Chapter 32: Mike Called On Video Call

POV: EVE

Eve woke to sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the solid warmth of Dimitri’s body beside her.

She was tucked against his chest, his arm heavy across her waist, his breathing deep and even with sleep. Peaceful. Almost innocent, if you didn’t know what those hands were capable of.

She did know. Had watched those hands torture a man. Had felt those hands bring her to the edge of madness night after night. Had begged those hands to give her what she needed and been denied again and again.

Last night had been no different. More toys. More orgasms. More desperate begging. More denial.

Four weeks now. Four weeks of living with him. Four weeks of submission and control and pleasure that never quite satisfied.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

She ignored it, too comfortable to move, too tired to care who was calling at.....she squinted at the clock....nine in the morning on a Sunday.

The buzzing stopped, then immediately started again.

Dimitri stirred behind her, his arm tightening around her waist. "Ignore it," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

"I am," she whispered back.

The buzzing stopped. Started again.

"Someone’s persistent," Dimitri said, more awake now. Annoyed. "Answer it before I throw the phone out the window."

She reached for it, glanced at the screen, and her entire body went rigid.

MIKE - VIDEO CALL

Oh God. Oh God no.

Mike.

Her brother Mike who’d been traveling for work for the past month. Mike who she hadn’t talked to in three weeks. Mike who had absolutely no idea she was living with his best friend.

Mike who was video calling.

Which meant he’d see wherever she was. Whoever she was with.

"What’s wrong?" Dimitri asked, immediately alert at her reaction.

"It’s Mike," she whispered, panic flooding through her. "He’s video calling. I can’t.....he’ll see...."

"Then don’t answer."

"I have to! He’s been traveling for a month. If I don’t answer, he’ll get worried and show up at my apartment and....."

The buzzing stopped. Started again.

Fourth call.

"Fuck," she breathed, sitting up, clutching the sheet to her naked chest. "Okay. Okay, I can do this. I just need to...."

She looked around frantically. The bedroom was obviously Dimitri’s. Masculine. Dark. Expensive. Nothing like her apartment.

"Bathroom," Dimitri said, reading her mind. "Answer it in the bathroom. Lock the door. I’ll stay quiet."

"You can’t be in here at all! What if he hears you? What if....."

"Eve." His hand cupped her face, forced her to look at him. "Breathe. Answer the call. Talk to your brother. I’ll be silent."

She nodded, grabbed her phone, and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

She checked herself in the mirror. Hair messy. Face flushed. Lips swollen. She looked thoroughly fucked, which was accurate but not something she wanted her brother to see.

She grabbed Dimitri’s robe from the back of the door, wrapped it around herself, finger-combed her hair, and answered the call.

Mike’s face filled the screen, and her heart clenched.

God, she’d missed him.

"Baby sister!" His grin was huge. "Finally! I was about to call the National Guard."

"Mike." She forced a smile, hoped it looked natural. "Sorry, I was in the shower. How’s London?"

"Rainy. Boring. I miss real food." He peered at the screen. "Where are you? That doesn’t look like your bathroom."

Her heart stopped. "What? Yes, it is. Just different lighting."

"Looks expensive. Did you renovate?"

"Um. Yes. Recently. Just some updates." The lies came easier than they should. "How’s the project going?"

"Nightmare. The client keeps changing their mind. But enough about me.....how are you? How’s the divorce? Is Simon still being an asshole?"

"Divorce is almost final. Simon is... gone. He left the city."

"Good. Bastard deserved worse." Mike’s expression darkened. "I still want to punch him for what he did to you."

"It’s handled. I’m fine. Better than fine, actually."

"Yeah?" His eyes narrowed slightly, studying her face. "You look different. Good different. What’s going on?"

"Nothing! Just... been taking care of myself. Working out. Eating better."

"Uh-huh." He didn’t sound convinced. "You’re glowing. Like, annoyingly happy glowing. Did you meet someone?"

"No!" The denial came too fast, too sharp. "I mean, I’ve been focusing on work. Phoenix is doing really well. We just signed three new clients and...."

A sound came from the bedroom. A door closing. Footsteps.

Eve’s blood turned to ice.

"What was that?" Mike asked.

"What was what?"

"That sound. Like someone’s there."

"It’s just the TV. I left it on." She laughed, hoped it didn’t sound as fake as it felt. "You know me. I hate silence."

Mike stared at her for a long moment, and she could see him trying to decide whether to believe her.

"Eve," he said slowly. "Baby sister. Are you sure you’re alone?"

"Of course I’m alone. Why would you....."

"Because you’re acting weird. You’re in a bathroom that’s not yours, wearing a robe that looks expensive as hell, and you’re lying to me." His voice wasn’t angry. Just concerned. Protective. "Talk to me. What’s going on?"

"Nothing’s going on. I’m just...."

A knock on the bathroom door made her jump.

"Eve, are you alright in there?" Dimitri’s voice came through the door, casual and concerned.

Eve watched the color drain from Mike’s face on the screen.

"Was that..." Mike’s voice was dangerously quiet. "Was that Dimitri?"

"No! That was just....."

"Don’t lie to me, Eve. I know his voice. I’ve known him for fifteen years." Mike’s expression had gone from concerned to furious in seconds. "Are you at Dimitri’s place?"

She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think of a lie fast enough.

"Oh my God." Mike ran his hand through his hair. "Oh my God, Eve. Tell me you’re not....tell me you didn’t....."

"Mike, it’s not what you....."

"How long?" he demanded. "How long have you been fucking my best friend?"

"Don’t talk to me like that."

"HOW LONG?"

"Four weeks," she whispered.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Mike’s face went through a series of emotions.....shock, anger, betrayal, more anger.....before settling on something that looked dangerously like murderous rage.

"Four weeks," he repeated. "Four weeks and you didn’t think to tell me? Four weeks of lying to me?"

"I wasn’t lying! I just....."

"You said you were fine! You said you were focusing on work! You said....." He stopped, his jaw clenching. "Put him on."

"What?"

"Put Dimitri on the phone. Now."

"Mike, please....."

"NOW, EVE!"

She’d never heard her brother use that tone with her. Ever.

With shaking hands, she walked to the bathroom door, opened it.

Dimitri stood there, leaning against the doorframe, wearing only black pajama pants, looking completely unbothered by the fact that his best friend had just discovered them together.

"He knows," she whispered.

"I heard." He held out his hand. "Give me the phone."

"Dimitri, maybe we should wait....."

"Give me the phone, cara."