Page 32 of Little Horrors & Deceptions

She was mine.

Mine mine mine.

Her nails dug into my shoulders as she met my thrusts with equal hunger.

The sound of our hips smacking together echoed in the small space, mingling with gasps and moans that filled the closet like a symphony of desire. The air was thick with sweat and the sweet scent of blood from where we’d knocked over the bottle earlier.

I could feel her walls tightening around me, signaling her release. She was close. I increased my pace, wanting nothing more than to see her unravel for me.

Her breaths were short and ragged as she cried out my name, her back arching off the shelf as she reached her peak. It was enough to send me over the edge, my own release crashing through me in waves of ecstasy. The closet seemed to spin around us as we struggled to catch our breaths, our bodies still connected in a tangle of limbs and sweaty skin. I pressed kisses into her hair, still buried inside her as we rode out the aftershocks of our passion. It was a moment of pure bliss.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally pulled apart and got dressed. My shirt was ruined and left open. We shared a lingering kiss before making our way out of the closet, and Derek was standing in the middle of the room.

“Uhh, you got some blood… well, everywhere,” he said, and then I looked down and noticed our clothes were covered in it.

“Yeah, we were practicing for, uh, the next Fright Night.”

“Yeah, looks like you got somegoodpractice in.” I cleared my throat as Jade giggled behind me.

Fucking bastard.

Chapter 19

Olivia Bennett

Istared at my reflection in the mirror, tucking my gun into my holster. My oversized shirt concealed it perfectly. The past week had been a whirlwind of stolen glances and heated encounters with Liam. His green eyes and devilish smirk consumed all my thoughts.

Focus, Oli.I shook my head, trying to clear it. Tonight was about my real job, not Liam's cock, though the thought of it was—damn it. No.

There was an event happening at Dead Man’s tonight, and it was my chance to finally gather some more intel. Sneaking in on my day off had felt risky, but I was sure it would be busy enough that I should be able to get in and out without being seen. I took a deep breath and readied to leave, locking the apartment behind me.

As I drove to Dead Man’s Mansion, memories of Liam's touch flooded my mind. His strong hands on my waist. His lips trailingdown my neck.No. Stop it.Parking a block away, I approached on foot. The back entrance loomed before me.

This was it. No turning back now.

I reached for the door and slipped through, my senses on high alert. The silence hit me like a physical force. No chatter, no music, no signs of life. Just eerie stillness. I padded softly as I crept down the hallway. Where was everyone? The grand ballroom stood empty, not a single guest in sight.

A chill ran down my spine. Something felt off.

I made my way upstairs, my hand hovering near my concealed weapon. Liam's office door came into view, locked tight.

“Of course,” I muttered, fishing out my lockpick set.

As I worked the lock, Liam's face flashed in my mind. Guilt twisted in my chest—he deserved better than this after everything he’d been through, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to do this, even if it meant betraying the one person, other than Johnathan, who had becomesomethingto me. Something so much more than just a friend. I pushed the thoughts away, focusing on the task at hand. I didn’t want to think about that stupid four-letter word.

Click. The door swung open.

I slipped inside, closing it silently behind me. My eyes scanned the room, searching for anything out of place. I quickly made my way to the computer. I settled into Liam's chair, the leather still holding a trace of his cologne. My fingers flew across the keyboard, inputting the password I'd seen him use countless times since I’d been here.

“Please work,” I whispered. The screen flickered to life. I was in. A mix of triumph and dread washed over me. What secrets would I uncover? And how would they change everything I thought I knew about Liam? Would it change how I felt for him? I navigated to the bookings section, my eyes widening as I saw the Croix reservation for tonight. The amount was staggering.

“Holy shit,” I breathed.

Curiosity gnawed at me. I scrolled through previous months and noticed a pattern emerging. Every month, like clockwork, the Croixes booked Dead Man’s Mansion for an obscene sum. And on those days, the place had been a ghost town. I checked the calendar again and it lined up. No one had been scheduled on those days. Including today. This event was a cover.

My stomach churned. What was Liam up to? I searched frantically for contracts but came up empty-handed. I was missing something. My gaze swept the room, landing on a painting. Something about it seemed… wrong. I approached, noticing it wasn’t flush with the wall.

Heart racing, I carefully removed it and a safe stared back at me.

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