“Let’s go around the back. I’m not in the mood to try to be polite to the Matthews. Do you mind?” I’d already placed my hand on the small of Sloane’s back and was steering her in that direction. I wanted to be out there as soon as possible.

Watching Seth.

Watching Layla.

Sloane laughed. “Oh okay. You seem eager to get to the party. Thirsty?”

“Yeah, I need a long cold drink,” I said. “I’m still a bit jetlagged and dehydrated from my flight back.”

“I’m so jealous that you took Layla to London. I so wish I was who had gone. I’ve been dying to go to Europe. Maybe next time you go I could come?” Sloane fluttered her eyelashes at me coyly.

My chest tightened at her words And I had I cleared my throat before I spoke. “I won’t be going back there for a long while. I’ve given up my apartment and moved my stuff out. I’m starting my new job at Forbes International in a few weeks. I’ll have no time for anything if Dad has his way—he’s throwing me in the deep end for being a bad son.”

Sloane lay a hand on my arm. “Well, I for one am glad you’ll be staying in Sydney. I like you Grayson, I really want to see more of you.”

Talk about shooting straight. This chick was definitely not afraid to speak her mind. Honestly, I admired that in a person, if only she wasn’t gunning for me.

I stopped short of the party and pulling her hand through my arm, I led her in the opposite direction. It was time I put Sloane straight. I couldn’t carry on with the charade when my heart just didn’t want her.

She beamed as we made our way to a garden bench nearby. Shit, she’s thinking I’m going to say things she wants to hear.

“Let’s sit here for a moment. I need to tell you something.”

“Sure.” Her eyes glimmered in the light. Fuck, this wasn’t going to be easy. I stood beside her, one foot up on the wooden bench. I leaned forward as she smiled up at me.

“Sloane, I like you very much—”

“Oh, Grayson, I like you too—”

I held up a hand to stop her before she said something that would feel awkward about when she heard what I had to say. She froze immediately, her back stiffening.

“I owe it to you to be honest with you. Right now, I’m not looking for a serious relationship. I’m about to start a new job . . . one that’s going to be challenging as fuck.”

She let out a long breath and laughed. “That’s not a problem. If all you want right now is a fuck buddy, I’m all up for that. But if you haven’t noticed yet, I have a voracious sexual appetite—”

I quickly placed my fingers on her lips. “Sloane, listen to me. You keep making assumptions . . . wrong ones. I’m trying to tell you that as much as I like you, there can’t be anything between us.” I cleared my throat. “I’m not looking for a fuck buddy either.”

Her eyes grew wide and large. “You . . . you already have one? Who?” she blurted out.

I shook my head. “No, nothing like that. I just don’t have the time or place in my life for anything like that right now.”

Not wanting to tell Sloan about Layla and me until I’d spoken to our parents first, I was trying to play it as natural as possible. She wasn’t making it easy for me, I had to bite my tongue not to blurt it out.

“You must be kidding. A man like you? I bet you can’t go a day without sex.” She jumped to her feet and took a step closer to me, pushing her ample breasts against my chest. “Try me, Grayson. You won’t be disappointed.” Her eyes filled with lust. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me, her hand moving to my groin and cupping my package. “I’m a great fuck.”

I placed my hand over hers to remove it. She gripped me tighter, slipping her tongue into my mouth and making moaning sounds as she brushed her tits against me.

I’m only a man and I could feel my dick hardening. I hadn’t fucked since London and my balls were full and eager for action.

“Sloane,” I said, loosening her grip on my balls and holding her by the wrists. “No.”

“But your dick likes it. Let me show you how good my mouth is, Grayson. Sit back and let me suck your cock, then tell me you don’t want it . . . don’t want me.”

Something caused me to look towards the pool area where the party was in full swing. Confused green eyes met mine. I inhaled sharply.

It’s not what it looks like, I wanted to scream but it was too late.

Layla had already turned and left.

Fuck.

29: Layla

It killed me to see Sloane with Grayson and his balls cupped in her hand, no less.

But what did I expect?

Sloane had Milton’s approval, she was the one he wanted for his son. Despite all of the animosity going on between the two men, Grayson had probably decided to go along with his father’s wishes.

Smart move. I had to give him props for that, even if I hated the idea and it shredded my fucking heart.

Not that I could blame any man who fell for Sloane. She was breathtaking, smart and sexy. I never understood why she wanted to be friends with geeky me when she could have been best buddies with the cool kids in school.

From the many sexual encounters she’d told me about, Sloane knew just how to get a man to eat out of her hand and beg for more. Clearly she had Grayson just where she wanted him.

I was happy for them. Really.

At least that’s what I kept telling myself. I had to come to terms with it or I’d crumble.

“Hey babe, you look amazing tonight.” I looked up to see Seth standing a few feet from me. He looked handsome in a tight fitted pants and pale blue shirt of which he’d left the top three buttons undone so that his smooth, sexy chest was on display. He took a step closer to me, holding out both his arms as if he wanted a hug.

Still dazed by what I’d just seen, I needed a freaking hug more than anything, so I simply stepped into his embrace and let his big body enfold mine. He smelled so good, and the way he held me close was exactly what I needed in that moment. I buried my face in his chest, feeling his hand on the back of my head.

“Hey, you,” I mumbled into his rock hard chest.

“You okay?” His gruff voice was laced with equal parts of surprise and concern. Bet he never expected me to walk into that so easily.

I placed both arms around his waist and let him squeeze the bejesus out of me. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just needed a hug.” I slowly released the breath I’d been holding. “Thank you.”

“Anytime sweetheart, anytime. Just yell whenever I can help you with that, okay?” The hand on my back slipped down to my arse and pushed gently until my body was flush against his.

“Feel that? Just for you, babe.”

His erection pushed into my stomach. Oh God, that wasn’t my intention at all. Why were men such animals? I took a deep breath and pushed against his chest.

“Seth. It’s not like that.” With wild eyes I looked around for an escape, only to be met with four steel hard blue eyes staring at us; one pretty face with a slack jaw, the other had a face like thunder and was grinding teeth his together.

“Layla,” both said at the same time. My stepsiblings weren’t happy, that much was clear. Crap.

Seth turned his head and when he saw Grayson he took a step backward, letting me go. I had no idea what happened to the lump in his pants because I was too busy wondering where Taylor and Grayson had come from so suddenly. Wasn’t Grayson still in the garden with Sloane? And Taylor—her eyes were on fire as she glared at me.

To crown it all Sloane appeared behind Grayson, shooting daggers at me.

“Grayson, where’s the fire?” she asked as she hooked into his arm and pulled him away.

This night was turning into a nightmare. Every way I turned somebody was upset with me. Thank fuck I was leaving soon. This was all just becoming too overwhelming.

“Layla, there you are.” As Mum came toward us she flashed everyone a smile but me. “Why did you take so long to come down? I could have used some help earlier.”