Page 13 of Queen of Spades

I head for Annika’s door and let myself in with the key that fits this lock. It speaks volumes that she has an exterior door lock on her bedroom door.

With my new houseguest, I can hardly invite her to live with me, but I’d dispatch that fuckface without a second thought if I truly believed she’d accept. I just need to let him suffer in the meantime while he ponders his many mistakes.

I’d also have to clean up all the evidence of my stalking, which I wouldn’t mind doing if I had the opportunity to watch her around the house at all hours of the day and night.

I lock the door behind me and grin when I catch Anni softly snoring against her pillow.

I strip off my T-shirt and toss my keys down on her desk before quickly working on my belt and jeans. I lean down to loosen my boots and strip out of everything but my boxer briefs before climbing into bed.

I like that it’s only a queen-size. It makes it necessary to cuddle, since I’m such a big guy. I’ll have to ditch my king-size bed before she moves in.

I want her to be forced to snuggle with me.

Every. Single. Night.

I plant my hand on her ass and pull her closer. She grunts but wiggles until her head rests on my bicep. Her adorable little nose wrinkles like she caught my scent and wants more. She scoots even closer, tossing a thigh over mine.

Goddamn, she’s beautiful and all mine.

Now I just have to figure out how to make sure she doesn’t hate me when she finds out who I really am.

Chapter Three

Annika

Iwake up hot and surrounded by Grady’s scent. A silly smile crosses my face as I blink awake.

“Morning, Anni Girl,” he says, palming the back of my head. “I just have to say, you still snore worse than a trucker coming off a forty-eight-hour haul.”

I snort, running my fingers over the few blond hairs on his chest. “Yeah, well, I still have no idea what that means.”

“It means you’re absolutely adorable.” His thick lips make an exaggerated kissing sound as he pecks my nose.

My insides light up as my instincts hum in approval. My cheeks feel hot, but truthfully, I eat up every bit of praise he gives. There’s just something that hits differently when an alpha gives an omega a compliment.

“I think we’ve got to have a serious talk about Lyra.” He sighs heavily, and I already know what’s coming. He’s never been especially fond of her, but recently, he’s grown more critical.

And it’s not like I don’t get it.

I really do.

I keep waiting for the day one of her visitors accidentally tries to slip into my bed instead of hers.

If I’m in my room, my door is locked.

It’s that simple.

The crazy part is, it’s technically my apartment. It’s my name on the lease. I’ve offered to add her on, but she’s got her own baggage.

I got lucky when I found the guy who made my new identity. It’s strong enough to hold up to a cop checking my ID. The forger I bought it from said I can also file taxes legally as Annika Knowles. It’s no wonder the endeavor cost the majority of the cash I had from the go-bag.

“She’s getting more brazen. I’m pretty sure she tried to fuck me last night.” Grady stares down at me with a serious look on his face. He’s always so lighthearted that sometimes I can’t tell when he’s joking or being serious, but that look alone tells me this isn’t him being funny. “At the very least, she invited me to hang out while she was naked.”

My instincts immediately want me to strangle my roommate.

I’ve made it clear to her before that Grady is off-limits. I also know she’s had a rough go of it recently.

“Are you sure?” I ask, frowning so hard I can feel my forehead wrinkle.

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