Novels by Brookedavi

“I thought it was a g–g, nothing.” She flushes and stutters before losing her words.I place the journal on the bedside table and rise, move closer to her. “You thought it was a gun,” I say, “yet you still let me come to your room. Sit on your bed. Talk about what I want.” Now I’m in front of her, and her legs are within reach.“I–It was a mistake,” she says quickly, laughing under her breath. “I thought you were Mafia or something.”“Why?” I lean in,“You hate Mafia?”Her eyes dart to my lips. She licks hers, and something sharp and fast sparks inside me. “They’re just... scary.”I touch her leg. “Are you scared?”She shakes her head, then holds her breath, and nods. “A little. I don’t want to get hurt.”“If I wanted to hurt you,” I say, my hand trailing up the curve of her leg, fingertips brushing along smooth skin to the hem of her dress, “I would’ve done it already. You made it so easy.”She shivers. Her leg shifts toward me, almost unconsciously, like it wants more of my touch. Sh

I have never met someone so impulsive in my life. She drags me into her room and slams the door, hard, in the face of her boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend. I don’t know. I don’t care. Then she turns, and freezes.A towering stranger stands just a breath away in the dim light of the hotel room. Her shoulders rise, eyes wide, breath caught. Just like a bunny.My smile spreads with teeth. This little bunny wants me to eat her. But her actions don’t line up. She’s scared and daring in the same breath, talking about how she doesn’t do one-night stands. I step in closer, studying her.Red hair, too red, like it’s bleached, pinned up with little pearl flowers. Pretty. Cute. Her gown, same color, clings to her full chest. My gaze lingers there. I like that part. Everything else? Not my type.I don’t even do redheads. None of the women I fuck have been redheads. And I’m not exactly in the mood to fuck this one either. But the way she keeps dumping herself in my lap, literally, has me reconsidering.

Jenna runs to him. Apparently, her sprain healed miraculously. “Claire!” she gasps. “Who is this man? Do you even know him?”I want to say no. I want to tell them I barely met him. That he terrifies me. That I’m not entirely sure he’s a good man. But the look on their faces, the fear, it feeds me.It makes me stand taller. Stronger.“Yes, I know him,” I say, and my chest lifts with pride. “And he’s spending the night with me. So I suggest you find another room tonight, Austin.”“What?” He squeaks, stunned. I almost believe Aleksei squeezed his vocal cords instead of his jaw.“You can’t do that. We still have to talk, ”He shoves Jenna’s hands off him, scrambling to his feet like some desperate office worker begging to keep his job.“It’s been nine years, Claire. You can’t just throw it all away like this.”I nearly shout. “I didn’t throw it away. You did.” The words slam out of me, fierce and hot, like lava finally finding air.“If you can move on and sleep with my best friend after n

“Little bunny,” he says, teasing with a grin, “are you trying to get eaten?”I flush so hard my fingers turn red, nearly matching my hair. Scrambling off his lap, I realize, my video is still playing. It’s the one of me in a singlet and panties, playing with my cat and giggling like an idiot. The one I swore I’d never post. The one I hid. Or thought I did.“I just want my phone back,” I say in a small cracking voice. Aleksei glances at the screen, and I know he’s watching me shake my very awkward ass. My fingers tremble, and I barely stop myself from diving at the phone again.“Cute,” Aleksei murmurs, then casually hands me the phone.Cute? I stare at him, stunned, before snatching the phone and slamming the video shut. My face burns. I glance back at him.“Did you just call me–” My mouth moves before my brain can stop it.Aleksei looks at me, and the corner of his mouth curls. “I was talking about your cat,” he says. Then, with a wicked glint in his eye, “But your panties were cute

He says it with a smile full of teeth. My laugh comes out strained, my breath shallow. I glance at the tattoos curling up his neck, the metallic glint that might be a gun under his shirt. Why the hell did I think he was a cop?Maybe... maybe he’s a detective. Or some kind of undercover agent.Or a freaking mafia Claire. God. I just walked straight into something.Before I can spiral further, a black Audi pulls up. Another sinfully attractive man steps out, black hair, graying at the front, cut sharp. He doesn’t say a word. Just tosses the keys to Aleksei.Aleksei catches them without looking. Says something quiet in Russian. The man nods.That must be Niko. His ashy eyes flick to me, and I freeze.“Come here, naive girl,” Aleksei calls.I rush over and climb into the passenger seat. The car smells new, like leather and clean steel. Everything gleams. I’ve never been in an Audi before. I sit for a second, wide-eyed.Then I turn to Aleksei, who’s already pulled onto the road and is gunn

“Who the fuck is it?” The man still gripping me like I’m his property turns toward the guy who just showed up. I thought they were together, but maybe not. Maybe, finally, someone heard me screaming and came.“It’s me, you stupid fucks.” He steps into the light, and I see him more clearly now. My mouth goes dry at the size of him, tall, easily more than six feet, and broad. Those shoulders could lift a boulder. He’s wearing a dark shirt and pants, and he looks like sin, like he walked straight out of one of my dark fantasies. Black hair cropped at the sides. He makes me forget I’m surrounded by men. I can’t even understand what he’s saying, literally, he is speaking Russian.“What are you gonna do?” His hands stay buried in his pockets, that lazy, casual air still hanging on him as he stares the men down.“Shit. It’s Drognov,” one of them mutters, shoving the guy next to him. That pulls my attention to him. “Let’s get out of here.” They’re all speaking Russian, which I don’t understan

