Spencer was so close to me that I felt a little breathless. He wasn’t the type of guy I usually went for, but I was attracted to him more than I cared to admit.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

Before he could manage to say anything, the elevator dinged our arrival, and it wasn’t long until we were strolling toward the apartment door. My mind filled with uncertainties as I withdrew my hand away from his grasp, pulling out the keys from my purse.

Given how incessantly determined he had been, it didn’t shock me that he followed me in and closed the door behind him.

We were skirting around the hallway before he pulled me close to him. “Give me one good reason why you shouldn’t enjoy my company tomorrow. Spare me the excuse about Jackson. I can talk to him about it.” Seeking my eyes, he ran his hands softly against my shoulders, pulling me a tad closer. “You can’t deny we have something here, so why don’t we just have a little fun and see where it’s heading?”

I had dated before and after that night happened with Drew, but he was the only man I had been intimate with. More importantly, aside from Spencer being Jackson’s friend, I didn’t know him well enough to spend a night alone with him. Therefore, I was skeptical, and with good reason.

“Some other time, perhaps.” Pressing my lips together, I made a slight smile. “Tomorrow’s just … too soon for me.”

He let out a sigh, as if he didn’t want to pressure me further, before pulling me against his chest. “All right, I’ll back off for now, but promise me you’ll think about it?” he whispered close to my ear, making me shiver against his warmth. “Fuck, you smell so fucking good.”

The alcohol in my system made my sensitivity even worse.

“Umm…” A haggard sound came out of my lips, my resolve weakening every second he let his breath touch my skin. Then I felt him kiss the soft spot behind my ear, evoking a low moan from me.

“Nice of you to see her home.” Drew’s distinctive voice echoed throughout the hall, stopping us both cold.

Spencer took a deep breath, hesitating a few seconds before he spun around to face Drew. “Uh, yeah. Of course.” He quickly glanced back at me then quickly reverted back to him. “Can we get some privacy?”

Nervously biting my lip, I couldn’t for the life of me look at Drew. I wasn’t sure why. I wasn’t ashamed of anything, but for some peculiar reason, I just couldn’t bear it.

“If you plan on getting laid tonight, you can scratch that idea, Spencer,” Drew said in a measured but threatening voice.

I wanted to die, simply because he had no right to intrude on us. And the way he was acting about it was like a damn ogre. Hell, Jackson wouldn’t even dare react this way, so why should he?

Spencer was not too amused by being told what to do.

“What the actual fuck? Who do you think you are?” he spat out.

I could literally hear a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode any moment.

My eyes flickered back and forth, knowing Drew wasn’t backing down, either. One thing I knew about him was that he wasn’t the type to be easily intimidated, most especially since he was twice the size of Spencer and several inches taller. So, no, Drew wouldn’t even think twice about knocking him out. I had seen him engaged in brawls before, and he always came out the victor.

“I’m someone who cares about her. She’s family. She’s the closest thing I have to a sister, so I’m not going to let some drunk kid do some sloppy drunk shit around here. If you want to fuck around, go ahead, but it sure as fuck won’t be with Chloe.”

A sister? Was that what he said? What the actual fuck? How insulting could he fucking be! Unbelievable.

Spencer was getting so heated I was afraid a fight was going to break out. Thank goodness it didn’t. Instead, he gauchely looked at me.

“I’ll see myself out. I’ll call you. Have a good night, Chloe.”

Before I had the chance to say a damn word to him, he was out the door. What the fuck had just happened?

“If you plan on chasing the fucktard, you can think again.” Drew’s hardened voice broke through my jumbled thoughts.

I was not amused. Far from it. How dare he act as though he had treated me any differently? Well, the claws were definitely out.

“I’m the closest thing you have to a sister?” I screeched at him, livid beyond measure.

His frown deepened as he took in my hysteria. “I didn’t mean it like that. That came out wrong.”

It came out wrong? How many ways could one interpret the word sister? I was enraged more by the fact that I had spent so much time piecing myself together, all due to a man who deemed me the closest thing to a sister he had. It was so laughable even Hollywood couldn’t come up with something like it. I wanted to cry from embarrassment, to hurl something at him, to punch something, anything that inflicted pain, because this was the biggest blow any woman could receive. The least I interacted with him, the better.

“Next time, don’t try to cock block. I can make decisions for myself. Go fuck yourself, Drew Cavendish.”

“I have every right to. Spencer is garbage.” Oblivious to the pain he’d just inflicted upon me, he stepped closer into my domain, choking me with his proximity.

“Jackson didn’t seem to mind.” I wanted to push him off, but I couldn’t gather enough strength to fight him.

“Well, maybe he should ’cause that guy doesn’t deserve you. So get mad all you like, but I did the right thing.” His tone grew deeper as he advanced farther onto me.

