Twisted Tides (Forged Hearts #2)

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

EVIE

“Tear You Apart” by She Wants Revenge

W e stand there in shared silence trying to process the events that have happened from our point of view and lives that led up to this moment. Jameson pulls me back to hold me, letting me know he is here for me and not going anywhere. We line the shots up again, and I make another toast.

“To all the twisted lies coming to light.” I lock eyes with Emma and she nods.

“I’ll drink to that.” She lifts her drink up and taps the table like I’ve seen her do so many times with her friends.

I frown, recalling this as Emma commits such a common action with no thought to it, as she tosses her shot back. We down the shots and throw our discarded limes on the plate before us. Jameson intertwines my fingers with his, sensing my downward spiraling mood. He silently encourages me with this action, but patiently waits for me to tell them the truth.

I look at our entwined hands and it gives me strength to get it out there. To place my past before us. To verbalize the words that I want to suppress more than anything because of all the feelings that arise from the torment of reliving it through my vivid memories of past events.

And I do—the long, sordid tale of those past events and leading up to all that transpired just yesterday. I speak of what happened while we were disposing of the bodies. The empty vessels. The people who caused us so much pain, but we know that it doesn’t end there. We know what's to come, just not when. That is an unspoken truth that lingers in the air like the calm before the storm.

Hours later, he is still holding my hand. I stop and look around at everyone, and I suddenly feel so sleepy. It’s as if all my energy has been zapped from my body. I know that I am, in fact, more emotionally drained than physically. The thought of just telling everyone the entirety of our sordid tale has taken so much out of me, and to be honest, it has the same effect on Evie and Mateo as I stare at their resolute expressions.

Eduardo is the first to break the silence. He claps his hands together. “Okay, I think that we should all get a good night’s sleep and then reconvene in the morning. It has been a long couple of days.” He brings Emma in and kisses the top of her head.

We look around at each other to process the conversation and decide to table it for another day. I look at Mateo, and he shakes his head, reading my thoughts of silently imploring him to take us back to the apartment. “Not a chance in hell, Evie. I am staying here tonight.”

Eduardo grabs Emma’s hand. “You are all welcome to stay. In fact, I insist. There is room for everyone.” Emma kisses Eduardo’s hand before releasing it.

“Babe, will you help me get everyone settled into a room?” He looks at her lovingly.

“Of course, baby. Do you need me to grab you any extra sheets from the linen cabinet?”

She nods. “Yes, and a fitted sheet for the sofa, too.”

Mateo starts to walk toward it, already choosing his place to retire for the night. “I’ll take the sofa, Emma.” He drops his bag near it, and Eduardo comes back from down the hall, carrying linen for the bedding. Mateo takes the items and makes himself comfortable on the sofa.

“Eli and Philip can take the game room and the couches there,” she indicates with a nod of her head, turning toward the hall, then she turns to speak to Gus.

He lifts his hands. “I’m going home. I have somewhere to be.”

Eduardo laughs. “You mean someone to do?”

Gus shrugs the comment off. “Same thing. Laters.” He walks out the door, I grab Jameson by the hand, dragging him toward the hallway.

Emma calls out before we make it to one of the rooms, stopping us. She runs over, grabbing me in a solid embrace. “I’m so glad you are here.” She kisses my cheek as I hold onto Jameson’s hand, my eyes glistening.

“Me too, Emma.”

I spare a glance at Eduardo, who is looking on with adoration just as Jameson is looking at me. I know they think that we are unbelievably brave, and I know that we are going to need to continue to be strong and support each other if we are going to get through this.

I enter the spacious room with a sleigh-style bed in the middle of the room against the wall. The room is tastefully decorated in beige, gray, and neutral tones. The earthy color scheme boasts a beautifully understated and classically elegant style, except for the crystal chandelier that hangs in the middle of the ceiling. Two tufted chairs are placed in front of the window, and a table is in the middle where one can look at the cityscape below and gaze at the wonder of a multitude of flickering lights, while looking out onto the city.

“Wow, what a view.”

The billowing curtain sways with the air vents that are currently pumping out some central climate control in the room.

I perch on the seating provided at the foot of the bed to remove my shoes. I place my feet on the rug and tuck my boots into the corner of the seat. I run my feet back and forth on the luxurious fabric before I stand and walk to where Eduardo has left my bag. I step around and look up to find Jameson staring at me.

He smiles. “I’m going to take a quick shower, okay?”

I nod, blinking away my lust-filled thoughts, and continue to organize my stuff. I hear the shower turn on, and the steam billows around the bathroom, creeping out into the bedroom space.

I stand there, conflicted. My clothes are in my hand, and I don’t want to intrude on his shower, but I really want to join him. I figure if he did want company, then he would have asked. So, I continue to stand there waiting.

I hear the shower shut off and a repeated squeaking sound coming from the bathroom. I look up and see his reflection in the mirror as he wipes the condensation and the surge of stormy fog away from the mirror. Our eyes meet in the reflection, and I can’t look away.

Water drops from his wet hair, landing on his chest. His blondish-brown hair appears darker when saturated with water. I can’t help but ogle his body and how incredibly handsome he is—the first two times we were intimate had been under a disguise. I was hiding my face and, more than that, my emotions under a literal mask.

