The Ex Games 3 (5 page)

“Oh my God, but what?” Meg looked at me with excitement on her face. I knew that she was loving every minute of this scandalous conversation.

“Matt”—I paused dramatically—“is working for Brandon.”

“WHAT?” Meg screamed as she stared at me in shock. “Brandon Hastings? Are you telling me that Matt, your boyfriend, works for Brandon, your ex?”

“Yup.” I nodded. “Crazy, right?”

“What the fuck?” Meg shook her head. “So was Matt working for Brandon when you met him or more recently?”

“No idea.” I bit my lower lip. “That’s what I want to know as well.”

“This is crazy. You played someone, but maybe you were played from the beginning?”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “It’s so confusing.”

“This is like a frigging movie.” Meg jumped up. “I need a glass of wine. Want one?”

“Yeah, go on.” I sat back in the couch and waited for Meg to come back with the wine.

“Here you go.” She handed me a glass and sat back down. “Okay, okay, so let me get this straight. You tried to find Brandon ‘cause you still missed him? Why didn’t you just go straight to one of his offices or something?”

“I wanted it to be an organic meeting.” I rolled my eyes. “Don’t ask. At the time, I thought it was a good idea to make it seem like a chance meeting.”

“So you bumped into Matt so you could get insider information on Brandon. Which you got. You then got a job at a company you knew he was buying so that you could pretend to be worried when he was back in your life, but really you were excited. You hooked up with him, hoping that meant that he wanted you back, but instead he treated you like shit again and you found out he had a fiancée and a son. Then you slept with him again and he treated you like shit again. And now you want to leave the job and forget any of this ever happened.”

“I guess that’s why you’re the lawyer.” I gave her a half smile. “You got it all in one paragraph.”

“Well, I’m no longer employed as a lawyer.” She made a face. “But this is one hell of a story.”

“I know. I feel like a bit of a psycho,” I muttered, thinking about everything. “I can’t believe I’ve wasted so much time on this guy and he’s just an asshole.”

“I agree that he’s an asshole, but I think he deserves to know the truth,” Meg said softly, and I looked up into her earnest eyes with a frown. “I know it’s hard, Katie. And you probably try not to think about it, but I think you need to tell him what happened. Maybe that’s part of the reason why you can’t move on.”

“It hurts too much.” I bit my lower lip, desperately trying to forget what I’d done.

“But at least you know.” Meg leaned over and rubbed my shoulder. “He doesn’t even know.”

“Yeah, I guess. I just never want to see him again,” I groaned.

“Don’t lie, Katie.” Meg laughed. “You love him. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I do agree. It’s time to move on. I think he’s being an asshole and he’s cheating on his fiancée. He’s not a nice guy. Yeah, he has a son and seems to love him, but why would he potentially ruin his family by sleeping with you? He’s an egomaniac and a jerk. He likes the power of taking whatever woman he feels like taking. He doesn’t seem to care about you at all. I mean, why would he be doing all of this?”

“I just don’t get it. I know I lied when we dated. I know I hurt him. But he hurt me too.” I sighed. “I don’t know why he is still trying to hurt me.”

“Maybe you need to have an honest conversation with him. Tell him everything and ask him to let you be. You need to move on, Katie. Meet a new guy. A nice guy.”

“I kinda met someone.” I made a face. “Well, we kissed.”

“What? You met someone and didn’t tell me?” Meg looked at me, clearly hurt.

“Just recently. And I’m not really interested in him. He’s a bartender at Getting Lucky’s. He kinda gave me a kiss and hinted that he’d like to do more.”

“Is he hot?”

“He’s sexy and hot.” I laughed and then sighed. “I just can’t think of anyone else that way though.”

“Katie, you need to stop letting this guy ruin all your potential relationships. He is not worth it.” Meg shook her head. “Have a final conversation with him. End it. And move on.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I sipped on my wine. “Someone has been texting me all night. Let me see if it’s him.”

“If it’s him, tell me what he said and I will tell you what to text back.”

“Argh, okay.” I laughed, jumped up, and grabbed my phone. “Okay, here are his texts. First one. ‘Hey Katie, I hope you’re enjoying your night in. If you want company let me know.’” I laughed. “Sure, Brandon. I’m going to text you right now.”

“Read the rest.”

“Okay, number two. ‘Hey Katie, I sure hope you’re not doing anything you’re going to regret right now.’”

