Page 97 of Knights Game

Katy frowns. “And before, Luca, he had been so, I don’t know present, different, and I thought maybe it could work, and he paid off my care home debt. And why would he do that if he didn’t care, you know? Then with his behaviour, and the caring side of him, and he took me to a club, and he was watching her. And…I got jealous. Oh God.”

“What? I can barely follow.”

“But he just kept watching her when we were-”

“Layla, please slow down.” She leans back and shakes her head. “I’m really not following.”

“Am I overreacting? He took me there to push me out of my comfort zone, and he watched her, but isn’t that the same as me watching the sex scene with that guy who got a blow job at the club.” I rub my eyes and look at Katy, rambling on and on, desperate to try and get the incoherent thoughts out. “Have I just screwed it all up?”

“Blow job? Club? What?” Her frown deepens. “Who was he watching?”

“Isla. That girl from the table,” I explain. “Have I messed it up?”

“Babe, no, you haven’t fucked up. Just take a breath.” Her eyes meet mine and she takes a big deep breath and takes my hands in hers. “Get into bed, I’m going to go and make us some tea. Then, you are going toslowlyexplain to me what’s happened. And not leave anything out.”

Carefully climbing into bed, I close my eyes. A few minutes later, Katy appears, balancing two mugs of hot tea. Placing one on my bedside table, then walking around to the opposite side of the bed and placing hers down.

She climbs in, snuggling down under the duvet before reaching for her tea.

“Start at the top.”

So, I tell her about Levi, I tell her about how I told Luca, and the deal he made me, I tell her that he paid off my debt, and I tell her what happened at the sex club, in full detail…including the pegging.

“Why was he watching her? Does he like her?”

“No,” Roman answers, leaning against the door. I’ve no idea how long he has been standing there, listening. “There is nothing between him and Isla.”

“Have I fucked up?” I ask him, and I see something other than the blank annoyed look I get when I normally meet Rome’s hazel gaze.

“No. He fucked up.” He pauses, staring at Katy, then kicks off the door frame. “I’m going to bed.”

“Sweet dreams,” she replies, rolling her eyes. He stares at Katy like he wants to murder her and devour her in equal measures. She waves him away and then turns her focus back to me, but I can’t help but watch how Roman reacts.

His eyes darken, his nostrils flare as he takes a deep breath and mutters something incoherent before storming off. Note to self, give Katy the Spanish inquisition.

“You said he paid off your debt…All of it?”

I rub my forehead and focus back on my friend. “All of it.” I puff out a breath and move, wincing at the pain as I shift on the bed trying to find a comfortable position. “Fuck.”

“Jesus. Give me a moment here, I’m processing.” Her mouth hangs open. “I know you said there was more to tell me but fuck a duck. You looked happy this evening—you looked like a real couple.”

“We aren’t a couple though, are we?” I blow on my tea, “This is all a façade, a deal to keep everyone safe. Tonight was an act that went horrendously wrong.”

“So, if it’s all an act, why are you so upset by what he did?”

I sip my tea, “Because…”

“You like him, and you feel like he betrayed you.” She nods at her own assumption.

“If you already know the answer, why ask the question?” I place the tea back on my side table, the thing too nuclear to drink.

She shrugs and copies my movement. “Because sometimes you’re a closed book, and I get things wrong. But I’m not wrong?”

“Not this time. I know it’s all a ruse, and he can be a psychopath, but he can also be attentive and caring, and my God that man is a demon in the bedroom.”

“But he can also hurt you, Layla. Don’t think I’ve not noticed your neck.” She nods at the fading marks which I touch with my fingertips.

“I love him choking me,” I reply quietly, dropping my hands heavily onto the white material of my duvet. “How fucked up is that? I enjoy him dominating me, I enjoy how he makes me feel. I think that’s why he took me tonight, to push my boundaries. But, I dunno, something about her and him…”

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