Home / LGBTQ+ / Bouquet Of Deception / Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

All Chapters of Bouquet Of Deception : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

79 Chapters

51

51 EthanMy stomach dropped the moment I saw him. Liam.He stood there, leaning against my car, arms crossed over his chest, his expression thunderous. The sight of him sent a jolt of unease through me. My first instinct? Turn the hell around. Pretend I hadn’t seen him.But before I could even pivot—“Ethan.”Damn it.I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to stop. Slowly, I turned to face him, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. “Liam,” I greeted stiffly. “What are you doing here?”He let out a humorless chuckle. “That’s funny. I was about to ask you the same thing.”My brows furrowed. “What?”Liam pushed off my car, taking a step closer. His blue eyes—once warm, once something I could lose myself in—were now cold and burning with something unreadable. Anger? Resentment? I couldn’t tell. Maybe all of the above.“You know exactly what,” he said sharply. “Don’t play dumb with me, Ethan.”I exhaled slowly, already exhausted. “Look, I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’v
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-21
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52

52EthanI clenched my fists as Liam tightened his grip on my arm, his blue eyes flashing with fury. “Because of you,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous, “Owen has trust issues now. You ruined everything.”I stared at him in disbelief before letting out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Are you serious? You tried to win me back at your own wedding, Liam. That was all you. And now you have the audacity to blame me for your mess?” I wrenched my arm free, rubbing the spot where his fingers had pressed into my skin. “That’s so fucking disgusting.”His nostrils flared, but I wasn’t done. “First, it was your messages. Now this? Stop harassing me, Liam. I mean it. If you don’t, I’ll file a complaint.”Instead of looking remotely apologetic, Liam laughed—a low, cruel sound that sent a chill down my spine. His expression twisted into something mocking, filled with venom. “A complaint?” He smirked. “You really are pathetic, Ethan. Always playing the victim. You know what? I was only ever with you
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-22
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53

53RileyI should’ve known Ethan wouldn’t just let it go.The second I saw his message—You up?—I hesitated. I wanted to respond, tell him I was fine, make up some excuse about being busy. But my fingers hovered over the keyboard too long, my thoughts too tangled to form a lie that would hold up.Three dots. Then nothing.Damn it.I should’ve answered. Should’ve said something to keep him from worrying. Because knowing Ethan, this wasn’t over.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. My body was still on high alert, every muscle tense from last night. Zane had pushed me, tested me, made it clear that my time was up. He wanted me to come back.And if I didn’t—My gaze flicked toward the window, toward the faint claw mark on the frame. A reminder. A warning.Zane had never been patient. He wasn’t going to wait much longer.A knock at the door made me flinch.I went still, my pulse jumping.Too early for anyone else. Too deliberate to be a neighbor.Ethan.I closed my eyes, took a s
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-22
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54

54EthanThe moment I stepped into my building, I kept my head down, moving quickly. I passed Riley’s apartment without so much as a glance at his door, even though I knew he was there—I had seen his car in the parking lot.I didn’t stop. Didn’t hesitate.I just unlocked my door, stepped inside, and slammed it shut behind me. The lock clicked into place, but it didn’t make me feel any safer.My chest was tight, my hands still trembling from the encounter with Liam. The words he had thrown at me kept looping in my head, taunting me, tearing into the wounds that hadn’t even fully healed yet.Lame in bed. Useless. Pathetic.I sucked in a shaky breath, willing myself to shake it off, but it wasn’t just Liam. It was Riley too.First, he had been acting like my mere presence annoyed him. And now, Liam pulling this bullshit?Fuck. All. Of. This.I threw my keys onto the counter and went straight to my room, kicking my shoes off before collapsing onto my bed. My face hit the pillow, and befor
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-22
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55

55Ethan Riley’s eyes locked onto mine, sharp and demanding. “Who was it?”I tightened my grip on my phone, shaking my head. “It’s nothing.”His jaw clenched. “Ethan, don’t start with that bullshit. Show me.”“No.”“Ethan—”“I said no,” I snapped, stepping back, but he followed. The tension in the air grew thick, suffocating.Then his expression shifted—his pupils dilated, his irises darkening into something unnatural, almost inhuman. The look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine.“I swear,” he muttered, his voice deepening into something almost unearthly, “I’m going to teach that bastard a lesson he’ll never forget.”My stomach twisted. This wasn’t just anger. It was something more. Something primal.“Riley…” My voice came out weak, uncertain. “What the hell—?”He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, his body radiating heat like a furnace. “Give me the phone, Ethan.”I shook my head again, heart hammering against my ribs. “No. I don’t want to drag you into my mess. I already
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-22
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56

