Page 27 of Masked in Deception
One arm wraps around my waist, his hand on my stomach, while the other brushes my hair to the side so he can pepper my neck with kisses. As his mouth goes lower, so does the hand on my stomach, andJesus Christ, I’m going to burn alive.I feel like I’m about to combust when fingers dip into the band of my jeans, and his distraction finally allows me to turn around.
There’s definitely lust radiating from him, but he’s startled as well. The moment that panic takes over his expression, I grab his face with both of my hands and kiss him. His mouth opens for mine when our lips meet, he’s just as hungry as I am. Jack cups my face, his giant hands wrapping around my entire head, as I lower mine to his chest. As gentle as his grip is, his kiss is the opposite. The one we shared on Thanksgiving was sweet, but this is a tidal wave washing us both away with passion.
As the kiss deepens, I lose all sense, trying to pull his shirt off like a woman possessed becauseGod, I need him to take me on this island, the rest of the family be damned. He must feel it too, though, because he’s grabbing my ass with bruising force, and he backs me up against the counter, pressing his even harder erection into my stomach as he devours my mouth…
Sloane’s voice is the first we hear, reminding us that others are present tonight. I pull myself away from Jack, nearly losing my balance, and grab my champagne glass to hide my swollen lips.
“Alright,” Mom says when everyone makes their way back into the kitchen. “Let’s give these two newlyweds some privacy.”
They walk us out to Mom’s car, where we say our goodbyes. I’d rather sit in the back, but Jack opens the passenger door for me and insists I sit up front. We go back and forth a few timesbecause dealing with my mom right now is the last thing I wantbefore Jack discreetly motions toward the tent in his pants, and I concede. I’m trying to ground myself so I don’t catch my mom’s attention, but when she rolls down her window to yell “Grandbabies!” at my brother and his new wife, Jack pulls a strand of my hair.
As predicted, Mom immediately notices how flushed I am. “Margot? Are you okay, dear?” I don’t miss her glance into the rearview mirror to look at Jack, but he’s looking out the window.
As good as I am at fooling people, I’ve never been able to get things past her, but that doesn’t stop me from trying. “Not really, actually. I think I drank way too much.”
To my surprise, she seems to buy it, placing a hand on my leg and giving me a little pat. “I’ll get you home as fast as I can, honey.”
Chapter twenty-five
30 years old
I never had a doubt that Ledger had finally found his perfect mate in Sloane, but if I had,fuck,her standing up to her parents tonight would have convinced me. My life has been, for all intents and purposes, pretty damn easy. Sure, I gained a complex or two along the way, considering I had an asshole of a dad who abandoned me and a mom who died when I was young. But I knew what real parental love was, thanks to Blanche. I never had to wonder if I mattered to her or if she cared about my happiness. She proved time and time again that I was a priority, and I was only one of four kids who were depending on her. I don’t know how she did it.
Sloane’s parents, though. I wince, thinking about the things they said to her tonight, especially her piece-of-work mother.
Blanche wanted to have a little celebratory dinner after the Christmas play she directed, but the newlywed couple thought it would be the perfect time to tell Sloane’s parents they were now married. Long story short, her mom showed up with her assholeex, who started a crap ton of drama and effectively caused Sloane's parents to disown her.
And to think that poor girl is an only child, so she didn’t even have anybody to commiserate with as a kid, or anyone to take any of the pressure off with humor, like I tried to do tonight. I take another sip of my drink, thinking again about how lucky I was to grow up with siblings. Without Henry, Ledger, and…Margot, I gulp, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
I zone back in to my surroundings in time to see Margot and Sloane continuing to pass out gifts from underneath the tree. Ledger keeps trying to get Sloane to sit down and relax, but she keeps swatting him away, talking about being a good host for the first holiday in their home. Margot brings me a present and adds it to my growing pile, giving me a little wink as she bends over in front of me. God, she’s beautiful. She’s always been pretty, but now, in the glow of the Christmas tree, she’s devastating, more confident in who she is as a woman…everything. Leave it to Margot to wear pink, even on Christmas Eve. My own personal Barbie, always.
