Page 64 of Lethal Game

He came back into view only a few seconds later with a wet cloth. “No, I’m saying I would have preferred to wear a condom.”

“Why would you want to do that when it reduces sensation for you?”

He wiped his semen off her skin then he cleaned himself. “Because it’ssafer.” The last word was little more than an angry growl.

He wanted a physical barrier between them. A barrier that probably made it easier for him to emotionally distance himself from the woman he was with.

Which was exactly what she had wanted, and what she promised him, no-fuss sex. She had always been good at compartmentalizing her emotions and keeping people at bay, but Con had gotten inside. She didn’t know what to do about that.

“I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,” she said, her face oddly stiff. She could barely move her mouth.

He glared at her. “What did I say about apologies?”

“But you’re upset and Iamsorry.” How could she possibly know what to say when he changed his mind about what was acceptable or not whenever he felt like it?

He held up a finger. “Just stop talking and go back to sleep.” He stomped off into the bathroom.

Sophia pulled her panties and sleep pants up then grabbed her sleep shirt off the floor and put it on.

Her cot was pushed against the far wall. She was pulling the blankets back when he came out of the bathroom. He scowled. “What are you doing?”

She scowled right back, “Going to sleep, as ordered.”

“Nope,” he said after a moment of complete stillness. “Not there.” He motioned with his hand for her to lie down on his bed.

“No more growling at me?”

He sighed and shook his head.

She still wasn’t sure. “You need to work on your communication skills. Next time, tell me all the things I shouldn’t dobeforeI have my hands on your cock.”

He stared at her like he didn’t understand English for a moment, then wiped his face with one hand. “Yeah, I was a moron.”

She waited for him to go on, but he just gestured for her to lie down again.

She got into his bed and he spooned up behind her. If he asked her to take off her shirt, she was going to tell him to fuck off.

He didn’t ask.

***

Smoke, acrid enoughto make her eyes water, woke Sophia. For a moment she was disoriented and unsure of where she was. Something was on fire, but there was no alarm blaring.

A moment after that thought, the alarm began its toll, an ear-splitting sound loud enough to hurt. She turned to wake Con, but he wasn’t in bed with her.

She jumped out of bed to turn on the light, but nothing happened when she flipped the switch. Damn it.

She made her way back to the bed and her pile of stuff just in front of it and fumbled around for a couple of seconds for the tiny flashlight she had in her uniform pants. Flicking it on, she quickly got dressed and was tying her combat boots when the door to the room opened. Someone slipped inside silently and closed the door.

She froze. Waiting.

“Sophia?” Con’s voice.

Something terrified and wound tight inside her relaxed a little. “Yes, I’m here. I’m dressed. How big is the fire?”

“Not too big. It’s at the front of the building, so we’re going to have to leave via one of the side doors.”

She stood. “I’m ready. Are you dressed?”

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