Liam’s place, which Logan and I continued to take up residence in as we fixed it, was the safest right now. Construction was winding down, so the extra hands we’d hired to help wouldn’t be around. She would be safe here.She had to be, I thought.
“Well, where are you going?” she asked. There was a flash of hurt in her eyes, the same type I was certain I felt. A longing crept into my heart at the idea of being away from her.
“It’s a work thing,” I said.
“Ah, yes. Which work? Construction? Or hiding dead bodies and harboring murderers and assault victims?” She stood. The hurt replaced by the frustration again, and she placed her hand on her hip, waiting for my answer.
“You aren’t a victim,” I spat, offended by the description. I never,everwanted her to think of herself as a victim. I watchedher falter at my tone that bit at her. My jaw ticked tight, holding back anger.
“Might as well get comfy here, I guess.” She threw herself onto my bed.
“Be as comfortable as you like.” I dragged myself on top of her, her eyes clouding with lust as I placed myself between her legs. “There are some toys in my top drawer if you need help keeping busy,” I whispered in her ear, nibbling on her flesh.
I loved how her body responded to me, her back arching up. The image of her bringing herself to climax in my bed created an instant hard-on between us. A hard-on we didn’t have time to do anything about.
I pressed my lips against hers, the intensity enough to take my breath away. Our tongues danced with one another, heat growing with each movement.
Her hands tangled in my hair, a small moan gathering on her lips as I pushed her wrists into my bed.
“If you decide to use them, M’lady,” I whispered. “Make sure to send me a picture of your beautifully red face.”
And with that, I left her on the edge, pleading for me to return.
Chapter 27
Audry
The walls were a stark white with half-painted orange sections. There was barely any furniture as I hurried through the house. The staircase railing was almost finished. The fireplace drew me in, and I imagined what family might live here one day.
But that fictional story was fading quickly. It had been two days of utter boredom, wandering the house and falling into a somewhat routine with Carson. She was hard to get to know, very guarded, but sweet. She entertained my random ramblings as I struggled to not go insane.
It wasn’t like I was held hostage, but she made the boundaries of where I was allowed to go quite clear. The ‘somewhere’ nearby lake was off limits, and the back upstairs room was off limits. Other than that, I was free to roam, read, sleep—whatever I wanted. I tried to hide my blushing cheeks as I remembered what Kai had told me before he left. But she continued her tasks, going about her day mostly like I wasn’t there.
Until she called me down for dinner.
“So, what’s the mystery with that room upstairs?” I asked, slurping pasta into my mouth. Carson sat across from me, heralfredo coated in parmesan. She was an amazing cook but a terrible liar.
“No mystery,” she said, shaking her head.
“Why can’t I go in there specifically?” I asked, the garlic bread melting in my mouth. I forgot how good food could be. I had been eating the bare minimum lately, a situation I hadn’t realized until Carson cooked for me.
“Because it’s off limits,” she said.
“But, why?”
“Do you always ask so many questions?” She narrowed her dark eyes, scrunching her nose the way I had seen Logan do that night.
I smiled politely. “Do you always avoid them?”
She stared at me, fighting a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. A small dimple formed on her left cheek before her laughter fell from her lips. Nothing was funny, not really, but I joined in her laughter anyway. “It is kinda mysterious, huh?” She pulled more pasta into her mouth.
“Very.” I nodded. “Also, word of advice for the next tenant you have to babysit. The moment you say I can’t do something is the moment I want to.”
“Yeah, that fits.” She smirked.
“Oh?” I lifted a brow.
“You look like you’d be a brat like that.” She nodded her head. “After all, you are aSantora.”