Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1) (33 page)

Shelly and Mia were pushing Eva towards the stage and even digging her heels into the floor she was struggling to stay on the spot.

‘No, stop. Wait. I don’t understand.’

‘Just go with it,’ Mia said. ‘You’ll learn as you go.’

‘So what now? I just go up there and take my mask off? What was the point of wearing it all night then?’

It’s the game, Eva. Everyone here has chosen to play
,’ Shelly explained.

‘I haven’t.’

‘Yes you have. And as much as you deny it, deep down, just by being here, you knew you were playing on some level.’

Eva
made a face, slowly realising Shelly was right.

             
‘Okay, so what happens when we take the mask off? We just stand there for everyone to stare at us?’

‘Wow, wow, wow. Back up
,’ Mia said. ‘What’s this we business? He won’t take his mask off. He never does. Don’t you see? This is how the game works.’

Eva shook her head. The wine fizzed around her veins and she thought she might fall over.

‘It’s his way of introducing you. This might look like it’s about you but it’s not. It’s about him. It’s him putting his stamp on you,’ Mia continued.

‘He’ll never reveal himself,
’ Shelly added. ‘But this is a good thing. The whole office will know who you are. You’ll be royalty, Eva. No one will fuck with you again.’

             
Eva turned around struggling to take it all in. A tall man, in a tailored suit, emphasising his broad shoulders and good taste, stood in centre stage staring back at her. He was still wearing his mask…his mask with the signature letters M.I.N.E written across the front.

Eva gasped. ‘That’s not Mr Doe. That’s Julian.
’

Eva’s legs shook like a derailing train as she climbed the steps leading up to the stage. Her mind was blown and this time she definitely couldn’t blame the champagne. It was him, it really was. Julian was the infamous Mr Doe. Mr I’ll-have-sex-with-any-employee-I-like Doe. Fuck, shit, fuck. This can’t be real, she told herself. She had to be dreaming. The game. Oh my God, the game. This was the twist. This was how it ended.

             
Every set of eyes in the room were upon her, burning into her skin. Her chest was tight and breathing actually hurt. She took slow steps and tried to hold her head high as she walked towards centre stage, grabbing the out-stretched hand waiting for her.

             
‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he said and an instant silence fell.

He raised his arm into the air. Eva was still holding his hand - tightly, and her arm rose too.

‘Miss Evangeline Andrews.’

‘Eva’s free hand flew to cover her face. What was he doing? Her mind couldn’t keep up. He told her all along it was a game, he’d literally given her a personal
goddamn handbook and he’d still managed to play her.
Fuck
.

             
He let go of her hand, opened the bow on her cape and let it fall to the ground. He looked into her eyes, smiled and then slipped her mask over her head. Tears were stinging her eyes and it made it hard to return his gaze. But the silhouette of his face was a familiar and beautiful, just like Julian, but she desperately wanted to believe it wasn’t him under the mask. He was fucking with her head and in that moment, she hated him.

             
The applause was steadfast. He leaned close and kissed her. She allowed his lips on hers but she didn’t kiss him back. He took her hands in his, his lips still pressed against hers and placed her fingers tips against his mask. He nodded softly.

What?
Did he want her to push it back? But Mia and Shelly had said…But he was nodding. Her head hurt. She was so confused.

             
He let go of her hands and pulled away from her. He took a single step back and his eyes locked with hers. His hands crept to his face and his fingers traced the edges of his mask. Eva held her breath, suddenly feeling like there was no one else in the room except him. He tore his mask from his face and flung it into the crowd.               Julian stood facing her. Silent and still. The shrieks of excitement from the crowed were deafening. Women were screaming and climbing onto the tables to get a closer view. Some were even pulled back by security as they attempted to climb onto the stage. Eva was overwhelmed, but it didn’t faze Julian, he even laughed. The commotion didn’t distract Julian from Eva for long. He pulled her close to him and kissed her again. Her stubbornness didn’t want to, but her heart ached, and she kissed him back this time.

