Page 88 of Vain

We stay like that, until he tears his mouth from mine and curses. “Fuck, fuck!” he growls as I feel him throb in my hand. I press myself closer just as he comes, shooting all over my stomach.

“You sure know how to undo a man.”

I flutter my lashes at him. “Why, thank you.”

He tips my jaw up so he can look into my eyes. “I’m going to wash my hair while you get out and dry off. You better be on that bed when I get out, legs spread wide for me.”

I swallow hard. “Yes, sir.”

A deep rumble slips from his lips as his expression darkens. “Go now. You have five minutes. If you’re not on that bed ready for me, I’ll fuck you wherever I find you.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the tale of how my ovaries exploded.

Chapter Thirty-Five

AIDEN

After eating her, fucking her, and then feeding her, we settle in the movie room with a bowl of gourmet popcorn courtesy of Marley.

I scroll through the available movies, hoping something will jump out at me when Greyson knocks on the door and walks in carrying a tray.

“I have beer for the gentleman and a mocktail for you, as you’re still on pain meds. I took the liberty of picking up a new phone and having it set up for you. It’s been ringing on and off for the last thirty minutes. I figured it was reporters, but it’s the same number calling each time, so I worry it might be important.”

“You’re a godsend, Greyson. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Well, that’s something you’ll never have to worry about.” He smiles, handing us each our drink and Tilly her new phone. “I’ll leave you both to it. Is there anything else either of you need?”

“We’re good. Thanks. Greyson,” I tell him.

He nods. “It’s my pleasure.”

He’s gone a moment later. I turn to Tilly as her phone starts ringing. With a sigh, she puts her drink in the cupholder on the arm of the seat and answers the call. “Matilda Carson speaking.”

I can’t hear the other person. There’s just a slightly muffled voice, but not enough to tell if they’re male or female.

“I’m sorry, can you say that again?” She shakes her head, looking at me dumbfounded. “No, I understand. I won’t be making any comments on this, and I have zero interest in following suit and going on a talk show.” She spits out the last word, which makes my eyebrows shoot up. What the heck?

“I’m back at the studio Monday morning to finish the last of the filming. I won’t let either of them ruin this for me or for everyone who has worked so hard to bring this movie to life.” She nods along to whatever they say before she speaks again. “Thanks, I appreciate it. Yes, reiterate to them that I’m a professional and I won’t let any of this impact filming.” She nods again. “Okay, thanks, Jack.” She looks up and stares at me, her mouth open for a second before it closes.

“What’s wrong?”

“My mother, apparently. Can you hand me the remote for a second?” I pass it to her as she goes into a different menu. I look at her face, wondering what the fuck is going on when she hits play and voices fill the room.

“This aired this morning. Some of those reporters asked me about my mother, I just didn’t know why. Now I do.”

“You’re not making any sense, Tilly. What did she do?” Before she can answer, I hear Hattie’s voice loud and clear. “Tell me she didn’t.”

“Oh, she did. But wait. It gets worse.”

I listen to the interview in which Hattie portrays herself as a victim and makes Tilly look like a selfish shrew. It isn’t until theinterviewer asks about Daniel that I finally understand what has Tilly so pissed.

“It’s sad really. My daughter has always wanted what I had. She didn’t like the fact that Daniel and I had become close, intimate. You see, she surrounds herself with men, so she has no competition. Daniel never looked at her that way. He tried to be kind and let her down gently, but Matilda then brought someone else in to try and make him jealous. When we told her we were serious about each other, she fired him on the spot and cut me out of her life. I’m her mother, for goodness sake. I know she’s troubled, but I still love and care for her.”She dabs her eyes, fake tears slipping over her cheeks.

“Tell me people aren’t buying this?”

“You know I can’t. People who know me, know the truth. That’s all that really matters, I guess.” But even as she says it, I can feel her disappointment coming off her in waves.

The audience is eating out of the palm of Hattie’s hand. The host leans forward.“Your daughter was in a car accident, there is no denying that, and sources tell me that one of the vehicles registered to his company, Cox Security, was caught on camera hitting Matilda’s car.”