I was excused once dinner had been served. I was allowed to enjoy the rest of the evening as a guest, although it was suggested that I not remove the Harold Archer Foundation pin I was told to wear while on duty. I didn’t mind it so I left it on, gathering a few hors d'oeuvres on a small plate before heading into the kitchen to eat them.

 

I knew none of the guests would make their way there and the bay window around the breakfast nook boasted a gorgeous view of the pond outside. With the reflection of the stars, moon, and garden lights it was quite a sight. I finished up and washed the dish before walking down the hallway back toward the main ballroom. I only knew of it after overhearing some guests, but given a good amount of them were still eating, I figured it wouldn’t be too crowded.

 

I also figured there would be a linen closet of some sort in that direction given what I had overheard Mrs. Montgomery tell some of the other hired staff. I wanted to drop the white chef’s apron there, which I stained with red sauce while eating my hors d'oeuvres. I was just glad I had thought to wear it or else my gown would have been the one with a big, red splotch on it. I was walking rather calmly when Remi quickly came around the corner and nearly ran into me.

 

I sputtered a few hushed curse words before he tugged me inside an open door right next to us. He quickly closed the door behind him.

 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing,” I protested, making to get out of the room, but Remi blocked the door. I groaned in frustration and walked away from him. It took me a moment to really process what had just happened as I looked around. We were in a large room with bookshelves filled to the ceiling. There was a fireplace going, comfortable couches, and a coffee table. I thought it looked more like a reading room than a study. The mansion was certainly large enough to house both and then some.

 

“Listen,” Remi sounded serious, “Can we just call it quits with this rivalry between us?”

 

 “That can’t happen if you keep insisting on destroying my dreams.”

 

Remi looked at me and gave a little laugh. I crossed my arms and looked away toward the crackling fireplace. “That’s not at all what I’m trying to do.”

 

I turned away, walking toward one of the bookshelves. I would rather read the titles on the books than look at his smug face one second longer. If he hadn’t been such an incredible jerk, maybe I would have believed him about calling a truce. But after everything that had happened between us, I found that highly unlikely. The more I interacted with Remi and the more sides I got to see of him, the more I came to the conclusion that he was just an impossible person in the worst kind of way. I heard his footsteps head toward me and I turned around. He stopped in his tracks.

 

“We shouldn’t let business get in the way of personal feelings.”

 

I stopped breathing for a moment. I rewound his words in my head to make sure I heard him correctly, “Why do you think there are any personal feelings?” I wanted to sound dismissive, maybe even a bit mocking. I was sure he was trying to play me again no matter how sincere he sounded or looked.

 

“It’s more of a question on why I wouldn’t think there are personal feelings,” he muttered, taking a step closer to me.

 

I took a step back. I clenched a fist at my side, determined not to let myself be swayed by him yet again. I replayed everything he had done and said up to this point to remind myself he wasn’t someone to go down this road with. He was an arrogant, self-serving asshole who had already hurt me in more than one way and was setting up to make it all worse. I had to keep repeating that in my head in an attempt to resist the feeling in my chest and stomach. 

 

“Because you seem to think everyone wants you,” I told him plainly.

 

“Maybe,” he halfheartedly agreed as he took another step toward me, “But I know I’m not wrong about this.”

 

“Wrong about not mixing business with pleasure? No, I completely agree with that,” I told him coldly.

 

He took yet another step toward me and I inched away from him. “No, I mean about you. I’m not wrong about you. I’m not wrong about us.”

 

“Us,” I repeated. “There is no us, Remi.”

 

“Only because you keep putting up a wall.”

 

I was taken aback, but seeing him take two steps closer to me was distracting. I took yet another step back away from him only to find I was up against the bookshelf now. I was backed into a corner. “Fuck,” I said under my breath.

 

“What was that?”

 

“Nothing,” I snapped. “I am putting up a wall. You hired me and if you aren’t someone to be trusted with boundaries then I have to–”

 

Remi stepped closer to me and I saw how quickly the distance between us was closing. My heart started to race. “You and those boundaries,” he laughed. “I’ve seen you with your walls down and, fuck, if that isn’t amazing then I don’t know what is.”

 

“Shut up.” I shook my head and moved in until the shelves were pressing into my back. “You don’t know anything about really breaking down walls. You only know about games.”

