Page 21 of Lie to Me

She gives me a blissful smile. “So good.”

I shift backwards and pull out of her. It’s only then that I realize we didn’t use a condom.

“Fuck,” I curse, and she gives me a questioning look. “We didn’t use protection.”

She stares at me for a beat before her lips tip up. “I’m on the pill and I’m clean.”

“I’m clean, too, but fuck, I’m sorry, baby.”

She shakes her head. “We’re good. Don’t worry,” she says softly, and I let out a breath of relief.

I take a second to look at her. Her freshly fucked hair is a wild, matted mess, her eyes are wide and glistening, her toned body is lax as she lays in my bed. She’s so relaxed, completely at ease here in my space. A flitting image of us both sharing a space like this in the future comes to mind and I honestly want nothing more.

“You’re fucking perfect, Sloane.”

Her dazed smile has my heart stuttering in my chest. “You’re pretty amazing, too, Romano.” Her smile falls as she checks the time of the clock on the nightstand before her eyes meet mine. “I need to go before my father realizes I’m gone,” she says, and I let out a ragged breath.

All this sneaking around is killing me, but I’d die one hundred times over just for one night with her.

I stagger off the bed and grab a wet cloth before gently cleaning her up. Sloane—the stubborn spitfire that she is—tries to wave me off, but my stern glare has her quieting down. I help her get dressed before throwing on a pair of sweats and guiding her through the apartment.

“I fucking hate that I can’t drive you home myself,” I grunt as we reach the elevator. She stops and turns to me, framing my face with her hands.

“I know. I hate that I can’t stay, but we’re already risking too much. It would be stupid of us to take any more. I promise I’ll be fine, and I’ll let you know as soon as I get home.”

I nod reluctantly before pulling her into my chest and burying my face in her hair.

“Happy birthday, baby.”

She pulls back and stares up at me, her eyes shining. She opens her mouth, ready to say something, but the unexpected ding of the elevator has me shoving her behind me and reaching for the gun on the side table. The doors open, only for my little brother to be greeted by the barrel of my gun. My twelve-year-old brother doesn’t even flinch as he spots it. I lower it immediately and raise a brow before looking behind him.

“Why are you here? And why the hell are you alone?”

The little shit shouldn’t just be wandering the city on his own.

He rolls his eyes at me before muttering, “Relax,Dad.My guard is downstairs in the lobby. I escaped the house because Beatrice was forcing me to learn how to make alfredo and Dad is out of the city on a trip. I was bored, okay?”

I shake my head with a sigh before Sloane’s hand clutches the waistband of my sweats, reminding me she’s still here.

“Enzo, go wait in the kitchen,” I order before turning to Sloane, not sparing him another glance.

Sloane’s worried eyes flick between me and my brother before they finally settle on mine.

“Don’t worry about him, okay? Let me know as soon as you get home,” I say and place a kiss to her forehead, wrapping my arms around her shoulders.

“Thank you for tonight,” I murmur against her head. I press my lips to hers in a quick kiss before giving her a nod and stepping back.

“Will it be an issue?” she asks, flitting her gaze towards the kitchen where my brother not so subtly watches us, like we’re a fascinating TV show.

I shake my head wordlessly and she nods in response before stepping into the elevator. I don’t take my eyes off of her until the door closes and it descends. It’s only then that I spin around and face my brother.

“You’ll never speak a word of what you just saw, okay? Not to me. Not to anyone.”

Enzo smirks. “Sure thing, big bro.”

Little shit.

Chapter Ten