“What does that mean?” Meg frowned.

“No idea.” I shrugged. “Okay, number three. ‘Katie, I need you to call me right now.’ Number four. ‘Katie, text me back or call now.’ Number five. ‘Katie, stop playing games. Call me now.’ Number six. ‘Katie, I don’t know what the fuck you’re doing, but call me now.’ What the fuck is his problem?” I groaned, but inside I felt a secret excitement that he wanted to talk to me so badly.

“He is sounding like a psycho.” Meg made a face. “What is his problem? He is on such a power trip. Does he expect you to drop everything for him just because he says so?”

“I think he does.”

“Yet he can fuck other women and even marry someone else.” Meg’s voice was passionate. “What an arrogant asshole.”

“He said he was going to dump Maria.” I stared at her with my heart thudding as I remembered his words. “He said she didn’t mean anything to him.”

“Did he dump her?” Meg bit her lip. “Not to be mean, but isn’t that what they all say? Actions speak louder than words, and to me, it looks like he’s just playing a game with you.”

“I want the truth.” I sighed. “And he also said Matt is Maria’s brother.”

“What the fuck?” Meg’s jaw dropped open. “That cannot be a coincidence.”

“I don’t know.” I sipped some more wine. “He fell asleep after sex and then when I woke up he was gone.”

“Text him back and tell him you want to see him, but only if he is going to prepare some answers.”

“Really?” I frowned. “Maybe I can ask him over the phone.”

“No.” She shook her head. “You’ll know if he’s telling the truth by the look in his eyes.”

“That’s true, I suppose.”

“This shit is crazy.” Meg yawned. “This is really crazy.”

“I told you.” I laughed, though I didn’t think it was funny. I was about to text Brandon back when my phone rang. “Oh, shit. It’s him. Should I answer?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Let him wait it out.” She smiled evilly. “And actually, don’t text him until tomorrow. Let him stew a little bit.”

“Oh, Meg.” I put the phone on the table and sighed. “Why does life have to be so complicated?”

“Men make it that way.” She jumped up and we both laughed as the phone started ringing again. “Let’s go to bed. Leave the phone out here, so you aren’t tempted to answer.”

“Night, Meg.” I gave her a quick hug before walking into my room and collapsing onto the bed. I was exhausted, mentally and emotionally, and I fell into a deep, uncomfortable sleep right away.

***

I woke up late the next day, momentarily forgetting that everything was not right in my world. I stretched languorously in the bed and yawned. Even though I’d slept for a long time, I was still tired.

“Katie.” Meg knocked on my door. “Are you awake?”

“Yeah,” I called out. “Come in.”

Meg slowly opened the door and walked into the room. She had a weird look on her face, and I sat up to see what was going on.

“What’s up?”

“You have a—” She started talking, but then Brandon suddenly appeared behind her.

“Good morning, Katie.” His voice was gruff and his eyes looked at me manically. His hair was scruffy and it looked like he hadn’t shaved in a couple of days.

“What are you doing here, Brandon?”

“I thought I told you to wait in the living room,” Meg said at the same time. Brandon didn’t even acknowledge her question or mine as he walked farther into the room and looked around.

“I called you.” His voice was accusing. “And I texted you. I told you to call me back.”

“I was in bed.”

“Sure.” His eyes were angry. “How was your early night?”

“It was fine.” I blushed and looked at Meg for support. It was so much easier to tell myself to not give a shit, but now he was here in front of me and all I wanted to do was kiss him and pull him down to the bed.

Meg spoke up. “You don’t own her. “You can’t just barge in here and question her.”

“Why? Because only lawyers can question?” He looked back at Meg with a sarcastic face. “Or can unemployed lawyers still question?”

“I—oh, you are so rude.” Meg glared at him and then at me before striding out of the room. “Thanks for telling him my business.”

“I didn’t!” I called after her and frowned. “How did you know Meg lost her job?” I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Brandon, who was staring down at me. His nostrils were flaring as he studied my face.

“Where were you last night?” He sat on the bed next to me, pulled the sheets down, and surveyed my body.

“What are you doing?” I pulled the sheets back up.

“I was checking to see if you were wearing any clothes.”

“How dare you!” I pushed his chest to get him off of the bed, but he didn’t move.

“Oh, I dare all right.” He glared at me and his fingers played with my hair. “Your hair looks like you’ve been through a washing machine. Rough night?”

“My night was fine.”

