Page 74 of The Obedient Lie
When he sat back, he licked his thumb and smiled faintly.
But Bastion still hadn’t moved.
He stayed right where he was—his chest just shy of my back, his knees brushing me. One hand braced on the floor. The other, eventually, resting lightly on the table beside mine—just a breath away.
No contact.
But the tension was physical.
Electric.
I could feel every inch of him without him even touching me. The weight of his body behind me. The space between us—shrinking.
The air felt thick.Charged.
I didn’t dare shift.
Didn’t dare breathe too loud.
And he just stayed there.
As if he’dclaimedthe space around me—without saying a word.
Bastion’s voice was low, steady.“Pass me my whiskey, baby.”
I didn’t move right away.
Not because I didn’t hear him—but because I did.
I shifted just slightly, still caged between his legs, and reached for the glass without fully turning around. I couldn’t twist all the way with him that close behind me, so I just held it out—offering it blindly, hoping he’d take it.
His fingers brushed mine as he did.Slow. Deliberate.
He didn’t move back.
I was still sitting on my legs, knees folded under me on the rug. Posture too stiff. Too upright. Luca’s hand moved under the table, warm gentle he touched my thigh.
“That doesn’t look comfortable,” he murmured.
Bastion agreed with a soft grunt and placed a hand on my waist.
Not pushing. Just there.
Guiding.
I eased off my legs, crossing them instead, letting my spine settle—and triednotto think about how natural that touch felt.
Luca’s hand dropped to my knee now, his thumb brushing in soft, slow circles. The kind of touch that made it hard to think straight. That made youforgetwhy you were even in the room.
Then he nodded toward the tray.
“It’s your turn.”
The line still sat there.Untouchedby me.
My pulse thudded louder.
“Unless this was your plan,” Luca added, his voice quiet but sharp. “Get us caught with drugs.”
