Page 79 of Wicked Duty
The weight of my actions crashes down on me like a glass ceiling. If I don’t tell her about the crypto wallet, she’s going to think I betrayed her. Of course she will. Because every second that passes that I keep my mouth shut, I’m breaking her trust.
Now is the time to fess up. Though I recognize that, the words refuse to come.
If Lucy discovers my secret agenda, one I’ve had this whole time, after everything we’ve been through, after what we just did…
First, I need to work on curbing my asshole tendencies long enough for her to trust me. For real. Once I’ve established that baseline, then I can be honest with her about my additional assignment.
Or maybe by that time, I’ll have discovered a way to dig myself out of this mess.
I nod, even though it’s all a lie. “You’ve got a deal.” A stupid, selfish, ugly lie.
The smile she returns nearly destroys me. That dimple. The adorable little divot may as well be a black hole for my heart.
I shove aside the reality that I’ll hurt her again, because for now, I just want to keep her close and safe.
As she pats the last bandage in place and starts to clean up, I clear my throat. “Is it my turn to make a request?”
“What is it?” Her back’s to me again, and her ass is calling my name.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” I don’t recognize the vulnerability in my request until the words hang in the air between us. “I just want to?—”
“Yes.”
Her instant agreement sends a cool wave of relief over my body, so potent I feel it in the soles of my feet.
What if she’d said no? The disappointment might’ve killed me.
Instead, she gathers my hand in hers and slowly leads me back to the bedroom. I kick off my dark jeans while she finds a pair of silk pajamas. The initial clamber is awkward, but we manage to get under the covers of this massive bed, maneuvering our bodies until we’re close enough to touch.
I pull her into my embrace the way I did earlier, holding her to me. But when I reach over to the nightstand to switch off the light, she stops me with her soft, sure voice.
“Don’t.”
I leave the light on and hold her tighter.
Not long after that, Lucy falls asleep in my arms. I’m exhausted and ready to conk out myself, but sleep takes longer to find me.
An awful voice in the back of my head nags me, promising that sooner or later, this will all blow up in my face.
Chapter 30
Lucy
In the morning, I awaken with Callum spooned around me and my phone buzzing on the nightstand. With his hypnotic scent in my nose and his strong arms cocooning me, I’m warm and comfortable. Safe. I feel like I could sleep for days, tucked against his muscular frame.
I grope the nightstand until my fingers latch onto my vibrating cell.
When I peek at the screen, my sister’s name pops up. I answer the call, cradling the phone to my ear.
“Sis?” I fight a yawn. “What’s up?”
“What’s up, you ask? Seriously?” I normally love her voice, but the shriek against my eardrum is so harsh I flinch, causing Callum to stir. His muscles tense around me.
Well, crap. Though I probably should’ve expected a call like this, I find myself unprepared for her wrath so early in the morning.
I yawn again and hedge. “Seriously, what?”
“Don’t you play dumb with me, Lucy Marlow. You know exactly what I’m talking about. What the hell were you thinking with that batshit performance yesterday?”
