Craving My Husband’s Brother

CHAPTER 7. AMBER

The entire day after I left the club had been a living hell.

My stepmother, Rita, made sure I partook in every single agonizing minute of the preparations for tonight’s event.

The grand gala was meant to celebrate the return of the family's golden boy, Nathaniel’s older brother.

Throughout the whole suffocating process, only one thing kept me from losing my mind completely.

It was my mystery man from last night. I could still feel the phantom heat of his body pressed hard against mine, the brutal, possessive way he had pounded me until I was entirely breathless.

Just thinking about it made my stomach tingle, then a sudden rush of electricity shooting straight to my core.

I couldn't stop daydreaming about the way his large hands had anchored my hips, forcing me to forget who I was for just a few beautiful hours.

When I finally sneaked back into the mansion early this morning, nobody had even bothered to ask where I'd been.

Nathaniel was probably too hungover or wrapped up with Audrey to notice, and I certainly didn't bother explaining myself either.

By evening, I was hiding out in my dressing room, desperately trying to regain my sanity after Rita had spent the last three hours pushing me to my absolute limit.

Suddenly, Nathaniel’s loud, demanding voice cut through the hall, calling for me.

What was his deal now?.

Smoothing down the silk of my dress, I forced a breath into my lungs and went downstairs.

I made my way slowly through the massive ballroom, weaving through a sea of wealthy, snobbish men and women who only cared about status and jewelry.

And then, I saw him.

Everything stopped. The entire world tilted on its axis, grinding to a violent halt.

My hand shook so violently against the fabric of my gown that I had to ball my fingers into a tight fist just to keep from dropping straight to my knees.

The classical music blasting from the speakers sounded a thousand miles away, instantly replaced by the loud, deafening thud of my own heartbeat hammering against my ribs.

No.

No, no, no. This isn’t f*****g happening.

I blinked, praying desperately that the residual alcohol from last night was finally causing me to lose my mind. I prayed that when I opened my eyes, the man standing in front of Nathaniel wouldn’t be the same tall, imposing figure with the piercing storm-grey eyes that had haunted my thoughts since ten o'clock this morning

.

But he didn't disappear.

He stood there, towering over my husband, clad in a perfectly tailored tuxedo that emphasized the heavy, muscular expanse of the chest I had pinned my hands against just hours ago.

The sharp, brutal line of his jaw was tight, his lips pressed into a hard, rigid line. And those eyes, those hypnotic, terrifying eyes, were locked onto mine with an intensity that felt like a physical blow.

"Alice, babe, what took you so long?" Nathaniel grumbled, his hand wrapping carelessly around my waist.

The moment his palm pressed against my side, a wave of pure nausea washed over me. He reeked of top-shelf whiskey, his fingers digging into my hip with that familiar, arrogant dominance that always made me feel like an object he owned.

I couldn't look at Nathaniel. I couldn't move. I was completely paralyzed, staring at the man who had witnessed me at my absolute rawest, the man I had used to wash away the foul stench of my husband's betrayal.

What could he be doing here?

"Liam, this is my wife, Alice," Nathaniel said, completely oblivious to the silent nuclear bomb exploding right in front of him. He pulled me closer to his side, his voice dripping with an arrogant pride that made my stomach churn. "Alice, meet my big brother, Liam. The one who's back to save the family empire."

BIG BROTHER!

The silence that followed was suffocating. My world seized for a second.

The realization slammed into my chest like a freight train, knocking whatever little strength I had left straight out of me.

The legendary eldest son. The brother Nathaniel spent every single day throwing bitter tantrums about.

Liam.

Technically, I had never officially met him. He hadn't even attended our wedding. I had heard rumors and assumed his absence was because of the deep resentment he held toward the Hawthorn name. But now, the terrifying truth was staring me right in the face.

I had slept with my husband's older brother

FUCK!

A choked, terrified gasp threatened to escape my throat, and I immediately bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted copper.

My mind scrambled, frantically searching for a way out, an excuse to run, a hole to crawl into and never come out of.

Does he know? Did he know who I was last night?

I scanned Liam's face, looking for a smirk, a flash of malicious amusement, or the cold disgust of a man who realized he had been tricked into a forbidden affair. But his face was an unreadable mask of pure shock and hardening anger.

Liam didn't break eye contact. His grey eyes darkened, turning into a raging storm as they tracked the placement of Nathaniel’s hand on my waist.

For a split second, I saw a flash of raw, possessive fury ripple across his handsome features, his large fists clenching dangerously tight at his sides.

"Nice to meet you... Alice," Liam finally said..

His voice was a deep, gravelly baritone that vibrated straight through my skin, sending a violent, terrifying shiver down my spine.

He hit the word 'Alice' with a sharp, heavy emphasis that only I could understand. It was a warning. A promise.

He knew I had lied to him.

"It's... an honor, Liam," I whispered, my voice cracking beneath the weight of the massive deception.

I forced my chin up, trying to channel the brave, blunt woman I had discovered in that VIP room last night, but my knees were trembling so badly I could barely maintain my balance.

"Wow, look at that," Nathaniel laughed loudly, slapping

Liam on the shoulder. "My wife is actually speechless. Usually, she’s nagging me about my drinking, but I guess your intimidating ass has that effect on people."

Nathaniel's mocking laughter filled the space between us, turning the entire situation into a sickening nightmare. I felt dirty. I felt completely exposed.

Right across the room, I caught sight of Rita watching us with a sharp, calculating glance. And right next to her stood Audrey, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes narrowed in a deep, jealous squint as she stared at the intense standoff happening between the three of us.

If anyone found out about last night, I was dead. Diego Martin was already hunting for Amber Garcia, and if a scandal of this magnitude exploded, my fake identity would be torn to shreds, leaving me completely vulnerable to a man who wanted me dead.

I had to get away from him. Right now.

"If you'll excuse me," I choked out, desperately trying to twist out of Nathaniel's grip. "I need to use the restroom."

"Don't be long, babe," Nathaniel muttered, already turning his attention back to the bartender. "Liam and I have a lot of catching up to do."

I didn't wait for another second. I turned on my heels, my red-bottoms clicking furiously against the marble floor as I practically bolted away from the bar, weaving through the crowded ballroom without looking back.

But even as I hurried toward the grand staircase, I could feel it. I could feel those piercing, storm-grey eyes burning holes right into my back, tracking my every movement through the crowd.