A Mistake That Shouldn’t Happen…

Rain.

I wake up slowly, as the light from an unfamiliar window spreads across my face with a soft haze. My body feels heavy but deliciously sore in places I haven’t noticed in months.

A dull ache throbs behind my eyes and like clockwork, the memories crash in with a cold violence.

Colt’s face. Lila’s weak, guilty smile. The sickening blatant betrayal of their phrase “we’re not cousins.”

And oh my, Rhysand. The bartender stranger. The furious, yet beautiful blur of wine, revenge and raw desperate pleasure.

“Oh fuck!” I gasp, as shame hits me like a blow.

Mortified, I stare up at the ceiling of the man whose last name I don’t even know. I can’t believe the reckless thing I did but I’m justified.

I also have options of my own…an option that was grasping the nearest lifeline—even if that lifeline was a gorgeous dangerous stranger.

I hear a soft thump from the next room. My head whips toward the sound.

“Shit, that must be him.” I raise the covers, mortification blowing wide when I realize how very naked I am underneath it. “My head must be a crow’s nest, can’t let him find me like this.”

Even with a line of drool down my mouth. God, why me!

Panic snaps me into frantic action with only one mission in mind: I cannot let him see me this rumpled and hungover. Especially with the emotional wreckage of last night all over my face.

I scramble off the bed, snatching my clothes and heels. I make a blind dash for where I think is the bathroom.

Throwing the door open, I instantly collide with a solid, warm, wet wall of muscle.

It is Rhysand. He’s just left the shower with a towel hanging too low off his hips. Water clings to the dark hair on his chest, dripping down the sharp definition of his abs.

I stumble back, completely out of breath.

As he steps aside, I catch my own reflection in the mirror but almost immediately, I get shamefully distracted by the perfect curve of his butt.

My pussy whimpers. ‘Fuck me, again. Please.’

It’s the sound of his deep chuckle that startles me. “Admiring the view, Rain?”

Heat floods my cheek.

He leans against the doorframe, somehow managing to trap me, as a wicked grin curves his mouth.

“You look like you’re trying to escape a crime scene. Don’t rush. You can go back to bed, or, better yet…” His eyes darken, then gleam with hunger. “We can have that bath. Together. Again.”

A delicious thrill shoots up my spine at the seductive words. It’s intoxicating how inviting his words are.

No, focus, Rain! It’s just another man like Colt.

That forces me to clamp down the feeling and make my tone sharp.

“Absolutely not. I need to clean up and get out,” I state, keeping my clothes close to cover my jewels. My bare backside can manage. “Go find a shirt and make coffee, please.”

He studies me with a slight knowing smile on his face before turning towards the bedroom. “Leaving already?” He calls out.

“Yes. It was fun, but I have a life,” I reply, pulling on my pant and snapping on the bra quickly.

“A life that involves an engagement party tonight?”

I yank the door open. “You’re an absolute snoop.”

He raises his arms defensively. “Hey, I was the one used to settle scores, I couldn’t help but notice the invitation. It did mention a plus one, and I happen to have a completely clear schedule today.”

I scoff. “That text is going to the bin.”

His eyes narrow in silent judgement causing the hairs on my neck to stand. Instead of pushing, he shrugs. “Fine. Your funeral. I made breakfast.”

I don’t answer. I throw on my sheer top, grab my bag and storm out.

The second I step outside his door, I realize I’m standing in a glass penthouse with breathtaking cityscapes.

Even though it’s a little sus for a bartender, that’s not my business.

The moment I turn my phone on, it blows up with missed calls and frantic texts. All from a very distraught Emma.

So I call her to let her know where I am now and that I’ll be home in a few.

While I order for my uber ride, I stumble upon Colt’s message from last night. I swipe past it, refusing to even look.

The elevator chimes open. Just as the door swooshes close, a hand stops it from closing completely.

“Rhysand again,” he says with a cheeky smile I find annoying.

“What do you want this time? There are no bathrooms in here.”

He walks into the elevator with fluid movements and his presence domineers the space around me.

He smells edible. This can’t be happening to me.

He opens his palm. In there is a tiny, glittering object: my gold hairpin. Instead of taking it, I roll my eyes.

“I know it’s small and maybe insignificant, but I thought you wouldn’t wanna miss it.” Then he has the nerve to show me sincere eyes.

Who is this grown man kidding for fucks sakes!

“You’re right, it’s insignificant yet you needed an excuse to see my face one last time.”

