Page 116 of Volatile Obsessions

“Serious question this time, I swear.”

“Go on.”

“What are you doing tonight?”

“Well,” she sighed, “as soon as I get the fuck out of this office, I’m going straight home and plopping my ass on the couch to watch some Netflix.”

“You’re still there?” I checked the clock on my nightstand. “At this hour?”

It was almost 9.

“Yup—I’ve been deep in the legal jargon hole that is Sephora’s contract for hours now. My eyes can’t take much more, though, neither can my brain. I may tap out within the next five minutes or so.”

Lux and tap out in the same sentence brought one thing to mind. “Would you object to me inviting myself over for your Netflix night?”

“Are you trying to Netflix and Chill?” Humor dripped off her tone, but there was a provocative edge to it, too.

One I hadn’t expected.

If my dick could grin, it would’ve.

“I mean…” I trailed off, unsure of how to answer. “If the opportunity were to—”

“It won’t,” she snickered, dissolving any and all of the crude visions swimming through my mind.

It was worth a shot…

“Is that a yes, though?” I hedged.

Lux hummed exaggeratedly. “Only if you promise to be a good boy.”

Boy?

“I’m not no boy, Lux,” I reminded her, my voice deathly low. “I’m a grown ass man, but yes, I’ll behave.”

“Fine. Meet me at my place in an hour. I’ll text you the address.”

I grinned victoriously. “See you soon, kitty kat.”

Click.

* * *

Exactly one hour later,the shiny metal lift doors slid open on Lux’s floor; the penthouse.

I was in awe almost immediately at the elegantly dark foyer that greeted me.

Round in shape, the walls were adorned with an ebony damask-print wallpaper, the wainscoting wrapped around the bottom half an equally dark shade. The tiled floors were a glittering black as well, and in the very center of the room was a small Victorian-style rounded table with an obsidian gothic-inspired chandelier hung above. On the table itself sat a dozen white roses in a crystal vase, contrasting nicely against the ominous tinge around them.

And then there were the front doors—tall and dark, like the entrance to an enchanted castle with large rounded gold knockers.

Curling my hand around one, I dropped it against the hard surface beneath it twice, the sound echoing through the room around me.

“Coming!” her muffled voice called out from inside.

Twenty seconds later, the locks were coming undone, and one of the doors flew open.

Lux smiled, almost shyly, and raked a hand through her hair. “Hi.”

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