Page 47 of Knights Game

“Levi, he didn’t make you feel uncomfortable?”

Extremely. I want to scream and cry and curl up into the foetal position.

“God, no!” I say quickly, my hand on his arm in what I hope is reassurance. “He was just telling me all your secrets.”

“Oh, really.” He leans closer, and my body reacts mirroring his. “I’m going to have to have a word with my cousin.” He looks down at my lips, and I run my tongue along the seam and change my position so that my cleavage is more on show.

“I’m sure you have plenty of secrets, don’t you, Layla Johnson.”

“Every girl has to have secrets,” I whisper, the room disappearing around us.

Our faces are mere inches apart. I’m not sure who closes the distance, but my hand rests on his knee as our lips meet.

He wraps his hand around my neck, gently holding me to his mouth as he runs his tongue along my lips, requesting permission.

And I give him entry, opening to him. Heat floods between my legs in response to the kiss, my body coming alive. He tastes like nicotine and bad decisions.

I need this. Not just to protect Katy and my grandfather. But for me.

Except Luca can never find out about the deal Levi has forced me to accept.

He’ll kill me.

17

Luca

In the fucking shadows.What the fuck is Levi doing?

Layla’s lying. I’m no idiot. I can see how terrified she is. Whatever my cousin has just said, she’s positively shitting herself. Her hands are clammy, her face is flushed, and I’m not arrogant to think that it’s from our previous encounter, which it fucking should be.

Her lips feel amazing but this moment is ruined by the fact that I know she’s kissing me because she’s panicked. It’s misdirection 101.

She squirms and tries to pull away, but I hold her to me, my hand wrapping around her neck and pulling her closer.

This isn’t frenzied lust that runs through her veins, this is a terrified kitten that’s lost its hiss. I plunge my tongue into her mouth and kiss harder. Desperate to coax her back, coax her out of whatever fear is overpowering her.

I want her to feel me.

I pull back, but she’s looking down. Placing my fingers under her chin, I lift her eyes to meet mine.

“Nothing else should be in your head when my lips are on yours, beautiful.” I growl. “Whatever that cunt has just said to you, you need to tell me now.”

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head, trying to free herself.

Always fighting.

Always stubborn.

“Layla.” I grip her chin tighter, holding her head still as she desperately tries to look anywhere but at me. “No one, no one hurts you.” I rumble, my voice deathly low.

“Why?” Her eyes filling with unspilled tears and it fucking hurts, hurts me to see her in pain. “Why do you care?”

Fuck.

I’m in too deep, my obsession has crossed a line. Rome’s right.

“I don’t care,” I snarl. This is what I’m best at, cruelty.

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