             
He scooped her into his strong arms and the lights went out again. Reeling, Eva wrapped her arms around his shoulders and nuzzled her head tight against his neck. He smelled of spicy citrus and heaven. Eva felt her knickers dampen just being close to him. Fuck him, she thought, not sure who she was angrier with - Julian or herself. He’d had just pushed her to breaking point and still, just one hint of his delicious scent made her want to rip his clothes off and nibble every inch of his skin.

             
Eva lifted her head again when the noise faded. They were in the foyer now, alone. Julian helped her stand and stood completely silent in front of her. She took a moment to look him up and down and then lunged forward and thumped her fists against his chest. He didn’t flinch.

‘How the fuck could you?’ she shouted. ‘I trusted you. I told you shit. Shit I never told anyone. It is all just part of this fucked up game of yours.
’

Julian shook his head but Eva grew angrier and thumped her fist
s harder. Julian still didn’t move.

‘You lied to me.’

Julian looked at her defiant. ‘No. You just never saw the truth. There’s a big difference, Ms Andrews.’

Eva was practically hopping on the spot in temper. ‘You let me worry about my boss. I even told you he was an ass. I bet you had a good laugh at my expense.
’

‘Cut the bullshit, Evangeline. You’ve been playing the game since you walked into my office. No one forced you to play. You could have walked out the door and never come back…but you didn’t. You enjoyed the challenge. You’re just too fucking stubborn to admit it.’

              Eva clenched her jaw. Christ he was so infuriating. She felt such a fool and her frustration was compounded by the fact that simply looking at his beautiful face made her want to kiss him. Now. Right now.
What the fuck?
Stand your ground, she warned herself.

‘It was my job, Julian. I wanted to succeed in my career.’

‘There are other offices. Other jobs. You.Wanted.To.Play.’

‘Play what? I still don’t even know what the fuck this really is.’

‘It isn’t anything. The game is what you make of it. And you, Evangeline…’ Julian took her hand and kissed it softly. ‘…You have made this one hell of a challenge.

Eva shook her head sadly. ‘I feel so stupid.’

Julian’s body stiffened. ‘What? Why? That’s the last thing I want you to feel.’

             
Julian placed his hands over hers and steadied them against his chest. She calmed, exhausted, and slid to the floor. Julian lowered himself onto his hunkers and dotted his lips slowly down her neck.

             
‘I didn’t know. I really never did. All the times in your office…I never knew it was you.’

‘The clues were there. You just never saw them.’

‘Okay, not helping the feeling stupid thing.’ Eva blushed.

Julian laughed and kissed her forehead. ‘That’s one of the things I like most about you.’

‘That I’m stupid?’

‘No. Ha. No.’ Julian smiled brightly. ‘You’re anything but. Other girls are always looking at what’s around the corner, what comes next. They want more all the time. You don’t and it’s really quite amazing. If that made you blind to the clues, well, that’s my fault for not upping my game for you.’

‘Of course I was blind, it was always pitch dark, remember?’ Eva tried to joke.

Julian pressed the tip
of Eva’s nose with his finger. ‘I’ve told you before; you need to use all your senses. Sight is just one. My voice was a hint, or the way I speak to you. I never tried to disguise who I am, your fear was just clouding your ability to find out.’

             
Eva dropped her head. It was so much to take in. She felt as if someone had thumped her across the back and knocked the wind out of her.

‘They said you wouldn’t take off your mask but you did. I knew it was you but you took it off anyway.’

‘They were right - up to now, that is.’

‘Why me, Julian? Why did you pick me to take if off for? I didn’t ask for the responsibility.
’

             
Julian stood up and gently pulled Eva to her feet. He held her a whispers distance in front of him.

‘No one forced you up on that stage, Eva. You did that. You
went up because you wanted to. Because you are so much stronger than you think.’

