Page 25 of Memphis

I leaned forward, fixing my eyes on the coffee table. “That’s not the only reason I’m with him. You remember how we talked about men like Ray and how they’re addictive? You asked me about my Ray. This is him.”

“Ohhhhh!” She was so loud with that one word that Blaze glared up at us…with her little mean self. Dropping her voice, Lilith added, “But didn’t you say he wasn’t kind to you? He’s not hurting you, is he?”

“You think I’d let him?”

“Right, that was a stupid question.”

“Uh-huh. Look, it’s complicated.Reallycomplicated, but it’s whatever. I’m fine. He thinks he loves me.”

“And you love him,” she stated. It wasn’t a question but more of a revelation.

I couldn’t respond.

“Get dressed.We’re going to dinner, so put on something nice.” Bo’s voice entered the living room before he did, booming in that way that always made me tingle down below.

I hated that feeling.

“What? You fired the chef whose name I’m not allowed to know?” I said without bothering to look up from my phone.

He’d entered the room and was standing over me now. “Call him Chef, like I already told you to. My name is the only one I wanna here you say in this house.”

I shifted on the sofa, looking up at him. Same old evil ass, handsome ass Bo. Glasses in place, beard and hair neat. I involuntarily smiled. “Fresh cut?”

He moved, squatting in front of me, his hand on my knee. “Can’t walk around looking crusty with you on my arm now, can I?”

I rolled my eyes.

He grinned, rubbing his beard. “And, I had to get your seat right.”

Skipping over that statement, I asked, “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. Hurry. We’re gonna be late,” he ordered before standing and leaving the room.

This woman looked so fuckinggood; I wasn’t sure what the fuck to do with myself. It was one thing to spend time with the love of my life, but to see her in this black dress that looked like it was made just for her body? That red lipstick? That fucking perfume? I was about to pull my car over and eat every morsel of her pussy.

Shit!

“You look good, King. Maybe a littletoogood. Got me wanting to lock you up and throw away the key,” I said, reaching over to lay a hand on her thigh.

She swatted it away. “You’re already holding me hostage, remember?”

“Yeah, but I think you kinda like it. I know you like how I make you feel, huh?”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see, beautiful.”

She mumbled something I couldn’t make out, and I smiled. She hated being in the dark about things as much as I did. Side effects of the job.

When we arrived at our destination, she shifted her body, facing me with a frown. “Why are we at The Greenwood? Damn, why is the parking lot full?”

“It’s a birthday party. Let me open your door for you, baby.”

“Don’t start thatbabyshit,” she fussed. “And who the hell would invite your evil ass to a birthday party?”

“I have friends, King. People like me.”

“Impossible.”

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