Chapter 75

Julian’s POV

I was about to bury my problems away once and for all in the bottle, but a loud knocking on my door stopped me just before the liquid could touch my lips. I lowered the glass, wondering who that could be.

Olivia immediately grunted with annoyance, her gaze lifting to the ceiling as if silently praying to the Moon Goddess for help. What did she have to be frustrated about? Perhaps she was tired of listening to me prattle on about my problems.

Wasn’t that what friends did, though? Didn’t she want to be my friend?

The knocking on the door was even louder this time, a fierce pounding.

I thought that I had better see who that is. It could be an emergency.

Turning toward the door, Olivia immediately stepped forward like she intended to stop me. “I’m sure it’s nothing. The wind, maybe.”

“Open this door, Julian!” Amber shouted. “I’m not leaving until you open this door!”

“Amber?” I hurried forward, unlatched the door and opened it.

Beyond the doorframe, standing outside, were a very angry looking Amber and Anna. They both pushed their way in while I was standing there, gaping. When they saw Olivia, their already foul moods soured even further.

“You liar,” Anna snapped at me.

Amber was more subdued, though the disappointment on her face was palpable, and sliced into me like a blade. “You made it seem like you wanted to reconnect with me, but that was a lie, wasn’t it? You told me Olivia was pregnant, but that’s probably a lie too! Though…” She looked at Olivia. “You shouldn’t be drinking if you’re pregnant.”

“Tell her you aren’t pregnant, Olivia,” I said.

I’d never really seen Amber like this before. She’d been so distant with me for so long, that I’d almost forgotten what it was like to truly feel her ire in this way. Plus, she seemed a bit off-kilter and unsteady.

Before Olivia could answer, I asked Amber. “Have you been drinking?”

“I’m not the only one,” she snapped, gesturing to the wine I still held. “Don’t throw stones in glass houses, especially when you are in your hotel room drinking with the woman you cheated on me with…”

The words were like a slap to the face and the least of what I deserved.

“Amber, I swear to you, this is entirely innocent,” I tried to insist. But she shook her head not listening to me.

“How can I possibly trust you, Julian? Especially with her,” Amber said.

Gods, I was a fool, wasn’t I? Thinking I could still be friends with Olivia while also romantically pursuing Amber. Of course Amber would feel uncertain, given the history between Olivia and I. After all, hadn’t it been a night much like this when I had fallen into bed with Olivia.

I still couldn’t remember it, not past the drinking and then waking up naked in bed beside Olivia. Every time I tried to push my memory, searching for answers, I ended up with a headache.

Maybe my mind was just trying to protect itself from the pain of the betrayal I had committed against my mate. I wasn’t sure, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t remember anything from that night.

Here I was, about to start drinking again with Olivia, while in a hotel room, mere feet from an empty bed.

No wonder Amber thought what she thought. I had practically pushed her to it.

“I wasn’t thinking,” I admitted to her. “But this was just a friendly chat.”

“Is that how it started last time, too?” Amber asked me.

“Now, wait a minute,” Olivia started.

“Stay out of this,” Anna snapped.

“I won’t!” Olivia said. “Who even told you I was here? Or do you always go snooping on people in the middle of the night.”

Anna placed her hands on her hips. “Chase told us. He saw you coming here. He even had a video.”

“Chase?” Olivia said, some outrage in her voice.

I was also furious, realizing that Chase probably saw this as a golden opportunity to shove a wedge between Amber and me. He wanted her to think I was in here fooling around with Olivia, to help open the door for himself to move in.

“You can’t trust Chase,” I said.

“Oh, enough of that,” Amber snapped. “Chase was looking out for me tonight, showing me what I’d been purposefully blind too. What I maybe had always looked away from. If you want Olivia so badly, go and be with her! Don’t come here! Just leave me out of it!”

“I don’t want to be with Olivia,” I said. “I want to be with you.”

“I don’t believe you!” she snapped. With a huff, she grabbed my wine straight from my hands. “I’m too sober for this.”

At once, she downed the drink.

Olivia outstretched her hand as if to stop her, but then immediately snapped it back.

When the glass was empty, Amber dropped it down on the desktop with a clatter. It was a miracle the glass didn’t shatter.

Amber’s POV

I was tipsy from the Rum Runner and the extra shot, but I was still too sober to be having this tired old argument with Julian. That was why I had downed that glass of wine.

I thought it would help. Yet, after a moment, and then too, the alcohol seemed to hit me like a freight train. I started to wobble. Julian quickly reached forward, grabbing my arm to steady me.

“You alright?” he asked me, some worry in his voice.

I didn’t know. I felt… odd. And hot.

“She clearly can’t handle her wine very well,” Olivia said. Her voice seemed to shake some. Was she nervous? About what? “I won’t stand here and be insulted.” With that, she pushed her way past me and out the door.

Anna followed her, as if making sure she was gone.

The heat flickered out from inside of me, shooting down to my fingers and toes. Where Julian’s hand was on my arm, the skin beneath was searing. Yet it wasn’t painful. It felt so good, I wanted more and swayed into him.

Only, I swayed too much and fell off balance. Before I knew it, I was fully falling forward.

Julian moved quickly. Wrapping his arms around me, he held me in his embrace, keeping me safe against the wide expanse of his chest.

Gods, he had a lot of muscles. I couldn’t stop myself from running my hands over them now.

“Amber…” Julian said, his voice a little more breathy than it had been only a moment ago.

He was so warm. Even though I was warm too, it felt so good pressing my body against him. Two flames, burning bright.

I hummed happily as I pressed as much of my body as I could against his.

He swallowed thickly, and I looked up at his neck. Gods, I wanted to suck in a mark there, making him mine. It’d be like a notice to keep other women – especially Olivia – away.

“You are acting strangely, Amber,” he said, his voice deeper now, a little rough.

My vision was blurring somewhat. The heat was becoming too hot.

Even delirious, I knew I was about to pass out. I grabbed at his arms, desperate for his attention.

I already had it though, his blue eyes fixed on me with worry… and with heat.

There were words on my tongue. Ones that I really needed him to know. Right now, right here, before anything else could be spoken.

“I don’t want to share you,” I said, just before the whole world went dark.