Page 13

Chapter thirteen

~LIVIA~

I stumble into my bedroom, still buzzing from the night I’ve had. Rowan’s kiss is seared into my mind, his wicked grin making my stomach flip all over again.

God, how did I let him get to me like that? How did I let him kiss me, touch me?

I kick off my shoes and peel off my dress, letting it drop to the floor.

What is wrong with me? I should be freaking out, but instead, I’m tingling all over, remembering every place his hands and lips touched.

I’m drunk; that’s all it is. He caught me drunk and off guard, and it won’t happen again.

Then why is my phone in my hands? Before I can stop myself, my fingers are already typing out a message, hitting send without my full permission.

ME: Thanks for the ride. I owe you.

As soon as I hit send, I throw my phone onto the bed and bury my face in my hands. Shit!

“What the hell am I doing?” I feel so embarrassed. Why did I text him? I need to shower and get my head straight. Screw this.

Just as I turn to walk to the bathroom, my phone pings. My heart races as I grab it again.

ROWAN: You definitely do. I can think of a few ways to collect on that debt.

My cheeks heat up as I read the message. This is wrong on so many levels. I shouldn’t be getting involved with a player, let alone the damn captain. Yet, I’m already typing.

ME: I’m not sure I want to know what you’re thinking.

He replies right away.

ROWAN: Liar.

That word. The last word I heard before he kissed me in that bathroom.

He follows up with a second message before I can gather my wits. Judging by how much alcohol is currently in my system, I’d give them two business days to fully come back.

ROWAN: Unlike you, I don’t lie. And despite how good you looked in that dress tonight, I’d like to rip it off.

Shivers run down my spine. His words make me feel like I’m floating. I don’t want to admit how much I love the way he sees me, but it’s true. A third message pops up.

ROWAN: I think you’d love that way more than you’re willing to admit.

Crap. He’s not wrong. The way he says it pulls me in, and I can almost hear his low, teasing voice in my head. The heat in my cheeks flares up, and I can’t help but feel a little embarrassed. I bite my lip, unsure of how to respond.

ME: You’re so full of yourself.

ROWAN: Would you like to know what it feels like?

My brows furrow in confusion before the implication becomes clear. Full of him.

Heat pools low in my belly at his words, and before I know it, I’m grinning. Thank God he can’t see me right now.

Unless…

A rush of nerves and excitement hits me. I’m torn between wanting to play it safe and the thrill of his words. My heart pounds as I stand there, contemplating the risk.

I bite my lip as Rowan’s words roll through my mind. God, it makes my heart race, a thrill like never before wrapping around me. I stare at my reflection in my mirror, my cheeks flushed, and my body tingling.

He’s not here. He can’t corner me with his large body. He can’t use his hands to touch me, his gaze to pin me in place. This time, it’ll be me driving him crazy.

My fingers hover over my phone, torn between desire and reason.

Before I can think twice, I pull my phone back up and snap a quick photo. My arm covers my breasts, but just enough skin is showing to make it daring.

As soon as I hit send, I throw my phone onto the bed, my pulse pounding in my ears.

Did I really just do that? Oh my god. I just sent Rowan DiMarco a nude. I’m a ball of exhilaration and pure panic, half-expecting my phone to buzz with a reply, half-expecting him to block me.

But then, my heart skips a beat when my phone starts ringing instead, Rowan’s name flashing on the screen.

“Shit,” I answer quickly, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Was that an invitation for me to come back over there and finish what we started?” His voice is deep and rough, sending shivers down my spine.

I stand there frozen. It’s one thing to text him, but it's entirely different to hear his voice. It makes this all too real, and I just sent the captain of the Panthers a damn nude.

“Got nothing to say, little hellcat?” I can hear the smirk in his voice. My mouth opens, but no sound comes out. God, what did I just do?

His chuckle comes from the speaker before he says, “Then I guess I’ll do most of the talking.”

“Rowan,” I breathe out, not sure what to say. “This was…”

“The best damn text I’ve ever received,” he finishes for me, his voice dripping with approval. “Why don’t you lay down for me?”

I hesitate, my heart pounding. This feels wrong. I’m crossing a line I shouldn’t even consider. But then his voice wraps around me like a vice, intoxicating and irresistible, and I find myself sinking onto the bed.

“Would you like to see how well we cooperate ?” His voice is like a low purr that spreads from my ears down to my belly. “Do you remember where I touched you before you ran away from me?”

I can’t answer him. I can only lay on my back, my breathing shallow as I keep remembering how his fingers felt between my legs.

“Getting shy, little hellcat?” he prompts, sensing my hesitation. “Would it be easier for you if I come there and remind you?”

His words send a thrill of heat coursing through me, something dark and desperate stirring to life. The memory of his hands on me earlier, the way his mouth had felt against my skin, floods my mind, making it harder to resist.