 

“Does this seem like a game to you right now, Evelyn?”

 

“No, this isn’t a game at all,” I told him.

 

Remi swallowed and took another step forward, our bodies now separated by only a few inches. He towered over me with a smile; it wasn’t smug or satisfied. It wasn’t the genuine smile I had glimpsed a few times either. It was an entirely new one I couldn’t figure out. All I knew was that it made me feel nervous in a totally different way than anything else. My heart thumped in my chest and all I could focus on was Remi and his brilliant blue eyes staring into me.

 

“You look gorgeous tonight,” he told me.

 

I looked down at the white chef’s apron covering my gown. I looked at the sauce stain and grimaced, my cheeks burning in embarrassment. “Obviously not in this,” I said with a laugh.

 

“Of course in that,” Remi told me softly.

 

Then I felt his lips brush softly against mine. My heat leapt into my throat, still beating at a million thumps a second. I gripped the shelves behind me. He pressed his lips against me and I remained still. I didn’t kiss him back, but I didn’t pull away either. My breath stilled as he pressed against me. I leaned into him a little. This time was entirely different than the last two times I had shared a moment or anything else with Remi. And that terrified me.

 

“Evelyn,” he whispered against my lips. I could hear the honesty in his voice.

 

He kissed me again and this time I melted into it. He had broken down my wall. This wasn’t my mind overpowered with lust, it was my mind overpowered with something much stronger. It was something I would have never imagined feeling for Remi Parker—much less something I ever thought he’d feel with me.

 

He cupped my cheek with his hand and kissed me tenderly. I let go of the shelves behind me in favor of resting them on his chest. I leaned into him, his arm wrapping around my waist. He held me close as we continued to kiss. Everything was warm. The sound of the crackling fireplace finally worked its way into my mind. I was entirely wrapped up in Remi and I was okay with that. We broke apart for air and looked into each other’s eyes. It was affectionate at first, but I quickly felt that familiar feeling of desire creeping up on me. I saw it in his eyes too.

 

It came slowly at first, but then it was like the floodgates were opened. He pushed me up against the bookshelf and kissed me hard, running his tongue over my lips. I opened my mouth and tasted his tongue on mine. His breathing was fast and hard on my skin. He held onto my hips with both hands and I ran mine through his hair. I slipped my hand under his tuxedo jacket as he cupped the back of my head. He tugged at my bun. He tugged and tugged until it came undone. Gently, he pulled the ends of my loose hair and deepened the kiss, turning me so that my back was up against the wall. I drew in a soft breath as I felt him press against my backside.

 

I was grateful not to have the shelves digging into my back anymore, but I hadn’t cared that much anyway. I was too lost in our kiss and the moment to care about anything else. He untied the strings of the stained, white chef’s apron and it fell open from the back. When we came up for air again, Remi held the strings of the apron and playfully pulled me over toward the couch. I giggled and he caught the sound with his mouth, sealing it with his lips for another kiss.

 

He pushed me back against the couch and pulled the apron off before leaning in to kiss my neck sensually. I dropped my head back and closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation and the sound of the crackling fireplace. I felt him slowly unzip my gown, his fingertips grazing the skin of my back as he did. I felt chills erupt over every inch of my skin and then he pulled the gown off my shoulders. I opened his tuxedo jacket and pushed it off him before undoing his bow tie and unbuttoning his shirt and opening it. I giggled because it was a little annoying he had so many layers on. When I finally got his shirt and undershirt off, I pressed my lips to his chest.

 

I looked up into his eyes and we shared a charged moment. It was the sort of look that said everything that needed to be said even though no actual words were exchanged. He kissed me. He kissed me deeply and passionately, sliding one hand under my gown at my back to pull me closer to him. He knelt before me and picked up my gown. He left a trail of sweet and sensual kisses up my legs and stomach as he stood back up to remove the evening gown entirely off my body.

 

He took my hand and turned me around, unclasping my bra before pressing his chest into my back and pushing my bra off. He kissed my neck and touched my breasts, his hard bulge pressing against my bottom. I leaned my head back against his chest and let out a quiet moan.    