He bites his bottom lip and winks. “Maybe. I’ll be seeing you anytime soon?” He asks, taking a few steps out of the elevator as a couple walk in.

My eyes do a full appraisal, noting the ridges of his sculpted forceps.

The way he drove me to extreme orgasms floods my mind. Colt has never achieved that. I felt like a fucking virgin all over again.

“Rain?”

A searing signal shoots down to my core. I quickly shake off the thought.

Down, girl. Stop it now.

He reaches through and hands over the hairpin. As our fingers come in contact, the memory of him and his raw desire merges into a sudden, reckless plan.

“Accompany me tonight,” I demand, my voice surprisingly holding steady. “To the engagement party.”

He cocks a lazy smirk. “Oh? Why the sudden change of heart? Was it the fact that I caught you lingering too long? Perhaps a desperate attempt to make your man jealous with a suitable ‘distraction’?”

Heat scald my cheeks. “For fuck sakes, Rhysand. Just say yes already.”

“I hope I’m worthy enough to accompany you as a date.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that you’re an absolute snoop.” I hiss, humiliation and anger mixing on my face.

Instead of replying, he pulls me out of the elevator.

“What is your problem?” I hiss as I watch the elevators close.

“If I’m not careful, you’ll break a nail being so melodramatic.” His thumb strokes my pulse point in a maddening, playful way.

As some of my anger melts away, his eyes flash with victory. I hate how he does that.

***

The clock reads 7:58 PM when we pull up to Colt’s family estate. The moment the car stops, the playful Rhysand, who’s been telling easy jokes and teasing from the ride, disappears.

I ignore it. He’s doing me a favor, and the seriousness isn’t my problem. We part ways after this anyway.

“I have to take this,” he murmurs, stepping away to answer a call on his phone, moving toward a dark column.

I straighten my dress, take a deep breath and venture into the party alone. The ballroom is already full with laughter ringing out in various zones. Champagne flutes chime and the air reeks of betrayal.

That’s when I see him.

Colt.

He spots me and his hard set face immediately snaps into a mask of pure anger. He walks straight toward me with unnerving speed.

“What is the meaning of this, Rain? What do you think you are doing showing up here?” He growls, pulling me harshly to the side. “And what the hell was that nonsense last night?”

I blink at him, genuinely confused. “Nonsense? I’m here because I was invited.”

“Don’t play dumb!” Then he lowers his voice after scanning our environment for onlookers. “You had the nerve to phone me while you were whoring yourself away with some…man. I heard every disgusting sound! You sounded like a railed animal! Do you know how that made me look in front of my family?”

I blink, stepping back as if he’s physically assaulted me. When did that happen?

“I never…” I go through my call history and right under Emma’s name is indeed a call I made to Colt. “Shit.” I murmur.

Before I can say anything else, a thick voice cuts in.

“Colt, my man!” A man appears from behind and slaps his shoulder. He looks me up and down with disgust. “Is this the little whore you were going to marry before Lila opened your eyes? Good thing you woke up, buddy. You saw the light.”

The word—whore—echoes in the suddenly quiet corner of my mind. And then, the forgotten memory comes rushing:

My hand fumbling to hit Colt’s number as I had Rhysand pound relentlessly into me.

I called him. Shit. I called him during.

A sharp pain of insult, notification and rage explodes behind my eyes. I will die before I look like a victim.

Squaring my shoulders, I match his venom with fire.

“The only thing I dodged was a pathetic, lying snake who clearly can’t keep his hands off his supposed cousin.” I spit out. “Have a nice life bearing imbeciles.”

Colt’s face go completely dark as his composure scatters, like he cannot believe I’ll ever speak to him in that manner.

He lunges a hald-step forward, his face contorted with the most dangerous look I have ever seen from him.

I recoil, taking a fast step backward as the realization hits that I might have pushed too far this time. But my back hits a solid, immense wall of muscle.

Rhysand. And boy does he not look pleased one bit.

His eyes are ablaze with a terrifying mix of cold anger and a mocking tease. As though daring Colt to make the wrong move.

The menacing look, though not directed at me, sends a shiver down my spine.

Colt stops dead in his tracks. His murderous rage instantly twists into shock, then utter terror.

“Rhys…?” Colt croaks. “What are you doing here?”

Rhysand shifts, his body leaning slightly over mine. He wraps an arm around my waist to make the statement clear.

With a majestic disdain that makes Colt look small, he delivers the final blow.

“Hello, Brother.”