Page 8 of Light Me Up

“Stefano Morelli seemed to know a whole hell of a lot about you from the background check,” he said.

“Yes, but that’s not relevant to Obsidian. It wouldn’t send up any red flags for them. I’m just some random woman who got into trouble and then got out of it. I could go to the ceremony on my own,and you could—”

“No,” he cut in, his voice harsh. “No fucking way.”

“OK, so come with me, but stay out of the main room where the cross is being displayed,” she suggested, warming to her idea. “Avoid the cameras as much as you can. You don’t have to be physically stuck to me to be—”

“Who thefuckdo you think you’redealing with?”

She rocked backwards against the couch cushions where she sat, knocking a few of them to the floor. Eyes big and shocked.

Long seconds of charged silence followed.

Caro was the first to find words again. “OK,” she said, her voice tight. “Let’s talk about this when you’ve cooled down.”

Noah’s phone vibrated on the table. He suppressed the urge to fling it down at the floor tiles just to make it shut the fuck up.

It was a text from Asa.did utalk to Stefano

He texted back.wtf? u trying to paint abullseye on us?

Asa came back swiftly.dont b such a gdmned chickenshit

fuck u man u rnt the 1 who has 2 keep her safe, he responded.

Asa’s reply was philosophical.grow a pair. uonly live once

4 how longwith u around?

unless u fuck it up, bro—4ever. love 2 caro. enjoy the party,Asa shot back.

Mouthy bastard. Noah dropped the phone on the table again likeit burned him.

“Noah,” Caro began. “I think you’reoverreacting—”

“Nope. Not at all. If he was here,I’d punch him.”

Caro was silent for a moment, tightlipped. Then she rose from the couch, tugging the bodice of the dress higher over her breasts. “He’s already lying in a hospital bed,” she said, as she headed toward the bedroom. “You’re too late.”

Her bare back was turned to him, elegantly straight. Her long mop of ringlets swung and bounced with every step. He followed her with his eyes through the door and from there right on into the bathroom. The light in there flicked on.

The silence was deafening. He followed her into the bedroom, pausing for a moment. She hadn’t shut the bathroom door yet. A bar of light sliced outinto the room.

This shit was unacceptable. He couldn’t take another second of it.

Noah pulled off his shirt, tossed it onto a chair, and pushed on the bathroom door until it swung open. Caro stood in front of the big marble sink, reflected in the mirror. He tried to keep his eyes from dropping down to ogle her curves. She was toopissed at him.

“Sorry,” he said roughly.

She tilted her chin up and gave him a long, appraising glance without turning around. The open challenge in her eyes made him throb with sexual readiness.

She knew her power over him. Weird, but fuck it. He knew when he was owned.

“You’re planning to revisit this conversation after I get some of what I gave, right?” He knew that would get her attention. For all the wrong reasons. So be it.

“Get some of what I…oh. You mean making you come?” Fresh anger narrowed her eyes. “Like I owe you something? Or use sexto manage you?”

“No to both,” he said. “I’m just saying—nothing. Never mind.”

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