Page 53 of Lust
“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” he murmured, still not believing. “After all these years.”
“I can’t believe you’re my mate.”
He kissed her neck and drove into her hand. “What?”
“Nothing.” She stroked. “I’ll tell you later.”
He drew back to stare at her flushed face. Glazed eyes focused on him. She tried to distract him with her touch, but his oath screamed at him.
Honesty, integrity, fidelity.
Why couldn’t she tell him now?
“Liza, what did you mean by mate?”
All the way back, he tugged his pants up and sat on his haunches. A dark look ghosted her face, and her wall of defense slammed up like a tangible thing.
“It’s not a bad thing,” she groused. “It’s a good thing.”
“So explain it.”
“Each of us is linked to one person who embodies our sin’s opposing virtue. This person balances the sin in our system.” She displayed her yin-yang inner wrist tattoo. “The more I’m around lust, the more I get out of balance. This tattoo shifts to show how much sin is in my system. If I’m out of balance, I can black out and go all berserker rage against anyone I sense lust from. But now that our bond has triggered, now that I know it’s you, of all people, I don’t have to worry again.”
“Me? Of all people?” Talk about a bucket of cold water.Goddamn. He got up and squelched to where he’d thrown his jacket and holster. Her words replayed in his head. He may have spent his life pining after her, but she’d clearly never felt the same. The only reason she was with him was because he embodied her sin’s opposing virtue. “So I’m what, some kind of lottery winner. I’m the one you get?”
Their hearts had nothing to do with it?
“Joe.” She scrambled to her feet and jogged after him.
“I refuse to be your consolation prize, Liza.”
“But you’re not! You’re the opposite.”
He rounded on her. “You just said ‘you of all people’ meaning you had others lined up, meaning, I was the last person you expected to fit this role. Admit it, I was never your first choice. I’m just the one you get.”
“Okay, I admit it was a surprise.” She reached for him.
He shook her off. Fuck this shit.
Turned out her family was right all along. She didn’t pick him on her own. He was stupid to think he ever stood a chance of being seen. She might never love him, only the relief he brought. And maybethatwasn’t good enough forhim.
* * *
Joe went straight downthe elevator to the garage. His shredded heart and battered mind couldn’t take it anymore. The reality of Liza Lazarus was nothing like the fantasy that had fueled his soul for most of his life, and he couldn’t quite work out if that was a good thing, or not.
The Lazarus House garage was a study in performance luxury. From slick custom-made cars, to muscle motorbikes and dark-tinted vehicles. His boring sedan stood out with two dings on the side, a scratch on the fender, and peeling paint on the roof from too many days sitting in the sun with no protection. Parker leaned casually against the hood, tracking Joe’s movements across the floor.
Joe kept his squelching strides long and sure. He gripped his dry jacket in one hand, and his holster in the other. He stopped before Parker, again hating that he had to look up. Joe was a tall man, but the Lazarus family was taller. Now he knew why. They were created in a lab.
He laughed at the irony. He’d spent his life trying to be better than beings created in a goddamned lab. His father, he understood. But these guys?
Parker’s eyes narrowed at Joe’s burst of humor.
“What?” Joe demanded.
When Parker didn’t answer, Joe shook his head and unlocked the car. He didn’t give a shit what that cocksucker thought anymore. Hell, he wondered if he ever had. Joe opened the car door, but a big hand slammed it shut.
Oh no, he fucking didn’t.
