Page 40 of Twisted Lies

He laughs. “You’re right about that. But it doesn’t change the fact you want me. Why else would you agree to come here?”

“You’re nuts. We both signed the same agreement. I’m only doing this because I want your protection going forward.”

“Last we talked, you didn’t need protection from anyone,” he points out.

“You’re maddening.”

“No, I’m under your skin. Would it be so bad for you to admit it?”

“I would be lying.”

“No. I don’t think you would,” he says, inching closer.

“And what if I was?” I ask.

“There is no reason why we can’t enjoy this engagement,” he says as I inch my lips closer to his.

Moving to the side right before our lips touch, I whisper in his ear, “Feel free to enjoy this engagement as much as you like, just not with me.” I grin and step back. His laughter follows me as I enter the bedroom and find the grand master bath to change. When I exit, I find him in bed on his laptop. Pulling the comforter down, I slide in, all too aware that he’s close.

Turning to my side, I try to ignore his presence. The bed already smells of his scent, making it all the more difficult. Forcing my eyes to close, I try to count sheep. But I only get to the seventh sheep each time before my mind wanders back to the man next to me. When sleep finally claims me, my dreams are still filled with Elijah.

* * *

ELIJAH

Her breathing slows, and I know she’s sound sleep. When Claire called and told me she had told Lily the truth, I could have gone through the phone. I thought she had lost all her sense. She said that Lily took it all exceptionally well, only asking a few questions here and there. The real tell was she didn’t run out of the house screaming.

I still can’t believe she agreed to this scheme. I thought for sure she would tell Claire to go to hell. I was stunned when Claire said she had agreed and was coming to New York. Having her next to me in bed and not being able to touch her is driving me crazy. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted a woman. I told her I’ve gotten under her skin, but the truth is she has burrowed herself undermine. The contract we agreed to is for one month. That doesn’t give me much time to convince others of our relationship. I’ll just say it’s a love match or some shit. It doesn’t happen much in our world, but it’s worth a shot. Hopefully, I can pull this off enough, and we won’t have to get married.

Whatever she’s hiding, I need to find out and quickly. For her to come here and agree to this plan, it must be problematic. I won’t allow her past to affect my plans. If I have to take care of the issue sooner rather than later, I will. I just need her to tell me the truth. In the morning, I’ll keep my promise and take her around town. She needs to get a new dress for evening dinner with the Families. I hope I don’t live to regret dragging her into the darkness. I fear she had found the darkness years earlier, long before she met us. Fate must have thrown us into each other’s path. After tomorrow night, I’ll be one step closer to everything I’ve longed for.

* * *

LILY

His presence next to me in bed was driving me crazy. I woke from a dreamless sleep to get a glass of water. Getting back into the bed was where it went downhill.

His body being mere inches from my own is maddening. He’s buried himself into my soul, and I want him out. At the same time, I feel like it would be cold without him. I should return to my insane asylum theory. Huffing, I roll onto my back from my side and stare at the ceiling.

“If you keep doing that, neither of us is going to get any sleep,” he mumbles.

My body jerks. I didn’t know he was awake. “Sorry. I thought you were asleep.”

“Hard to sleep with you moving and making noise every other minute.”

“I’m trying to sleep, but when I get close, my mind starts thinking of a new issue.”

“Want to talk about it?” he asks.

“No. You’re one of the issues.” He laughs, and my smile slips into place.

“I’m never the issue, so I don’t know what you’re talking about; I’m sure there are other issues you can suggest so we can get to sleep.”

“You’re the top five issues. I guess I can move down to the sixth.”

“That a girl,” he says, and I can sense him grinning in the dark.

“Are you worried about the next few weeks?” I ask, hoping we can change the subject to him, and at the same time, calm my nerves. I feel him shrug.

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