Page 52 of Trick's Trap

“It’s six o’clock.”

“Oh. I guess I lost track of time. I’ve been teaching Peyton how to play poker, up until she had to leave for class. She’s pretty good.”

“She would be.” He smirked. “I’d have taught her long ago if she’d asked. But she was always busy with Maggie or school. She’s close to getting her degree in computer science, too. Not that she needs it.”

The pensive tension around her chin relaxed. “Yes, she told me. Although, I’m wondering why she is doing it all at a no-name night school. She’s smart and driven. She’d do well in at Harvard or MIT.”

“I agree, but up until recently, her finances had a massive drain in the form of her butthead father. It’s a long story, one I’m sure she’ll tell you soon enough. You two have grown very close…”

“She’s fun. Between her and Maia—it’s like having real friends.”

“They are your real friends.”

She blushed. “I—yes. Yes, they are.” The bright happy expression didn’t last. She lapsed into silence, staring off into the distance.

“Are you okay?”

Her head jerked up. “I hope so.”

He frowned as the elevator dinged, opening on the penthouse floor. “What’s going on?”

It had been weeks since the warrant was issued for Tahlia’s arrest, but they were using every legal resource at their disposal to get it rescinded.

Their lawyers were cautiously optimistic. The Boston police department declined to serve the warrant until some of the discrepancies in the case were resolved. Thanks to Ethan, the flight plan listing Tahlia as a passenger helped invalidate the timeline her family was trying to establish. But he was still working on getting actual crime-scene photos.

“Ethan called. He heard from the cops in Florida. They’ve decided to cancel the warrant.”

“Well, that’s great news!” Why was she upset? This was cause to celebrate.

Tahlia rubbed her arms, stopping outside of her suite door. “It’s good news.”

“But?”

“But you don’t know my family. This won’t be the end of it. I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

She began to open the door to the suite when he stopped her. “Tahlia, no matter what they throw at us, we’ll handle it.”

He paused, his hand on the door. As sumptuous as the suite on the other side was, it didn’t make up for not being able to go outside. “I know it doesn’t help you’ve been stuck in the hotel this entire time.”

They tried to make up for that. Maia and some of Tahlia’s classmates from the math department came for dinner once a week. They joined his siblings for meals every other night. Tahlia was also hard at work revising her dissertation, so she kept busy.

She cuddled against him before going inside. Her hands swept up to encompass the room. “As prisons go, this place is freaking awesome. I’m lucky. There are some nice people working here. Some hot ones, too.”

She moved her hand to cup his ass cheek.

Trick didn’t need any more encouragement. He had her naked and underneath him in her bed less than a minute later.

Guilt flared as he noticed the fingerprint-shaped bruises on Tahlia’s hips and thighs.Crap.

Ever since he’d learned the details of her father’s death, he’d gone off the deep end. But he couldn’t seem to help himself. A relentless hunger overwhelmed him every time he touched her.

And I used to think I was so civilized. Now I’m little more than an animal.

Trick knew he had to calm the fuck down. He was leaving marks on her for the love of God. But this resolve flew out the window whenever he lay his hands on her.

Thankfully, Tahlia was stronger and putting on weight. She was no longer the gaunt figure she’d been when she first her arrived. Her golden curves were fuller, the creamy glowing skin an unholy temptation.

“Patrick.” Tahlia gasped as he flipped her over, pulling her onto her hands and knees. He slipped on protection, taking hold of his cock and rubbing it between her creamy cheeks before working the rigid staff into her tight sheath.

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