After all the time we had apart, we had explored each other without touching. His voice echoing through the speakerphone, telling me to touch myself—to pretend it was him. The way my hands obliged and pretended they were, in fact, his as I made myself come over and over the past months I was away from him.

Seeing him here right now, naked and wet in front of me, is surreal. Although nothing was confirmed about our relationship status, I know in my heart that I am his and he is mine. I hope that the intimacy we shared remotely can be reciprocated tonight. I want to release the control I’ve come to need and give it over to him.

Let him take me. Claim me. Make me his.

I walk into the bathroom, facing the shower. I undress without looking back at him. I step into the shower as he stands there, watching me enter. The transparent glass leaves nothing to the imagination. I wash the day’s grime away from my body and the twisted lies that spewed forth from my mouth earlier as they swirl in a bubbly tide of water down the drain.

He doesn’t move from his spot; he just continues to watch me. The fact that I hold him captive is alluring and empowering to me. I run the conditioner through my shorter hair, and it doesn’t take long to rinse it out.

I shut off the water and hear a cabinet open and close. When I step out of the shower, Jameson is holding a towel open for me, and I turn around as he wraps it and his arms around me. I am immediately enveloped in the fluffy cotton and his warm embrace.

I hold it hitched around me as he takes another smaller one and towels off my hair. He wrings the water from it and fluffs it around, much like he did on his own hair. I can’t help but smile at the simple yet kind domestic act. I rock up on my tiptoes and back down again like a kid waiting for their birthday surprise. He pulls me in for a hug and holds me there, as if he’s afraid I will pull another disappearing act. I ease his concerns.

“I’m not going anywhere, Jameson.” I let him know so he understands I am staying here this time. That this time is different. He kisses the top of my head, as I release the towel from my grasp. He feels it fall from my body, his body tensing in response, and then he looks down at it pooling around my feet. I step back and look up at him. I smile seductively.

I drop my head down, unable to meet his eyes. “I want you to touch me.” He lifts my chin upward to meet his. The fire in his eyes makes me shudder. I gulp before speaking, licking my lips. “Will you show me how much you’ve missed me while I’ve been away?”

His eyes alight with desire, accepting the challenge. “Baby, I would like nothing more. I can’t wait to make you come on my tongue, fingers, and cock.”

He bends forward and takes my hand in his. His other hand caresses my cheek as his lips touch mine. He presses soft kisses to my lips, down my cheek and neck. He slowly licks his way up my neck to my ear, pressing light kisses that make me giggle as his facial hair tickles my sensitive skin. When he sucks my earlobe into his mouth, tugging lightly before he returns his path to my mouth, I meet him without hesitation. I open for him as his tongue swirls with mine in a tangle for dominance.

He moves his hand in between my legs, brushing a finger across and then through my folds. He pushes further inward, parting me, moving the moisture that has pooled around my core and bringing the wetness upward to make little circles around my clit.

My head falls back slightly as he bends lower to kiss my neck, sucking in the exposed skin. I am sure it will make little marks where his mouth has been.

He pushes a finger inside me, and I can’t help the moan that leaves me. He takes his other hand, and places it on my breast. He moves his fingertips over my erect nipples while tugging and flicking over the sensitive peaks. He adds another finger, scissoring them inside me, making me even wetter. When he adds a third finger, I gasp as he fucks me, making me feel so deliciously full. I start to pant with longing, seeking the much-needed release only he can provide.

“What do you need, Evie? Tell me, baby,” he almost pleads, desperate to hear my answer.

I don’t make him wait, the truth falling from my lips. “I only need what you can give me, Jameson.” I can sense this pleases him. The upturn of his smile tells me so against my bare skin. “I need your fingers,” I continue as his fingers thrust in faster, and I feel my climax approaching. “I need your mouth.” I whimper as he sucks hard on my neck, undoubtedly leaving evidence of his claiming my body. “I need you to make me come.”

He curls his finger upward as he hits the exact spot I need to make me see stars as I come undone from his ministrations.

“Oh, God.” I take a few breaths to regulate my racing heart. He removes his fingers, and I see evidence of my climax on his wet fingers as he takes a fingertip and traces my lips with it.

I lick my lips, tasting myself on them, and his eyes flare with pure, unadulterated lust, as he watches the motion. “I need…” I hesitate, wondering if it is wise to reveal so much vulnerability because that would give up any bargaining chips.

He would know my true feelings, bearing it all to him.

Instead, I throw caution to the wind and, for once in my life, decide to relinquish the control I so desperately crave and need. I choose to rip myself open at the seams for the possibility of what we could be.

“I need your heart.”

His eyes meet mine, and the surprise that registers is quickly replaced by a fierce determination.

He smiles widely and then kisses me so deeply that I feel it all the way down to my toes, and I know that, somehow, we are going to be alright.

He takes my hand and leads me out of the bathroom and onto the bed. For once in my life, I put my body and soul into someone else's control. As we lay there wrapped in each other's arms, I can feel the weight lift from my shoulders. The regret that I live with, the same that Emma lives with, feels lighter as I release the burden I have always carried. The lies between everyone is a cross that no one should bear. And for once in my life, I feel free.

Jameson grabs my hand in his as we lie in bed. Our legs draped over one another as our bodies mold together. I close my eyes, drifting off to the sound of his steady breathing, and I realize that this is our new beginning.