“Your lips don’t look battered.” His fingers traced along my lips and he smiled. “You didn’t fuck anyone last night.”

“What are you talking about?” I glared at him again.

“Nothing.” His eyes glittered at me. “It’s nothing I can’t fix.”

“What are you fixing?”

“I missed you last night.” He changed the subject. “I wanted to see you.”

“Well, I was busy.”

“You’re never too busy for me.”

“Sorry, but that’s not true.” I turned away from him. “Why are you here, Brandon?”

“Because I want to make love to you.” His fingers gripped my face and turned it toward him so that we were staring into each other’s eyes. “My body is craving your touch. My mouth is craving your taste. My fingers and my dick are craving your pussy.”

“You’re so crude,” I mumbled in a daze against his lips. I felt myself growing wet at his words and hated myself for being so intensely attracted to this man.

“I’m not going to make love to you now.” His lips pressed against mine and my body melted into him automatically. “I’m not going to suck on your nipples as if they were little candies made for my mouth. I’m not going to eat you like you were a Sunday dinner and I’m not going to take you on a roller coaster ride.” He grinned as his fingers played with my hair and I breathed heavily against his lips. “I’m not going to do any of that right now.”

“Oh.” I couldn’t say anything else. His tongue plunged into my mouth and my fingers found his hair as we kissed. We kissed each other eagerly and hungrily, our lips dancing a mambo as our tongues waltzed. He tasted sweet as always, and my fingers ran across the stubble of his face lightly. I moaned as we kissed and I thought about the stubble tickling me in my private place. I wanted him badly. My body couldn’t resist his touch.

“Now, now, Katie.” He pulled away from me slightly as my fingers worked their way to the front of his pants. “I told you, there will be no sex right now. But tonight, my dear… Tonight is a different story.”

“What’s going on tonight?” I gazed into his eyes and a little whimper escaped as he cupped my breast.

“Tonight, I’m taking you on a little adventure.”

“What adventure?”

“It’s a surprise.” He grinned at me.

“I’m not going.” I shook my head. “We need to talk.”

“We can talk, but tonight we will have some fun as well.” He grinned at me. “Wear a dress or a short skirt.”

“Why?” My heart was beating fast now.

“You’ll see.” His eyes glittered and he leaned in to kiss me again.

“That’s not fair.” I shook my head. “You can’t just come here and demand I go out with you tonight when you won’t tell me where and you won’t give me any other information.”

“I’ll tell you two things.” He grinned at me wickedly. “If you do one thing for me?”

“What’s that?”

“Ride me,” he mumbled against my lips, and I frowned.

“I thought you said no sex.”

“I don’t want you to ride my cock,” he laughed as he squeezed my breasts.

“I don’t get it then,” I moaned and pushed myself into his hands.

“I want you to ride my face.”

“What?” My eyes widened.

“I know you like the stubble.” He grinned at me wickedly. “And my tongue. I need to taste you before I leave.”

“But what about you?” I whispered, feeling excited.

“I’ll come tonight.” He laughed and his eyes hardened slightly. “Tonight, you will ride me again. But that time, it will be my cock and I will have the best orgasm of my life.”

“I guess.” I shivered slightly. “I’m not agreeing to anything until you tell me what you have to say.”

“I told you that Matt and Maria are brother and sister, right?”

“Uh huh.” I sat up straight and stared at him intently. Was I finally going to get the information I always wanted?

“Their dad, Will, used to work for me. He was a private investigator for my dad’s company, and that’s how I met him. He was a good guy. He helped me in a lot of ways before I met you and after I met you. He had a heart attack a few years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he sighed. “He left me a note asking me to take care of his daughter, Maria, and to continue supporting his business, which his son, Matt, took over.”

“Oh,” I frowned. “I thought Matt was a journalist.”

“He is a journalist.” Brandon sighed. “But he grew up in the family business, so he was able to be a private investigator as well.”

“Oh.” I was still confused. I didn’t really understand how any of it added up.

“Right after her father died, Maria’s fiancé dumped her and she attempted to commit suicide.” Brandon looked at me with concern in his eyes “Matt came to me and asked me if I would become engaged to her as a way to help her mentally, and I agreed.” He sighed. “It was stupid of me. I don’t know what I was thinking. We should have just gotten her a therapist. But I figured, what could it hurt? It seemed to make her happy to be in a fake engagement and she didn’t demand anything of me.”