 

He moved his hand from my breasts to turn my head toward him. He took my lips at the same moment as his other hand slipped under the waistband of my panties. He rubbed my mound softly, his fingertips lightly grazing the top of my slit. I moaned into his mouth before he turned me around slowly, his hand moving to squeeze my ass. He pushed me forward and I felt his hardness rub against my most sensitive spot. I squealed into his mouth and squirmed against him.

 

I couldn’t help how I felt in that moment. I felt so incredibly close to him in a way that hadn’t happened either the first or second time we had sex. And something about the way he touched me, kissed me, and looked at me made me think he felt the same way. He initiated everything from day one. This was no different, except that it seemed so much more genuine than any time before. In that moment, for the first time, I didn’t care if this was dangerous. I didn’t worry about what would happen next. All that existed to me was the here and now of the experience.

 

I ran my hand down his chest and torso to unbutton and unzip his pants. I slipped my hand under the waistband of his briefs and wrapped my fingers around his manhood. He let out a soft groan as I slowly stroked him up and down. He groaned as I closed my lips around his mouth. I kissed him with need and intense feelings as I continued to rub him up and down. He ran his fingers through my hair and twisted it around his hand, tugging my head back so that he could nibble a spot on my neck. I continued to stroke him as he massaged my breasts.

 

I pulled my hand out and placed it on his shoulder, and the other on his chest while looking into his eyes. I could hear my own heart beating and now I could feel his beating against my hand. It was fast, just like mine. I was speechless and breathless. He kissed the corner of my mouth. He kissed my jaw and then my ear.

 

He whispered in my ear, “I want you Evelyn. I’ve always wanted you.” The moment I heard him say my name chills rand down my neck.

 

I held onto his pants and turned him around, pushing him down to sit on the couch. I knelt in front of him to pull off his pants and briefs. Then I placed my hands on his knees. I stared up at him and could see he was watching me, holding his breath. This was something we had never done together, but it was something I wanted to do. He could sense it too and it was clear that made him look forward to it that much more. I scooted in and wrapped my hand around the base of his shaft. I took a deep breath as I opened my mouth, leaning in to close it around his head.

 

Remi sucked in a breath. Slowly, I moved down, allowing his entire length into my mouth little by little. I pulled my head back and his hardness slid out of my mouth. I ran my tongue up and down his shaft a couple times before running it in a circle around his head once.

 

 I took him in my mouth again and bobbed my head up and down. I started off slow at first, but when I heard his labored breath and the moans escaping his lips, I moved faster. I felt him wrap my hair around his hand to guide my pace and depth, but I didn’t mind. He pushed my head down and I took him deeper until he was hitting the back of my throat, making me gag. He instantly let me go and I came up for air.

 

“Sorry,” he muttered sheepishly.

 

I shook my head and licked along his shaft. I circled the end and then took him down to the hilt again, wordlessly letting him know it was okay. Still, we both knew it was time to move on. I stood up and shimmied out of my panties, my breasts bouncing in an enticing way. I loved seeing him look at me in appreciation. I liked the sparkle in his eye that hadn’t been there the last two times.

 

He took my two hands and pulled me toward him, not once breaking eye contact. There was so much there that I felt overwhelmed, but in a good way. I straddled his lap and scooted up until his hardness was rubbing against my mound, the tip pushing against my belly. He ran his hands up my arms and over my shoulders until they were cupped around my face. He opened his mouth as if to tell me something, but changed his mind. I had a feeling I knew what it was. That was enough—for that moment. He kissed my cheek and then my lips. It started off tenderly, but sooner rather than later, it was all passion and desire on behalf of both of us.

 

I moved my hips back and forth, rubbing myself against his shaft. He groaned and I moaned. I reached down and stroked him as I kept rubbing myself against him, running my thumb over the head from time to time. I lifted myself up, supported by my knees, and held his shaft in place to rub the tip against my clit. I moaned loudly and he cupped his hand over my mouth to stifle the noise. Even if we were in a private room that didn’t mean someone passing by wouldn’t be able to hear us.

 

 I rocked my hips faster and stroked harder, threatening to make him come before he even pushed inside of me. I pressed down for more pressure against my clit and then my entire body shook. An orgasm coursed through me as I pressed my face into the crook of his neck, breathing heavily and letting out choked moans.

