Craving My Husband’s Brother

CHAPTER 8 LIAM

‘My brother’s wife.’ The words repeated in my head like a twisted joke, each time hitting me harder until I felt like I was about to crack the marble floor beneath my shoes.

I watched her walk away, her dark green dress swaying as she practically bolted through the crowd toward the staircase.

She was moving fast, her shoulders tense, completely desperate to put as much distance between us as possible.

“My wife, Alice.” Those words kept ringing in my ears, mocking me.

"f*****g gorgeous, right?" Nathaniel's voice broke through my thoughts, loud and annoying. He leaned against the bar, flagging down the bartender for another glass of whatever whiskey was fueling his hangover. "I mean, she’s a pain in the ass most of the time, always whining about my lifestyle, but she handles the public eye well enough."

I didn't look at him. If I looked at him right now, I was going to lose my f*****g mind and cave his arrogant face in right here in front of the board of directors.

My fists clenching at my sides were the only thing keeping me grounded.

"You don't deserve her," the words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them, my voice dropping into a dangerous, low gravel.

I had no idea how that even escaped my lips. ‘What the hell was I thinking?’

Nathaniel paused, a smirk forming on his face as he took his drink. "What was that, big brother? Already jealous? Don't worry, you'll find some high-society print model to occupy your time. Leave the domestic ones to me."

This absolute i***t.

He had absolutely no clue. He was completely blind, too wrapped up in his own spoiled world to notice the sheer terror on his wife's face, or the fact that she had just looked at me like I held her entire life in the palm of my hand.

‘Why was she even at the f*****g club? Why did she walk up to me? Why…’ My head felt like a playground for racing thoughts.

She had used me to escape him, and I had willingly taken the bait because I was too blinded by the friction between us to ask the right questions.

"Liam, dear! There you are," Rita’s voice cut in, interrupting the suffocating silence between Nathaniel and me. She appeared at my side, her eyes darting between the two of us like she was trying to scent trouble. "The chairman is ready for the opening toast. We need you at the front."

"Give me a minute, Rita," I said, my tone flat enough to cut glass.

"We don't have a minute, the press is—"

"I said give me a f*****g minute," I growled, turning a harsh, dark glare on her.

Rita shut her mouth instantly, her eyes widening slightly as she took a step back. She wasn't used to anyone pushing back against her control, but she didn't know the monster she was dealing with. I wasn't my father, and I damn sure wasn't Nathaniel.

“Damn, Liam, chill the f**k out. You need a drink or something?” Nathaniel asked from behind me, holding up a bottle of whiskey.

This f*****g i***t.

He had no goddamn clue that I had just pinned his dear wife under me last night, or that she had moaned my name so loud because I gave her the best s*x of her life. I wouldn’t doubt it if I actually did.

I glared at him for a moment, then I straightened my suit jacket, forcing my composure back into place.

“Lead the way, Rita,” I said, facing her.

She looked terrified as she quickly walked ahead of me, and I followed her pace. I had to fulfill my duties. I wasn't going to let anything ruin this night more than it had already been ruined.

I would deal with Alice later.

But even just the thought of her name made my heart do a sudden backflip. I didn't even know what the f**k I was feeling right now. I should be enraged at her for using me, but a part of me wasn't. And that part terrified me.

___

After I was done dealing with the press and addressing the crowd, the guests finally started dispersing slowly. Finally, I was done with this whole f*****g night.

Immediately, my mind traced straight back to Alice.

I noticed she hadn’t been around the party area at all throughout my entire speech. My eyes scanned the room, looking over the thinning crowd, searching for a flash of that dark green dress.

“You must be Liam,” a soft, smooth voice said behind me.

I turned around and glanced at the woman standing there. She was indeed beautiful,blonde hair, petite, and slender.

“Indeed I am. And you are?” I asked, genuinely wondering who she was.

“I’m Audrey,” she said, her fingers casually tracing a line across the front of my chest.

Oh. This must be Nathaniel’s sister-in-law. Technically, that made her Alice’s sister—or step-sister, rather.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Your brother never stops talking about you,” she purred, giving me an overtly seductive look. Immediately, I knew exactly where this was heading.

What the f**k was she actually doing? Half of my mind was still wondering where Alice had disappeared to, and this girl was trying to hit on her sister's brother-in-law.

“I bet he did. Please excuse me,” I said, wrapping my fingers around her wrist and firmly removing her hand from my chest.

Without giving her another second of my time, I strolled right away from her, heading straight toward the private corridors.

I went in search of the one woman who completely clouded my mind.

I definitely needed answers, and I was going to get them right now.