Beautifully Broken (6 page)

A
hand taps my shoulder and I leap a few feet, raising a hand to my beating heart
as I quickly turn around to find Lucas’ eyes glaring furiously at me. I really
need to get my keys back

“You
scared the shit out of me!” I scream at him removing the headphones from my
ears.

“Where
have you been?” he questions through gritted teeth.

“Lucas
this is not what I call space, you can’t just show up here anytime you want questioning
me. You’re not my boyfriend anymore.” I say brusquely, avoiding his question.

He
takes a deep breath and begins to pace in front of me, “You don’t think I get
that. You said you wanted a break from our relationship and we would remain
friend but I’ve seen you less in the last couple weeks than ever before.” He
rubs his closely shaven head and huffs, “if you’re seeing someone else let me
know.”

This
is my chance to come clean. If I don’t tell him the truth now I never will but
if I do he’ll hate me as much as he does Liam.

“There
no one else” I answer. I’m a coward and I know it. I pretend to be protecting
Lucas but really I just selfishly don’t want to lose either man.

“I’m
sorry I’ve been so occupied lately, I promise we’ll have dinner soon.” I kiss
him on his cheek then pull him into my arms. He rests his head on my shoulder
and runs his nose up my neck smelling my hair. I silently pray the scent of the
hot sex I just had with Liam isn’t still lingering. I pull away and look into
his face, the tension lines have eased. “I’ll see you at work,” I say making my
way to the shower leaving Lucas to let himself out.

********

Two
weeks have past and I still haven’t been able to make time for that dinner I
promised Lucas. Liam is so overbearing, and fiercely dominating. When I told
him I would be meeting Lucas for dinner he threatened to follow us and reveal
our relationship. This morning when I walked in the building Lucas marched past
me without a sideways glance. He’s a total mess and it’s my doing. His usually
closely shaved hair has grown out and eyes are dark and puffy from lack of
sleep. I can’t stand to see him this way so I devise a plan as I walk to my
office.

At
noon I have lunch from Lucas’ favorite sub shop delivered to reception and make
my way to Lucas office with it. His secretary’s desk is empty so I stroll past
and enter his office after a quick knock.

“Hey
babe,” I chirp as I juggle our lunch. “I brought you lun…ch.” I stutter as I
realize Lucas isn’t alone.

“Hey
Izzy,” Lucas smiles, walking towards me. “This is Liam Maddox,” he continues on
not noticing the daggers Liam is shooting towards me. “Liam, Isabella Moss my
girlfriend. Liam was just leaving” he states pulling me into his arms for a hug.
“I missed you” he says loud enough for Liam to hear and I realize he wants me
to play along but I can’t, playing this game is too dangerous. I have no doubt
I’ll be paying for this later tonight. My eyes beg Liam to keep quiet as I
stand there-frozen, not able to return Lucas’ hug with my hands still full.

“Nice
to meet you” I mumble as Lucas lets go of me. I walk to the desk with my head
hung low too afraid to make anymore eye contact with Liam. He leaves the room
without a parting word, slamming the door behind him hard enough to rattle the frames
on the wall. I flinch at the sound, my hands shaking frantically.

Lucas
sighs, “That dick is trying to buy me out of this company. My father worked as
hard as his did to build this company. He can stay here as long as he wants
trying to find leverage over me, he won’t find it.”

“Relax
Luc, he’s not going to take anything from you, I’ll make sure of it.”

“How
are you going to do that when I barely see you? Your off running around town
all day, you don’t even sleep in your condo anymore.” He spits out bitterly.

“I
sleep at my condo,” I lie.

“
No
You Don’t
!” he screams. “I’ve been there at least three times in the middle
of the night this week and you weren’t there.”

I’m
stunned silent. Luc is stalking me. We’ve been close for years and I really
believed he would respect my space when I asked for it. “I need my keys back,”
I hold out my hand, waiting for him to place them in my palm.

