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“You’re insufferable,” she whispered, eyes closed as she licked her lips.

“And you like it.” I leaned forward, kissing her lips.

* * *

I stared at the ceiling in the dark, not having slept at all. How could I? I just fucked Nirah in my office and now she was in bed beside me. Naked.

Nirah stirred and I closed my eyes, feeling the bed shift. Slowly, she lifted my arm and laid her head on my chest, snuggling into my side.

My damn heart was racing as her naked body pressed to my side.

Her hand cupped the side of my face and I could feel her soft breaths on my cheek. She ran a gentle thumb across my cheek. “Will you ever love me again?” she whispered, and it took everything inside of me not to move, or speak, or even hold her. “I don’t think you will,” she added with a humourless scoff. “You…” she trailed off as though she wasn’t sure how to say what she wanted to. “I don’t think you could ever understand why I did what I did,” she whispered, her voice brittle.

Then, her soft lips pressed to mine with a chaste kiss before she brushed her thumb over my lips.

The bed shifted and my nightstand’s drawer opened before it closed. My gun.

I could hear the patter of her bare feet draw away from me before my bedroom door opened and closed.

I exhaled sharply, throwing my forearm over my eyes.

CHAPTER 27

Nirah

“Silvia!” I stopped her as I entered the foyer with loads of shopping bags. Retail therapy. Works like a charm.

She descended the rest of the stairs and I nodded for her to follow me into the living room. “Isn’t that great?” She sarcastically said, tossing a dry ran onto her shoulder. “I get dust and you get Dior.”

“Oh, Silvia.” I pinned her with a look, completely brushing her words and tone off. “I went shopping for us.”

I pulled the box out of the bag and had her open it to reveal a new pair of shoes. She shrieked and I smiled watching her lift the heels one by one.

“Do you like it?”

“Do I?” She rhetorically asked, attention still on the shoes.

“Can I get a hug at least?” I asked and she looked up at me in confusion before lowering the box and opening her arms.

My smile widened as I pulled her into my arms before subtly whispering, with barely any lip movement: “Be in Antonio’s office at seven tonight. Don’t ask any question.”

With a slight squeeze I broke the hug and her smile morphed into confusion but she nodded nonetheless.

“I’m glad you like them!” I clutched my hands together, and she soon caught on.

“Oh, Nirah,” she faked a swoon and pulled me in for another hug.

“Play along,” I whispered again, and we continued unboxing the shopping I’d done for her.

* * *

I was seated behind Antonio’s desk when the door opened and Silvia hesitantly entered.

When our eyes locked, the tension visibly eased out of her body and she hurried inside before locking the door behind her.

“What’s going on?” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And how’d you get in here?”

I smiled, leaning back as I dangled his office keys on my pointer finger. “These.”