Page 22

ISABELLE

“ I ssy’s a beautiful woman, but there is nothing there between us.

I don’t see her like that. We are just friends.

” I hate that his words have been constantly playing in my mind all night while I watched him and the boys have fun, drinking, singing, and dancing.

I shouldn’t care. But I’m also confused because earlier he said, “Fuck, I know I shouldn’t be thinking these things but seeing you like this …

Issy, you have me so fucking hard.” When we had a moment after his panic attack.

And for a microscopic second, I was about to give in.

Thank goodness Felix came in when he did, otherwise, I might have done something I would regret.

And I would have regretted it. He doesn’t want me.

I’m convenient. I heard Sam teasing him about being on house arrest, and all he has for company is his hand.

Pierre told him he would rather his hand right now as he has trust issues when it comes to women.

Does that mean he has trust issues with me?

I hate being up in my head about this. This is why I needed to keep him at arm’s length, but no, I had to try to be the bigger person and let my anger go.

What has it gotten me? Now I’m angry again for an entirely different reason, and that’s what’s annoying me.

The party is winding down, everyone is well and truly drunk, especially Pierre who is dancing around the room with his brother and Sam. Meadow, Kimberly, and my sisters left earlier, which leaves Harper and me together.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Harper says.

“Been a long week.”

“You two seem to be getting along?” she says, looking over at Pierre who is messing around with Sam and Felix.

“It is what it is,” I tell her with a shrug.

Her eyes narrow on me. “Has something happened?”

“What! No,” I answer too quickly.

“Something happened. I knew it would.” She leans in.

“Nothing happened.”

“You’re lying to me,” she says, sipping her champagne.

“Like you lied to me,” I throw back at her.

She gasps in surprise at my comment. “It must have been good if you’re being spicy about my questions.”

I throw back the rest of my champagne. “I’m tired, I’m going to call it a night.” I start to get up.

“Hey, wait, Issy …” Harper says, tugging at my wrist and pulling me back down. “Are we okay? What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I mumble.

“Right, because this is normal,” she says, waving her hand at me.

Urgh. I let out a frustrated sigh. “This is all a lot, okay,” I snap at her.

Harper stills. “You mean Pierre is a lot,” she says slowly.

“Him being in my space. His being here in general.”

“You said there was a truce,” she adds.

“There is but it can still be fricken hard to be around him. Every time I look at him, I see Missy Jenkins’ smug face. I hate it.”

“Oh, shit.”

“That night …” I start but feel the emotions choking me.

“That night gave you Pierre PTSD. Babe, I’m so sorry for doing this to you,” she says, pulling me into a hug.

“I thought I was doing something to help you move on … shit, I was so wrong. I’m sorry.

” Her hug tightens. “I’ll talk to Felix and get Pierre moved in with us until Felix finds somewhere to live. ”

“Felix is still moving out?” I ask her.

“Yeah. We both agreed it was only until the end of summer, nothing’s changed,” she explains. Everything has changed. How does she not see it? But I’m too exhausted to get into it with her tonight.

“I can’t let Frankston eat your shoes,” I tease.

“He’s still eating shoes?” I nod. Pierre replaced the ones Frankston ate, which was nice of him. “I love my shoes.”

“I know.”

“I’m sure we can sort it out,” she says, grimacing.

“I appreciate it, but I can handle it,” I tell her.

“You shouldn’t have to handle it.”

“It’s fine. I’m exhausted, it’s been a long day,” I tell her.

Harper whistles, and the boys stop dancing. “Felix, let’s go.”

“See ya, boys.” Felix smirks, and they all give him hell, but he just flips them off.

“Are you ready?” He looks to Harper who nods, and moments later, he picks her up from the sofa and pulls her into his arms. She wraps her legs around his waist, while the boys boo him.

Felix ignores them. “Thanks for letting us celebrate tonight, my brother really needed it,” he says.

I give him a nod as he says his goodbyes and hauls Harper koala-style out of my home.

That just leaves Sam and Pierre together, who take a seat with their beers. I get up and start to tidy up the kitchen.

“We need to go out now that you’re single. I know the best places,” Sam says.

“I can’t go out, I’m stuck here for the foreseeable future. No one knows that Kitty and I have broken up,” Pierre tells him.

“Shit, that’s right you said that earlier,” Sam says, taking a sip of his beer.

“That’s going to make it hard to get laid.

I’ve got the best idea. I’m going to gift you a membership to The Paradise Club.

I’m part owner of the islands. Nate, not sure if you’ve met him, but he’s just got his girl back, and he’s disappeared off the face of the Earth with her.

Anyway, it’s these secret sex clubs, everyone who is famous goes there.

And it’s only via word of mouth. Right, Issy, she’s a member,” Sam says.

Why is he bringing me into this? Pierre looks over at me, and I ignore him as I continue to clean.

“Don’t you think him going to the club, Issy, is the perfect idea?

He can get laid, and the paparazzi will never know. ”

“Sure, whatever he wants,” I say, grabbing the empty bottles of beer and placing them in the recycling bin. Pierre frowns at me.

“I’m going to organize it for you. I’ll send over the forms and you’ll need to get some medicals, but it’s easy.

Then you are going to discover a world of fun, so much fricken fun.

Anything you could ever desire is available to you, and man, they have the hottest women there,” Sam says enthusiastically.

Maybe this is a good thing. Pierre probably has a lot of pent-up frustration, and I’m the closest thing to him so he is misdirecting his attention toward me.

“I’m intrigued,” Pierre says, sipping his beer.

“Your mind couldn’t possibly comprehend the shit that goes on there. Tell him Issy.” Sam grins.

“I’m always satisfied,” I answer.

