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I hadn’t taken her scheme seriously whatsoever but learning that she has the funds to do whatever she wants dumps adrenaline into my bloodstream. I wipe all emotion from my face, retaining a calm mask on the outside while panicking on the inside.
For years, I’ve foolishly taken her presence and infatuation for granted. I wasn’t lying when I said that when it stopped, I felt the wrongness of it in my bones. I’ve been trying to claw my way back into her good graces, but now I doubt whether there’s enough time to succeed.
Even worse, she’s plotting to leave at a time when she’s most at risk. Once she’s out of the city, she wouldn’t be under my protection, not even under my watchful eye. She’ll be vulnerable. If she’s vulnerable, then that leaves me exposed.
“So have you applied yet?”
She laughs. “Oh my God, Lucian, of course I’ve applied. The deadlines were in December. I’m waiting for my acceptance letters. They should come any day now. Gabby has already been accepted.”
I don’t know how Anton feels about this turn of events. He acts as if she doesn’t exist, but that doesn’t fool me for a second. I’ll be sure to alert him of this new development.
As if reading my mind, she jabs a finger into my chest and warns, “And don’t you dare go telling Anton about this. This is none of his business.”
“That’s not how he sees it.”
“It doesn’t matter how he sees it,” she shoots back. “I’ve told you this in confidence.”
She narrows her eyes at me, as if daring me to test the little confidence she’s put in me. Well fuck, I guess Anton’s on his own.
I put my hands up and assure her, “It’s certainly none of my business. I’ve got my hands full with you.”
She gives a little harrumph. “It better stay that way.”
Bingo.I feel the burn of that admission in my chest. My lips twist into a triumphant smirk.
Flustered, she says, “That’s not what I meant. I don’t care what you do or who you’re with…o-or even who you marry.”
Lie, lie, and triple lie.That had to be the most unconvincing series of lies I’ve heard to date.
To cover my grin, I drink my beer, and mutter, “Uh-huh.”
Unable to stop myself from teasing her, I catch her hand and stroke the inside of her wrist. “It’s okay, precious, you can admit you’d miss me just a bit.”
She tries to pull her hand out of my grip, but I tighten around it, soothingly caressing the skin with my thumb. She flounces in her seat with a cute little huff.
I lean in, nuzzling the curve of her throat just below her ear, and snag her earlobe for a quick bite. God, I love biting her.
Her breasts swell with her sharp intake of breath.
“Come on, precious, just admit it. You’d miss me—you’d missthis—just a little.”
She shoves at my shoulder half-heartedly. “Fine, I might missthisjust a little. Not you, just this.”
Growling low against her ear, I feel her shiver beside me. I trace her erect nipple with my nail, and whisper, “See, that wasn’t so hard to admit. The truth will set you free.”
I pull back just far enough to ensnare her gaze. “Remember that.”
Knowing how close I am to dragging her into a bathroom and fucking her against the wall, I throw myself away from her. The point of this outing is to do something relaxing, something other than fucking her.
Her glazed eyes follow me rapturously as I stand up and hold out my hand. God, I love when she watches me.
Perplexed, she asks, “Where are we going?”
“To play the pinball machines.”
“I don’t know how…”
I crook my finger. “It’s about time you learned. You have no idea how addictive it is. But once I teach you, you won’t be able to tear yourself away.”
