutching his biceps and hooking a leg around his.

  “Are you okay?” His loud voice tickled her eardrum.

  She met his gaze and nodded. Downstairs the man she loved sat with his choice and she had to live with it. She’d start tomorrow. Tonight she wanted to be touched, even if it was by another man who didn’t want her. At least Adrian hadn’t sampled the goods first.

  “The pain will lessen, trust me.” Adrian pulled her close and she buried her face in his chest. They stopped moving when the fast, upbeat music turned soft and slow. Couples burrowed deeper into each other’s embrace, swaying to Alicia Keys’ Unthinkable.

  As if bidden by the husky song lyrics, tears welled up and slid down her cheeks. A sob escape
d her locked throat. Adrian pulled away and searched her wet gaze. His mouth moved and he tugged on her hand, pulling her out of the throng of people and back into the waiting elevator. Elina didn’t look up at the others crowded inside the small space. She kept her face buried in Adrian’s chest, feeling his steady heartbeat.

  A ding and the doors opened. Adrian ushered her out again.

  “Talk to me, Elina.”

  She lifted her head and looked around. They were in the stairwell. A big red sign marked it as the second floor. Shaking her head at his question, she sniffed.

  “I just… It’s stupid to feel this way about someone who gave no hint that he felt the same.” She stared at her feet.

  “But you can’t help how you feel.” Adrian placed a finger under her chin. “Stop beating yourself up. It’ll get better.”

  “I know.” She folded her arms and leaned against the rail. “It feels like something is missing, like I’ve left something behind when we… when I…”

  “I know.” Adrian moved closer and wrapped his arms around her. “I had the same experience not too long ago. A stranger, no names, barely spoken words, and yet I felt… taken. Branded somehow.”

  Elina sighed. He did know how she felt. “I’m sorry about your situation.”

  His chuckle rumbled in her ear. “Ditto.”

  A door opened. She didn’t budge or open her eyes as a rush of warm air heated her arms.

  A gun cocked.

  Adrian stiffened in her hold. Elina’s eyes flew open. She stared up at Adrian’s rigid jaw and closed eyes.

  “Back away from her slowly and disappear before I fucking make you.”

  Kingston! What the hell?

  Adrian dropped his arms and shuffled backwards, gaze on her. Kingston moved to the side, gun trained on him.

  “What are you doing?” Elina stepped forward.

  “You move and I shoot him.”

  Elina halted at the snarled words, gasping at the black violence swirling in Kingston’s eyes. He flipped his gaze from her to Adrian, motioning with the gun.