Vera

Saturday afternoon, March 18

“Vee? Are you there?” Saph’s voice shrilled from the other end of the phone.

“I’m here, sweetie. What’s up?” I asked, yawning loudly.

“Did I wake you up? You sound sleepy.”

“Yeah, I was napping.”

Saph chuckled. “Oh, you’re such a lioness.”

“Mmm, indeed,” I murmured.

“Vee, wait for it…”

“Oh, quit the suspense. Just spill it.”

“I’m a little nervous telling you this,” Saph gushed.

“For crying out loud, just say it.”

“I slept with your brother.”

“Oh, okay… wait a minute. What?”

“My boss donated a big sum of money on behalf of an anonymous philanthropist to the university’s archaeology department for a fundraising campaign,” Saph babbled. “I was asked to handle the media and attend the fundraiser dinner last night. Well, guess who was there?”

“Who?”

“Julian.”

“Okay, I want the short version of your story. I don’t need to hear all the details,” I said.

“At first, Julian and I started arguing, but then he kissed me, and then⁠—”

“Skip that part, please.”

“Well, I’ve got huge love bites on my neck, and I’m feeling a little sore from⁠—”

“Get to the point, Saph. What’s the story with you two?”

“I’m seeing him again.”

“Oop, hang on, babe, another call’s coming through. I need to grab this one, but I’m so happy for you both.” I squealed into the phone, grinning as Saph’s excitement bubbled through the line.

We said our goodbyes, and I switched over, the smile still tugging at my lips when the next voice hit my ear. Low. Familiar. Brotherly.

“Vee.”

“Jules, you sound chipper. What’s up?”

“Oriental lilies, orchids, or roses?”

I blinked. “Huh?”

“I’m at a florist. Need your help. Picking flowers for a special woman tomorrow.”

“Easy. Go with a mixed bouquet of roses. Different colors. Romantic and bold. Saph loves that.”

“Who said they’re for Saph?” Julian growled.

I smirked into the phone. “Please. I already know. Get her the roses.”

He exhaled, a smile tucked into the sound. “Thanks, Vee.”

“Hey, I’ve gotta run,” I chirped, the double beep cutting through Jules’s laugh. I ended the call and switched lines, half-expecting Sapphire to gush more about round two with my brother. “Saph⁠—”

“Saph?” a gruff voice boomed through the line, low and heavy like a foghorn.

“Brenton,” I said, sitting up straighter. “What can I do for you?”

“The Scott family is hosting a fundraiser tonight for Saint Luke’s Cathedral. Alistair called personally, inviting a representative from our firm. Trouble is, it’s my wedding anniversary. I need you to go in my place.”

My gut tightened. “I’m sure there are others in the firm⁠—”

“If I wanted someone else, I would’ve asked them.” His tone cut clean. “When a Scott extends an invitation, we show up. Can I count on you, Vera?”

“Yes,” I murmured, already regretting it.

“Good. Royal Mirage Hotel. Grand ballroom. Seven sharp.”

I swallowed. “Dress code?”

“It’s safer to overdress. You’re clever and confident, so I’m sure you’ll wow the room.”

“Thanks.” The unexpected compliment had me grinning despite the knot forming in my stomach.

Seven p.m.

I scanned the ballroom, picking out faces I’d only ever seen on magazine covers, news panels, and glossy TV segments. Politicians. CEOs. Socialites who treated scandals like accessories. Lester Harbor’s elite filled the room, at least two hundred of them packed beneath glittering crystal chandeliers. Gilded mirrors bounced back the opulence, while the royal-red carpet carried the faint, sweet trace of rose petals, as if even the floor had been perfumed for their arrival.

The guests sparkled in designer gowns and tailored suits, laughter floating above the clink of champagne flutes. Handshakes and polished smiles passed between them like currency. I worked the room, greeting a few of the firm’s clients and slipping into polite, empty chatter from the weather to politics and Saint Luke’s Cathedral back when it was the city’s crown jewel. A local band filled the background with familiar tunes, their rhythm smoothing over the hollow conversations.

I’d gone with a backless maxi dress, the deep halter neckline framing my cleavage just enough to draw eyes. Metallic-gold pleats shimmered every time I moved, catching the light and setting off my tan. My hair fell in loose waves over my shoulders, a soft contrast to the bold dress.

