Your Fault (Culpable Book 2)

When I opened my eyes that morning, the first thing I saw was Noah’s face a few inches away. Her head was resting on my shoulder and almost her entire body was on top of mine. I had to struggle not to laugh; it was as if she had tried to climb me and had gotten stranded halfway up.

I brushed a lock of hair out of her face and let my thumb stroke her skin covered in freckles…those freckles that drove me wild, not just on her face, but on her breasts, her thin shoulders, her lower back… I loved being the only person who knew every inch of that body perfectly, where every mark, every curve, every wound was…

I looked at that little tattoo behind her ear, the same one I had on my arm. I had decided to get it because I liked the idea of a simple thing being so strong if you just tied it the right way, but now it meant so much more. Now I liked to think I had gotten it because of her… It was ridiculous, but the idea kept going around and around in my mind, both of us getting that same tattoo because somehow we knew we’d end up finding each other…

My phone rang. I stretched my arm out and grabbed it. It was Anne, Maddie’s social worker. I still couldn’t believe my mother had agreed to let me have her for my birthday weekend, but I wasn’t going to complain. This year, there would be no parties, no stripteases, nothing out of this world: this year, I would spend the day with the two girls I loved most in the world.

Maddie was excited to be with me. She couldn’t be happier. I talked to Anne for a few minutes to find out when the flight would be in and where we would meet, and I hung up with a huge smile on my face. Finally I would be with my sister the way I’d always wanted.

The painters got there soon afterward. I’d wanted them there before seven because I had to leave for the office at eight thirty. When I showed them the room, they said it was small enough that they’d be done in a few hours.

I wasn’t happy about leaving my girlfriend asleep in my apartment with those guys, so I woke her up just as they were getting started.

“Noah, get up,” I said, patting her on the shoulder.

She grunted and kept sleeping. I got dressed, watching the clock on my bedside. If I didn’t want to be late, I needed to leave right then.

“Don’t you know what the words summer vacation mean?” she said, turning in the sheets and burying her head under my pillow.

Goddammit. I didn’t have time for this.

I grabbed my phone. On the third ring, Steve picked up, alert and awake, as always.

“Nicholas.”

“I need you to come to my apartment and stay with Noah till the painters are done.”

Noah opened her eyes when she heard this. “You’re kidding, right?” she said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes like a four-year-old.

No, I wasn’t joking one bit.

“I’m on my way now,” Steve said.

“I’ll wait here,” I said and hung up.

Noah crossed her arms, angry, staring at me. “You honestly need a shrink.”

I smiled, ignoring her tone, and continued putting on my clothes. I was going to be late, but I didn’t care. Better than leaving Noah alone with two strangers.

“I’m just taking care of you,” I said, knotting my tie.

“I know how to take care of myself,” she replied, getting up and walking past me to the bathroom.

I sighed as I heard the water start to run in the shower. She could get mad if she wanted to, but there were too many crazy people in the world to take those kinds of risks, especially with her. She’d already been kidnapped once. I’d make sure she never was again.

She came out ten minutes later, her hair dripping, wrapped in a towel. “You’re still here?”

I smiled. She looked sexy when she was pissed. “Steve’s parking, so I’ll head out now… Where’s my kiss?”

She was to die for. I walked over to her and slipped my tongue in her mouth until her legs trembled.

“I’m going to get you wet,” she warned me, taking a step back.

“I always get you wet, so I guess that’s fair,” I responded with a smile.

“You’re gross,” she said, but her anger was gone, and her eyes told me lust had replaced it.

We went back to kissing, but just as things were getting hot, the doorbell rang. Noah pulled on my tie, trying to keep me there, but I walked off. I was in a hurry. I couldn’t waste more time.

“See ya,” I said, turning around.

As I shut the door behind me, I looked back to see her staring at me, letting the towel fall on the wooden floor.

Fuck!

I got to work in the nick of time. My office was at the end of the hall, and I went straight there, not even stopping for a coffee. I knew my father was coming in that day, and God forbid he saw me arrive late… He wasn’t above making me the coffee boy for the whole staff.

What I didn’t expect was to find him in my office…talking calmly with a girl I’d never seen in my life. She was sitting in my chair and smiling politely at something my father had just said. They both turned when I walked in. My surprise turned to anger when I saw a second desk on the other side of the room by the window…my window.

“Hey, Son,” my father said with a friendly smile.

At least he was in a good mood. That was new!

“What’s going on?” I asked, looking back and forth between the girl and the desk.

“Nicholas, this is Sophia, Senator Aiken’s daughter. She’s going to be doing an internship here. I offered it to her.”

My eyelids dropped as I looked at the senator’s daughter. I had no idea what my father had offered her. My guess was he was just trying to get in good with her father. At any rate, I didn’t know why any of this should have to do with me.

“You’ve been interning here a long time, you’re about to graduate, and I told Sophie you’d be happy to help her out, give her a leg up in the field.”

Fuck no!

Sophia smiled at me dryly, probably with aversion. Fine. I was happy to know the feeling was mutual. My father, probably bothered by my silence but too polite to mention it, just stared at us before saying, “Well, Sophie, I hope you like it here, and you’ve got my number if you need anything. Otherwise, Nick will help you out.”

“Thank you, Mr. Leister. I’ll keep that in mind. And thank you again for this opportunity. I’ve always wanted to work with Leister Enterprises. I think the steps you’re taking to expand the business are crucial. A knowledge of the law is the most important thing when you’re moving into new markets. With your son’s help, I’m sure we can make something big happen.”

So she was an ass-kisser, too. At least she was good at it. My father gave her an approving look, and me an admonishing one, before walking out.

“I can tell you’re a politician’s daughter,” I said. “You’re in my chair. Move it.”

She smiled and got up slowly. I couldn’t help looking her up and down. Black hair, tan skin, brown eyes, long legs. In a pearl-gray tube skirt and a spotless white shirt. A real daddy’s girl.

“Don’t let my looks deceive you, Nicholas. I’m here to stay.”

I ignored the remark, sat in my chair, opened my email, and got to work.