Much to my utter dismay, I stepped backward until I managed to hit the wall and tried to appear less than unsettled. “You’re being ridiculous! In case it’s escaped your notice, I’m a grown woman. I can do whomever I feel like without needing approval from you or from anyone. Besides, you’re one to talk. If Spencer is garbage, what does that make you? Oh, right, I forgot—”

“A bastard,” he nonchalantly supplied. “I think that’s the word you’re looking for.” “I’m sorry.” I rushed to apologize, but I knew the damage was irreparable. My anger had gotten the best of me. I knew better than to bring up something so rottenly vile from his past.

He had grown up being taunted and labeled by our peers and the people who knew the story of his parents. His father had walked out on him and his mother when he had only been two years old. His mother was from a famous family, so it was hard for the lewd gossip not to spread like fire.

“I shouldn’t have. You know I would never mean to hurt you like that, not even when I can’t see straight from being angry at you.”

“Whatever I do that infuriates you, remember I’m doing it for you, Chloe.” Although his words came out low, I could feel the tension coming off him in waves.

How had I turned into this hateful person? It was a subject my family was adamant to never speak about. In our home, he was always protected and safe. He had grown up knowing no one would bash him for something he had no control over. Yet here I was, and my guilt wouldn’t let me off so easily.

“Drew …” I captured his face in my hands, needing him to see how remorseful I was. “Forgive me. I swear to you—to God—that I never thought or saw you like that. You were always just Drew to me. Please, I’m so sorry.”

It was difficult to gauge what he was thinking at the moment. His eyes were deep-rooted in an inner turmoil.

The silence stretched while those blue eyes flickered about my face, slowly drawing me in, gradually drowning me in their powerful depths. Whenever he remained in deafening silence, I never failed to feel discombobulated. It wasn’t as much the silence as the way his eyes would spark fire. Each time they did so, they ignited something within me, flaring a part of me that I had tirelessly worked to hide.

“Say something.”

“You always look so beautiful when aroused,” he rasped out in such a low tone I could barely catch his words.

Licking my lips, I held my breath as my eyes withdrew from his magnetizing hold, downcast. “I’m … I’m not.” He knew better. He always did. That was probably why he had slept with me that one night—just to end my agony. I had eyes for no one but him … until he had calculatedly broken my heart. That was when I had known I had to use my mind to fight my heart with everything I had until it became nothing but a memory. However, until such a pleasant time happened, there was no choice other than to be unceasingly guarded whenever he was in question.

He tsked. “I remember you and this body all too well. Do us both a favor and spare me the lies.”

“Maybe you should do us both a favor and stop tormenting me,” I retorted.

Just like he had before, he caged my body with his own, placing a hand on each side of my head. His lips barely grazed my forehead, and all I could do was shut my eyes and ride this overwhelming rush of euphoria as it sent my body into a state of spine-tingling tremors.

“What do you suggest I do, Chloe?” he croaked out against my skin. “Why would you wear such a short skirt? A guy can only think of lifting it up and feeling how moist you are for him…or how that skirt will look riding up your stomach while he fucks you raw. So tell me, what do you suggest I do?”

Was he asking permission to do such things to me? I couldn’t be sure. Nothing was making any sense. The only thing that did was how my body was reacting to him. He hadn’t touched me, yet my thong was drenched from the mere sound of his voice and the way he was uttering and delivering his words that oozed sex everywhere.

His labored breathing made me desperate, but I wasn’t quite sure for what exactly.

“Is that what you saw earlier … before you interrupted us?”

He was a mystery I wanted to solve. It was as though he was fighting the same urges I was battling with myself. As much as I liked to believe I would have the capacity to decline his advances, I knew, with a little persuasion, I would eventually give in. He could take me however he desired, even if I knew the consequences would be too great to overcome.

“Let me just say that I wouldn’t be able to watch as you have done with me.”

Oh, my fuck. He knew! Oh, God.

“Anyone would have since you didn’t have the decency to keep things private.” My mind immediately recollected those indecent images, tormenting me as they evoked a wide range of emotions.

Things had shifted from sexual tension to something more unpredictably precarious.

His relaxed stance had changed into one that reminded me of a crouching animal hovering over its prey before it made it its meal.

“Was that how you kept things private, Chloe, by letting him suck on your neck right next to a door where Jackson and I could easily see you?”

But Jackson isn’t here, I badly wanted to argue. However, I knew better than to push this delicate situation into something I would lose control over.

“I honestly don’t care what you think of me anymore. I’m not the girl you used to know.”

“You’re right. The Chloe I knew had standards and class. She knew better than to cheapen herself with the likes of Spencer Goldberg.”

That fucking did it!

“The only time I cheapened myself was with you, Drew Cavendish. Don’t think so highly of yourself.” His pedestal needed some knocking down.

He clenched and unclenched his jaw while sending me a cutting look that tore me apart. “Then it’s a blessing there was no repetition after that night. We found better pastures,” he grunted out. “It’s good of you to clarify your low opinion of me. It proved I made the right decision by leaving you that night.” His fathomless eyes darted into mine before he gave me that look that told me he was done, as if he had fully dismissed me in his mind. Then he spun on his heels and slammed the door as he left.

If his intentions were to hurt me where it pained the most, well, he had just hit a bull’s-eye.