56 Ethan A cold chill ran down my spine at the thought, making my body tense involuntarily. Riley caught on immediately, his warm hand brushing against my arm as he studied me with concern. “Are you okay? We don’t have to do this if you’re not sure. Just tell me what you need, Ethan.” I met his gaze, my heart pounding from more than just nerves. The concern in his eyes made something deep inside me swell, drowning out the lingering fear. Riley wasn’t like Liam. He wasn’t forceful. He was patient, understanding… a good man. “I want this. I want you,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected. His lips curved into a small smile, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on my skin. “Then you can have me,” he murmured. His words sent a shiver through me—not from fear, but anticipation. His hands roamed over me, slow and reverent, mapping out every inch like he was committing me to memory. Heat pooled under my skin, and I sucked in a breath as his touch ignited something raw and
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-23
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57

57RileyI should leave.That thought pounded through my skull, loud and insistent, but my body refused to move. Instead, I stayed where I was, my arms wrapped around Ethan like I could shield him from everything—his past, his pain, his self-doubt. As if holding him tight enough could erase the way Liam had made him feel.But I wasn’t stupid. I knew it didn’t work like that.My fingers traced slow circles against his back, feeling the way his breathing evened out, the steady rise and fall of his chest as he drifted toward sleep. He was still clinging to me, his body relaxed but his grip firm, like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go.That was what got me. That quiet desperation, buried under all his stubbornness and sharp words. He didn’t trust easily, but when he did, it was complete. He had given me that trust tonight, let me see him vulnerable, let me touch him in ways no one else had. And fuck—he’d said it out loud.“I trust you, Riley.”Those words had damn near undone me.A
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-23
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58

58EthanI woke up to an empty bed.The warmth that had been wrapped around me all night was gone, replaced by cool sheets and a faint scent of him lingering in the air.My stomach clenched. Had he left?I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 6 a.m.Shit.I threw off the covers, pushing past the dull ache in my body. Riley hadn’t exactly gone easy on me last night, and I was feeling it. But there was no time to dwell on that—not when I needed to get ready for work.Still, my chest felt weirdly tight. I hadn’t expected him to stay, but waking up alone stung more than I wanted to admit.With a sigh, I swung my legs over the bed and got up. First things first—I needed water. My throat was dry as hell, and if I was gonna survive the day, I needed something to wake me up.I padded barefoot into the kitchen, running a hand through my messy hair. My brain was still catching up to the fact that it was morning when I rounded the corner—And froze.
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-23
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59

59EthanI left the kitchen before Riley could see just how much his words affected me.I shouldn’t care that he was still here.I shouldn’t want him to stay.But I did.I stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind me with a deep breath. Focus, Ethan. I needed to get my head straight before work, not stand around analyzing every little thing Riley said or did.I turned on the shower, stepping under the hot spray with a sigh. The warmth eased some of the soreness in my muscles, but it did nothing to clear my mind.I kept thinking about him. About last night.About the way he touched me—like he wasn’t just claiming my body but something more.I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Riley wasn’t like that. This was nothing.Just a one-time thing.Even if he had stayed.Even if he was making pancakes in my kitchen.Even if—I groaned, tilting my head back under the water. I was losing it.After washing up, I turned off the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist before headi
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-23
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60

60 Riley I watched Ethan disappear into the building, my fingers still gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary. I shouldn’t have said anything. But the thought of him walking into work like it was just another normal day—like he didn’t have a goddamn clue what was coming—made my stomach churn. I exhaled sharply, drumming my fingers against the wheel. I should leave. Drive off, go to work, pretend none of this was my problem. But it was my problem. Because Ethan—stubborn, oblivious Ethan—had no idea what he was walking into. And that was dangerous. I glanced at my phone, the screen lighting up with a notification. Unknown Number: You were warned, Riley. I clenched my jaw. Of course, I had been. But warnings never stopped me before. With a sigh, I put the car in gear, pulling away from the curb. But instead of heading to work, I took a different route. I needed to check something first. And I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what I found
last updateLast Updated : 2025-03-24
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