Page 92 of Captive Lies

“Oh, I’m not going to blame him,” Grant replied in a deceptively soft voice even as his breathing grew shallow. “I’m going to fucking bury him.” He grabbed his phone but I managed to knock it out of hishand.

“What the fuck?” Grant glared atme.

“You need to calm down. Tyler is already beating himself over it,” I hissed. “He’s beating himself up over damned hotdogs for Christ’ssake!”

“He shouldn’t have left you!” Grant snarled. “That’s why we’re getting you moresecurity.”

“Why do I even carry a gun if I can’t be left alone for two seconds? Stop making me into a helpless victim who can’t defend herself!” I yelled, untangling myself from him and scooting over to the far side of the seat so I can look at him better. His features were lit by the neon signs of the passing buildings and I witnessed the slackening of his jaw and the alarm in hiseyes.

“Blaire,” he whispered as he tentatively reached out. “Don’t pullaway.”

“Jesus, Grant, I’m not,” I sighed raggedly. “You’re just too much sometimes and it’s overwhelming.” I hugged my upper arms and stared out the window. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his hand drop which caused a pinch in my chest. I hated hurting him, but I couldn’t let him blame or, even worse, fire Tyler. The answer wasn’t to lock me away from the world. I was so sick and tired of that. Liam protected me, but he also provided the tools and skills so I could protect myself. Grant needed to see I wasn’t a fragile flower. If the past few weeks and especially what that scene at the gallery proved to me was this: I still had a lot of fight left in me and I was ready to take my lifeback.

“Maybe we should talk about this at the penthouse,” Jakesuggested.

I could feel Grant’s eyes on me, so Inodded.

* * *

When Jake letus into the penthouse, Grant told him to give us a moment and to let Colette know that we would be having guests at ten. The security detail and the housekeeper had apartments on the floor below the penthouse. When Jake disappeared back into the elevators, Grant asked me if I wanted anything to drink. I shook my head and walked to the fridge to get myself a glass of water while he headed to the bar and poured himself three fingers of Scotch. He tossed that back and turned around to faceme.

“This uncertainty ends now,” he growled as he stalked toward me, pinning me with his heatedgaze.

Startled, I managed to lower my glass on the center island where I was standing when his hands grabbed me and lifted me on the counter. His fingers dug into my hair, tilting my face up before he slammed his mouth on mine. My lips parted and he didn’t waste time forcing my tongue to respond to his. I had denied myself the touch of this man for so long, he was like a drink from an oasis in the desert. Clothing ripped and buttons went flying. It was his shirt and I was the aggressor. A satisfied grunt rumbled in his throat and I tried to tear my mouth away, but he wouldn’t let me. More buttons went flying and I felt cool air touch my breasts as my sweater laid open. He finally let me up for air only to yank the cup of my bra away, then I was on my back as he fastened his mouth on my nipple. He tormented me there as heat gathered low in my belly. His mouth was needed somewhereelse.

“Grant,” I moaned. “Isn’t someonecoming?”

He let go of a nipple with a pop. “Youare.”

I yanked at his hair to make him look at me. “We can’t dothis.”

“The fuck we can’t.” Lust and annoyance flared in hiseyes.

“I mean, right now,” I wheezed. “Later. Fuck me later. When we have moretime.”

He stilled. “Are youmine?”

“I’ve always been yours,” I statedsoftly.

He rested his forehead on my belly and muttered something like “About fuckingtime.”

Grant helped me sit up and I glanced around, mortified at the broken glass and the scattering of buttons on the floor. I didn’t even hear the glass fall. “Oh, no, we need to cleanup.”

“Colette will take care ofit.”

“We can’t let her see thismess!”

Grant looked at me with amusement. “I pay my people to bediscreet.”

“I won’t be able to look her in theeyes.”

His finger went under my chin, and tilted it up so I was looking at him. “Blaire, we’re going to be making love in every corner of this penthouse. We’re bound to leave evidence of our fucking behind. Might as well get used toit.”

“But—”

“Now, I don’t want Donovan to see my woman half-naked. Go get changed and I’ll call himup.”

He pulled me off the counter and slapped my assplayfully.

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