“Is
that all you have to say? You aren’t going to tell me who this new dickhead
is?” his voice shaking in fury. I stare at him blankly not responding to his
rant. When he realizes I’m really not going to respond he reaches into his
pocket and removes his key ring. It takes seconds for him to remove the key and
place it in my hand. I promptly turn and quietly walk towards the door.

“Anna
wants to see you,” he says calmly.

I
continue out the door without a backwards glance. I love Anna, I really do, but
I don’t know how to be in the same room with Liam’s mother anymore. I feel like
she’ll see right through me. Maybe smell her sons scent on me like a mother
bear seeking her cub. I know I’m being ridiculous but I’ve never been able to
lie to Anna.

Everything
is so fucked up right now I can’t think straight. Lucas knows I’m lying to him,
I’m avoiding Anna and she’s the only female I have any kind of relationship
with and Liam probably won’t even let me in his apartment tonight. That scares
me the most. I’ve become accustomed to Liam soothingly caressing my back as we
gaze in each other’s eyes until our lids get heavy with sleep. Both of us
afraid if we close our eyes the other will disappear.

Everyday
a piece of Liam’s armor crumbles and so does mine. This morning as he poured
coffee into my favorite mug that I brought over, he suggested I bring it with
me when we go to Palm Beach. This was news to me because we never discussed me
going anywhere near Florida. I don’t think even Liam can convince me to be that
close to my mother.

My
phone buzzes just as I sit at my desk. I pull it out and see I have a new
message from Liam. My heart begins pounding faster as I fumble with the screen
to open the message.

You
have one hour to get your ass to my place or I will drag you out that building
making sure your ‘boyfriend’ knows who you really belong to

I
stare at the screen for several minutes trying to scale how much trouble I’m
in. At least he wants to see me. I’m hoping that means he’s not totally done
with me. As long as I get to lie in his arm tonight taking in that delicious
scent that is only Liam, I’ll be alright.

I
quickly gather my things and tell Alice I won’t be back today. “See you on
Monday Alice” I call over my shoulder trying to escape as soon as possible.

“Oh
Isabella” she calls as I reach the door. I whirl around on my heels and stare
at her impatiently. “I ran into Liam Maddox in the hallway earlier, we’re going
out tomorrow night. I think I may get into that man’s pants after all.”

Her
devilish smile conveys her plans for him. I stand frozen in place staring at
her. She returns to her work like she didn’t just rock my world off its axis. I
take a huge breath to ease the tension rising up in my chest threatening to
choke me. I spin on my heels and head toward the elevator on shaky legs. I was
ready to grovel at Liam’s feet moments ago, now I’m mentally preparing for the
war that will ensue.

Liam

My
bare feet pace across the cold wood floor ‘
I can’t believe I let her in’
I scold myself. I began to feel things I knew were never meant for me. Women
don’t wrap me around their fingers no matter how beautiful, sexy and alluring
they are. She almost had me fooled into thinking it was just us. I watched what
I thought was real emotions shimmer in her bright gray eyes as we lay in bed,
running her fingers through my hair.

This
whole time she was still fucking that prick, strutting her ass into his office offering
him lunch. She hasn’t once brought me lunch. She played me as bad as she did
Lucas, maybe more so because I was aware of what a whore she was before I even
got here. She’s good, really good. I stop and stare at the image in the mirror
hanging on the wall. I’ve pretended for years to be so strong then in walks
Isabella Moss and I’m as weak as my father.

 Keys
jingle at the door causing my heart to flutter. Even in this fucked situation
I’m fucking excited to see her. She breezes in slamming the door behind her. She
marches up to me chest heaving, cheeks pink and eyes glaring. “How dare you!”
she shrieks. What? She’s mad at me?

“You
come into my workplace, misinterpret something between me and a
friend
and now you have the gall to think you’re gonna fuck my secretary.” She’s
seething mad. I can’t believe she’s standing there lying to my face. Thinking
she can cavort with both Lucas and I and we’ll be so engrossed in her, we won’t
even glance at another woman. I don’t even want her secretary, that bimbo
practically threw her soaked panties at my face, she was just a distraction at
the perfect time.