He’s here. The thought flickered through me, sparking a rush of heat that curled low in my belly. I didn’t need to see him to know. I could feel it. A shift in the air, the weight of someone watching. Then a hand, broad and warm, pressed against the bare skin of my lower back. A jolt shot up my spine.

“Vera,” Alistair’s velvet voice slid close. “You look beautiful tonight.” His thumb traced slow circles against my skin, and when I turned, his mouth hovered just shy of my neck, daring me to close the distance.

My heart kicked hard when I finally looked at him. The notorious player in a tux that fit like sin. His cologne wrapped around me, warm spice and danger, and those green eyes locked on mine with a heat that left little room to breathe. My fingers twitched with the urge to sink into the soft curls at his nape, but I forced myself back a step. He followed, closing the distance, his body tipping toward mine until the space between us vanished.

“Ladies. Gentlemen.” Alistair’s voice slid into the circle, smooth and commanding. “I trust you’re enjoying the evening.” They lit up at him, eager nods all around. His hand brushed the small of my back as he added, “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to steal this beautiful woman for myself.”

The group laughed and murmured their approval, their bobbing heads granting him permission as if anyone could stop him.

Sycophants. Thinking of my boss and the firm’s reputation, I gave a fake smile that would make Mona Lisa proud. Alistair was the type of man who would say, ‘Jump,’ and more than half the guests would holler, ‘How high?’ I watched his eagle eyes sweep over my body while his lips quivered into a dirty smirk.

“You are a Greek goddess, Vera. You’re stunning tonight,” he complimented, taking me by the arm to a quiet corner. He spoke like a civil gentleman, but his eyes revealed he was hunting for a fuck, and I was his prey.

“So, we meet again, Mister Scott,” I said, eyeing him warily.

“You smell delicious. Edible,” he hummed, sneaking a kiss on my soft cheek. He brushed the back of his hand against my arm, caressing it. “Your skin is smooth and supple, as always.”

“We can’t do this,” I hissed. I wanted to take another step back, but I was already cornered, practically touching the wall.

“Why not? Hmm?” Alistair asked. A half-grin rested on his relaxed face.

“You have a fiancée,” I scolded, placing my hands on his chest to stop him from coming closer. “Mister Scott, I’m here on behalf of my law firm, and the last thing I want to do is embarrass my boss.”

Alistair laughed, his eyes pinning me with a glint of amusement. “Who do you think asked Brenton to send you here? If you believe he doesn’t know what’s happening between us, you don’t know him.”

“What?” The word tore out of me, sharp with shock. Heat rushed up my neck. “What did you tell him?”

Alistair’s grin was wicked. “That I plan to marry you.”

“Alistair Bryce Scott.” I hissed his full name like a warning. “Stop feeding my boss lies. You’re about to marry another woman. Where is she?”

“Haven’t you heard?” he asked, fingers toying with the curve of my waist.

“Heard what?” My quivering voice betrayed me.

“Do you trust me, Vera?” His tongue swept across his lower lip, a move calculated to undo me. Dangerous didn’t begin to cover him, and the worst part was that everyone knew it. Everyone but my traitorous heart.

Do I trust this playboy?

His hand slid lower, fingers grazing my hip, the touch branding. His gaze locked on mine, heavy and intoxicating. “Yes,” I whispered.

Mint curled from his breath, sweet and close enough to taste. His lips hovered, the world narrowing to that single point of almost… before he stepped back.

Reality slammed into me, leaving my pulse wrecked.

Am I a fool?

“I kicked Rebecca out,” Alistair said. He stood tall, legs braced, hands sliding into his pockets like he owned the room and me. The tux didn’t hide the fact that he was built like sin, radiating danger and control.

“What? My lips barely shaped the word, my eyes searching his for a tell.

“I’m a free man.” His hand found my elbow, light but grounding.

“I have to admit, I’m surprised.” My face flushed pink, and it wasn’t from champagne.

“Rebecca lied.” His jaw flexed, anger simmering beneath the calm. “I asked her about the night you and I met. She admitted to deleting your messages, your calls. Did it while I was in the bath.” He leaned closer, voice dropping. “I don’t share my space with strangers after sex.”

He reached for my palm, but I pulled away. He had fucked another woman in my darkest hour when I needed him most.

