Ivy’s Pov
The door to my penthouse clicked shut behind me, the soft click swallowed by the silence of the sprawling living room. I leaned against the cool wood, my body humming.
The memory of Roman’s skin and his erotic moans kept replaying in my head over and over. I had pretty much hidden from him and that jerk twin brother of his until it was late in the evening, then I scurried out of the mansion like my ass was on fire.
Ugh, I was a mess.
What was I thinking touching Roman?
"But he felt so good," I sighed, closing my eyes tightly, replaying his words.
...You’re doing so good, sweetheart...
Gosh, he was such a lover boy. I had never had anyone praise me like that. Angel was too much of an asshole to even try to. If Malachi hadn’t interrupted...
"Nope, cut it out," I snapped at myself, pushing off the door. I had a job to do.
I crossed the carpet, strutting down the hallway to my study. Laughter boomed from our bedroom, and my skin crawled in disgust. Great, my darling loving husband was home.
My laptop sat on the glass console table in my study, a sleek black rectangle mocking me. Did I get the files I wanted? I hope so, or that meant I got carried away giving the enemy a freaking handjob for nothing!
Big fucking screw up.
I fished out the flash drive from the small cheap black leather bag I usually took to work as Ivy Harpley and jammed it into the port while it loaded on the laptop screen.
A few files appeared. There were spreadsheets, memos, some corporate bullshit; I scrolled through them, my dread growing with every click.
But it wasn’t there. The ledger. The one document Dad asked for wasn’t there.
"No, no," I hissed, slapping a hand over my face. "You’re so screwed, Harper."
My phone vibrated in the bag, and with my lips twisted in a sneer, I rummaged through the bag, pushing aside my uniform until I got the phone. A text from an unknown number flashed across the screen.
Unknown: Left so soon? Is it only Roman that gets to have your hands wrapped around his cock? That’s prejudick, baby.
A thrill, hot and sharp, shot through me, followed by a wave of fury.
"Fucking Malachi!" I tossed the phone onto the table with a clatter, trying to ignore the way my body lit up at his freaking audacity.
My mind was treacherous as hell and replayed the scene by the pool. Roman’s gentle coaxing, his praise, the thick, velvety weight of his cock in my hand. My fingers flexed at the memory.
Then, another memory intruded into my head, making me dizzy, the room suddenly getting hotter. The stranger in the elevator who had fucked me. His rough grip, the scent of smoke and bourbon, his filthy words whispered in my ear.
Roman barely cursed while I... touched him, and he was quite gentle, but the man in the elevator was so... intense.
Like Malachi.
Oh god! Was he the one who had fucked me in the elevator that night?
Ring-ring.
My phone shrilled from the sofa, the same unknown number flashing on the screen. Why on earth was he calling me?
My pride warred with my curiosity. I should ignore him completely. I was only in that house for a mission.
But I also wanted to hear what the jerk wanted. Besides, getting close to the brothers was a quicker way to get access to what I wanted... right?
My curiosity won. I snatched the screaming device up and swiped to answer. "Leave me the fuck alone, Malachi."
A low, rumbling chuckle filtered through the phone, dark and delicious.
"Is that any way to talk to the man who’s about to make you come all over your pretty fingers? I have to admit, I’m pissed. I really thought I’d be first, but you let Ro fucking beat me to it. Now I have to pay two hundred grand to him, and he won’t shut up about it."
My blood boiled. I seethed, my grip tightening on the phone.
"You initiated a bet on which one of you could fuck the housekeeper first?"
"Among other things,"
I couldn’t decide what infuriated me more, knowing about the bet or the completely unashamed response he gave me.
"But don’t worry about that. You should worry more about the things I’ll do to you. I can’t wait to fill that smart mouth of yours with my dick. I bet you’d look so fucking pretty with your lips stretched around me."
"You’re disgusting," I hissed, but my body betrayed me. Heat pooled low in my belly, my breasts aching, feeling heavy and sensitive.
Without thinking, my free hand drifted up, cupping one through the thin fabric of my dress. I squeezed, hissing at the jolt of pleasure.
"Am I?" he purred, his voice dropping to a sinful whisper.
"Then why are you touching yourself right now? I know you are. I know you’re wet for me. Soaking your panties, wishing it was my hand instead of yours. You’re dripping for me, aren’t you, baby?"
"Leave me alone," my words slipped out weak, breathless. Yeah sure I was dripping, but he didn’t have to know that! His words were like a hot caress over my skin, and I was hating how much I wanted it.
"Who are you talking to?"
Angel’s voice cut through the haze like a shard of ice. I yelped, dropping my phone onto the thick rug as if it were on fire.
I spun around to see him standing in the doorway to my study, wearing a mint green sweatshirt and black pants, his arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowed at me.
"Nonya,"
His brows furrowed deeper at my response. "What?"
"Nonya business," I finished, tilting my head as I bent over to pick up my phone.
He strode forward, his hand outstretched. "Don’t lie to me, Harper. Give me the phone."
"You have some balls making that demand of me," I hissed, snapping my laptop close. I didn’t trust the bastard standing before me one bit. "Don’t you have a Jake to fuck?"
"Why?" His face twisted, a condescending smile pulling at his lips.
"Jealous much? Or maybe you want to see us go at it? I’ll bet it’s the only excitement you have in your boring life."
Tears stung the corner of my eyes. Why couldn’t I leave this bastard again?
"If I am so boring, why don’t you just walk away and never fucking come back?" I fumed, digging my nails into my palm to keep myself from scratching his face off.
"Because you need me and I’m such a good husband, I can’t abandon you when you need me," He stated smugly, his eyes gleaming as if he truly believed that I needed him.
"You’re out of your mind!" I shot back, my voice shaking with rage and hurt. "You flabby, spineless piece of-"
"Watch your mouth," he snarled, suddenly zooming forward until he was looming above me. My eyes widened in shock, and instinctively, my legs stumbled a step back.
What the hell was that? Angel had never... Angel had never moved like that before.
His nostrils flared. "You’re still my wife. You’ll do well to remember that."
My throat bobbed as I swallowed hard, watching him strut out of my study, unable to process what the hell just happened.
I stood there, trembling, my phone still clutched in my hand. A moment later, it buzzed again with another text. I glared at the screen, ready to unleash another torrent of fury at Malachi.
But the fury drained from my body in a single, icy wave, replaced by fear so deep it rattled my bones when I saw the text and this wasn’t from Malachi.
"I saw what you did."