Page 69 of Blood & Lace
ONYX
I nuzzled into warmth.Hair tickled my face. I groaned, smoothed it down, and tried to drop back down into the delicious dream I was having. Until my eyes flew open. I shot up, looking around wildly. This was my room. My bed.
So what the hell was Lucero doing in it?
I stared at him for a long time. Last night came back to me in snippets, and I groaned under my breath. Right, he'd asked to stay in bed with me. And I had been way too dick drunk to say no. As I stared at him, my stomach tightened. I reached over, dragging my fingers down the side of his face.
Lucero was a moron, but he was growing on me. Like a fungus. Maybe beneficial, but it was hard as fuck to get him off.
My fingers ran down his throat, over his chest, down his round, soft belly. I sucked in a breath as I kept going, my fingers touching every inch of him while he slept. He was so vulnerable with me, but I had to wonder how much of him Ididn'tsee. Lucero was a different person when we were together. What was his past like? How was he when I wasn't in the room?
Why do you care?
My hand faltered. I frowned. WhydidI care? This was a temporary situation. It was a fantasy. Eventually the reality would shatter and things would go back to the normal that I knew. I drew my fingers away.
Lucero whimpered.
I went right back to touching him.
Buzzing filled the room. My heart hammered in my chest, and I yanked my hand away like I had gotten caught doing something wrong. I scrambled off the side of the bed and found my phone on the floor. I wasn't even sure when or how it had gotten there, but I really didn't care. Snatching it up, I pressed the phone to my ear before I slipped out of the bedroom and into my office.
"Hello?" Cara called.
"Sorry, Cara. I couldn't hear you," I lied. "What's up?"
"There you are! What is going on?"
I frowned as I sat in my computer chair. "What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? You haven't reported in on the last mark. I had to see it on the news that he was down. And you haven't asked me about another assignment either. Are you done?" she asked.
My body felt hot as she asked the question. Embarrassment blanketed me. I had one goal and one alone. And I couldn't stop because I was playing house with an overgrown golden retriever with jealousy issues.
"Onyx?"
"I hear you," I said. "Sorry. Things have been a little hectic, but I'm getting back to work."
"Good. You need to remember why you're doing this," she stressed. "If you're serious, if you're still committed to the cause, then go see Adam today. Remember why you're doing this. Why we're both doing this."
My shoulders slumped.She's right. I'm such a piece of shit. What am I doing?
"Yeah," I said, the sound choked as it came out. "Yeah," I said again, clearing my throat and making it sound more resolute. "I'll do that."
Cara was quiet for a moment. "Call me when you're ready," she said, her voice softening. "If you want to stop, then you let me know. However, if you're losing focus, I'll be there to aim you every single time."
"Thank you."
"I love you, Onyx."
I swallowed deeply. "I love you too."
When I hung up, I dropped my head into my hands. Cara and I had been friends forever, but we both had backgrounds that dictated this job had to continue. She was just as invested as I was.
A knock on the bookcase made my heart leap out of my chest. It could only be Lucero. He knew how to get in, but he didn't come barging through the door. Just waited.
So obedient.
A smile tugged at my lips despite the stone in my chest. I stood up and opened the door before walking out. His hair was a wild mess, and he was at least wearing boxers while I was still stark naked. His eyes darted down, and I laughed at the hunger in his eyes. Lucero handed me a mug filled with tea.