“How
dare you come in here and lie to my face, you slut.” She stammers backwards
shocked by the venom in my voice. “You know how I feel about you spending time
with that asshole. All along you’ve been flaunting your tight little ass around
his office offering him lunch and probably much more.”  I move in so close that
if she flinches our noses will touch. “Did you let him fuck you on his desk
like I fucked you on mine? Did he make you scream the way I did?” I hiss in her
face. Breathing heavily I run the back of my hand along her beautiful face.

Her
breathing slows and she leans into my hand. “I’m not lying to you Liam. I
haven’t touched another man since meeting you.” She reaches up and runs her
hands through my hair, knowing her touch soothes me. “I would never do that to
you. You know me far more than Lucas who’s been with me for ten years. I’ve
seen the files you have of me in your office.” My head snaps up, I had no idea
she found my files.

“Shh”
she says bringing my forehead up against hers. “You know all that ugly stuff about
me and you accept me despite it. I spend so much time wearing a mask it’s nice
to be able to be myself around someone. I know you think I’ll do all those
things I did to Lucas to you but I won’t betray you Liam. I won’t betray us.”
Her gray eyes gleam with unshed tears. It’s killing her to let anyone see her
so weak and exposed. We have our fear of weakness in common. So much fear of
the emotions churning inside us we can’t even use the words that hang on an
invisible wire between us. The urge to be wrapped in her is immediate. She’s my
Achilles heel and I need to trust her cause being without her isn’t an option.

I
take her hand and entwine it in mines as I pull her towards my bedroom. I close
the door behind us, watching her walk across the room and place her purse on my
nightstand after removing her phone. She docks her iphone on my alarm clock
quickly selecting a playlist.

She
walks towards me slowly unbuttoning her blouse. She stops inches from me slipping
her shirt down her arm and it falls in a puddle at her feet. The tips of her
perfect breast showing through the lacy cups of her bra, her hips shimmy as she
slides her skirt down her legs, revealing her thong and the sexiest garter I’ve
ever seen. She reaches up with her right hand and lets her hair fall from its
messy bun.

She’s
the picture of a goddess as she tilts her head to one side, runs her hand
through her hair letting it fall over her right shoulder. My erection throbs in
my pajama bottoms.

I
want her.

No
I need her.

I
need her like I need to breath.

I
need to possess her. To place my brand on her, plant it deep in her.

I
reach out and place a hand behind her neck, dragging her up against me. I
attack her lips desperately, tasting cinnamon on her lips. Her hands tangle in
my hair as my hands slips down to her hips, pulling her against my erection. I
squeeze her ass urging her to wrap her legs around my waist. I somehow make it
to the bed dropping on top of her, never breaking our kiss.

My
lips travel to her neck licking and sucking till she moans my name. I rub her
breast over her bra; she arches into my hand wanting more. I rise up on my
knees, making quick work of taking her bra and panties off. As I lean in to
claim her lips a hand at my chest holds me off. She runs them down my side into
the edge of my pajama bottoms. I help her take them off, her hand instantly
encircling my shaft. The pleasure of having her warm hands on me causing my
eyes to shut. Her expert strokes bringing me to the edge. A tingling sensation
begins in my cock. My eyes shot open when her tongue runs up the underside of
my shaft.  Her warm mouth engulfs me as she takes me deep into the back of her
throat in one move. My balls begin to tighten and I grab her by her hair and
pull her off.

Her
eyes plead with me to let her continue. She licks her lips in an effort to keep
my essence in her mouth. I don’t want to lose it in her mouth today, I want to
come deep within her. One more pull from that sexy mouth and I would have lost
it. Before anything else I need to taste her. I stretch her out on the bed,
placing soft kisses on her navel. As I spread her legs wider she begins to
tremble with anticipation.