Page 53 of Lethal Legacy

Lucia shifts on the mattress and moans softly, pushing her ass against my hand, clearly wanting more. My cock jerks again.

“There’s a journalist in there with them. I wouldn’t have known who he was, but Abby recognized him. Apparently he’s photographed her a bunch of times. She says he’s a real creep, a freelancer who sells to the tabloids.”

“So he’s probably stuck to that footballer she’s dating.” My fingers stroke closer to Lucia’s creamy opening. “I don’t see why this is so important that you had to—”

“He’s been asking questions about Lucia, Roman.”

My hand stills. Dimitry suddenly has my full attention.

“Speak,” I snap.

“Apparently this guy has been lurking outside the café for a few weeks now. Abby thought he was waiting for her, but then he asked one of the kitchen boys what happened to the ‘other waitress.’ Abby thinks it might be Lucia the guy was snapping, not her. She didn’t want to scare Lucia by saying anything.”

Something fierce rips through my chest, sending a lightning bolt of anger into the pit of my gut. I stand up and carry the phone into the bathroom, out of earshot.

“And he’s in Pillars now?”

“Yup.”

“Don’t move. And make sure he doesn’t leave. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” I’m already stepping into the shower by the time I end the call. I turn the water on ice-cold to make my throbbing cock subside, already regretting the interruption to what was about to be a magnificent act two.

It’s probably for the best. I don’t want Lucia getting too comfortable in my bed. That isn’t part of our arrangement, after all.

My resolve almost weakens when I walk back into the room to find her propped up on an elbow, one rosy nipple poking through the curtain of soft curls falling over her shoulder, staring at me with wide topaz eyes and lips still swollen from my mouth. The way her eyes go smoky when I look at her doesn’t do anything to make the decision easier.

Frustrated, and more than a little pissed off that my one night alone with Lucia has just been rudely interrupted, I turn my back on her. “I have to work. And you need to go back to your own apartment. Get some sleep. You have an early start tomorrow.”

When she doesn’t answer, I turn to find her chewing that full lower lip and frowning. The fact that she’s still naked is really getting to me. “What?” I snap.

“I just...” Her voice trails off, and she drops her eyes. “Never mind,” she mutters, reaching for her dress.

I feel like an asshole. And I don’t have time for any of this.

“What?” I ask again as I pull on my shirt, eyeing her downturned eyes. “I warned you there was no emotional entanglement, Lucia.”

“I know that.” Her quiet dignity makes me feel even worse. “I just—if it wasn’t good, then you need to tell me what to do, so I make you happy next time.”

I’m momentarily stunned into silence.

She’s worried she wasn’t good enough?

I could almost laugh, except that it’s not remotely funny. I’m still slightly shaken by the intensity of being inside her.

There isn’t any comparison between sex with Lucia and... well, anything else, ever. It’s like comparing flying to space with taking the bus.

But there’s no way in hell I’m saying that to her. And again, there’s no time.

“I don’t give out scorecards, Lucia. And I don’t have time for this.” I nod at the elevator. “I’ll see you back to your apartment.”

She dresses without any further comment, but she doesn’t look at me, even when we’re standing in the elevator. Her hair is still down, the scarlet dress only loosely wrapped around her naked body, underwear balled up in her hand. I stand opposite her with my back to the wall. The knowledge that she’s only feet away, still wet and swollen from my cock, is a temptation that’s taking every ounce of control to deny myself.

The elevator stops at her floor, and she exits first. I walk at a safe distance behind her, trying not to stare at her ass, and wait while she opens her door. “Did you reset the code?”

She nods, still not looking at me.

“Don’t share that code with anyone.” She frowns, looks like she’s about to speak, but I cut her off. “I have security posted on this floor, so if you hear movement, that’s who it will be. Luis will pick you up in the morning. He’ll send the doorman up to your apartment to collect you. Don’t leave the apartment tonight, and don’t open the door for anyone other than the doorman or me, do you understand?”

Her frown deepens. “I didn’t realize I would be your prisoner.”

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