“Rowan…” I whisper, my voice trembling.

“Put your hand where mine was,” he says, his tone dripping with seduction.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie, not believing I’m having this conversation with him.

“As much as I’d love to come and remind you, I can’t have you running away from me again. So tonight, it’ll be yours,” he says softly, and my insides clench at his dark promise. “I want your fingers to rub that wet little pussy, and I want you to imagine they’re mine.”

I take a shaky breath, closing my eyes and giving in to the moment. I let my fingers glide over my skin, feeling my heat, and I can almost hear him watching, waiting.

I exhale softly as my fingers reach the curve of my hips.

“That’s a good girl,” he murmurs, his voice a low growl.

Just as I start to sink into the sensation, I hear the unmistakable sound of his belt being undone, and my eyes fly open in shock.

“What are you doing?” I ask, panic and excitement coursing through me.

“It takes two to tango, baby.” I can hear the roughness in his voice as he speaks. The sultry tone sends a rush of adrenaline through me, my heart racing as I imagine him.

“Rowan…” My voice falters, caught in a web of anticipation and desire.

“Trust me,” he says, the darkness in his voice wrapping around me like a blanket. “I want you to feel everything, just like I am. Don’t stop.”

I swallow hard, my fingers trembling as they slip back to my skin. Every brush sends sparks racing through me, igniting the fire deep within.

“Don’t think. Just feel,” he commands softly, and I obey, closing my eyes and letting my body take control.

The heat builds within me, and my breath quickens as I lose myself in the moment. The sensation of my fingers gliding over my sensitive skin feels electric like a need is building inside me.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I whisper, my voice strained.

“Just let it happen. I’m right here with you,” he murmurs, his words sending chills down my spine. “I want your fingers exactly where mine were.”

“They are,” I admit with a moan, my heart racing as I surrender to the pleasure coursing through me. My fingers dip past my lips, feeling the wetness between them. The intensity of the moment sends me spiraling, and I can hear him doing the same, the low growl of his breath echoing in my ears.

“Good girl,” he praises. “You’ve got my dick so fucking hard for you, baby.”

His voice is the only thing grounding me as I teeter on the edge. I feel myself building, the tension tightening in my core.

“God,” I gasp, my body begging for release.

“That’s right. Let me hear you,” he urges, his voice a sultry whisper.

The memory of his touch ignites my skin, and the moment I hear his deep moan, I’m done for. It’s the most erotic sound I’ve ever heard, and it has me pressing my fingers harder against my clit, drawing a moan from my chest.

His presence looms large in my mind, overwhelming the final rational thoughts I try to cling to.

“Fuck, you make me crazy.” The sound of his breathing becomes deeper, more ragged. I close my eyes again, feeling the warmth of the moment wash over me, weaving in and out of his voice. I can picture him in my head, his hand wrapped around his cock—big and throbbing as he strokes it.

“Spread your pussy just like I did,” he commands, and I obey, my fingers gliding over my lips, mimicking the motions of his fingers in the bathroom. Each stroke sends ripples of pleasure coursing through me.

“Tell me how it feels,” he urges, his voice dropping to a darker, more seductive tone.

“You did it better,” I admit, breathless. Heat crawls up my cheeks from the admission as his chuckle vibrates through me.

“My fingers felt better on your little clit, hm?”

I shudder at his words, a gasp escaping my lips. The tension is unbearable, the urge to let go mixing with the need to maintain control.

“Yes,” I moan, rubbing my clit harder, remembering his fingers on it.

“Christ, Livia,” he growls, and I can hear his hand working his cock.

My body reacts instantly, heat flooding through me.

“Yes,” I gasp, the image of him hovering over me, devouring me, sending me over the edge.

“Pull your fingers away,” he orders through gritted teeth.

“No,” I whimper, feeling the orgasm build. I don’t want to stop.

“Hand off, baby. I want to hear how desperate you are for me,” he commands, his voice low.

“Please.” I swallow hard, my heart racing.

“Do it, or I’ll come over there,” he urges, the command slipping into something more intimate. “And lick that delicious pussy until you beg me to fuck you.”

How does he expect me to stop touching myself when his words bring me closer and closer to the edge?

“Then take your hand away, too,” I challenge, my voice sounding breathless.

His dark chuckle sends another thrill through me. “Yes, ma’am,” he replies lazily, and the sound of his hand moving stops. “I promised I’d be a good boy, didn’t I?” His voice is like a caress down my skin. “Now it’s your turn to be a good girl, too.”

With a small whine, I pull my fingers away, the sudden absence of touch making me ache.

“Now, tell me,” he drawls. “How bad do you want to come for me?”

“Really bad,” I whisper, feeling the heat in my cheeks.