My eyes follow her across the room, but she makes her way to Ledger next, and I remember precisely how defensive he’s always been when it comes to Margot. None of her boyfriends have ever been good enough for her, according to Ledger, and while I’ve always vehemently agreed with him, I’m also well fucking aware that I’m not good enough for her. And I’m sure he’d agree. The thought of him being mad at me, or worse, disappointed in me, threatens to send all the holiday treats I’ve eaten tonight right back up my throat. He’s never said anything directly to me about Margot being off-limits, but I know it’s only because it probably hasn’t ever once crossed his mind that I would cross that line. It would be the ultimate betrayal to have her in the ways I want.
Not to mention, Henry, who, despite being older and not around as much, has been there for me whenever I needed him. Even more so with us getting our club off the ground. And Blanche…I can count on one hand how many times she’s been pissed at me in my life, and I’m pretty sure I cried like a baby every single time I thought I disappointed her. And now I want to take their princess and defile her in all the best ways.
But I also want to spoil her. Give her everything. Protect her, fight for her, be her partner…and continue being her best friend just like always. Would that be enough for the Sinclairs? Even if I’m not the man they imagined for her, could I be enough?
We could have Christmas just like this, in a bigger house because Sloane and Ledger will end up with a football team of kids. A big spread of food and a million presents under the tree. Too many stockings for one mantel to hold. Margot, wearing a pink silk dress, turning to the side to show the profile of her baby bump as she gives me a wicked smile and gestures subtly toward the staircase for us to sneak off…
That way madness lies.I know.I know.
The worst question that I despise myself for even asking…if it was a choice between her or them, which would I choose? She’s the only true happiness I’ll have in this world, I know it deep in my soul. But they’re the only family I’ve ever had, and the only place a lonely little kid has ever felt at home. And when she inevitably realizes she deserves so much more than me? She’ll leave and take them with her.
Fuck. I’d lose her too. I can’t lose them. I won’t.
Chapter twenty-six
23 years old
If my mother says “the Christmasfeeling”one more time, I’m tying her up with garland in the attic and not releasing her until Valentine’s Day. She’s been so excited to have me home from school that she’s continued her madness the week after Christmas, and we’ve been having so much mother-daughter time that I really haven’t seen Jack. Mom and I have been too busy crafting, baking, watching holiday movies, andplanning next year’s decorationsthat I’ve barely had time to breathe.
I know it’s been a week of getting back to work for him with a huge party coming up tomorrow at the club on New Year’s Eve, but still, he’s been distant. We had a great time as a family opening presents all together, and it made me realize what I’ve known for a while now—we’remeantto be. He’s family, and everyone loves him, so we could easily and seamlessly transition into a romantic relationship without missing a beat. No need for all the getting-to-know-you awkwardness of dating, or worrying about whether our families will vibe. I’m sure he’s just busy.Plus, even if he had come around, Mom has been monopolizing my time. Maybe he realizes that, and that’s why he’s stayed away.
Finally, after a long-ass week, Mom informs me she’s leaving for a girls’ New Year’s trip with her pickleball team, and before I can so much as chastise her for the short notice, she’s out the door.Well, okay then.Monopolize my visit home, then leave, why don’t you? Typical Blanche, though, so I’m not even that surprised. Iama little surprised when Jack finally texts me. He was sporadically available earlier in the week, but as NYE has grown closer,the clubhas had every ounce of his attention.
The club.His mysterious, highly successful endeavor with Ledger, Rendezvous, has become increasingly Jack’s responsibility since Ledger has been busy with his new full-time job, Sloane. Not that I’ve ever been allowed to even cross the threshold of said club. Some sort of older brother bullshit has led me to be on the no-entry list since it opened even though I’m of age.Whatever.I can have plenty of hot sex on my own without needing a club to do it. And maybe it’s better this way, since I really have no idea what Jack gets up to when he’s there. He texts again, and this time, the chime pulls me from my thoughts.
Jack:
