Would she forever be cursed to want and to love this one man?
****
Elijah watched her walk toward him, and he got stiff at the sight of her. She wasn’t dressed for sex, but her outfit did it for him. It was a part of her he never got to see. This was the casual, open Amber she gave to her friends, to his sister. Once again he was jealous of his sister. Heather got to see a side of Amber he only glimpsed at from afar.
Seeing Julian and Wade at the club didn’t help ease him. He knew about Wade’s crush on Connie, and Julian was dating his sister. It was the best excuse he could have to be in the same room as Amber. Why the f**k did he need an excuse?
He’d seen every single part of Amber. There was not a part of her he didn’t own. Elijah had made sure he was all of Amber’s firsts, and she’d loved every second of their time together.
No more she doesn’t.
Lifting his bottle of beer, he took a long swallow, needing the liquid to quench his thirst. When it came to Amber, his thirst would never be sated. He’d learned that much with their time apart.
“What are you doing here?” Heather asked. Her arms were folded as she looked at him and then at Julian.
“We’re having a drink, right, Elijah?” Julian asked, lifting his glass of whiskey. It was an excuse, and Elijah needed it.
“Of course.” Clicking his bottle to Julian’s glass, he chanced a look at Amber. She wasn’t buying it. Her arms were by her side.
He took the time to admire her body. The jeans molded to her curves in all the right places. Her shirt clung to her large tits and emphasized her small waist in comparison to her tits and hips. God, he loved this woman, and yet he’d never said the words to her. He’d kept them to himself without speaking.
Amber didn’t know the truth, and right now, she wouldn’t believe it.
“I’m not dancing with you,” Heather said. Her words were directed at Julian.
“Like I said, I’m staying here getting to know my brother-in-law. We’ve got a wedding to plan.”
Heather growled and walked away.
“I better go and sort out their order. They don’t like it when one of the guys or girls f**ks it up,” Wade said.
Elijah knew they were not that bad. Wade was just using it as an excuse for a chance to speak with Connie. The guy was totally in love with her. He’d feel sorry for him if he didn’t feel the same for Amber.
His woman was running from him just like Connie was Wade.
“I appreciate you sticking up for me there. So, what’s with you and Amber?” Julian asked, catching his attention.
“I helped you out, and you’re questioning me?” Elijah took a sip of his beer, glancing behind him.
Several guys were checking Amber out. Over the years he’d come to realize Amber didn’t see how attractive she was. She truly was a beauty, and her curves drove him insane.
“Heather is my woman—”
“She’s my sister,” Elijah said, interrupting him.
“Amber’s like a sister to her. I don’t want her hurt because you want to get inside one of her friends.”
His grip tightened around his drink.
“I’m looking out for my woman and her friends. You’re a good brother, but I know Heather and you haven’t really been close. If you hurt Amber, Heather will choose her friend over you.”
Elijah understood that. “I’m not going to hurt Amber.”
“There is something going on between you and Amber, though. I see the way you two look at each other.”
Elijah stared at Amber. She had her back to him, which didn’t stop him from admiring her fleshy ass. He’d spanked her ass until it was red. There was nothing better than the sight of his handprint on her ass.
He made a quick decision. Julian would keep Heather off his case, and he needed time with Amber. She was his woman, and he was determined to get the message across that he was not leaving her.
Taking a quick sip of his drink, he leaned in close. “I was Amber’s first and only. That woman is mine. Every part of her belongs to me. She’s my submissive.” Julian knew what he was talking about. It was written on the guy’s face. “I f**ked up, but she’s mine. I’m not backing down or leaving. Amber is mine, get me?”
“I get you. Heather’s not going to like it.”
“Keep my sister out of it. I can make Amber happy. She’s too busy running scared to give me the chance.”
Julian slapped him on the back. “It’s up to you what you do. I’ll try and reason with Heather if this gets f**ked up.”
After several seconds silence between them, Julian started laughing.
“What? What’s so funny?” he asked, wanting to know the joke.
“Those four are close friends. They’ll do everything for each other, and yet, they keep secrets from one another.” Julian shook his head. “I find it hard to believe that best friends can keep parts of themselves at bay.”
Elijah’s gaze followed Amber across the dance floor to where she sat in a secluded booth. It was the one Wade always kept by for them. Elijah didn’t know all their secrets, but he understood why. “They’re keeping the bad shit at bay. Amber, Ashley, Connie, and Heather, they’re a family. They’re bound together by friendship and trust. What they keep at bay is what will hurt them. Amber doesn’t want to hurt Heather, and she doesn’t want to bring the truth about her real nature to the floor. I understand that. You ever tell her about this conversation, and I’ll f**king hurt you,” Elijah said, meaning it.
“I wouldn’t dream of it. I may have money, but I wouldn’t be easy to hurt. I fight back,” Julian said.
“I got it.”
Wade walked back, handing him another beer. Elijah took the beer and made it his last. Tonight he wanted to get Amber to his home. He was now living in Heather’s place seeing as she’d moved in with Julian. Elijah was still looking for a place of his own. Her house would do for what he needed. It was a stop-gap until he got what he wanted for his future.
“Is the booth always reserved for them?” Elijah asked.
“Yeah. I put them there because it’s safe. I can also watch them. I don’t want anyone to think they can f**k with them. They’re good women,” Wade said.
Elijah knew the truth but didn’t see a need to bring it up.
Chapter Three
Downing her third shot of tequila Amber got up to get another. Heather was on the dance floor with Ashley. Her two friends were dancing beside the booth. Connie was nervous, drinking a straight cola.