Five steps to his door.
Still. No talking.
It opened.
The lock clicked shut.
Darkness enveloped the entire apartment—the only light was the moon as it glowed across the Sound and stretched through the floor-to-ceiling bay windows.
And still no talking.
It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, which should have been my first clue that this wasn’t a one-night stand or a test to see if we were compatible.
This was Lucas and me following through with something we both had wanted a long time ago—something that we were never allowed to have because of factors that felt beyond our control. And something that involved feelings neither of us had ever admitted to out loud.
Until now.
My heart kept trying to remind me that there were other women, that he’d cheated on my sister, that this too was cheating—that I wasn’t different because tomorrow he’d be with someone else.
But stupidly, like I said, I was becoming the girl—the girl who did bad things, the girl who was convinced that she was different, that she was the game changer.
My mind reacted to that possibility in a completely logical way by reminding me of his calendar—of who he’d been on a date with just before he kissed me.
Warm hands cupped my shoulders and then slowly made their way down to my wrists. “You’re so soft.”
I leaned my head back against his chest. “What’s happening?”
“I stopped asking that the minute you kissed me back. Figured it would be better for my sanity.”
“So you admit this is insane, right?”
“Right.”
Protect your heart, protect your heart! Don’t be that girl, don’t be that girl! My brain screamed, and my heart thudded wildly. I turned in his arms. “I’ll be your Wednesday, but only for this week, only for tonight. And then this is over with, whatever this is, whatever itch that needs scratching or desire that needs to be fulfilled. Once I walk out that door, we go back to hating each other and under no circumstances do we ever discuss it. Ever.”
Say no. Please say no.
Give me more than one day.
Be different.
Let this be the game changer.
Instead, Lucas’s expression turned cold as he whispered the word. “Okay.”
I wasn’t different.
I was going to be just like the others, desperate for him, thrown aside when the sun rose the next morning.
One night.
It was all I needed anyway, right? It’s not as if he was going to really commit to me, marry me, offer to impregnate me and father all our children.
“Are you sure about this, Avery?” He cupped my face with his rough hands. “You still have a choice. You can turn that cute ass around and march out that door—hell, you can even slam it on the way out. I’ll even let you keep the steak.”
“Are you offering me an out?”
He nodded.
“Do you offer that to every girl?”
Another nod.
“Do they ever take it?”
“Sometimes.”
“What do you want me to do?”
He paused. “You know, nobody has ever asked me that before.”
Probably because nobody cared about what else he had to offer besides what was dangling between his legs.
“I’m asking. Right now.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “What does Thorn want?”
“You didn’t full-name me.”
“It seems to make you even more arrogant, God forbid.”
His grin made me weak, so weak that I had to hold on to him for strength. Funny how things come full circle. How he’d always been my rock.
Dependable.
Loving.
And now?
He held all the power. Lucas Thorn . . . could destroy me.
“Stay.” He brushed a soft kiss across my lower lip. “I want you to stay.”
Still. No talking.
It opened.
The lock clicked shut.
Darkness enveloped the entire apartment—the only light was the moon as it glowed across the Sound and stretched through the floor-to-ceiling bay windows.
And still no talking.
It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, which should have been my first clue that this wasn’t a one-night stand or a test to see if we were compatible.
This was Lucas and me following through with something we both had wanted a long time ago—something that we were never allowed to have because of factors that felt beyond our control. And something that involved feelings neither of us had ever admitted to out loud.
Until now.
My heart kept trying to remind me that there were other women, that he’d cheated on my sister, that this too was cheating—that I wasn’t different because tomorrow he’d be with someone else.
But stupidly, like I said, I was becoming the girl—the girl who did bad things, the girl who was convinced that she was different, that she was the game changer.
My mind reacted to that possibility in a completely logical way by reminding me of his calendar—of who he’d been on a date with just before he kissed me.
Warm hands cupped my shoulders and then slowly made their way down to my wrists. “You’re so soft.”
I leaned my head back against his chest. “What’s happening?”
“I stopped asking that the minute you kissed me back. Figured it would be better for my sanity.”
“So you admit this is insane, right?”
“Right.”
Protect your heart, protect your heart! Don’t be that girl, don’t be that girl! My brain screamed, and my heart thudded wildly. I turned in his arms. “I’ll be your Wednesday, but only for this week, only for tonight. And then this is over with, whatever this is, whatever itch that needs scratching or desire that needs to be fulfilled. Once I walk out that door, we go back to hating each other and under no circumstances do we ever discuss it. Ever.”
Say no. Please say no.
Give me more than one day.
Be different.
Let this be the game changer.
Instead, Lucas’s expression turned cold as he whispered the word. “Okay.”
I wasn’t different.
I was going to be just like the others, desperate for him, thrown aside when the sun rose the next morning.
One night.
It was all I needed anyway, right? It’s not as if he was going to really commit to me, marry me, offer to impregnate me and father all our children.
“Are you sure about this, Avery?” He cupped my face with his rough hands. “You still have a choice. You can turn that cute ass around and march out that door—hell, you can even slam it on the way out. I’ll even let you keep the steak.”
“Are you offering me an out?”
He nodded.
“Do you offer that to every girl?”
Another nod.
“Do they ever take it?”
“Sometimes.”
“What do you want me to do?”
He paused. “You know, nobody has ever asked me that before.”
Probably because nobody cared about what else he had to offer besides what was dangling between his legs.
“I’m asking. Right now.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “What does Thorn want?”
“You didn’t full-name me.”
“It seems to make you even more arrogant, God forbid.”
His grin made me weak, so weak that I had to hold on to him for strength. Funny how things come full circle. How he’d always been my rock.
Dependable.
Loving.
And now?
He held all the power. Lucas Thorn . . . could destroy me.
“Stay.” He brushed a soft kiss across my lower lip. “I want you to stay.”
☆☆☆☆☆☆
MORE About Cheater
Lucas Thorn wasn’t born a cheater. All it took was a single moment—say, a certain disastrous incident on the night before his wedding—and boom. Reputation destroyed forever and always. So now he owns it. He has a lady friend for every night of the week (except Sundays—God’s day and all), and his rules are simple: No commitments. No exceptions.
But a certain smart-mouthed, strawberry blonde vixen is about to blow that all to hell.
Avery Black has never forgiven Lucas for cheating on her sister. And suddenly being forced to work with him is pretty much a nightmare on steroids. Of course, it does afford her the opportunity to make his life as difficult as possible. But no good revenge scheme comes without payback. Because he didn’t become the Lucas Thorn without learning a few things about women.
Now Avery’s lust for vengeance has turned into, well, lust. And if Lucas stops cheating, it’s definitely not because he’s falling in love…
Lucas Thorn wasn’t born a cheater. All it took was a single moment—say, a certain disastrous incident on the night before his wedding—and boom. Reputation destroyed forever and always. So now he owns it. He has a lady friend for every night of the week (except Sundays—God’s day and all), and his rules are simple: No commitments. No exceptions.
But a certain smart-mouthed, strawberry blonde vixen is about to blow that all to hell.
Avery Black has never forgiven Lucas for cheating on her sister. And suddenly being forced to work with him is pretty much a nightmare on steroids. Of course, it does afford her the opportunity to make his life as difficult as possible. But no good revenge scheme comes without payback. Because he didn’t become the Lucas Thorn without learning a few things about women.
Now Avery’s lust for vengeance has turned into, well, lust. And if Lucas stops cheating, it’s definitely not because he’s falling in love…
NOW AVAILABLE & FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!
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Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
