Page 54 of Queen Of Dark Money

“Oh, hey, busy morning?”Iasked nonchalantly, leaning back over the arm of the chair. “Ijust got up.Thoughtyou were still in bed.”

Hepractically fell into the nearby seat; his whole body looked like it’d seen better days. “Haven’tslept yet,” he growled, his eyes drifting shut as he spoke. “Busynight.”

Somethingin the way his whole body sagged when he said that made me think it wasn’t the first time he’d worked himself into a tizzy like this.Asmall part of me remembered what it was like to work two full-time jobs, one of them overnight, and felt sorry for the sheer exhaustion he must be going through right now.

Iwanted to make it easier on him, and he was my fucking enemy.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

KENZIE

Whatthe fuck is wrong with me?

Icouldn’t be falling into the same old ways of my past.Aman who was willing to hold a woman against her will for his bosses to use as collateral for their criminal empire didn’t deserve sympathy.

Atleast, not in my opinion.

Sowhy couldn’tIshake the feeling of sadness that washed over me asIwatched him struggle to stay awake and present?

“Sleepis important, even for a guy like you, you know,”Isaid instead, hating how it came off too caring, even to my ears.Ididn’t want him to get the wrong idea.

“Yeah, yeah,I’llsleep whenI’mdead,” he mumbled, throwing an arm over his eyes. “Fuck,I’mbeat.”

Inseconds, he was snoring, his head lolling on the back of the couch.Theposition had to be uncomfortable.Butat least, with him asleep,Icould return to trying to break into his room for a cellphone charger, and–

Wait.

Wait.

Islipped the purse from my shirt, left it in the seat, minus the pinsI’dstuck back in my hair, in the hopesI’dget to use themlater, and slowly crept over to his side, debating the ease with whichIcould pick his pocket and lift his phone.

Andthen,Iwondered if a criminal who thought he was invincible would put a lock on his phone.

Ihad my hand in his pocket, fingers closing around the phone, when his hand darted out and grabbed my wrist, closing around it with a vice grip that left me in pain.Icouldn’t move, couldn’t withdraw my hand, couldn’t even move–he was as unmoving as a boulder.Evenin this sleep-deprived state, he was a force to be reckoned with.

Hepopped one eyeball open, glaring daggers at me. “Ilet my guard down for one minute, and already you’re trying to pickpocket me, huh?Well, princess,Ididn’t take you for a thief, butIguess that’s whatIget for assuming you’re as sweet on the inside as you are on the outside.”

Thistime,Iwasn’t expecting the move from him.Ididn’t plan for him to turn the tables on me.Whenhe leaned in and captured my lips with his, allIcould do was melt into him as he melded our mouths together and moaned against me, his free hand snaking around my waist with intent.

Ifell into his lap without a fight, both pleased and surprised with this new development.Hewasn’t exactly whatI’dexpected, in any measure, soIstopped trying to outmaneuver him and just went with it.

Hislips tasted like cheap booze, harsh and bitter, lingering like the scent of a lover after an affair.Ilet my tongue trail along the crease of his lips, savoring the burn secondhand–the only wayI’dlikely get it.Thisman was intoxicating, and as much asIdidn’t want to want him, his allure was palpable.Heavy.Ever-present.

Icould no more deny that he affected me thanIcould pretend not to be a woman.Anyonewith eyes could see what was right in front of them.Iwas a fool ifIthoughtIcould ignore it.

“River,”Iwhispered against his lips, squirming on his lap. “I–”

Onceagain,Ifound myself on the floor on my ass, empty-handed and sore.Iswore under my breath, rubbing my ass with a frown. “Youknow, if you’re gonna turn a woman down, the least you could do is stop throwing her on the floor with such force.”

Hechuckled lightly, shifting in his seat so he could relax into the cushions. “Youlook good down there on the floor, all offended and shit.”

Istuck out my tongue. “Youcan’t even see me from up there with your eyes closed.”

“Ican see more than you think.AndI’mnot asleep.”

Myarms rose, almost of their own mind, andIfelt myself adopting whatMaused to call myfighting pose.Itook it with her wheneverIfelt like arguing the injustice of her newest rules.

“Couldafooled me, what with the snoring and all–”

---