“You shared your space with me,” I said tightly. “Back when it was just a fling.”

Alistair scoffed. “A fling? That’s what you call it? That’s all I was to you?”

I held his stare. “We were never really a couple, were we?”

Silence stretched. His mouth opened, then closed.

“Were we, Alistair?” I pressed, refusing to let him hide behind charm.

“We have something I’m not willing to let go of. I shared myself with you because I felt safe.”

His words hit hard, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe. Emotions crashed over me, one after the other—anger, longing, betrayal, desire. Bloody hormones. I hated how easily my body betrayed me around him.

Alistair shifted closer, his hips brushing mine, his hands gripping my waist. His breath brushed my ear. “Have I ever lied to you?”

I shook my head, inching back, but he didn’t give me room. “I don’t want to be seen as the homewrecker who came between you and Rebecca.”

He caged me in with both palms flat against the wall, his body angled over mine. “You’re a flirt, Vera, but you’re no homewrecker.” His hand rose to cup my face, forcing my eyes to his. “The engagement is over. The news is already moving. My assistant handled it.”

“Why the change of heart after all these months?”

“Because now I know the truth. You reached out. You trusted me. And trust,” his thumb brushed my cheek, “is everything between us.”

Then, as if the floor hadn’t just tilted beneath me, he added, “My mother’s here tonight. I want you to meet her.”

I exhaled loudly. “Don’t you think that’s a little soon? I’m not⁠—”

“You just have to say hello.” His hand slid down my arm, soothing, coaxing.

“That’s it?” I arched a brow.

“That’s it. Then we leave. I’ve booked us a room. Champagne, chocolate, and a few surprises. Breakfast in bed.” His smirk promised all kinds of trouble.

Of course, he’d planned it. Alistair Scott never left anything to chance. Was I ready to hand myself back to him? My fingers brushed over the faint scars on my stomach, the ones that never let me forget. They were reminders of the ugliness behind the polished wealth he represented. And the threats that came with it. Saira. Erin. His world.

“Alistair, I don’t think so.”

Vera

“Why the hell would you say no after everything we’ve been through?” Alistair’s grip tightened around my elbow.

I yanked free and caught his hand instead, forcing him to look at me. “Because I’m scared, Alistair. Scared someone’s out for my blood if I get close to you.”

His eyes burned into mine. “You said you trusted me. Do you have faith in me?”

“Yes.” The word slipped out as his hold closed around me.

“Do you believe I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you—and your family?”

“Yes.” My throat was tight, but I didn’t look away.

“Don’t let anyone bully you into being too scared to do what you damn well want, woman.”

“I won’t.”

“If anyone comes for you, they go through me first. And trust me, Vera, they don’t want to find out what that means.” He leaned in, his mouth brushing temptation close to my ear. “So what’s it going to be? Stay with me?”

My answer tumbled out before I could stop it. “I’ll stay with you.”

I knew better than to underestimate Alistair’s wrath. He was the kind of man no one survived crossing. But I wasn’t afraid of him. I trusted him. For the first time in too long, I wasn’t alone. With him beside me, we were a team again. And that gave me back what I needed most: confidence and courage. Whoever the bitch was who’d tried to hurt me, she might’ve won a round, but I would win the war.

Alistair laced his fingers through mine and led me toward the center of the ballroom. A blonde woman with a sleek bob stood beside a tall man with a crown of gray curls, both engrossed in the gesturing theatrics of a politician I recognized from the evening news.

“Excuse me, Paul,” Alistair interrupted smoothly, resting a hand on the senator’s shoulder. “I’d like to introduce a friend of mine to my parents.”

I smiled to myself, already picturing poor Saph drowning in the madness of Senator McGrath’s office. God help her.

“Scotty, I was just telling your parents about⁠—”

“Spare the details.” Alistair stared hard enough to shut the senator up mid-sentence.

“I’m Paul McGrath,” the senator said, wiping his trousers before shaking my hand. “I bet you’ve got a warm heart. I can tell by your eyes.”

I laughed lightly, keeping it polite. “Vera Richland. I work at Hunting & McCormick. The firm supported your last campaign.”

“Ah, a lawyer,” Paul said, his smile broadening. “Good firm. They must keep you busy.” He glanced toward Alistair, then nodded to the couple beside him. “Pleasure to meet you, Vera. Elizabeth, John, have a good evening. I’ll call you, Scotty.”

