Chapter 20 Drink with me… this once.
~Haven.
I looked into Walter's eyes, my heart racing in my chest.
The way his gaze burned, the way his eyes stared at me… like I was all he wanted.
My hand rested on his face, my eyes drifting toward his lips.
Kiss me… just do it already.
I knew I’d sworn never to have anything to do with Walter, but… it wasn’t easy.
Avoiding Walter was like trying not to breathe.
I wanted him… so bad.
The thought of Walter set my body on fire and…
I watched Walter as he slowly moved toward me, his lips closing in on mine, then…
Thud!
Something sounded outside, and I flinched.
Fuck.
I sprinted away from Walter, trying to get a hold of myself.
I lowered my gaze.
He’s my brother-in-law, I reminded myself.
“I’ll check what it is,” he said, his voice barely audible.
He felt the same way.
I felt his gaze linger on me.
I slowly raised my head, my eyes catching his erection.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to look away.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Hum… I think you should leave now,” I stated.
His presence was making it hard to resist him… and his erection? It was harder to ignore.
“Sure,” he answered before stepping out of the room.
Walter shut the door behind him and “ahhhhh!” I screamed.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
I almost kissed him… I almost ignored everything I’d told myself. There was something about how soft he’d suddenly become.
It made me melt.
I felt sorry for him… I wanted to pull him in and tell him it would be fine, but… I couldn’t.
I wouldn’t dare.
I needed to get my life together. And Walter? He’d only make that impossible.
I heaved a sigh before stepping out of the room.
I walked around the house for a while, but there were no signs of Walter.
He probably left to… ease himself. With another woman.
I cleared my throat, heading toward the balcony when I spotted Hannah from a distance. I didn’t know why, but I… I hid.
Maybe because I just didn’t want to see that gaze that burned with hatred.
Hannah was weak… so weak, but she tried to run.
After Mason?
“Mason, wait,” she said, breathing heavily as she tried to catch up with his pace.
“I warned you, didn’t I?” Mason finally turned. The anger in his voice… Hannah was his boss, yet she shook when he spoke.
Make it make sense.
What’s this?
“I know. I know you did, and I swear it wouldn’t happen. Just… just don’t be like this,” Hannah begged. She lowered her head. “Don’t you feel sorry for me?” She adjusted her dress a little. “Please.”
Mason rolled his eyes. Concern was evident in his eyes for a moment before he masked it. “Get in the car,” he ordered.
Hannah nodded before quietly stepping in.
I watched as they left.
It felt strange. Too strange.
I’d never seen that side of Hannah. Soft and obedient. She could barely speak, like she wouldn’t dare to.
Did Mason have something against her too?
I tried thinking about it… what could make Hannah so calm, but I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
I knew Hannah—more than anyone else.
Hannah hated being bossed around. If anyone ever dared, Father would get rid of them before they took another breath.
“Haven,” Walter called behind me, dragging me out of my thoughts.
“Ha,” I gasped.
“What are you… doing there?” he asked.
I smiled nervously, rubbing my hands against my thighs. “Where were you?” I asked…
“The garden,” he answered.
He looked into my eyes, then looked away.
Fuck… I felt my cheeks turn red.
Thoughts of what almost happened came rushing in.
“Hum… Hannah. She came, didn’t she?” Walter asked, and I nodded.
“Walter… did you notice…” Then I stopped. Of what use was it?
I wasn’t sure what it was yet, and I just didn’t feel the need to tell him.
It would only sound like I was trying to ruin their marriage—maybe out of jealousy or because I wanted him.
“Nothing,” I smiled, walking away like I hadn’t just started a conversation.
“I’m sorry about what happened earlier,” Walter said behind me.
“I was being stupid,” I answered. “I shouldn’t have let it happen in the first place. It won’t happen again.”
It shouldn’t.
“Haven,” Walter held my hand, and even that… that small touch made me want to be grabbed by him.
“Walter, stop!” I screamed. I could no longer hold it in. “I’m trying to get over you, but you keep making it hard for me!”
“Then don’t!” he yelled back.
Not with anger, not with hatred.
Walter held my hands in his. “Don’t. I know it’s hard for you, so please… don’t.”
“I’m worried sick. I’m worried sick that Mason would say something, and do you know what that means? No work… no life… I’ll be thrown into LA like a damned bag.
Listen, Walter, I just… I just need to prove to Dad right now that I don’t have any more trouble to cause, and the sooner you’re out of my life, the better,” I sobbed.
I didn’t want to cry, but I did.
My heart ached, and it felt like nothing was working out for me.
I just want to be happy.
“At least have a drink with me,” he said, his head down. “Just this once. Fine. Yes. I… I’m only going to make things hard for you. I have nothing good to offer, but if it’s only going to be this once, just… look at me. Tell me you love me if you must.
Touch me if you want to, smile with me… just this once, Haven,” he begged.
His voice held pain, and I hated that I made him feel that way.
It’s not your fault, Haven.
“Please,” he begged.
Just this once wouldn’t hurt, right?
Walter grabbed a drink from the shelf.
“Father brought it for me,” he said, pouring it into the glass. “No bad blood. And don’t tell me you hate me,” he chuckled.
I laughed, my eyes laced with tears.
“Okay, okay.”
“Here. Drink.”
I grabbed the drink, gulping down everything in the glass, and Walter followed suit, but immediately… something didn’t feel right.
It suddenly felt like fire was crawling all over me.
My body tingled.
I looked at Walter, eyes widened, breath heavy.
I wanted him.
And I couldn’t control it.
The drink… there was something in it, but at that point, it didn’t matter.
Walter grabbed me, pressing his lips against mine.
“Fuck me,” I whispered.