 

Before I collected myself, I was on my back on the couch and Remi was between my legs. He took one of my nipples into his mouth and gave a pert suck before giving me a quick peck on the lips. He guided himself to my opening. I clawed and clenched at the sofa as he slid in slowly. He pushed into me, down to the hilt, and held there as he pushed his lips against me. He was breathing too hard to be able to really kiss me. I reached up and placed my hands on either side of his face. We gazed into each other’s eyes as he started thrusting slowly in and out.

 

But it didn’t stay that way for long; he was soon thrusting hard and fast, grunting into the couch and I was moaning into my hand. I wrapped my legs around him to draw him in deeper, moving my hips up and down to match his rhythm. I moaned louder and he cupped his hand over mine in hopes it would muffle the sound further. He held onto my leg with his other hand and started pounding into me. I could tell he was almost finished and felt a second orgasm building up in my body.

 

“Re- mi,” I choked out after pushing his hand off my mouth.

 

He rolled back and sat up, pulling me onto his lap. He penetrated me immediately and held onto my waist as I rode him. He held me tight and moved with me, going deep inside each time. I moved faster and faster as he did. I moved my hand between us to rub my clit; I had just started touching myself when the orgasm exploded in my body. I cried out and collapsed into him, my entire body shaking violently.

 

“Oh! Fuck! Fuck, fuck,” I whimpered.

 

Remi pushed me onto my back and kept thrusting. He lifted one of my legs and started moving faster. He went deep and hard. I covered my eyes and moaned, my body looser than before with tingles still fluttering throughout. I could feel my breasts bouncing around wildly with him pounding me so hard and then I heard a gurgled sound coming from his throat.

 

“I’m- about- to- come,” he grunted out with each thrust.

 

“Come,” I urged him, “Come inside of me.”

 

No sooner had the words left my mouth than I felt him twitch and pulse inside of me. He pushed himself all the way in and held there, breathing heavier than before. Then he collapsed on top of me, his warm breath fanning out on my hot, sticky skin. We stayed like that for a few minutes until we had calmed down and the warmth became uncomfortable.

 

I was lying on the couch with my head on his chest and the stained chef's apron serving as a small blanket. I looked up at the ceiling, arm casually draped back to run my fingers over his skin. His hand was over my stomach, the other playing with my hair. There was a sense of tranquility I hadn't experienced before with him.

 

“Hey, Remi?”

 

“Hmmm?”

 

“Earlier today a man mentioned something about a children’s hospital when you first got here. What was that about?”

 

“I’m one of the leading donors for the children’s hospital.” He said nonchalantly.

 

It was pretty much the only time I had ever heard him admit to something great he did without a single ounce of arrogance. For a brief moment, I saw a caring side to him. I wondered if he really was the man I thought he was.

 

As if reading my thoughts, he kissed the top of my head, “I was worried.”

 

“Why?” I immediately thought he was going to talk to me about the real estate we were fighting over. I gulped.

 

"I've been worried about us. Earlier you said there is no us, but I disagree. Think about it, Evelyn. Think about how everything has built up between us in such a short time. We keep coming back to each other and I know you keep putting up walls. I don't mind working to tear them down but at some point, it has to change."

 

He was so earnest that I didn’t know how to respond. I sat up and the white chef’s apron slid off my chest, revealing my breasts. Remi didn’t even glance down at them. He only cared to look into my eyes. There was so much hope in his gaze. It all made me feel that much more terrified of truly falling for him.

 

“Remi, please don’t do this,” I pleaded weakly. I picked my gown off the floor and pulled it on. I picked up the chef’s apron as I looked at him.

 

“Don’t do what? I’m just telling you how I feel, Evelyn. I lo-” He stopped talking abruptly to stand up and take my face in his hands, kissing me softly. He looked into my eyes and I could see the rest of what he was going to say written in them. His eyes were shining in a way I had never seen before, but I could tell he was afraid to just come out and say the words. I couldn’t blame him.

 

As much as it broke my heart, I placed my hand over his, “Remi, it would never work.”

 

 “Why not?”

 

“Because men like you never stay.” 

 

 “Give me a chance to show you I’m different.”

 

We stared at each other for a moment as my mind raced. He looked genuine. In fact, I was almost willing to bet he had been genuine the entire night. Even when he told me about Honey he had been nothing but honest. Still, there was something deep inside of me that held me back.

 

“I won’t be able.”

 

With that, I turned and walked out the door.