Page 121 of The Protégé

“The best way to write about something is to experience it, correct?”

If only she knew what I had planned for her tomorrow.

“I want to learn from the best. I’m an outstanding student.” She tugged at the button on my pants. “You said there was something you wanted to tell me.”

“You’re now a millionaire.”

She paused, then gasped, and finally grinned as I told her about Carlos’s agreement.

Her eyes gleamed with gratitude. “I should ask how you managed that, but I won’t tonight. Right now, I just want tolove you for turning an awful situation into something incredibly wonderful.”

It was best she didn’t ask. I didn’t want to describe the violence in the convenience store. Violence and danger had to stay away from her.

“It’s best you don’t ask, Sunshine.”

She looked at me, and understanding gleamed in her eyes. I was truly the luckiest man alive to have a partner who could read me.

“I know what kind of world you dwell in, Orion.” She touched my face. “Your success demands certain things I won’t understand. This world is a cruel place, and sometimes you have to be worse so you can protect yourself.”

“How do you know me so well?

“From paying attention to everything about you. Most of all, it’s because I love you.” She palmed me, and I lost my breath. “When you love someone or something, you have this invisible connection to them.”

Then she dropped my pants and boxers. It felt strange and sexy as hell, standing naked in her house while she was fully clothed.

“If you want to be my protégé, then you must pass the test first,” I breathed.

“Okay.” She offered a sly smile. “I’ve got some ideas. You let me know how many points I get. I plan on scoring well tonight.” She dropped to her knees and loved me with her mouth, tongue, and hands.

Holy fuuuck.

I swore our lovemaking lured in the Northern Lights because I’d never seen colors and stars flickering in the kitchen like I just did.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

ELENA

Orion gaveme a long blonde wig to wear with a baseball cap. I wore jeans and a Harvard business school T-shirt. And he wore a Boston Red Sox cap and a Red Sox T-shirt with jeans as well. We both had dark sunglasses. He tossed a black backpack into the back seat and got into the driver’s side of my Land Rover.

“I understand we’re in disguise, but for what?” I asked him, buckling into my seat.

“You’re going to solve your case today.”

“My case? You need to give me some more details, Slingshot. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’ll see.”

“You know you can’t just tell me that and expect me not to ask. It’s torture.”

He smiled. “I like it when you pout. It reminds me of your sexy swollen lips from last night.” He took my hand in his. “By the way, youpassed the test with flying colors. You’re a magnificent student.”

Heat blossomed onto my face, and I looked out the window, smiling. We branded every room in my house. Theman had incredible stamina.

Orion pulled into a small street with a hair salon and a convenience store on the corner. We got out, and I glanced around, not familiar with this place. It seemed like a residential area with a couple of local shops.

He slung a backpack on his shoulder and took my hand in his. “If anyone asks, we’re college students in love, researching a project.”

We walked to the corner store parking lot, cut through the wooded section, and ended up in the backyard of someone’s house.

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