Black Ties and White Lies(80)

My feet barely hit the first stair when a strong arm snakes around my waist. Beck pulls me against his hard body, his lips right next to my ear. There’s a loud smacking sound as my sketchbook falls to the ground.

“And where do you think you’re going?” He nips at my neck angrily.

My mouth opens and shut as I try to form words. I’m still reeling from the embarrassment of my word choice earlier and now he’s taken me by surprise by locking me in an embrace.

“G-going to bed,” I stutter.

“Your bed is no longer upstairs.”

“It’s not?”

Beck’s large hands grab me by the waist as he spins me to face him. “You’re my fiancée,” he growls. “The only bed you’ll be sleeping in is the one in my room.”

I’m stunned, unable to think of a response to him. I hated the thought of going upstairs to an empty bed after having the luxury of feeling his warm body next to mine last night. But it didn’t stop me from accepting that was how it was going to be. At least that’s how I thought it’d be, but the angry look in Beck’s eyes tells me I must be mistaken.

“Get whatever you need upstairs right now and then meet me back here. I’ve had the taste of having you sleep next to me. As long as you’re under this roof, there’s no going back. I want to be able to reach across the mattress and run my fingers through your hair. I want to wake up and be surrounded by the smell of you. I want to wake you up with my mouth on your pussy, to see how close I am to getting you to come on my tongue before your eyes even open. There’s so much more I want to do with sleeping next to you every night, but it starts with you getting the stupid idea out of your head that your place is in any other bed but mine.”

I’ve never met someone who can say the sweetest yet dirtiest things all in one speech. It’s a talent, the way he can make me melt into a puddle at his feet with his lust-filled words.

“You have two seconds to turn around and get whatever the hell it is that you need before I say fuck it and throw you over my shoulder. I’m pissed at you for even thinking that you wouldn’t be joining me in bed tonight. If you don’t move fast baby, I’ll be pulling you back to my room and making you pay for it.”

I yelp, turning around and running up the stairs as fast as my legs will take me. My clit throbs at his words. His threats have never once actually felt like a threat. They’ve always felt like a promise. And for some twisted reason, I can’t wait to take my time up here. To make him wait. I want to see how long it takes for him to come looking for me, how solid his patience is.

“I’ll be a minute!” I yell as I run down the hallway to my room. I’ll be way longer than a minute. He doesn’t have to know how eager I am to climb into bed with him and feel his strong arms around me all night, but first, I want to tease him a little.

As soon as I’m in my room, I slam the door and turn the lock. I don’t know if he’ll come upstairs and look for me, but it’d be fun to see his reaction—his threats—if he were to come upstairs and find the door locked.

I’m tearing through my drawer of lingerie, when I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see a video call coming in from Winnie. I’d tried calling both her and Emma earlier to tell them the news of the engagement, but neither had answered.

I swipe to answer the call immediately. The moment I see both my best friends’ heads jammed together to fit in the camera view, my heart swells. I can’t freaking wait for our engagement party if it means I get to see them.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Emma scolds, grabbing the phone from Winnie and holding it so she’s the only one in view.

I smile. God, I missed her.

“Well, Beck and I got stuck in the middle of nowhere Colorado in a snowstorm after a business meeting. I had spotty service there.”

Emma gives me a beaming smile. “Oh my god, did you guys have to bone to stay warm?”

I bite my lip, unsure how to even begin to tell them how much has changed. At least they’ll take it as a lot changing. They don’t know it’s been the plan all along.

“Holy shit. YOU FUCKED!” Emma shouts, the screen going blurry as she jumps up and down in excitement.

I’m fighting the urge to throw up from motion sickness with how much the phone is being thrown around when Winnie’s face pops into view once again. Her and Emma fight over the phone, the two of them both coming into view finally as the phone settles.

“Is Emma being her typical dramatic self or did you really sleep with Beckham Sinclair?”

“Well…” I begin, propping them on a shelf in my closet. Taking a deep breath, I lift my hand and wiggle my fingers at the camera.

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!” Emma screams while Winnie lets out an audible gasp.

“Is that what I think it is?” Emma questions, her voice rushed as she leans so close to the camera all I can see is her eyeball.

“Mar, are you engaged?” Winnie asks, her voice full of disbelief.

I move my hand from the camera, smiling at the both of them. “Yes,” I answer smugly. “To both of your questions.”

They scream in unison, both of them taking turns to grab the phone to talk to me. “I’m going to fucking bow down to you queen,” Emma begins. “When one brother breaks your heart, fuck the other one and get engaged to him as payback. You’re a fucking icon.”