Page 42 of Knights Game

“I don’t know what you mean.” He takes the bottle out of my hand before walking to the seats, joining the girls, who look like they are long-lost friends.

Roman is lingering and I nod once to him.

Bloody Levi.

“So how do you know my cousin?” Levi asks Layla who shimmies to the right along the seat to make room for me. He’s checking stories, and I silently plead with her to read the atmosphere. She glances at me, and our eyes meet.

“I don’t.” She shrugs. “We met tonight, I’m here with some friends.” She tucks a loose curl behind her ear, and I watch the move mesmerised at how beautiful she looks tonight.

Her black dress is pulled in at all the right spots, accentuating her curves, her tits out of this world in her mesh top.

Fuck me.

I need to stop staring.

I’m showing way too much here. So, what do I do? I place my palm lightly on her thigh and squeeze gently.

“To new friends,” Levi says, peering over his glass.

Stupid. Fucking. Slip up.

I cannot show that Layla is my weakness.

Is she though?

Do I fucking care?

She’s a loose end, I have just been imagining slitting her throat, why do I care what Levi thinks he has seen?

“To new friends,” we all say, but Layla is hesitant. She necks the shot like a trooper and stands.

“Nice to meet you all, but I really should go find my friend.”

Rome said she had good senses. She isn’t stupid. She’s far from it.

“Ah, so soon.” Levi says, pretending to care. “I’d have enjoyed talking to you more. It’s so nice to meet you.”

“Yes, lovely talking to you, Layla.” Duchess stands and gives her another kiss on each cheek.

She goes to step over me, desperate to escape, but catches her boot on my foot and starts to fall. I catch her by the arm and only her clutch lands on the floor, the clasp popping open. Spilling the contents on the floor.

“Oh, my God,” she says, blushing.

Roman sweeps in quickly, saving her from further embarrassment, as I pull her back to standing.

“Okay?” I ask, pulling her into me more than I intended. Feeling her warmth, breathing in her coconut scent. I don’t want to let her go.Mine.

“It’s these stupid shoes, I told Katy I couldn’t walk in heels.”

Duchess laughs.

“Roman, it’s okay, I’ve got it,” she says.

And there’s her mistake.

If I’d just met her, how would she know Roman? Levi desperately tries to peer round Roman who has positioned himself to block the contents from the view of Levi and Duchess.

Roman stuffs Layla’s belongings back in quickly and hands the clutch back to her.

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