Page 44 of Plain Sight

“No, don’t. You can’t.” That breathy little plea is probably going to be on my death certificate. “It’s bad enough that you kidnapped me—you—you can’t⁠—”

I curl the fingers into her hair and tip her face up, staring down into her eyes. “I have to. A pretty thing like you? I have to mark your skin. You have to take it, angel.”

Her pupils get darker. “But then⁠—”

“Then what? You might find out you like it? I might make you taste it?”

Lily’s mouth drops open, and I bring my hand around to swipe my thumb over her bottom lip.

“Why is this game so hot?” she whispers.

“I think—” I’ve been hard for her all day. Pumped full of blood and adrenaline all day. I’m not going to last, stroking myself like this. “It’s the wedding rings. Ah.”

I come all over Lily’s stomach, then circle my fingers through the mess while I return to earth. Lily touches my shoulders and my neck and my face. She prods lightly, lightly, below the cut on my cheek.

“Does this still hurt?” she asks. “Should we put some ice on it?”

“Probably.”

Her eyes move over my face. “I wanted to ask you something.”

I press my hips between her legs. She’s so wet. So soft. Maybe we live in the shower now. Maybe we never get out.

“Shoot.”

“Would you be mad if I went to law school?”

That’s…not what I expected her to say. My brain is still made from orgasm chemicals. “No? I went to law school.”

“Elise said it would be hypocritical if you stopped me.”

“Stopped you?” I make sure my hands are thoroughly rinsed, then put my fingers back in her hair. Jesus, she’s gorgeous. “I wouldn’t stop you. I just thought you didn’t want to go.”

“I didn’t.” Lily pouts. “But then Charlotte and Elise and I were talking about it, and whether I wanted to keep dancing⁠—”

“You have to keep dancing. I want to see you dance.”

“Gabriel said I should teach you how to dance.”

“You should. Teach me how to dance. Start now.”

“It’s wet,” Lily laughs. “It’s not safe to do dance lessons in the shower. When we can go to a studio⁠—”

“We can go right now. Just let me find some clothes.”

“Later.” Lily puts her hands on my chest, grinning, water droplets sparkling on her face. “It’s, like, ten. Too late to start dance projects. But of course I’ll teach you. I think you’d like it,” she adds, thoughtful. “I think you’d be good at it.”

“I’m always moving anyway. I’m sure I have some natural ability.”

Lily looks at me, her eyes even bigger. Greener. “You’re happy.”

“Of course I’m happy. I have you.”

There’s just a flicker of disbelief in all that green. Lily’s face turns serious.

“We were talking about dancing, and law school, and Charlotte said it didn’t have to be Columbia. It didn’t have to be stressful. I’ve never looked into a non-stressful law school before. I don’t know if they exist. But if it did, and I wanted to go, you’d be okay with that?”

I’ll be okay with anything after tonight, because Malcolm Walsh will be gone, and Lily’s grandfather is a coward. He won’t get his hands dirty. We can deal with him when it’s convenient.