Page 119 of Cozen

“And clearly you did,” she said.

“Not technically. I made some calls,” Sargon replied.

His expression remained aloof and calm, but his words were delivered with a sharp coldness that burned on impact. She could hear his worry, but there was nothing she could do for him right now. He didn’t need to be focusing on her—he didn’t need to be getting too wrapped up in her.

It was dangerous.

She was dangerous.

“And you found out I was visiting with the Astor family,” she said. “I hear his dead wife was an Astor before she gave up the family namesake to be with Jett.”

Sargon’s gaze flashed with a dark warning. “I know better than to deliver that kind of information to Jett, but he will expect something. He will want to know where you were, and he will need to believe that I followed you there. That’s what he wanted.”

As he spoke, his hold on her became tighter and tighter to the point it was almost painful. He moved closer and closer until his nose grazed hers, and all she could see were his dark, russet eyes boring into hers.

His smell soaked into her lungs.

His presence wrapped around her.

His heat warmed her.

“And will you do that for me?” she dared to ask.

The corner edge of Sargon’s mouth curled upward. “Why do you even ask? You know I will.”

“Because you want to protect me. Because you care.”

“Too much,” he returned. “Clearly.”

“It’s never too much. Sometimes it’s just enough, Sargon.”

“He was crazy, Cozen. Out of his mind when he learned you left. Raging mad, and he probably still is. It’s gone way beyond a little infatuation with him. He’s out for something with you, now. Do you get that?”

“Crazy is good—crazy means he’ll do just about whatever I want to get what he wants.”

His fingers dug into her arms again.

Cozen stayed still.

Jett was not all that different from Sargon, in some ways. Both men were tangled up with her in dangerous games that might not end well for them. She was all too aware of just how easy it would be to ruin both of these men.

And yet, she didn’t want to hurt Sargon. If anything, she might want to keep him forever.

Those feelings fucked with her head. They kept her off her game when she had to be laser focused.

Sargon’s lips grazed hers with a whisper of a kiss, but nothing more. She couldn’t deny the way her blood sang all the same. She couldn’t even try to pretend like she didn’t want to immediately bring him closer for a better kiss.

And so she did just that.

Pulled him closer.

Kissed him harder.

Wished for different things.

When she opened her eyes, reality was still there. Sargon was still staring at her, and he was still being a giant fucking complication.

“You make me feel like I can’t trust you, Zen.”