Chapter 12

{Hailey’s POV}

If the walls of Lachlan House could talk, I think they’d scream.

The morning after my welcome-to-hell party, the estate was too quiet. Not hungover quiet. Calculated. Like the silence was… waiting for something.

My wing. I felt ridiculous even thinking about the words. In my mansion. The first four doors led to suites, each of them sized to make a king bed look tiny. The closets could have doubled as bedrooms. And the bathrooms! Showers with built-in seats and a minimum of three different showerheads apiece.

I took the longest shower of my life. The hot-water supply was endless. The glass doors on the shower held in the steam. It was like having my sauna. After drying off with plush, oversized towels, I put on my ratty pajamas and flopped down on what I was pretty sure were Egyptian cotton sheets.

Kaira appeared in the doorway. “This is unreal,” she said. “This entire place is unreal.”

“That’s one word for it.” I tried to focus on the marvel that was Lachlan House and not on Kaira's black eye, but I failed. If possible, the bruising looked worse now.

Kaira wrapped her arms around her torso. “I’m fine,” she said when she noticed my stare. “It doesn’t even hurt that much.”

“Please tell me you’re done with him.” The words escaped before I could stop them. Kaira needed support right now—not judgment. But I couldn’t help thinking that Craig had been her ex before.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” Kaira said. “I chose you. I wanted her to choose herself, and I said as much. Kaira let her hair fall into her face and turned toward the balcony. She was silent for a full minute before she spoke again.

“My mom used to hit me. Only when she was really stressed, you know? She was a single mom, and things were hard. I could understand that. I tried to make everything easier.” I could picture her as a kid, getting hit and trying to make it up to the person who hit her.

“Kaira…”

“Craig loved me, Hailey. I know he did, and I tried so hard to understand…” She was hugging herself harder now. The black polish on her nails looked fresh. Perfect. “But you were right.”

My heart broke a little. “I didn’t want to be.”Kaira stood there for a few more seconds, then walked over to the balcony and tested the door. I followed, and the two of us stepped out into the air. Down below, there was a swimming pool. It must have been heated, because someone was swimming laps.

Julian. My body recognized him before my mind His arms beat against the water in a brutally efficient butterfly stroke. And his back muscles…

“I have to tell you something,” Kaira said beside me. That let me tear my eyes away from the pool, and the swimmer. “About Craig?” I asked.

“No. I heard something.” Kaira swallowed. “When Williams introduced me to my security detail, I overheard Agne’s husband talking. They’re running a test—a DNA test. On you.”

I had no idea where Agnes and her husband had gotten a sample of my DNA, but I wasn’t entirely surprised. I’d thought it myself: The simplest explanation for including a total stranger in your will was that she wasn’t a total stranger. The simplest explanation was that I was a Lachlan.

I glanced back at the pool, and there stood Julian, his body taut and commanding, one hand tangled in a woman’s hair as he guided her lips along his aroused dick. Her soft moans filled the air, a sultry melody that sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Julian’s chiseled form, his muscles rippling under the dim light. That stuffy suit he always wore had hidden this raw, primal side of him. Who knew he was *this* captivating?

Our eyes collided, a spark flaring in the space between us. My breath snagged, a warm glow spreading through my chest, my body waking up under my thin top. What dangerous spell was Julian casting, pulling me into his fire with just one look?

Thank goodness Kaira slipped away to make a call. My eyes betrayed me, locked on him. I knew I shouldn’t stare, but Julian’s heat pulled me in, undeniable.

He’s pure fire. He had her pinned, bending her over in broad daylight, and sweet mercy, the outline of his thick, heavy cock was impossible to miss. Who dares to fuck like that, out in the open? My secret fantasy—wild, reckless, in a shimmering pool—flashed through my mind, teasing me.

His movements were fierce, each thrust deep and sure, his eyes burning into mine like he owned me. Julian’s dangerous, unleashed. My body betrayed me, a rush of wet heat pooling between my thighs. I ached for him, though I knew I shouldn’t.

Our gazes locked, electric, until his body tightened, a shudder ripping through him. He gave her a sharp, commanding smack, sending her off. Wrapping a towel around his waist, his ass was barely covered, he strolled inside, lighting a cigarette with a devilish grin that promised trouble.

I rushed back to my room, pulse pounding. Kaira left the damn door open, and there was Julian, strolling into our shared wing. Impossible. God, how was I supposed to deal with this man? I stormed over and slammed the door shut, my body burning with desire.

I was so turned on, I couldn’t take it anymore. Collapsing onto my bed, I spread my legs wide, the air cool against my heated skin. My fingers found my clit, circling slowly at first, then faster, teasing the sensitive bud. Waves of pleasure pulsed through me as I imagined his eyes, his body, driving me wild.

Then I heard it—the door creaked. That bastard Julian pushed it open without knocking. “Well, look at you,” he sneered. “No man to fuck you... huh? You’re pathetic, no life, no good dick to satisfy you.”

“You’ve got no manners!” I snapped, heat rising to my cheeks. “Who barges into a woman’s room like that?”

“You expect me to knock on my own space? You’re joking, bitch,” he shot back, smirking.

“I’m gonna make your life a misery, I promise you.” He pointed a finger towards me.

“Getta out.” I became furious, I leapt up from the bed, shoved him out, and slammed the door. I sank against it, heart racing. “Lachlan’s heiress, caught playing with herself!” he taunted through the door, his laugh sharp and mocking.