With a quick salute, he drifted off toward a cluster of party loyalists, their matching lapel pins catching the chandelier light.

“Hello.” The blonde woman stepped forward, her voice warm. Her green eyes mirrored Alistair’s as she smiled. “I’m Elizabeth Scott. And this is my husband, John.” She gestured with an open palm to the tall, gray-haired man at her side.

“Nice to meet you,” I replied, giving firm handshakes to Elizabeth and John.

“You’ve got a good grip,” John complimented my handshake. “Strong and solid.”

“Vera is strong,” Alistair boasted. “I’ll have her working with me one day. Clemonte Oil Engineering could use a sharp legal mind on tenders and contracts.”

Elizabeth tilted her head, speaking softly. “Clemonte is a good company, but perhaps Orion is expanding. They’ll be looking for strong women to lead within the year.”

“Thank you,” I said, warmed by her kindness.

“And what do you do besides practice law?” John asked, curiosity glinting in his eye.

“I play the piano, mostly to relax,” I admitted. “And I love theater, both the ballet and plays. I used to be active in a Toastmasters club, but work won out.”

“Public speaking,” John murmured, scratching his chin.

“Vera led her school’s debating team,” Alistair chimed in, clearly enjoying himself.

John leaned closer, his tone dropping into fatherly advice. “Let me tell you this, Miss Richland. Work to live, don’t live to work. Life is worth more than being chained to an office. My son could take you to the opera, to a ballet, maybe even Shakespeare. Do you like Shakespeare?”

“Yes, sir,” I said with a small smile.

“Which play? Comedy or tragedy?”

“Both. I’m fascinated by the psychology of Hamlet, and I also enjoy the magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“I prefer Othello. It examines love, jealousy, prejudice, and betrayal. Quite a dramatic mix, don’t you think?” John asked, eyeing Alistair.

“Oh, absolutely,” I hummed, feeling Alistair’s hand boldly clasp mine.

“I hope to see you around more, Vera,” Elizabeth stepped in, sensing the discomfort between Alistair and his father. She glanced at her son’s hand, and her lips quivered into a soft smile.

“I’m retiring early tonight,” Alistair announced, tickling my palm to hint it was time to leave.

“Enjoy the evening, Vera. You should visit our home one day,” Elizabeth insisted, touching my arm gently.

Fifteen minutes and a dozen polite interruptions later, I exhaled as we slipped out of the ballroom. “We made it out alive,” I muttered, patting Alistair’s arm as we cut a path toward the elevators.

He slid his hands into his pockets while we waited.

“Do your parents know about your breakup with Rebecca?” I asked once we were inside an elevator.

“Of course they know.” He hit the top floor button without hesitation. “My mother never liked Rebecca. Truth is, she was never fond of any of my exes. They called her difficult.”

My brow arched. “Really? She seemed warm to me. I like her. And your father? Straightforward.”

His grin flickered, that devastating smile that made me want to bite my lip. “They like you.” He leaned casually against the glass.

I forced my eyes off him. “Oliver and Erin weren’t here tonight. Why?”

“They’re at another event,” he said, a shrug tightening his shoulders. His mouth flattened into a line that told me there was more to it.

The penthouse was sleek, all glass and clean lines, but I barely noticed it past the thrum in my veins. I tossed my handbag onto the sofa and wrapped my arms around Alistair. He didn’t return it. He stood there, staring out at the city lights. He’d been all over me tonight, heat and hands everywhere, but now there was distance, a wall I couldn’t read.

“Are you alright?” I asked, then rubbed my shoulders, feeling the chill of his silence.

He turned, fingers catching a strand of my hair, winding it slowly around his knuckle. That simple touch reeled me in until there was no space to breathe. His eyes burned into me, merciless. A low growl escaped from his throat as his breath shivered over my lips.

“I’ve got plans for you tonight,” he murmured, letting my hair fall as his mouth brushed mine.

The kiss was instant fire, tongues tangling, bodies colliding. I melted against the hard lines of him: lean hips and sculpted muscle so familiar, so intoxicating.

“What kind of plans, Mister Scott?” I teased, sliding his jacket off his shoulders.

