Page 40 of Entwined
I leaned against the door, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I tried to make sense of what I had just witnessed. Vaughn—naked, unapologetic, and completely in control—had caught me off guard in a way I hadn’t expected. The image of him standing there, bold, shameless and partially erect, was seared into my mind, making it impossible to focus on anything else.
Why was he here? He was supposed to be in the Bahamas, far away from this mansion and from me. I had counted on the solitude, on having the house to myself so I could gather my thoughts and speak to Colson in peace. But Vaughn had shattered that plan with his presence, and now I couldn’t even think straight.
My legs felt weak as I stumbled away from the door, my thoughts racing. How long had he been here? Had he planned this? The questions buzzed in my head, but I knew I wouldn’t get any answers. Vaughn was a mystery wrapped in layers of arrogance and detachment, and I was too drained to try to peel them away tonight.
I kicked off my shoes and sank onto the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the ornate wallpaper that covered the walls. I hadn’t planned on staying at the mansion, but the thought of returning to the city, to the cold emptiness of my penthouse, had been too much to bear. Here, at least, I felt connected to Colson, even if it was just in memory. But now that connection felt tainted,invaded by the raw display of dominance and control I had just witnessed.
Why did it bother me so much? Was it the shock of seeing him so exposed, or was it something deeper—something I didn’t want to admit to myself? I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the thoughts away, but they lingered, stubborn and insistent.
A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my reverie, and my heart jumped into my throat. I knew who it was before I even opened my eyes.
“Josephine,” Vaughn’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but there was no mistaking the authority in it. “Open the door.”
I hesitated, my hand hovering over the lock. Every instinct told me to keep the door shut, to ignore him, to pretend I hadn’t seen anything. But a part of me, the part that had been captivated by his naked confidence, wanted to face him. Wanted to challenge him.
I slowly turned the lock and opened the door just enough to see his face. He was still shirtless, his body glistening with a light sheen of sweat. His darkened blue eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the remnants of desire flickering in them. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the air thick with unspoken tension.
“You shouldn’t have come back tonight,” he said finally, his voice rough. “This isn’t your place anymore.”
“Clearly,” I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. I forced myself to meet his gaze, refusing to let him intimidate me. “I didn’t expect you to be here either. What happened to the Bahamas?”
He shrugged, a lazy, dismissive gesture. “Plans changed.”
I wanted to ask him more, to demand answers, but the words caught in my throat. Instead, I stepped back, opening the door wider. “What do you want, Vaughn?”
A slow, predatory smile curled on his lips. “I wanted to see if you were all right. You seemed… startled.”
Startled? That was an understatement. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing just how much he had rattled me. “I’m fine,” I said coolly. “You can go back to your… guest.”
He chuckled, a low, mocking sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “She’s not important. Just a way to pass the time.”
The way he said it, so casually, made something snap inside me. “Is that how you see people, Vaughn? Just ways to pass the time?”
His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought I had pushed too far. But then he stepped closer, his body filling the doorway, making me feel small and vulnerable in his shadow.
“People are what they make themselves to be,” he said, his voice a dangerous whisper. “Some are distractions. Others… are challenges.”
“And what am I?” I asked, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
He leaned in, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his skin. “You, Josephine, are both. And that’s what makes you so damn irresistible.”
My breath hitched, and I took a step back, needing to put some distance between us. But he didn’t follow. Instead, he watchedme, his gaze intense and unreadable, as if waiting for me to make the next move.
“Get some sleep,” he said finally, his voice softer now, almost gentle. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
Before I could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the doorway, my heart pounding in my chest. I closed the door and leaned against it, trying to calm the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.
Irresistible. The word echoed in my mind, teasing me, tempting me. I knew I should be angry, that I should feel nothing but contempt for the way Vaughn treated people, the way he treated me. But instead, all I felt was confusion—and a dangerous, undeniable attraction.
I changed and crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin, but sleep was a distant dream. All I could think about was Vaughn, and the way he had looked at me, as if I were the only thing in the world that mattered.
And for the first time in a long while, I didn’t know what to do next.
Chapter 17
I slipped out of the mansion as dawn's first light painted the sky, a pale pink hue that felt at odds with the turmoil swirling inside me. The crisp morning air bit at my cheeks, but it was nothing compared to the cold dread pooling in my stomach.
I couldn’t face Vaughn, not after what had happened last night. What could I possibly say to him? The entire situation had been a nightmare, but it wasn’t new. Vaughn had always been a presence lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
