Twisted Tides (Forged Hearts #2)

Chapter Ten

EVIE

“Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem

I ’ve been busy these past few weeks and haven’t been able to reach out to Jameson since I sent that last text message on the dating app. Pretending you are dead and trying not to be seen is more complicated than one would think. My Uncle Andrés summoned us to meet with him in Mexico about the incident with Emma in her apartment.

Emma and Liv were catching up and visiting, since Liv spends most of her time at Dax’s place. Julian must have been in Emma’s apartment and wrote a message on her mirror. This prompted Eduardo to race to her apartment and drag her out with a bag. I had been watching the apartment as they drove away.

After that incident, it is clear he is in Houston and has found her. We just don’t know how, but we have to be smart about when to anticipate his next move.

She’s been at Eduardo’s ever since that night. He has provided around-the-clock security detail for her. Someone takes her to work, or he personally takes her places. She is even working the night shift at the hospital now. We hope it is safer that way.

Emma was back at the apartment today, and we were on high alert. Their friends from Padre Island are here and unpacked their stuff hours ago. Watching them tonight proved to be an act of patience. I was at The Viceroy Club with Mateo, watching Emma and her friends from afar. Eduardo allowed her out of his sight as long as she brought the girls to his club, where he could have his security and bouncers watch over them closely.

I had been waiting at the club. Her friends from Padre Island and her best friend, Liv, walk in. The girls are excited about tonight, but Emma is frowning, looking at her best friend. Concern etches her face as she tries to have fun but will not leave Liv’s side. I immediately notice Liv looking a little peaked. Despite her best performance, the girl seems one step away from puking in a trashcan.

Always watching and never participating, I feel like I’m living my life through Emma and her friends, except I’m not; I’m nobody. I sigh.

Suddenly, I see a man approaching Emma and her friends dancing. On high alert, I sit up straight on my barstool and send a message to Mateo, but he’s already on the dance floor watching Emma as this random girl grinds on him. I’m also watching Emma, and she seems to notice something is off.

Security is around the dance floor talking into their headsets. I walk toward the dance floor’s perimeter, wondering if this is when my cover is blown, but Mateo and I make eye contact. The girl he is dancing with has her head buried in his chest and is holding onto him. He shakes his head at me, and I immediately go back.

A big, muscular guy wearing a tight-fitted Henley shirt with tattoos in places similar to Eduardo’s approaches Emma with a predatory gleam in his eye. He starts to dance closely against her, and a small commotion occurs on the dance floor. A very pissed-off Eduardo tells the guy something in his ear while looking at my sister. He nods in recognition when he realizes his error. Emma is led off the dance floor hand-in-hand with Eduardo, and I visibly relax. Then she turns back and rips her hand away, running to Liv.

Liv is holding onto a barstool, swaying as if she is one breath away from passing out of the floor. She motions for Eduardo, and he quickly calls for security. Liv is picked up and taken upstairs to what I assume is Eduardo's office. Emma and the girls follow her upstairs past the VIP areas and into the back hallway. Mateo abandons his partner on the dance floor and walks to me with purpose.

I toss back a shot of tequila and pass one over to Mateo. He takes it from me and throws it back in a similar fashion. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. I lean over to talk with him. The music is unforgiving, but I can’t wait and need to know now.

“What happened? Did you see what went on?” I lean in closer to hear him better, but then pull back. “Ugh, you smell like a brothel.” The cheap perfume is so sickly sweet that it’s nausea-inducing. “Is this what Liv smelled?”

He shakes his head.

“You’re so dramatic, Evie.” He moves closer, despite my wrinkling my nose and the stench emanating from his shirt.

“It really does smell bad. I’m allergic to cheap perfume.”

He ignores me.

“Yeah, that guy with Emma was a distraction. I saw another guy walking around that was staring at Emma. It’s probably a good thing Liv had to be carried away. It brought extra security around them, honestly.”

I see a bouncer escorting a man through the crowd and walking toward the VIP rooms. I nod.

“Wanna bet that’s Liv’s boyfriend?” Mateo snorts at his own question.

“Wanna bet that girl’s pregnant?” I counter and look over at my brother with one raised eyebrow.

“You think so?” He looks at me like that is impossible. He shudders. “Kids.”

“Who knows?” I’ve already lost interest in Emma’s ‘best friend.’ “I guess it could be a stomach bug.” I roll my eyes for emphasis, just in case he didn’t pick up on my sarcasm.

“Maybe,” he answers in more of a question than a statement, still not grasping my condescending tone.

I look up to the balcony, and see Emma hanging over, looking down at the crowd dancing below. Her friends are around, and she is watching someone walk in. I look at her line of sight and freeze when I see Jameson approaching Eduardo’s office. Mateo catches my eye.

“What are you doing, Evie?” I want to get up and run after him, but I can’t. My fist is clenched, and the other holds on to the barstool, preventing me from running after him. I look back up and see that Emma has returned to her friends.

“Let’s wait and go back to see what we can learn from there.” I go to stand, and Mateo grabs my hand. He must see the anxiety rising to the surface, coming over in waves. I take a deep breath to calm myself.

“Come on, sis. I got you.”

We leave the club, and I hold onto my brother like a lifeline—the only man who has been there for me.

We waited but never saw Jameson and Philip exit the club. I did see another man they called Eli drive off with Emma and the girls, undoubtedly to take them home. Mateo followed them, and I took off to our apartment alone.

Instead of going there, I detour, taking the on-ramp heading to Jameson’s place. I’m parked outside, stalking him, and I’m excited to see him. I didn’t think it would be this long before I saw him again, but here I am debating on whether or not to end the torture I’ve felt, not being able to reach out to him because I was out of the country.

Seeing him walk into the club, and how good he looked made me stabby—even seeing my sister taking him in sent jealousy coursing through me. She has her own man, but the reminder of her legs wrapped around him at the beach sends a bolt of anger rushing through me as my face begins to feel too hot. I turn up the air conditioning and adjust the vent to hit my face, trying to calm the surge of anger.

He pulls into the parking lot, and I watch him jump out of the car and lock it with the key fob. He’s sending a message, and I immediately wonder who he is messaging. I look down at my phone. Nothing. It’s not me, but why would it be. I’ve left him hanging.

I rub at my temples, with the impending headache that threatens to erupt. I open the app where my text message was sent to Jameson some time ago.

‘Come.’ One word has me shivering from head to toe. Goosebumps break out along my arms. I know he sent the message like that because he knew how it would affect me. I have been recounting the events of our first evening together—reliving the experience with Jameson.

My connection with him was one that I have never felt before or with anyone else. I have never allowed myself to become attached to anyone, but with him, I want to try. He makes me feel so much, too much, and that in itself is a scary thought.

Eve

I’ll be there as soon as I can. Leave the door open and the lights off. Be a good boy and wait for me naked in your room ;)

I grab the mask I wore the last time I was with him at the Heavenly Pearl Club. I shouldn’t even be seeing him. I should stay away, but I can’t.

I get out of my car. I parked down the street from his house, and the lights have been off for over an hour. I take in a deep breath, as I open the door, fighting all of the reasons why I should get back in my car and just drive away. Instead, I push open the door and walk into his place.

The lights are off, and I touch my mask to ensure it is in place. I lock the door behind me and take in my surroundings. I walk over to the balcony where I saw him standing weeks ago and take in the view. I want to see it from his point of view. I imagine myself watching him from my car and him looking out, unaware of me.

I touch his sofa. My hand brushes along the soft leather. Its coolness nips against my skin as I walk down the hall toward his bedroom.

And there he is. Lying on his bed. Just as I asked, he is naked and lying flat on his stomach. His even breaths let me know that he is asleep. Did he go to sleep thinking that I had stood him up, that I wouldn’t come?

I go to his chair and sit across from him, staring at his perfect form in front of me. His muscular ass is barely visible in the dim moonlight coming in through the window blinds.

When I look back up to his face, I see his eyes open and looking right back into mine. A small smile plays on his lips, and I can’t help but reciprocate. I reach down and take off my combat boots. I shimmy out of my knee-highs and leather skirt. My tank top is pulled over my head, and I stand there in nothing else except my lacy black bra and a matching thong.

Jameson turns over without breaking eye contact, and his fully erect cock is there for the taking. His tip glistens with precum; I salivate at the thought of tasting him. I reach around and undo my bra, letting it fall to the floor.

I pull down my thong, and wetness pools around my center. The sight of him turns me on.

He groans. “Eve, you’re killing me here.”

I walk over to him and crouch over his body. I lick at the tip of his thick erection as a milky drop leaks from the slit, and I lap it up, tasting his saltiness. He lifts his hips, and I take him in my mouth. Before he can grab my hair, I release him with a pop.

I move slowly up his body, leaving kisses along the way, and when I reach his neck he grabs my face between his hands and he kisses me with everything he has. Our kiss turns sloppy and hungry as if he can’t get enough of me. I understand the feeling. I run my center up and down his dick, soaking it with my wetness. I line him up and drop down onto his thickness, feeling so full.

“God, Jameson, I’ve needed this,” I admit shamelessly, showing him a vulnerability that I refuse to give anyone else. I want him to know that he is different, that what I feel for him means something to me, and that in turn, he means something to me.

I moan and start riding him. His hands go to my hips, pushing me down hard with a punishing force. I place my hand over his, not turning away his touch, but for the first time embracing it.

God, how long has it been since I’ve allowed anyone to touch me like this? It turns me on so much, and I hold his hands there, pinning them to me. I’m lost to the sensations as I bounce up and down on his cock. I hear his breathing become labored.

“Eve, I need you to slow down.” His hand goes up over his head, and his head moves back and forth as if he can fight off the impending orgasm from crashing over him.

“I can’t slow down, it feels too good. I need this Jameson. Please let me have this.” Because I’m almost right there with him. My hands are on his shoulders, and I rock into him as he pushes up into me, meeting me thrust for thrust, both of us lost to the sensations.

“Oh, God.” I pant. “Jameson.”

He brings my face down to him and kisses me, thrusting his tongue in and out along with the pace of his cock. His chest is covered in a sheen of sweat, and my juices run down his cock, soaking his balls. The sloppy sounds of our fucking fill the room. He grabs my ass and brings me down more forcefully, and I swear he is so deep, hitting that sweet spot no one could ever find.

“That’s it, Jameson. Keep doing that.” I throw my head back, and he meets me thrust for thrust. My walls start to convulse as I come so hard that I almost black out.

He fucks me through the orgasm, and he comes after a few more deep thrusts. He brings me down to him, threading our hands together as he kisses me. I collapse onto his chest, and he strokes my back gently. And I allow it. Wetness fills my vision, and everything is blurry.

“Where have you been all this time, Eve?” he whispers, but I don’t think he expects an answer, and I certainly don’t offer him one.

Not once does he ask about my mask.