Chapter 6: Behind The Masks

Katherine returned, balancing a tray of desserts. She set them down with a smile, then leaned in closer to me, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “You know, Abigail, a baby before marriage wouldn’t be the worst thing. We just want to see Max happy... and, well, maybe see you two settle down sooner.”

I forced a smile, the suggestion twisting inside me. “That’s... sweet of you to say, Katherine. But Max and I aren’t in a rush.”

Katherine’s expression tightened. “Well, if he ever disappoints you, dear, just let me know. I’ll keep him in line.”

Before I could respond, Blake spoke up with a laugh, his arm draped casually over the back of the chair. “Don’t worry, Katherine. Max is as loyal as they come. He’s the perfect gentleman, he wouldn’t even think of looking at another woman.”

I almost choked on the irony, but I managed to keep my smile in place. Max’s hand tightened around mine. He glanced at me, and then at Blake, as if gauging the tension. He cleared his throat. “Mom, like I said, Abigail and I are taking our time. We’re happy just as we are.”

Katherine huffed, but she didn’t push further, just nodded and picked up the tray again. “Well, if you two insist. We’ll talk more later. I need to check on dinner.”

She disappeared down the hallway, leaving the three of us in a charged silence. Max turned back to me, a hint of worry in his eyes. I looked at him, forcing myself to meet his gaze, but all I could see was the deception hiding behind his attempt at concern. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear, but the whisper that followed made my skin crawl.

“I told you, I’d never cheat on you with some girl,” he murmured, his voice low and meant to soothe, like he thought he could win me back with a few well-chosen words. But all I could hear was the lie. My mind flashed back to the image of him tangled with Blake, the sounds they made together, and my stomach twisted.

I forced a tight, bitter smile, pushing the words out through clenched teeth. “Of course, Max. I know.”

The lie tasted sharp, bitter, but I let it sit there, watching the tension in his face ease slightly. He really believed I’d bought it.

I turned my head away, letting my gaze drift around the room, needing some space from the heavy air between us.

But as I did, the door creaked open, and my heart almost stopped.

A shadow filled the doorway. Tall. Confident. Charles.

Charles stepped into the room with that smooth, easy stride, his suit perfectly fitted to his broad shoulders and lean frame. His presence was like a crackling wire, charging everything around him, demanding attention.

And then he looked at me.

Our eyes locked, and the floor seemed to disappear beneath my feet, as if the ground itself had shifted and left me suspended in a moment too dangerous to acknowledge.

My mind snapped back to that night in the club, the memory hitting me with brutal clarity. I remembered the way Charles's hands had been rough but deliberate, his fingers plunging deep inside me, filling me in a way that had stolen the breath from my lungs. My back pressed against the cool wall, my legs trembling as his thumb circled my clit, slow, relentless, each touch sending shock waves through my core.

I could almost feel the texture of his suit brushing against my bare skin, the rasp of his breath in my ear as he growled low words that made my whole body tighten around his fingers.

My thighs pressed together instinctively, not out of need, but from the surprise of seeing him here, of his presence in this setting. It wasn’t longing, not yet, but the familiarity of his gaze made my skin prickle, like my body hadn’t forgotten the way he’d touched me, even if my mind had tried to move past it.

God, why did he have to be here?

Charles’s eyes darkened, a slow, dangerous sweep that moved from my flushed cheeks to my parted lips, down the line of my throat to where my pulse pounded wildly.

He knew exactly what he was doing to me. He knew, and that crooked smile on his lips said he enjoyed every second of my struggle to keep control, to hide the way I was practically melting for him, right in front of my boyfriend.

Max squeezed my hand again, trying to anchor me, but all I could focus on was the way Charles’s lips curled into that slow, knowing smile. A flush of heat rolled through me, settling low in my belly, a reminder of how he’d made me feel things I never thought I could feel.

But now, he was standing there in front of me, wearing the mask of a polished businessman. And I had to pretend—pretend that I wasn’t thinking about the way his mouth had felt on my skin, the rough scrape of his stubble against my neck when he whispered all those dirty things in my ear. I also needed to know— what was he doing there?

Max, oblivious to the storm raging inside me, turned to Charles with a forced grin, trying to maintain a semblance of warmth. “Charles, it’s about time you showed up. Come meet my girlfriend, Abigail.”

