Page 21 of Bullets and Blood
Lance nodded, unable to say anything.
“I like it more now I can see my partner.”Nix’s lips brushed Lance’s, then he stopped.“Sure it’s not working?”
Lance turned his head away.“The end result won’t change.”
It couldn’t.He had to prove himself to his family and get blooded.This was ruining everything.Nix’s breath was on his neck.Their bodies almost touched.Lance wanted to shove him away.He wished he’d never agreed to the stupid truce.He’d be on his way home by now.But when he looked at Nix, he didn’t think he could shoot him and drag him home, alive but immobilized and vulnerable.
Did his aunt know how weak he was?
Is that why she hadn’t blooded him yet?
“I know.”Nix sighed.“But why not have some fun along the way.”
“I don’t need a pity fuck from a condemned man.”
“Harsh.”Nix’s hand slid off Lance’s shoulder as he stepped back.“Tell me, do I usually seduce my targets?”
Lance gritted his teeth.“No.But you’d do anything to save your life.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”He slapped his hand against the wall by Lance’s head and leaned in.Anger flared in his eyes.“I fucked you because I wanted to.No other reason.The truce?Yeah, that’s to buy me time to plan.”
“Run.You have an entire continent to get lost in.”And he could follow.
“I don’t want to run.That’s not living.I want more than existing and looking over my shoulder, wondering when I’ll be dragged back to Melbourne.I never wanted to be part of this fucking war.”He dropped his hand.“I should go.”
“I spent the day reading your file, reading my notes, and I still don’t know you.”
Nix shrugged.“You know enough to hunt me down.”
He did.But that wasn’t who Nix was.“That isn’t what I want to know.”
There was so much more to him than what was on paper.He wasn’t sure if half the things were true.
“You don’t get to know more.I’m not a bug to be studied.”
“You don’t trust me.”Nix had no reason to if he believed all the Orlans were liars.
“I don’t trust anyone, so don’t take it personally.”
Lance studied Nix for a moment.He was the kind of guy he’d have looked at twice.If he’d been human and with no complications…who was he kidding?It wouldn’t have gone anywhere.Nothing ever did because he didn’t want to share anything about his life and family.The money was great, the truth not so much.He didn’t want a boyfriend who only cared about the size of his wallet.Or one who’d be horrified at the violence.
He wanted Nix to trust him.The words formed on the tip of his tongue, but once spoken, they couldn’t be taken back, and he would be doing something far worse than kissing the enemy.“I’ll show you your file.”
Nix tilted his head.“The Orlan file on me?”
“Yeah…I don’t have anything to hide.”And if it was all true, neither did his family.
“Okay.You show me mine, and I’ll show you yours.”
“Did you want to seal that in blood?”
Nix’s lips curved into a sultry smile.“Later.Get your laptop and we’ll go to the library.”
Lance was about to argue, but if his laptop was being monitored and Nix logged into his family’s database, his aunt would know about it within minutes.“Okay.Are you sure you want to be seen in the car with me?”
“I’m not getting into the boot.”Nix grinned.“But I don’t mind the backseat.”
ChapterTwelve