“Yes, Elena. I can’t believe it.” I let it all go, the shock, the ache, the confusion, and just feel. The joy of holding my sister again. The sound of her laugh, light and real in my ear.I am happy. God, I am. A weight lifts off my shoulders as I squeeze her tighter. Whatever I think of what Mom did, the truth is simple: My sister is alive.We pull apart, and Elena immediately tugs me onto the couch, scooting close, just like she used to when she had gossip to share.“So, tell me everything. Mom told me you’ve been living with Noah and William.”My heart jerks. My throat goes tight.Guilt slides down my spine like ice. “It’s true,” I say stiffly. “I’m living with them.”“Come on,” she laughs, shaking my arm. “Tell me what’s been happening. I’ve been trapped in this house for almost three months. Mom doesn’t want the neighbors to see me. I’m going insane, Ray. I need details.”Details.Noah kissing me in the hallway. Noah holding me in the kitchen, whispering against my neck. Noah car

It’s like staring into a mirror. If she hadn’t moved, if that wide smile didn’t stretch across her face, if she hadn’t rushed forward and thrown her arms around me, I would’ve thought I was hallucinating. Just a trick of light and memory.“Ray!” she cries, wrapping me in a tight, familiar hold. That warmth. That voice. That grip, like she never left. It shakes me to my core. I shove her out of my arms, out of reach.“Elena?” I whisper, my voice trembling, fragile. Just in case I’m wrong. Just in case this is some illusion made of fear and longing.“Yes, it’s me,” she says, nodding with a soft, trembly smile. Her eyes shimmer, the first sign of tears blooming there.“No,” I say, stepping back. “You died. You’re dead. How are you, ” My chest rises, a gasp chokes out. “Did I... die? Did I get into an accident and die so fast I didn’t even know?”She laughs. Light and ringing, like bells in a church. That’s her laugh. That’s my sister’s laugh.“No, silly,” she says, brushing a hand throug

It’s not me. It’s Elena. The woman in the photo, her smile’s too wide, too open. Her body too loose, too at ease. Her hair whips in the wind, longer than it should be.But I cut my hair. I cut it short. So when did it grow out? Why does she look so much like Elena? Why don’t I recognize my own face?My chest tightens. My breathing turns shallow. My vision tunnels. Am I… Ray?Or have I slipped so far into Elena’s life that I can’t tell the difference anymore?I’m sleeping with her husband. I’m cooking in her kitchen. Cleaning her floors. Her son called me Mommy last night without thinking.What if Noah knows, and he’s just going along with it? What if he’s pretending I’m Ray, just to avoid breaking the illusion?Maybe I’m not Ray at all. Maybe I’ve become her.“Breathe, Ray.”I’m bent over, hands on my knees, gasping. Noah’s hand rubs slow circles on my back, grounding me.“What did you just call me?” I lift my head, squinting up at him. The sun blinds me, and it casts his face into sh

I feel so happy. I don't want to admit it, but maybe I’ve become a slut for Noah. I never meant to lose my mind like that, but last night? I completely gave in. Gave up every ounce of sense I had. And now, I feel amazing. He didn’t use protection, but thank God I’m already on the pill.Oh my God, I can’t stop smiling.“You’re in a good mood,” Milly says, eyeing me as she pours herself a cup of coffee. The scent of roasted beans wafts through the teachers’ lounge. It’s warm, quiet, the buzz of the vending machine humming in the background.She’s my best friend from high school, well, used to be. We reconnected when I applied for a job here. She already worked at the school. We’re not as close as we were before I left for New Orleans five years ago, but we’re… good. Familiar.“You’re glowing,” she says, joining me at the small round table where I’m eating lunch.“It’s nothing,” I say, grinning into my sandwich.“Peter must be treating you right.”My smile fades. I duck my head, suddenly

She nods. I rise, grab her hand, and together we head up the stairs. We stop in front of William’s door. As I pull out the key, she stares at me, frowning. “You weren’t kidding.”“I kid about a lot of things,” I whisper, sliding the key into the lock. “But not about this. Also, his lamp? Works just fine. That kid lied last night just to come ruin our moment.”She snorts, trying not to laugh. “Stop it, Noah. You can’t get territorial with a child.”“Who says?” I open the door slowly. William’s curled in bed, completely fine. Lights on. Breathing steady.I quietly close the door and twist the key again.“Don’t lock it,” she scolds, swatting my hand.I grab her by the waist. “All clear,” I whisper, pulling her close. “Now, where were we?”She lets out a laugh, but I cut it off with a searing kiss.Her arms wrap around my shoulders, fingers slipping into my hair. I groan into her mouth, losing control fast. The kiss

She’s staring at me. “Noah…” she shifts her weight on the couch, eyes narrowed. “Are you serious?”I want to say yes, right away, no hesitation. But I know Ray. She doesn’t want some offhand reply. This isn’t just about telling our parents we’re together. It’s about everything that could come after, rejection, judgment, maybe even hate. I don’t think my parents would turn on me for this, but they might not look kindly on Ray. And that matters to me.I reach for her hand and squeeze it gently.“Yes, Ray. I’m serious. We’re not doing anything wrong, nothing that needs to be hidden. We love each other. This isn’t impulsive. It’s real. It’s the truth. So why not let them know? I hate the way I have to hold myself back around my parents when you’re near.” I shift forward and hold her gaze with every sense of sincerity.“ I don’t want to keep us a secret. I want everyone to know.”She doesn’t smile. Her gaze doesn’t even settle on me. Her eyes are f