Page 69 of The Villain

I’m not sure if he understood me or not. There was a lot more heavy breathing involved than words. The music doesn’t help, either.

“You could sit down,” Ira points out helpfully.

“Yeah, we haven’t had a chance to get to know you,” Blaze gives me a leering grin.

As if I want to know him.

Shade’s chair is pulled far enough away from the table that I could sit in his lap. I straddle him to settle on his thighs, keeping my arms around his shoulders. Now all he can see is me. He grins in surprised pleasure as his hands settle on my hips to pull me closer.

“Oh God,” Tera turns to face Asher out of the corner of my eye. “Don’t let me see this.”

I lean my chest into his so I can speak in his ear. “Where’s your phone?”

“Oh, I have to give you mine now? What about the game?” He taunts.

I lean back to point at my throat and then mimic texting someone.

“Seems like cheating to me.” He leans closer to give me a grin. It seems a lot darker than his normal one. The sight of it makes my pulse speed up and my core wet.

I slowly lick my lower lip and meet his eyes. His pupils dilate in response. Then I start to stand.

“No,” his hold over my hips tightens and I get pulled back to my seat. He tries to pull me forward to press against him but I brace my hands between us with a raised brow.

“No risk, no reward, huh?” His teeth grit. He pulls his phone from his pocket.

“Shade,” Felix says in a warning tone behind him. “Are you kidding me? You’re going to let her snoop? See our texts?”

I glance back at him curiously. I’m not Tera. It’s not like I’m putting an app on there to track him down or read his messages. I wouldn’t even know where to start with that shit.

“Fuck off,” he leans around me to tell him while he hands me the phone.

I hesitate to take it. It feels like this isn’t a game. There’s a chance they don’t get it, figuring I’ll be nosy. But, why? What’s the big deal? What would I find?

I have so many questions as my pulse races.

“Take it, baby,” he’s frowning at me now.

And he’s giving it to me. Demanding I take it.

“We need to talk,” Ira stands abruptly. “Now.”

“Because you got called off following her?” Shade’s eyes flick to his supposed leader with cold rage. “Feeling paranoid, Ira?”

They got called off? Another oddity. He makes it sound like they’ve been investigating me a lot harder than I thought they were. I should have busted their windows out too.

“She wants to use a notes app to talk to him,” Tera says sadly. “What’s wrong with that?”

“You’re both being ridiculous. Sit down already,” Andi backs her up.

I put both hands on Shade’s cheeks, pulling him back to face me.

“It’s fine. Take it,” he grumbles as I take in his frustrated expression. He’s closing himself down again.

“She could text like a normal person instead of being nosy,” Melissa argues grimly.

It makes my lips twist up in mocking amusement. Shade takes in the expression and settles down.

I take the phone and open it with his facial recognition. I’m tempted to snoop, see what has everyone so concerned. But, he’s giving me a piece of himself with the knowledge I could damage him with it. I’m not betraying that.

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