“Then you need to be a good girl and earn it.” His voice is like black velvet, dark and soft at the same time. “Tell me how my fingers felt on your little pussy.”

“So good,” I whisper again, closing my eyes. My hand resting on my hip is itching to return to my clit.

“Stop hiding, baby,” he urges softly. “There’s no one to hear you but me. Do you know how it felt for me? Like I could breathe again for the first time in forever. I could feel your pulse race when I pulled your panties to the side. Your heart was racing because you knew you wanted it as much as I did. You knew you liked it when I felt how wet I made you.”

“Rowan.” I squeeze my eyes shut, the ache getting unbearable.

“You were fucking soaked, Livia,” he growls. “Your pussy was begging for me, and I want it so bad, baby.”

“Please,” I moan, my voice raw and pleading.

“Please what?” he replies, the dominant edge in his tone making my heart race.

“I need to touch myself.” I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth right now. But I’m so far gone that I’m past the point of caring. I’m trembling, my breath coming in short gasps.

“Touch yourself,” he commands, the soft authority in his voice igniting something deep within me. I hear his hand start moving again, and I don’t need to be told twice. My fingers find my clit again, swollen and throbbing.

“Oh my god,” I breathe out.

With every stroke, I climb higher, teetering on the edge until, finally, I succumb to the wave crashing over me.

“That’s right. Let it all go.”

A moan escapes my lips, and Rowan’s voice swells in my ear, guiding me through the pleasure.

“Show me how good you make that pussy feel for me,” he grits out, and the strain in his voice is enough to pull me under just as much as his words do.

As I spiral into bliss, I hear him grunting on the other end, the sound primal and raw.

“Fuck, yes,” he growls, and I can almost picture him, a dark silhouette in the shadows, muscles taut and demanding as he fists his cock. It drives me higher, his presence mingling with the pleasure, pushing me to the brink.

Together, we come undone, breathless and entwined in a haze of ecstasy. The world around me fades away, leaving only the two of us, and the waves of pleasure crash over me.

But as the final waves of pleasure recede, reality crashes back like a tidal wave. I gasp, blinking rapidly as clarity returns.

“Oh, god,” I whisper. What have I just done? My heart races, and I feel the heat flooding my cheeks.

I just had phone sex with Rowan.

“This can’t be happening,” I say breathlessly.

I hear him chuckle softly on the other end, the sound dripping with satisfaction.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t expect it to feel that good?”

My breath comes in quick bursts as I scramble for words. “This is not going to happen again.” My voice is back, the bite in it slowly returning.

“Don’t tell me you regretted that,” he teases, satisfaction evident in his voice.

I sit up, the embarrassment washing over me in waves. “I’m serious, Rowan! This is the first and last time something like this happens.”

“There she is. My hellcat.” Rowan’s laugh is low, dark, and utterly intoxicating.

My heart races as anger and lingering desire flood through me.

I grit my teeth, his words stirring that reckless spark inside me.

“I can’t believe this. This isn’t who I am.”

“It is now,” he murmurs, his voice thick with temptation. “You can’t say you didn’t like it.”

“Stop,” I insist, feeling the flush of shame and anger heat my cheeks. “This is so wrong!” I’m torn between wanting to scream at him and wanting to crawl back to him.

“It is,” he says. “Yet that need to push the boundaries. It’s thrilling, isn’t it?”

I can’t answer, the mix of emotions swirling inside me are overwhelming.

“I’m hanging up now,” I say, the words slipping out as I realize I’m not sure how to handle this right now. I’m shocked at myself, angry, and still so incredibly aroused. I’m a second away from asking him for round two. “Have a good night.”

“Livia,” he calls, but I don’t wait for him to finish. I end the call abruptly, the silence left in its wake deafening. I bury my face in my pillow, groaning in frustration.

What the hell did I just do?

I guided my orgasm with him. I can still hear his heavy breathing echoing in my mind, the primal growl he let out when he came with me. I can’t escape the memory of his mouth on mine at the club, his hands exploring my body. I groan again, muffling my face into the soft fabric as the heat returns between my legs.

How am I supposed to face him at the charity event on Sunday? What will I say? What can I say? This was not how I wanted my professional relationship with Rowan to unfold. God, what if someone finds out?

I push myself up, running a hand through my hair, my heart racing with confusion and regret. Part of me craves the thrill, the danger that comes with him, but the other part screams that I’ve crossed a line I can’t uncross.

All I can do is replay the moments in my mind, the words we exchanged, the pleasure we shared, and feel that familiar ache deep inside me. I let out a shaky breath, staring at the ceiling as I try to wrap my head around the chaos that is now my life. Rowan has opened a door I never wanted to touch, and now, I’m left standing at the threshold. And as much as I keep lying to myself, all I want to do is keep cross it.