Twisted Hate: An Enemies with Benefits Romance

Double fuck.
I stepped toward the bed, but Jules finally moved. She wrapped the sheet
around herself and darted into the bathroom so fast she was almost a blur. I
waited until the door closed behind her before I picked up the backpack and
cracked open my door.
“Hey.” I shoved the bag at my sister. “Here ya go. See you later.” I tried
to close the door, but Ava pushed it back open with narrowed eyes.

---

“Why are you being so shifty?”
“I’m not being shifty.” Sweat beaded on my brow. “I’m irritated because
you interrupted me.”
“Doing what?”
“Uh, exercising.” Technically true. Sex was the best form of cardio. “I
thought you were napping.”
She gave me a strange look. “I woke up.” Her eyes drifted from my sex-
tousled hair to my tense shoulders. A faint green tint colored her skin.
“Wait…do you have a girl in there? Was that banging sound you? That was
what woke me up.”
Heat climbed on my face.
“How is that possible? We literally just arrived an hour ago.” Ava
clapped a hand over her mouth. “I think I’m going to be sick. You are not
allowed to have sex when I can hear you. I’m scarred for life.”
“You’re being dramatic, and what can I say? I’m a legend.” I pasted on
my cockiest smile. “Now please leave before she comes out of the bathroom.
Nothing kills the vibe like a little sister sticking her nose where it doesn’t
belong.”
“Trust me, I don’t want to…” Ava’s eyes fell on something behind me.
“Oh, weird. Jules has those exact shoes.”
Shit! I’d accidentally let the door drift open while we were talking.
Jules’s clothes were out of sight, but her shoes were right there, front and
center, at the foot of the bed.
It was a testament to how much we used to dislike each other that Ava
didn’t think the shoes could belong to her.
“They must be popular.” I forced a laugh and resisted the urge to wipe the
sweat from my forehead. “Wish you hadn’t told me that. The second thing
that kills the vibe fast is any mention of the she-devil. Anyway.” I pushed
Ava further into the hallway. “Great to see you, don’t come back. Unless you
want a firsthand look at the symphony.”
We both gagged at the same time.
If the vibe wasn’t already dead, it was six feet under and rotting now at
the prospect of my sister being in the room while I had sex.
“I’m going to wash my eyes and ears out with bleach.” Ava shuddered.
I waited until she returned to her room before I closed the door and
leaned my forehead against it. Relief cooled the sweat on my skin, but my
heart still raced like it was competing in the fucking Indy 500.

---

“That was a close call.”
I lifted my head and saw Jules peek out of the bathroom, her eyes wide.
“These fuckers almost got us in trouble.” I nudged her shoes with my
foot.
“Those are my favorite shoes, Josh. It’s not their fault.” She stepped fully
into the bedroom and fished her clothes off the floor. “We shouldn’t have
done this in the hotel. It was stupid. If she caught us…”
I grimaced. Jules was right. It was stupid to hook up in the hotel when our
friends were literally down the hall. We could get caught any minute.
Normally, I’d never be that reckless, but…
I watched Jules get dressed, my heart rate not slowing down one bit
despite the fact the danger had passed.
For some reason, logic always flew out the window where Jules was
concerned.

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29

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JOSH
J
ULES
SNUCK
OUT
AFTER
MAKING
SURE
THE
HALLWAY
WAS
CLEAR
AND
LEFT
ME
to my own devices.
Restless, I showered, hit the gym, showered again, and watched Fast Five
in my room while the girls got ready and left for the palace. Only royal
relatives were allowed to stay at the palace for the wedding, so even though
the girls were Bridget’s bridesmaids, we were camped out in a five-star hotel,
courtesy of the crown.
I usually had no issues entertaining myself while traveling, but the crowd
of paparazzi outside the hotel deterred me from venturing out.
Unfortunately, our hotel, as luxurious as it was, lacked stimulating
activities. Michelin-starred restaurants and a world-renowned spa were fine,
but I needed more excitement.
Alex will be staying behind too.
Jules’s words echoed in my head. What was he doing? Eating babies and
ruining lives, probably.
By the time night descended, I was bored enough to join him.
Temptation snaked around my spine, but instead of knocking on his door,
I headed downstairs to the bar. It’d been closed earlier, but when I arrived,
the telltale glow of lights sent relief coasting through my lungs.
I stepped inside, taking in the two-story ceiling, plush blue velvet
couches, and the massive wall of glittering bottles behind the polished
mahogany bar. It blew the fanciest bar in D.C. out of the water, times ten.
I slid onto a blue leather stool and waited for the bartender to finish
setting up. It must’ve just opened, because we were the only people present,
and the space was eerily quiet save for the soft jazz piping through invisible

---

speakers.