Jason clapped a hand on Charles’s shoulder, his voice a little too loud, as if trying to fill the awkward space between his sons. “Yes, Abigail, this is Max’s older half-brother, Charles. We don’t get to see him much since he’s usually busy traveling for business.” Jason chuckled, glancing between them. “But we’re always glad when he finds time to join us, right, Max?”

Max’s smile faltered just a bit, the tension in his jaw tightening for a split second before he nodded. “Yeah, it’s been... a while.”

Girlfriend. The word stung like a slap, and I forced myself to breathe through the anger that rose up inside me. But before I could collect my thoughts, Charles’s attention shifted fully to me, his smile deepening as he crossed the room, his eyes lingering on me just a moment too long. It was a look that sent a thrill through me, despite the dangerous edge to it.

“Abigail, is it? I’ve heard a lot about you.” His voice was smooth, just like that night—low and rich, each word deliberate, laced with an unspoken challenge.

I reached out to shake his hand, praying he couldn’t feel the slight tremor in my grip. His skin was warm, rougher than I remembered, and he held my hand just a bit too long, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a way that sent chills down my spine.

“Nice to meet you, Charles,” I said, forcing a smile, trying to sound casual. But the way he looked at me, with that knowing gleam in his eyes, made my voice waver. It was as if he could see right through me, see every dirty thought running through my head, and he liked it.

Charles’s lips curled into a slow, wicked smile, his voice dropping lower as he said, “The pleasure’s all mine.” The words were innocent enough, but the way he said them, like he was remembering every sound I made that night, sent heat rushing to my cheeks.

Beside me, Max remained clueless, still playing the role of the good boyfriend, but Blake’s gaze shifted between us, curiosity flickering in his eyes. He leaned forward, grinning at Charles. “So, Charles, what’s it like being back in town? Any new girlfriends keeping you busy? Or are you still living up to your reputation?” His tone was teasing, but there was an edge of genuine interest beneath it. “You know, I’ve heard those rumors about you being quite the playboy.”

Charles smirked, turning his attention to Blake, but not before his gaze slid back to me, a slow, deliberate sweep that made my skin prickle with heat. “Let’s just say, it’s been... eventful,” he replied, his voice carrying a dark undertone that made my stomach twist with a nervous excitement. “But yeah, I did meet a nice girl a few days ago.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my face neutral even as my mind raced, caught in a loop of what he might reveal. The casual way he said it, like it meant nothing, made my chest tighten.

Max, oblivious to the tension, clapped Charles on the back, laughing. “Well, hopefully she’s not too much trouble for you. It’s good to see you settling in, enjoying life again. Come on, join us for a drink. It’s been too long since we’ve all been together.”

Charles’s smile softened slightly, but his eyes still held that dangerous gleam. He glanced my way, something unreadable flashing behind his gaze—something that sent a shiver racing down my spine. “I think I’ll take you up on that, Max. It’s always good to catch up with family.”

He moved closer, settling into a chair across from me, but even with the distance between us, I could feel the heat of his presence, the weight of the unspoken things between us. My mind flashed back to that night in the club, the way his fingers had moved with such deliberate confidence, pressing deep inside me, his voice rough and low as he asked if I liked it, if I wanted more.

Then, Charles leaned in, his voice dropping to a murmur meant only for me, his breath warm against my ear. “You look a little flustered, Abigail,” he said, his tone carrying a soft tease. “Didn’t expect to see me here, did you?”

I forced myself to breathe, my pulse hammering in my ears. “No, I didn’t,” I managed to reply, my voice barely more than a whisper. “But then again, life’s full of surprises.”

“Oh, I think you’re right about that. And I have a feeling there are more surprises to come.”

His gaze lingered on my lips for a brief moment before quickly diverting his attention.He chuckled, the sound low and rough, vibrating through me in a way that made my skin heat, my nipples tightening beneath my dress.

Max, still oblivious, clapped Charles on the shoulder again, cutting into the charged moment. “Come on, Charles, don’t keep secrets. You always did love to surprise us.”

Charles’s smirk widened, his eyes never leaving mine as he replied smoothly, “No secrets, Max. It’s just some things... I like to keep very close.”

Max, still smiling, glanced between us, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air. “Well, I’m sure you’ll find plenty of trouble to get into now that you’re back. And maybe that ‘nice girl’ you met will keep you entertained for a while.”

Charles only shrugged, his smile never wavering. “Oh, I think she will, Max. I think she will.”