Page 100 of Cruel Games

Her lashes fluttered to half-mast as she eyed my lips with interest. “What if I tell you you’re not allowed to care about me? You’re bound to follow my orders by your own promise.”

“Don’t.”

I didn’t want to have to disobey her, but I couldn’t stop myself from caring for the only woman who’d ever seen me as whole.

Her lips parted, and I took my chance, leaning in to press my mouth against hers in a desperate plea. She froze, likely surprised by my sudden advance, but it only took a second or two for her hands to move up and thread themselves in my hair, tugging us closer as she took over the kiss.

She was demanding, her lips eager and hungry as they devoured mine, like soft clouds against my skin as she worked her way to the edge of my mouth, her teeth nipping at my jaw playfully. Breath rushed from me in a shocked gasp, and I felt myself grow hard as I fell back on my ass and she climbed over me. Our limbs intertwined as she arranged herself in my lap, hands following the lines of the harness, her nose running along the length of my throat. The moan she made in my ear when I grabbed her waist melted me, and I groaned in return, a growl starting deep in my chest as our lips met again, and I tasted Nirvana.

Hell and damnation, she tasted like the sweetest berry on the late blooming bushes of fall. She was delectable, everything about her driving a hunger inside me I wasn’t accustomed to. I wanted all of her, wanted so much more than this stolen kiss in a quiet hallway, inches away from a raging party where she’d just been showing us off like her pets.

But my brain wasn’t thinking rationally right now.

We pulled apart after what felt like ages but could have only been minutes. Voices grew closer, and with a jolt, she stood up, adjusting her top and hair to make sure they showed no indication she’d been in the throes of passion moments ago. Her eyes scrutinized me, a blush working its way up her chest as she looked away.

“I think I’m ready to go home,” she murmured, her voice quiet. “Go find the others for me and meet me at the stairs.”

I nodded and rushed off to do her bidding, ever the dutiful dog. I didn’t question her sudden change in attitude, nor did I stop to ask why she’d send me alone after them, when she’d been so adamant about keeping us close tonight.

The thought that she might have ulterior motives never even crossed my mind.

THIRTY-EIGHT

IVY

As soon asCoyote was out of sight, I snuck further down the hallway, heading straight for St. Clair’s office. I knew she kept the hard copies of records there, and with Coyote and the others hopefully waiting for me at the staircase, I had ample time to get in, get what I needed, and get the fuck back out before someone caught me.

All I had to do was get there.

I was so close. If I could find out why they wanted my father dead, maybe I could figure out thewhoof it. Which one of his so-called friends wanted to end his life so they could take what didn’t belong to them?

I refused to believe there was any valid reason outside of that. Why would anyone want him dead? He’d done nothing wrong.

With St. Clair occupied with her ex and the party she was hosting, I breathed a sigh of relief when I found her door unlocked.

How stupid of her. Leaving her room open to access from anyone who wanted in. I didn’t even need my lockpicking skills.

Disappointing.

I was in the room in seconds, the door closing silently behind me. Time was short, so I used what I’d learned from my previous visits here to navigate the darkness, hesitant to turn on a light that might give me away.

My fingers followed the wall until I reached the place she’d designated as her “office,” finding thatthisdoor, at least, was locked. I should have known a woman like Lilly St. Clair would lock away her most important secrets. She assumed no one would dare to venture into her lair uninvited. And should they be so bold, they wouldn’t reach what they were after without some solid effort.

But I’d anticipated the troubles. I was expecting resistance.

She wouldn’t keep me out. Not that easily.

I slipped the lock pick from my sleeve and got to work, crouched in front of her office door like a true burglar,only what I was after wasn’t valuable to anyone but myself. What I wanted, what I sought, was only going to hurt three very specific people—and they waited unknowingly for me at the stairs.

As the lock clicked into place, my mind wandered. Would they come looking for me if I didn’t turn up soon? Would they suspect something was up? Would they even care?

Why did I care if they noticed my absence?

I shouldn’t.

I really, really shouldn’t.

But a part of me did. She defied all logic, all common sense, all manner of sense I should possess, and cared what the men who ruined her life thought about her little, insecure self.

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