Page 51 of Beautiful Dark Temptation

“You know what? Forget I asked,” he snappedwhen I didn’t answer right away.

“I told you. They’re nothing.”

“Bullshit. You kiss them, fuck them.” Heshook his head, his jaw bulging as he clenched his teeth.

“I don’t. I let them hang off my arm andwhen they want more, I pass them off to Wren or Fox, okay? Ihaven’t … been with anyone since you.”

“You pass them off?”

Of course that’s what he would zero in on.“They don’t care about me. They care about the money, protection,booze, and a dick. Wren and Fox are happy to oblige in thatdepartment.”

“Why pass them off?”

He was leading me by the nose. “Because I’mgay,” I spat out, my stomach churning. “There. I said it. I’m notbisexual. I couldn’t get it up naturally for a girl if I tried, andI tried, okay? Does that make you feel better?” I clenched thesteering wheel tight until my knuckles turned white. “This changesnothing between us,” I added because I was a prick and needed toregain some sense of control. “You say anything—”

“I know. I’ll be taking a dirt nap. Got it,”he said dryly.

I let out a breath, the inside of the carstifling. And of course he couldn’t stay shut.

“You should tell them,” he whispered.

I didn’t need to ask who he was referringto. His eyes settled on the Jeep in front of us. “They care aboutyou, and you shouldn’t lie to the people you love.”

“I will. When I’m ready.”

He gave me a quick sideways glance and ranhis palm along his pants. “I can wait,” he said, his eyes stillfocused out the windshield. “If, uh, you want me to.”

A fissure formed just under my breastbonewhere I kept my emotions in check. He’d wait for me. Keep mysecrets.Bemy secret. I didn’t have an answer to that. Yes.I wanted that. No. I didn’t want him to be part of my world. Yes.We can make it work inside Arcadia. But the darker part of mewarned against it. He’d be a target. A weakness. There were toomany lies between us. I’d suffocate in them.

The coward that I was gave him noanswer.

We reached Renew without further discussionabout anything. Tomás unusually quiet.

I parked the car and turned to Tomás. “Staywith Wren, understand?”

He snorted and got out of the car. I let outthe breath I needed to calm down.

The guys were waiting for us at the backdoor. Fox lifted a brow.Are you good?

I had to be good. No choice in that matter.I nodded.

Music flooded the alley as soon as he openedthe door. The bouncer gave us all a nod and a wristband, and wesqueezed inside the narrow, dark hallway. Fox led, River and Wrenfollowed. I took the rear while Tomás walked in front of me. Hestill had the long coat on while the rest of us knew enough to haveleft ours in the car. I tapped his shoulder and he abruptlystopped. I had to put my arm on his waist not to crash into him. Ifelt his body stiffen under my touch. He turned his head slightlyand I brushed my lips against his cheek. I almost cupped his faceand turned him fully into my mouth. I wanted him again. I wanted totell him yes, I wanted him to wait for me. But I couldn’t commit toshit right now.

“Coat check.” Mercifully, with any luck, theloud music masked the shakiness in my voice. I pointed to the coatroom where a pretty dark-haired girl stood dancing to the musicwhile she worked.

Tomás nodded and I watched as he greetedher. She gave him an appraising look with a soft smile. She waspretty which made my stomach knot. He said something to her, andshe leaned in to say something back directly in his ear. Theylaughed.

I needed a drink. I caught up to Wren,ordered him back to Tomás. “Make sure he keeps it in his pants,” Igrowled out to Wren who scowled as if I meant him. “And keep himaway from the loft.”

Wren nodded and I waited until he reachedTomás to finally leave him be. I had plans to make to destroy myfamily.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Tomás

Jack had given me instructions on how theexchange would work. I’d check in my coat at the coat kiosk withthe pretty brunette, Ruth. I’d give her an alias Jack used wheneverhe made contact with his dealer. Rod. Just Rod. I thought it was astupid name, but the girl didn’t miss a beat. I handed her my coatand she handed me a plastic tag. The tag would belong to anidentical coat with whatever Jack had agreed upon. I should’veasked him for clarification on things, but I just wanted to get outof Arcadia.

And that was distribution. I was the mule,dropping off the cargo. And I hated it. The lies. The risk. Ishoved the plastic tag inside my front pocket just as Wren sidledup next to me.

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