Read Online Oliver by Caitlyn Willows - Free Book Online Page A

happy to lend you an ear or a shoulder, emotional—”
    “I don’t need your fucking emotional support!” he screamed into the phone. “You three owe me!” He stabbed his finger at the device.
    “Then I’ll write you a check,” Ben replied and disconnected the call.
    Oliver grabbed the phone and slammed it against the wall. It shattered to pieces. His walls crumbled with it. Hard breaths shuddered through him. His body quaked with… Panic. He was having a fucking panic attack.
    You’re better than this. Deep breaths. Deep, cleansing breaths . He sank to the mattress and willed control to return and with it, the answers he needed.

Chapter Six
    Merideth sat huddled under the plush towel, indulging in self-pity for longer than she cared to admit. In the end, she realized Oliver’s response was appropriate and the wake-up call she needed. She’d come to him to help her be strong again. Latching on to former lovers and feeling all warm and fuzzy was only going to give her a crutch she didn’t need. She wanted to walk on her own two feet.
    She’d expected physical discipline at his hand, much like she’d gotten from Lucas the night before at Oliver’s direction. Maybe that was still to come. Right now it wouldn’t have had the impact this interlude did. Being with Oliver had empowered her, helped her remember the joys of give-and-take sex. The sharp words warned her against attachment.
    She had to stand on her own. Nothing else would do. Understanding that gave Merideth the strength to move, reinforced her determination. Love had no place here. The best she could hope for would be that they’d reestablish a friendship. That made her smile. Friendship would be wonderful. It wasn’t too much to hope for, was it?
    Merideth didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she stood in the sunlight of the big picture window, enjoying the view as she dried and semistyled her hair. Urban sprawl had overtaken the Coachella Valley since she’d last been here, but the profusion of buildings didn’t detract from the beauty of the mountains surrounding the valley. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed this until now. It felt like she’d come home.
    She stuck a pin in that thought. Her life was in New York. Her career, such as it was, was there. No sense letting herself get carried away. Impulse decisions were her downfall. The one bringing her back into Oliver’s orbit being the exception…so far. Although that hadn’t really been impulse. She’d been dwelling on it for months. The impulse had been to tell Lucas, to bring him into her need as well. Maybe that hadn’t been impulse either, simply opportunity. A gift from the universe she didn’t deserve. A second chance.
    So much for dwelling.
    Merideth shook away the rambling notions and pulled cotton shorts and a tank top from her suitcase. Makeup and sunscreen could come later. Oliver would have breakfast ready and be expecting her. The last thing she wanted was to antagonize him.
    My rules. My way. Only one Master.
    The edict grated against her nerves. Maybe she wasn’t as far gone as she’d thought.
    Plush carpet padded her bare toes as she made her way downstairs. Oliver worked at the stove. Lucas had his head stuck in the refrigerator. The more time they spent together, the more comfortable they seemed. Like there’d been no passage of time at all. They were in sync. It was the little differences in their personalities that intrigued her. Dominance was second nature to Lucas now, where before he’d been content to follow. Oliver was cold and remote…professional to a fault. Where were the men she’d once loved? Buried under hurt she’d created? Did she care enough to dig them out? Yes, she did. But then what?
    It was best to leave it alone. To accept what she came here to get, and hold out that they’d part as friends.
    “You really don’t have any bread.” Lucas pivoted toward Oliver.
    “I told you,” he said with a laugh. “Breakfast’s almost