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A man like Nox is wild.
You can’t tame him. You don’t want to even try. His ferocity is gorgeous. There’s beauty in every single scowl and glare he shoots my way. Things won’t ever be the same for me. And I’m grateful.
I never realized how much I hate my life. Not until he showed me beautiful.
Pressing close to my back, he wraps his muscled arm around my middle and I sink back into him. Tilting my head, he places a slow-wet kiss under my ear and I close my eyes. A throat clearing makes me jerk.
My eyes snap open and I cringe.
That’s because Boo and Rock stand there, mouths gaping.
My heart races. I don’t want Nox to get into trouble.
Feeling protective, I blurt out, “It’s all my fault! I seduced him! And I was good at it, too!” Twisting my neck, looking up into Nox’s face, I add seriously, “Wasn’t I, babe?’
Nox smiles down at me so hard, it looks like he’s holding back laughter. He leans down and presses a chaste kiss to my mouth.
I mentally gasp.
Don’t do that! I’m trying to save your ass, you nitwit!
Boo chuckles roughly, shaking her head as if to clear it. “Has- has the world gone mad?”
“I don’t know, babe.” Rock’s eyes crinkle at us. “But all I will say to you both is to be careful, alright?”Nodding vigorously, my fearful expression turns sour when Rock adds, “And if it’s not on, it’s not on. You get me, lovely Lily?”
Bunching my nose at his condom reference, I grip a banana and throw it at him, hard. Catching the banana with little effort, he peels it, takes a bite and walks away laughing under his breath.
Boo smiles softly but her face falls a little when she says softly, “I’m happy for you both. I really am.”
There’s a but in there somewhere. I can feel it in my bones. Walking over to us, she stands on the opposite side of the counter and adds, “But you need to think carefully about this.” Nox’s arm tightens around my waist and I swear I hear him growl. Boo ignores the display of dominance and utters, “Have you thought about what happens aft-”
Nox warns heatedly, “Boo.”
Lowering her eyes, she purses her lips. Lifting her head, looking right at me, she smiles. “I’m happy for you, Deedee. Just-” My throat clogs when her eyes mist. “Just be happy, okay?”
Without waiting for a reply, she turns on her heel to follow Rock.
Nox squeezes me and I place my hand over his, squeezing back. Twisting again, I ask, “Why did you do that?”
I don’t have to elaborate. He knows what I’m talking about.
His eyes warm for just a second before ice cloaks them once more. Looking down at the counter, he explains softly, “There are girls out there you want to fuck, and there are girls out there that you want to love.” He looks me in the eye. “Not ashamed of you, Lily.”
He stops speaking for a moment, allowing that to sink in.
Leaning his chin on top of my head, he utters, “You’re not for the background.” Burying his nose into my hair, he mutters, “You deserve center stage.”
A violent tremor washes over me, my entire body breaking into goosebumps. My heart squeezes, and I try hard at pushing back the tears from hearing something like that come out of Nox.
“I thought you didn’t do sweet.” My voice sounds thick even to me.
With a smack to my butt, he steps back, takes my hand in his and smirks, “Besides, I’m the boss. What are they gonna do? Fire me?”
My brows lift and I tilt my head while pursing my lips.
He has a point.
A goofy smile spreads across my lips, and I allow him to lead me to death by workout.
Chapter Fifteen
Special ferret and friends
Nox
“How much time we got?”
None. We don’t have any time left. But I’ll be damned if I lose Lily now. I just fucking got her.
Turning to Rock, I lie, “Some. Any news?”
“Actually, yeah.” He looks me right in the eye. “You’re not gonna like it.”
A stabbing pain shoots through my chest. It’s someone they know. My poker face in place, I ask, “What is it?”
“Gotta understand, dude. There was no reason to look before, but Mitch got an anonymous tip and…” He trails off.
My stomach flips. Biting the inside of my cheek, I nod for him to tell me.
Rock shakes his head and mutters, “This is hard, man.”
Rage builds in the center of me. I’m ready to knock skulls. Forcing a chuckle, I roll my eyes, “Fuck, Rock, tell me already!”
“Jamie Harrison.”
…The fuck he just say?
I’m sure I heard wrong. But Rock repeats himself, “Jamie fucking Harrison. For real, bro.”
Whoa. Definitely didn’t see that coming.
Ciaran Flynn is going to need some serious help after all this is over. We’re talking trust issues for life.
He took in the boys when their father died and this is the thanks he gets? Just goes to show, you can’t put your trust into anyone.
Lily. My princess. She’s gonna be devastated.
If I were to do what I really wanted to do right now, I’d go downstairs, take a van, and drive. I’d drive all the way back to California to the residence of Jamie Harrison, knock on his door, and when the weak, sly fucker answered the door…
Boom.
Off with his fucking head.
But I can’t do that. I promised to watch Lily and that’s what I’m gonna do. I have two minds about telling her though.
My body sinks deeper into my chair. I have to tell her. Eventually. When she needs to know.
I’ve spent too long in silence. Rock watches me carefully. With a single nod, I stand and ask, “Feel like sparring?”
***
Lily
Boo and I walk past the workout room and hear, “I’m warnin’ you, man.”
That’s Nox. And it sounds heated.
My eyes widen in interest. I look up and see Boo holding the very same expression. She crooks her finger and I follow her to the almost closed door. We peek in and watch the clowns at work.
Rock pops him in the nose while bouncing around, “Or what? You’ll tell on me to your girlfriend?”
Ouch, Rock! That was mean!
Boo giggles quietly and whispers, “He doesn’t mean it, Dee. Just watch.”
Nox’s face turns hard. His eye twitches.
Oh s
hit.
“Say it again,” he says in dead calm. “I dare ya.” Shaking his head, he adds, “I love you like a brother, man. But I swear to God, I’ll drop you so hard, so fast, you won’t know what hit you.”
Rock continues to bounce on the balls of his feet, feigning punches. He smiles harshly, “Quit fucking around already. I know you wanna punch me, so do it.” He stops bouncing. “Unless you’re a pussy.”
Nox’s eyes flash and I bite my lip to hold in my laughter.
Walking backwards, he starts undoing his boxing gloves. I think it’s over, so I move to walk away, but Boo stops me with a hand on my shoulder, looking all too excited. She mouths, “Watch.”
Rock smiles in victory and undoes his gloves, too. They both kick off their shoes and peel off their sweaty socks and meet in the center of the room. Rock grins, “Rules?”
Nox bounces up and down on the spot, shaking out his arms in an attempt to loosen up. He states, “One weapon.”
Rock’s face falls. “One fuckin’ weapon? No way. At least two.”
Nox chuckles, “Always tryna hustle. You wanna do this? We do it my way. One weapon.”
I have no idea what’s going on. My face bunches in confusion while Boo’s body shakes with laughter by my side.
Rock scowls, “Close your eyes, bitch.”
Placing his hands on his hips, Nox closes his eyes and Rock runs over to his bag. Fiddling through it, he takes an object out and places it in his palm, hidden from view. He’s too far away to see what it is, anyway.
Rock walks back to the center and announces, “Your turn.”
Rock closes his eyes, and I watch Nox walk over to his shoes. He pulls something out and places it in his shorts’ pocket before returning to the center of the room.
