02

Liam's POV

My eyes cracked open to a dead room, sticky with sweat and stale sex. The sheets beneath me were crumpled, stained, and cold.

The stranger was gone.

No goodbye. No note. Just... gone.

The clock blinked 6:47 AM. My skull throbbed like a jackhammer was stuck inside it. I stumbled out of bed, legs still weak, my body aching in the most humiliatingly satisfying places.

I didn’t even have time to process it before panic set in.

Today was-

Shit.

The engagement. My birthday!.

My life falling apart in a three-piece suit.

I took the fastest shower of my existence, scrubbing every inch of him off me, but the scent still lingered a little, coffee, rain, and sweat.

I rinsed, dressed, and snuck out of the hotel with the speed of someone escaping a crime scene.

Thankful for having my wallet intact, I took a cab and got home.

I crept up the stairs like a thief. Opened my bedroom door, only to be greeted by streamers, champagne bottles, and staff with party hats yelling, "Surprise!"

My temples nearly split in half from the noise.

"Look who came back." my father’s voice cut through the crowd like a blade. "Do try to act sober in the next hour, Liam. This engagement is not a joke."

He stepped forward, tall and iron-faced. The same glare that had haunted my childhood.

"I-" My voice was gravel. "Father, just listen. I don’t know this woman. Can’t we push this? Or cancel it? Or-"

"No," he said coldly. "You’ll marry Avery Maddox, and that is final. The Maddox name will boost our holdings in West Ark. You were born to serve this legacy, not chase irrational feelings of love."

I clenched my fists. There was no winning with him. He always had to be right.

~

I was lost in thought in the middle of the living room, it had been picked and prepped with lush birthday decorations for me, and people were wine-ing and dining.

Whilst, I, yours truly, was still suffering from a hangover headache.

And my ass was still sore, aching, flushing my cheeks whenever the memory of last night creeped into my thoughts.

"I think she's here."

I heard people whisper.

I looked up, already painfully guessing whom they were talking about.

The double doors creaked open, and in came Avery.

She was dressed like springtime elegance, soft pastels, a smile that tried too hard. My stomach turned and I almost had a seizure, not because of her, but because of who followed behind her.

Someone tall. Broad. Dark curls and thick lashes. A jawline that haunted my thighs. And forest green eyes that looked up at me sensually, while I rode him the night before.

I blinked.

He blinked back.

No fucking way.

"Liam," Avery beamed, walking over and grabbing my hand. "You look pale, did I outdo my outfit?" She giggled.

She stepped aside.

"Oh, forgive my manners. This is my brother," she said casually, "Jackson Maddox. He flew in from Carrington yesterday to attend the engagement."

Jackson’s lips curved into that same wicked smirk he gave me before filling me up in a hotel room.

"Nice to meet you, Liam Sinclair," he said, extending a hand.

I stared. My hole clenched in panic. This couldn’t be happening.

He was Avery’s brother. And I had begged him to wreck me hours ago.

And now, he was looking at me like he planned to do it again.

~

My fingers twitched at my side, and then a tall champagne glass tipped over by accident, touched the edge of a nearby plate, and collapsed to the floor in a shatter of glass.

All attention turned to me. I lowered my head and panicked on the inside.

"What happened?" my father barked, his voice echoing over the soft music.

I opened my mouth, but air came out instead of words.

Before I could stammer a reply, he was there, his shoulders squared, cutting through the crowd with his disappointment already loaded and aimed.

And right behind him? Was Jackson.

Of course.

"Are you alright?" my father asked roughly.

"I-yes. It was just-" My voice died under his glare.

He turned toward Jackson, extending his hand with the stiff pride of a man who was shaking not for courtesy, but for business strategy. "You must be Avery’s brother. Jackson, was it?"

Jackson’s eyes flicked to me before grasping my father’s hand. "Yes, sir. Pleasure to meet you."

My limbs seized up like I'd been tasered.

Then it came, my turn. Jackson extended his hand again, like we were strangers, like he hadn’t had me gasping and whimpering less than twelve hours ago.

Like what the hell, we just shook hands a few seconds ago!! Why would he do this again?

My own hand was reluctant, twitching as it knew better. But there was no escaping the stage we stood on.

Our palms met.

He was warm. Mine was sweaty.

Then Avery, all petal show and perfume, slipped between us like a ribbon of caramelized sugar.

"Liam, you look so sharp today," she cooed, wrapping her arms around mine, pressing her cheek to my shoulder. "Almost like you’re trying to impress me."

I forced a chuckle, my body stiff as a mannequin's. She didn’t notice. After a second, Avery pulled away, channeling her attention to my father who was acting overly sweet.

Jackson leaned in close. Close enough to make me flinch, to steal the air between us. Noticing my tense expression.

"I liked you better when you were riding me," he whispered.

A bolt of panic shot through my spine. My knees almost buckled.

Then my father's voice interrupted the moment.

"Photo time. Front display, come here, son." He cooed.

I walked like a marionette, moving without feeling. Avery clung to my side, a perfect pastel picture of bliss.

I posed. I smiled; maybe I died a little.

Flash.

Flash.

Flash.

Every click seemed like a funeral to me.

"I’ll just.....step outside for a second," I murmured, already turning before anyone could object.

The garden was quieter, but it didn’t soothe me like it always had. My thoughts consumed me.

A time machine. That’s what I needed. To go back in time and completely avoid the club and hotel.

"You look like you’re one breath away from collapsing."

My spine straightened as I heard his voice; I did not expect him to follow me.

"You followed me," I muttered, my fingers clenching the railing.

Jackson stepped into view, casually. "I was curious,” he said. "Wanted to know if you fainted out here."

"Not yet," I turned to face him, "I didn't know you were Avery's brother."

His gaze searched mine. "I didn’t know that you were her fiancé. Not until this moment."

I shook my head, half in disbelief, half in despair. "This is a nightmare."

"Then start living in it." Jackson said, stepping closer, his fingers brushing a loose strand of my hair and tucking it softly behind my ear, "because I am interested in keeping you.”