Page 43 of When Lies Unfold

Gordo shakes his head before followin’ in our cook’s wake, leavin’ me and Lola alone.

There’s no denyin’ the aroma fillin’ the kitchen is delicious. I ignore it, though, in favor of lockin’ eyes with the woman now glarin’ at me.

“You could’ve let them finish their food before chasing them off.”

A harsh sound rumbles up my throat. “You think I’m runnin’ a social circle or somethin’?”

I circle the large island, notin’ her body stiffenin’ as I draw closer. “My men have a job to do. And it isn’t to screw around in my goddamn kitchen with you.”

She stares daggers at me, so I step farther into her space, crowding her. My gaze lands on her mouth and travels down her body. I wonder if she realizes how her nipples tighten beneath her sports bra when I stop in front of her. Her chest rises and falls with shallow breaths as she tips her head back to maintain my gaze.

“And you sure as shit shouldn’t be paradin’ around my fuckin’ house half-dressed and flirtin’ with my men.”

Her scowl deepens, her nostrils flarin’. “I wasn’t flirting with anyone, you asshole.”

“Sure about that?” I raise my hand and graze the front of her sports bra with the back of my knuckles, draggin’ it over one of her nipples. Her lips part, and her pupils dilate, tellin’ me she’s not so immune to me after all.

Her nipples press against the fabric like they’re beggin’ for my touch. And damn if I’m not tempted. Tempted to yank down those straps and see ’em for myself. “Sure seems like there’s a part of you that wants my attention.”

Her breath catches in her throat, her entire frame freezin’ in place. She grits her teeth. “Just because my body reacts to something doesn’t mean I want attention or that I’m flirting.”

She lifts her chin, her glare borin’ into me. “Is this another one of your threats?” she sneers. “You think by touching me, you’ll intimidate me?”

“Maybe it’s a test to see if you’ve got what it takes to keep your mouth shut.” Holdin’ her eyes, I move to her other nipple, this time draggin’ my knuckle even slower. Fuck if I don’t get hard at the way it catches on the hard tip.

A mixture of confusion and heat crosses her features before her petite hand molds over my cock. I go still, raisin’ a brow at her. “The hell you doin’?”

Our gazes hold, both of us stubborn as fuck and unwillin’ to back down. This woman’s filled with a mass of contradictions. One minute, she exudes nothin’ but sweetness with Alma, and the next, she’s challengin’ me like her life’s not hangin’ in the balance.

Defiance gleams in her pretty eyes while her taunt holds a touch of huskiness. “I’m playing your game. Checking to see if you can be trusted to keep your mouth shut. To see if you’ll refrain from bragging about touching me.” A fake smile stretches her lips. “Because I certainly don’t trust a man with a tiny ponytail.”

With a cool smirk, my voice is low and filled with challenge. “You should know that my ponytail’s the only thing I’ve got that’s tiny.”

Irritation flashes in her eyes, but her response is to slowly stroke me. I glance down at my cock pressin’ against my black pants like it’s threatenin’ to bust free at any second.

Those inked butterflies trailin’ down her arm and along her hand flicker with each subtle movement, and I don’t make any move to stop her. Instead, I concentrate on raspin’ the pad of my thumb over her nipple.

Her lips part a split second before she mashes her mouth shut. But it’s too late. I know she’s not immune to my touch.

When I raise my other hand slowly—darin’ her to stop me—she doesn’t. Our gazes remain locked as I tug the bottom elastic of her sports bra up to reveal her breasts.

Fuck me. Whatever I might’ve imagined pales in comparison to reality. She’s real—none of that fake silicone shit—and her nipples taunt me, dark pink and beggin’ for my mouth. A strangled sound erupts from her when I sweep my thumb over the stiff flesh.

My words sound guttural to my own ears. “Jesus, you’re fuckin’ sweet.”

For once, I don’t think. I just lift her by her waist and set her on the cleared portion of the island. Before she can respond, I’m between her spread thighs and lowerin’ my mouth to her bare tit. When I latch my lips around her nipple, she sucks in a sharp breath.

“Mm,” I murmur against her. “You gonna spill all sorts of secrets if I keep this up?” I bat at her nipple with my tongue and revel in how she grasps at my biceps and arches into my touch. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you like it when I do this.”

“Not at all,” she says on an exhale. “In fact, I hate it.”

A startled grunt of a laugh escapes me, and I give her nipple a hard suck before releasin’ it abruptly.

“Don’t sound too convincin’ to me.” I raise my head, lockin’ eyes with her. Damn if she doesn’t intrigue the fuck out of me more and more.

My attention settles on her left breast, my eyes sweepin’ over her gorgeous skin covered in ink. The wings of those blue butterflies mold along the outer curve of her perfect tit, borderin’ her areola. I lower my head to press a kiss to the tight peak of her nipple. “Want me to stop?”

“Absolutely.”

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