Page 57 of Crime Lord’s Captive

When Manny asked what she wanted to watch, Lyla asked for Die Hard. Manny was surprised, but didn’t question her choice. Juanita brought a steady stream of food until Lyla pleaded for her to stop. It took Lyla a long time to relax, but eventually Manny coaxed her to stretch out on the couch. After a slew of action movies Manny popped in The Godfather. With her head on Manny’s lap Lyla watched the movie unfold. It was Manny’s favorite movie, no surprise there. Even while she saw parallels between the movie and the Pyre men, Lyla found it amusing that Manny could imitate Vito Corleone perfectly. He could quote the entire movie word for word. Manny cussed people out, all while playing with her hair.

Lyla dozed off and woke when she felt herself being lifted. Lyla jolted and immediately relaxed when she realized that she was in Gavin’s arms. He spoke to Manny in Spanish. Manny’s tone was a lot softer than it had been earlier in the day. Gavin carried her to his car and deposited her in the passenger seat. She belted herself in and turned towards him as he got into the driver’s seat.

“Okay?” he asked.

Sleepy and relaxed, Lyla nodded. “Get a lot done?”

“Yes, but I have to go in tomorrow.” A pause. “You okay with that?”

“Yes.” He had an empire to run and she had to learn how to live, knowing there was pure evil out there.

“I’ll ask Carmen to keep you company. You up for that?”

“Yeah.” She felt more steady. She deliberately brought up the image of Pervert. Her heart began to race and her hands felt clammy. She reached out for Gavin. He took her hand, laced it with his and she could breathe again. She would fight this. It would be okay. She wouldn’t let psychos, perverts and murderers stop her from making a life, from being happy.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Trying to be.”

He squeezed her hand. “You will be. Just give it time.”

“Is everything okay with you and Manny?”

“Just a difference of opinion. We’re fine. You had a good time with him?”

“Yes. I love your dad.”

His hand tightened on hers, but he said nothing else. They drove home in silence. One of the guards opened her door when the car stopped. She nodded to him and went inside.

“I’ll meet you in our room. I need to take care of some things,” he said.

She nodded as he went into his office and closed the door. She went upstairs and checked the closet, bathroom and under the bed before she stripped and got into the shower. It was the longest she’d gone without bathing herself. She saw that as a small victory. The feeling of being filthy was all in her mind, but she couldn’t help that she scrubbed her skin so hard that she was bright red when she stepped out of the shower. She claimed another oversized sweater and just finished slathering on a layer of lotion when Gavin walked into the bathroom. He kissed her cheek and stripped. Lyla watched him in the mirror and saw his cock standing at attention. Gavin ignored his body and stepped into the shower, washing himself briskly. Although Lyla felt a tingle of response between her legs, she walked into the bedroom. She couldn’t. She wasn’t ready.

Lyla got into bed and curled on her side, staring out of the window at the stars. Gavin came out of the bathroom in a pair of boxers and nothing else. It was too quick to get himself off. He tossed his cell phone on the nightstand and for the first time, sat up in bed with a laptop. Lyla relaxed as she listened to him click and type. Lyla buried her face in her pillow, drew in Gavin’s scent and slowly let sleep take her.

***

“Lyla.”

Lyla moaned into her pillow.

“Lyla, come on, baby. Wake up.”

Large hands flipped her over. Lyla hung onto the pillow so it covered her face. Gavin chuckled and with one swift jerk, sent the pillow flying. Lyla glared balefully at him.

“What?”

“There’s my girl,” he crooned and brushed kisses over her face. “You slept through the night, baby girl.”

Lyla blinked. Another victory. She didn’t dream at all. Gavin was dressed for the office and he smelled delicious.

“I have to go. Carmen should be here any minute. I thought I’d give you a warning,” Gavin said.

Lyla nodded. “Thanks.”

“You’re okay?” he asked, brushing a gentle hand over her body.

She rested her hands on his chest and remembered his hard on last night. He usually woke up hard. Did he get off this morning? Lyla was annoyed with herself for obsessing about Gavin’s dick. Didn’t she have more pressing things to worry about besides his masturbating schedule? He wouldn’t cheat on you after what happened, she told herself. But, what if she couldn’t... Gavin had needs and she might not be able to—

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