His lashes lowered, a sinful smile tugging at his mouth. “Depends. How far are you willing to go?”

I popped open his collar button, then another, and another, unveiling warm skin and hard planes with deliberate slowness. “As far as you’ll take me.” My voice was reckless, but that was me. I’d always had a taste for danger. And Alistair Scott was pure danger.

“Good girl.” His tone dropped, intimate and commanding. “I remember your safe word. Trust.”

He tugged loose his bowtie, let it hang like a promise at his throat, and slid the zipper of his trousers down inch by inch.

“And yours is Fire.” I knelt before him and pulled down his cotton boxers to reveal a long and thick cock. Oh, it was magnificent.

“Good girl, you remember.” He smiled as I massaged his smooth shaft and inhaled his heady scent. “How do you feel, sweetheart?” Alistair untied my halterneck, letting the fabric fall to expose my bare breasts.

“I’m starving for you.” I licked my lips, wanting to taste him.

“You’re ripe for the picking,” he declared, pinching each of my nipples.

“I’m home,” I mouthed, cupping and stroking his balls, drawing out a groan that vibrated through his chest. My tongue flicked over his cock’s salty tip, savoring a droplet of precum. I closed my lips around his length, swallowing him into the heat of my mouth.

“That’s it, you’re my little pet,” Alistair teased, stroking my thigh with his leather crop as I knelt on all fours on the plush bedroom carpet. The room was dark until he lit the scented candles, spicing the air with citrus and cedarwood. It was still dim enough to hide my small, faint abdominal scars in the shadows.

“Let me oil you up first,” Alistair murmured, massaging my backside and ass cheeks with warm lavender oil. His fingers lathered my clit and tickled it before working toward my anal hole and lubricating it with a dose of the oil.

“Relax,” he coaxed, inserting a small plug up my ass. I gasped at the stimulating sensation. “Ooh, that feels so good,” I whimpered.

“I want you to give me your body. I want to have total control of it,” Alistair demanded, placing a Spartacus collar around my neck. The collar was attached to a leash, which he held tightly, restraining my throat possessively. “Do you trust me with your body, Vera?”

“I do.”

Whack. The sharp pain of the crop whipped against my ass cheek. “Oww,” I yelped.

“I’ll give you the best fuck of your life. You’ll never want anyone else by the time I’m done with you. Am I clear?”

I nodded, feeling the sting of his steady whipping on my buttocks and back. “Spare the rod and spoil the child, they say,” Alistair drawled, lashing my raw behind. “You’ve been naughty, Vera. How many lovers have you had this year?”

“None,” I confessed.

“Are you telling the truth? Hmm?”

“Yes, I’m telling the truth,” I cried out, feeling the whip lash my bare buttocks again.

“I find it hard to believe a gorgeous, insatiable huntress like you has gone months without a cock in her bed,” he drawled, eyes glinting with amusement.

Whack. The last stroke welted a sharp soreness, harder than the others, across the back of my thighs. This one was going to leave a mark that would last for days.

“Trust,” I shouted.

I couldn’t take any more. Not tonight. I carried a heavy, dark cloud of mental agony that blocked my ability to enjoy sex. I had to tell Alistair the truth about the terrible thing that happened during our months apart. I heard the gentle thud of the crop fall on the floor as he undid my collar. He slowly removed the plug from my anus and offered one hand to lift me from the floor.

“Get up,” he commanded, and I obeyed. The game was over when he wrapped his arms around me. We were both naked and alone, hugging each other in silence. Our worries were unspoken, but the comfort we gave each other was enough.

His large hands raked through my messy hair as he kissed my forehead with gentle passion. I nestled my head against his shoulder while his arms engulfed my body in blissful silence. My fingers curled and touched the soft hairs on his chest, then felt the contours of every muscle that made him a man. His scent was addictive and intoxicating, pulling arousal through me.

“You smell so good, Scotty,” I whispered as a loose tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek.

“What’s the matter, sweetheart? Why the tears? Did I hurt you?”

“I have something to show you,” I said, pulling away from him.

I switched on the light and dimmed it, softening the glare. My pulse thudded as I turned to face Alistair, ready to unveil what I kept hidden. My hand pressed against my abdomen. “You need to hear the truth about the night I called you.”

His eyes widened, the sharp green flaring with shock as they dropped to the scar.