Page 30 of Heart of the Villain

Arlet’s hand grazed over the peak of her breast, her nipple pebbling from the friction. Marlena bit her lip to hide her gasp.

Arlet groaned in defeat, eyes lapping up her loss with the cards now in her hands. She over-pouted, sticking her bottom lip out. “You would’ve beat me.”

Marlena swallowed, trying to find her words. Arlet is on top of me, and I like the way it feels… I like the way it felt when she slipped her hand down my shirt. Marlena opened her mouth to speak, and finally Arlet crawled off her. With the extra weight gone, Marlena inhaled sharply, finally getting the air she needed to clear her head.

She’s your sister’s best friend, you fucking idiot.

Arlet cocked her head and raised a brow, waiting for a response.

She’s your friend. Your friend.

“I didn’t think you’d stick your hand down my top.” Those were the words Marlena decided to go with once she could speak again. Smooth.

Arlet shrugged, laying Marlena’s cards on top of the pile. “They’re just boobs. You think I’m scared of a nice pair of tits?” She shook her head.

Did Arlet like women? Marlena had no idea. Arlet had never been as open about what she did in her sex life as Vega was.

“Nice pair of tits?” Marlena asked, feeling flushed. All thoughts of the stupid cards were gone.

“Yeah, they’re definitely your best asset. Among other things like your brain, but if you ever wanna get anyone’s attention, just hike those babies up and wear something low-cut. You’ll get your point across quickly.” Arlet mixed the cards up. “Wanna go again? And this time can you not let me win?”

Marlena laughed a little, brushing off the buzz in her body as drinking too much wine and being warm by the fire. “Sure, but you better play like you want it, cause I won’t let you win twice,” she said with a wink.

Arlet waggled her brows and settled back into her spot.

The game was over in under five minutes. Marlena won, and Arlet sighed, followed by a yawn. “I guess we need a rematch, but please, another day. I’m so tired,” Arlet whined.

Marlena felt the drowsiness of the day taking over during the last game. “Me too.”

Arlet went to stand, but Marlena reached out to put her hand on her thigh, stopping her from getting up. “Will you stay?” she whispered, her voice almost drowned out from the crackle of the fire. “I don’t want to be alone.”

I’m always alone.

Pausing, Arlet looked down at Marlena’s hand, and then slowly, she nodded once. “Yeah. Yeah, I can stay.”

A tired smile crept onto Marlena’s face. “We can move to the bed.”

“No, I like it here. Brings back memories.” Memories of their childhood when they’d do this downstairs in front of the main fireplace during sleepovers.

Arlet moved pillows around while Marlena knocked the logs in the fire off one another with a poker to spread the embers out and kill the roaring flame to a simmer.

Marlena settled back beside Arlet, who was facing her way when she lay down. She smiled sleepily as Marlena slipped under the warm blankets.

Marlena slid her arm under a pillow, and the second she started to feel warm and sated, Arlet slid her frozen toes between Marlena’s closed thighs, leeching the warmth from between them. The intrusion made Marlena twitch and grit her teeth.

Arlet giggled. “Sorry, very cold. Need to let them thaw.” She’d always done this—her toes were like little icicles.

But this time, with her so close and her legs wrapping up with Marlena’s, it felt different.

Marlena watched as Arlet drifted into sleep, her lips slightly parted and breathing through her mouth with long, slow inhales.

Before the crackling of the fire lulled her to sleep, Marlena remembered the warning echoing through her head…

Don’t let her get in the way.

Twenty-One Years Old

Marlena leaned over the desk with her arms locked at the elbows, staring Lucius down. “What are you saying, Lucius?” She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of calling him by his title… not when the Ignises were sitting at the other end of the desk, their attention focused on Marlena.