Eva stepped closer t
o him, shaking uncontrollably. ‘I’m not strong. Not like you.’

‘I’m strong because I have to be. I didn’t choose it. It’s just the way life goes. And now you have to choose to be. Okay?’

Eva nodded.

‘I took my mask off because I don’t want to play anymore either, Eva. The game is over. You win,’ he whispered.

Eva smiled. She wasn’t entirely sure what that meant but his tone told her more than a thousand words. And just when Eva thought she couldn’t be any more shocked, Julian let his guard down. He’d taken off more than one mask. And he’d done it for her.

             
Eva looked at him from under her wrinkled brow and threw her hands to the side, ‘Well, what now?’

Julian’s face lit up. He tilted his head, and cast his eyes upstairs.

‘We can’t go up there. ‘

Julian snorted. ‘We can go anywhere we want. And I want you. Upstairs. now.’ Eva shook her head. ‘What? Now?’ No. I can’t…’

Julian laughed. ‘My house, my rules. And, I say we’re going upstairs.’

‘Your house,’ Eva said
, nodding without realising it. Of course, why did it surprise her? The expression of luxury that oozed from every floor tile, or door handle or fine painting was signature Julian. The only surprise was that she didn’t figure it out sooner.

             
The games, the gifts, even the mask…it was all him. Eva slapped her hand against her forehead and blushed. Now she saw the clues left along the way. Eva closed her eyes for a second and replayed the recent days in her head. Julian, Mr Doe, whoever-he-was, he’d changed her. She wasn’t quite free but she was certainly a lot better than she was. But he’d had his fun. It was her turn.

             
‘I’m not your toy, Julian.’

‘My toy,’ he said, smirking. ‘Who said anything about being a toy?

‘Well, Shelly and Mia said…’

‘And do you believe everything your friends tell you?’

‘Mia’s not my friend’, Eva corrected.

Julian shrugged his shoulders, ‘ And?’

Eva pulled a face. ‘And what?’

Shit, there was nothing more to say. He’d just diluted her argument with one simple word.
Damn.

             
Julian’s lips twisted to the side, his intention was written across his face. ‘Are you done?’

Eva nodded, defeated.

‘I’m only going to say this once more. Upstairs. Now.’

The palm of Julian’s hand smacked across the cheek of Eva’s ass. She tapped unsure fingers against her lip, took Julian’s outstretched hand and followed him upstairs
, not quite believing what she was doing and not quite able to stop herself from doing it.

Eva slowed as she reached the top step. It was just enough for Julian to catch her. He slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her back against him. He spun her around and her lips met his. He tasted of Scotch and desire and she kissed him hard, she wanted to drink him in. The champagne coursed through her veins and she embraced a naughty confidence. She was ready for Julian Harte. So ready.

             
Julian’s hands grabbed her ass cheeks and he hoisted her up onto him. She wrapped her legs above his hips and linked her ankles behind his back. She gasped as his solid cock rested between her open legs with only their clothes between them. His hands were all over her. Her back, her neck, tossing her hair. She knew she was safe in his arms. She arched her back and threw her head back. He sucked his finger and ran its damp tip down her neck, all the way to the silky, low-cut neckline of her dress. Eva suspected he’d had a lot of practice at that move but she didn’t dare ask. She held her breath and waited for his next move.

             
Julian kicked the bedroom door open, and slammed her back against it as it closed behind them. His hands reached behind her head and pulled her harder onto his lips. His kisses were rough and hungry but Eva’s force met his. She wanted him, his taste, his touch, his passion. She slid her tongue into his open mouth and rocked her hips, knowing she was teasing his swollen cock. His breath was deep and rushed. She felt powerful and sexy. Her lips still locked against his as she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt and pushed the material off his shoulders. Julian released his grip of her, shook his wrists free and shot her a luscious smirk. The look told her everything, he’d tolerated her teasing but now he was taking back control. She bit her bottom lip and waited.