“Damn, right you are.” Sam chuckles, which earns him a filthy look from Pierre.

“That’s settled. I’ll send you the details tomorrow.

Right. Well, I’ve overstayed my welcome,” Sam says, getting up and walking over to me.

He gives me a big kiss on the cheek and a tight hug.

He’s always done this to me because he knows it annoys me, and Sam Rose is fucking annoying.

“Thanks, Issy, for letting us use your home. It’s been great as always.

” Then he points to Pierre. “Congrats, to you on your freedom. And with that, I’m out.

” He walks out of my home with his bottle of beer.

“That man is crazy. Think I’m going to head to bed.”

“Sam’s very flirty with you. Did you two ever?” Pierre asks.

I still. “Excuse me?”

“You and Harper are close, and he’s her brother. Have you two ever hooked up? He seems to know how satisfied you are.” Those hazel eyes narrow on me. Is he jealous?

“That’s none of your business, and you’ve been drinking,” I tell him as I throw the paper towel that I was wiping the countertop with in the bin and start to walk away. I am not in the mood for this.

Next thing I know, Pierre grabs me, picks me up, and places me on to the kitchen counter, my bare ass meets the stone and it’s cold. Stupid G-string.

“Issy, I need to know if Sam has ever touched you. The thought that he has will drive me crazy.”

He’s insane. “Why would you care? You only see me as a friend,” I say, pushing against his hard body.

Pierre pushes between my legs and locks me in place with his hips. “You heard that? I thought you did, but you didn’t react.” Those hazel eyes glare at me.

“Yes. And I feel the same,” I say, pushing against him but it’s no use, the man is a fricken mountain.

“Except earlier when you were on your knees for me, I saw it on your face, you wanted me. Don’t forget I know you, Issy.

I know the way your eyes dilate when your panties get wet, the way your skin flushes as your cunt tingles, the way your breath quickens, I haven’t forgotten any of it. ” He snarls.

“Please, I had my first orgasm after we broke up,” I spit back.

Pierre’s hand grabs my throat. “Bullshit.” His fingers tighten around my throat. “I made you scream all the time.”

“It’s called faking it.” Pierre’s fingers tighten, and he glares at me angrily.

“I never had to fake with Sam.” For the record, I’ve never slept with Sam.

Yes, he is good looking, but he is such a playboy, plus he’s Harper’s brother.

Nate, on the other hand, I would have climbed that man like a tree, but it never happened. Pierre doesn’t need to know that.

“You fucked him?” he questions me. I don’t say a word only glare at him. “Tell me, Issy, did you fuck Sam Rose because he and I are going to have a problem if you did.” Pierre looks angry, but I don’t want him taking it out on Sam. He’d be collateral damage in whatever game Pierre is playing.

“Who I have or haven’t fucked is none of your business. You lost any right to ask about my sex life years ago.”

“You didn’t sleep with Sam?” His face softens.

“No, I didn’t, you asshole. Now let me go,” I say, trying to push him out of the way.

“Why did you make me believe you did?” he questions me.

“Let me down,” I yell at him as my fists pummel against his chest.

“Issy, were you trying to make me jealous?” His voice lowers as his thumb slides along my collarbone. I’m unable to hide the shiver that it gives me, which makes him smirk. “The thought that someone else could make you come better than I can, would drive me insane. You were right, it did.”

“I’ve had plenty of people make me come better than you,” I snap back.

“Is that so? You know how competitive I am, Issy. Seems like you have thrown the gauntlet down. Now I’m going to have to prove you wrong,” he says, pressing himself between my legs.

Why the hell did I wear a mini dress tonight?

The hem is around my waist. Pierre’s hand slides between us and over the damp fabric of my underwear. “Seems like someone likes me.”

“Fuck you,” I hiss.

“Maybe I will.” He grins as his hand tightens again around my throat and his other slides against my underwear, and with a rough tug, he snaps the fabric as if it was nothing leaving me pantieless.

He then brings the fabric to his nose and sniffs it.

Why is that hot and disturbing? “Fuck. I’ve missed the smell of you, Issy. ”

“You’re a pig,” I hiss.

He smirks at me as he continues to sniff my panties.

“I’m going to wrap these around my cock later and pretend I’m fucking you with them.

” My jaw falls open as he shoves them into his back pocket.

“Now, where was I?” He grins as his hand slides between us, but this time his fingers slide between my wet folds.

A moan falls from my mouth before I have a chance to stop it, which makes him chuckle darkly.

I should be pushing him away, but I hate how much my body wants this.

“Fuck,” I groan as his thick fingers slide into me.

“Still as tight as I remember.” He grins as his fingers move inside me, instantly finding those sensitive bundles of nerves like he was always able to.

It looks like Pierre hasn’t forgotten at all how to make me come.

“Let go, Issy. Don’t fight me on this,” he coos as his fingers continue to do indescribable things to me.

No. I shouldn’t be doing this. Let the man give you an orgasm, he owes you, and you need one.

No. He doesn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve any piece of me.

“Stop,” Pierre’s hand stills, his fingers inside me.

“You want me to stop?” he asks.

Suddenly, tears well in my eyes. I’m ashamed of myself for letting him get this far with me. I’m ashamed that I like his hands on me. Pierre pulls his fingers from me, and his hand falls from my throat as he stands back, giving me space. I quickly pull down the edge of my dress to cover myself.

“Issy, I’m sorry.” I can see the anguish on his face.

“I’m going to bed,” I say, hopping down from the counter.

“I thought …” he says, running the hand that was inside of me through his hair.

“We can only ever be friends. I can’t do this, even if I wanted to,” I confess as I leave him alone in the kitchen and head to bed, upset, ashamed, and worst of all, horny too.