Page 80 of Lies Like Love

I can’t help but smirk. It’s cute she thinks she’s tough.

“We’ll see.”

The darkest smirk climbs her cheeks, and I’ve got to give her credit for the confidence she musters when she aims for it. “Yes, we will.”

Spinning on her heels, she starts to leave but pauses with a hand on the doorframe before disappearing. She turns her head to the side and taps her finger on her bottom lip. “Oh, almost forgot why I came in here. Myfriend’sasking for you.”

“Fel?”

“That’s the one.”

I stand up, irritated she’s wasted my time. “Where is she?”

“Don’t worry.” Echo rolls her eyes, but there’s a touch of sick amusement in her expression. “Crew’s keeping her company.”

Echo turns and leaves, knowing exactly what she just did. The little traitor isn’t sweet at all. She’s the devil.

“Damn it.” I make my way to the front of the shop.

Why I consider these people my friends baffles me in moments like this. Especially considering we spend almost all our time together at this shop and still know barely anything about each other’s pasts or personal lives.

When I reach the lobby, the sight of Fel kicks me in the chest. Her ripped jeans and black tank top show off her smooth, freckled skin. Her high ponytail swishes and her bracelets rattle as she talks with her hands, and her rings sparkle with the sun beaming through the windows. With barely any makeup, the speckled galaxy on her cheeks is on full display.

Infinite.

A black hole for my soul.

Her sweet smile absorbs me.

It’s enough to make any man want a piece of her. Including Crew, who’s sitting behind the front desk with his feet kicked up and laughing at whatever she just said.

He spots me walking into the lobby before she does but doesn’t drop his feet or pull away. Instead, he leans back further and shoots me a wink just to piss me off.

I’m tempted to kick the chair out from under him, but somehow, I manage to keep my cool. Fel already thinks I’m unhinged without me throwing fuel on that fire right now. So while I have no problem showing her how far I’m willing to take my possessiveness, that will be later between my sheets.

When she finally catches sight of me walking up, she pops upright and straightens the bottom hem of her tank top. It’s irritating that she thinks she needs to be perfectly presentable, even for me. But it’s been bred into her for her entire life.

“Wasn’t expecting to see you.”

“I’m here for my appointment.” She shimmies her shoulders with a feisty little smirk.

“Your what?”

Fel presses close. Her perfect tits pushing against my chest, and she has to tip her neck all the way back to look up at me.

“My appointment,” she repeats, biting her lip. “I’m your ten-thirty.”

My ten-thirty was a name I didn’t recognize, which means she used a fake name to surprise me. Devious little tricks she thinks I’ll let her get away with. Lucky for her, right now, I’m too curious not to.

“My ten-thirty?” I tip her chin up to me.

Fel lifts onto her toes until her lips are barely brushing mine. “I want you to pierce me, Jude.”

One sentence and any frustration from today disappears for a girl who knows exactly what to do and say to make me bend to her will.

25

Fel

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