Hell, even they don’t know what I’m into.
She steps closer. “Have you always had this kink?”
“Since I hit puberty, yes.”
“When did you first act on it?”
“During that initiation when I was chasing you.”
Her face blushes. “You…never tried it before?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I didn’t trust anyone to do it with.”
“Does that mean you trust me?” She looks at me with big green eyes so full of hope and renewed affection.
No, she wants my affection.
She wants more from me.
Me.
That one baffles the fuck out of me. Why would she? The only thing I know how to give her is pleasure.
“Partially,” I say in answer to her question.
Her shoulders hunch and some of the brightness from before dims. “Why not fully?”
Because you called that motherfucker’s name during that first time.
And she refused to call mine earlier.
Not to mention that she’s begrudgingly into this, partly because I threatened her, partly because she can’t—and won’t—find anyone who satisfies her kink aside from me. Who touches her, fucks her, and pushes her buttons like I do.
But if she has the chance, I have no doubt she’ll bolt.
“It’s my turn to ask the questions.” I cross my arms. “What did that blond fucker do that caused you to zone out?”
She blinks at the jarring change of subject. “He didn’t do anything, but he said something too similar to what Jonah said when we first got together.”
“Who’s Jonah?” I ask, even though I know exactly who the fucker is.
“My scum of an ex,” she snarls at the mere mention of him.
That’s my girl.
“Was it too similar?” I ask.
“It was actually word for word.” She shudders. “It was creepy as hell.”
“Do you think they’re acquaintances?”
“I don’t know. I hope not.” A tinge of fear slips into her gaze. She’s scared that the reason behind her nightmares will come back into her life.
And I’ll get rid of it before it even gets close.
“I’m going to change my clothes,” she announces, and when I remain there, she adds, “that’s your cue to leave.”
“I will after you fall asleep.”
I can tell she wants to object, but she releases a sigh and goes on about her business.
I’ll wait for her to fall asleep and then I’ll find out exactly why the blond fucker and his friend approached Cecily tonight.
27
JEREMY
“Go.”
Ilya rattles the door off of its hinges on our way inside when we were supposed to be discreet.
The look of absolute shock on the motherfuckers’ faces when we slip into their apartment is worth it, though.
The dark-haired one, Larry, flinches from his slumber, blinks slowly, and then looks down at his barely covered junk.
His friend with curly hair, Donovan, wakes up next from his sleeping position on the floor.
There’s no sign of Steven.
Ilya nods at me and flings open the other doors in search of him.
“What the fuck?” Donovan says in a craggy voice. It’s early morning, and while this operation was supposed to happen late last night, I kind of couldn’t leave when Cecily fell asleep in my arms.
And I may have spent hours watching her sleep like the creep she labeled me as.
It wasn’t until Ilya texted me, reminding me that these fuckers have classes this morning and asking if we should reschedule for tonight, that I finally left her side.
The fact that I actually struggled to peel her warmth off me and leave is bothersome and downright annoying.
Ilya hauls Steven up with a grip on his collar. The bastard is sporting a purple bruise from when he was acquainted with my fist last night, and he looks like a grotesque version of himself.
My guard shoves him between his friends and makes the three of them kneel in front of the sofa while they fruitlessly struggle and release some juvenile what the fucks.
“My father is powerful,” says Donovan, licking his lips and sweating profusely.
“What a coincidence.” I tilt my head to the side. “So is mine, but you don’t see me using his name or influence.”
Larry stares at Ilya, who’s nothing short of a wall behind him, then blurts, “Can we talk about this?”
“That’s what I had in mind.” I make a show of removing my jacket and laying it on a nearby chair before going back to stand in front of them. “You had a mission last night that entailed approaching Ava and Cecily, separating them, and cornering Cecily. I want to know all about that mission—the why, how, and who.”