Page 52 of Elicit (Decadence After Dark)

“Why?”

“Because you’re the most interesting woman I’ve ever met.”

London lowers her camera, despondently. “I’m not interesting. I’m . . .” She lets the sentence linger and goes back to shooting.

“You’re what?” I press.Snap.

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

I shoot my hand out and snatch her forearm, dragging her onto my lap before she can decipher what’s happening.

“Whoa. Ninja.” She giggles as she falls into my arms.

“Damn right. Don’t forget it.” I hug her tightly and nibble her neck. “I have an entire dojo to prove it. Complete with incense and Katana swords hanging on the wall.”

“I can see that.” Her giggles morph into laughter as beautiful and enlivening as a string quartet. It’s such a rare sound I revel in it. “And I won’t forget it,” she purrs, stretching her neck, granting me better access.

I inhale the beachy scent of her perfume as she cuddles against me. I’ve learned I’m happiest just touching her. No matter the where, when, or why. Just like this, simplicity in my arms, is more than enough.

“You’ve taken a liking to that camera, huh?”

“Very much. It makes me happy. Now that I sort of know how to use it,” she confesses sweetly.

“I’m glad it makes you happy,” I hum contentedly, as I possessively run my hands all over her body. “What else makes you happy?”

Okay, so I’m totally fishing, but I’m dying to hear her say it. Say thatImake her happy.

“Nothing. That’s it. It’s all I need.” Her answer is flat, unambitious.

I pause my petting and gaze dubiously at her. “C’mon, London, you have to want more than that. More than just what you do in this house.”

She frowns with a wounded, guarded look in her stormy blue eyes. “This is all I am, Jett. This is all I deserve.”

Her response renders me speechless. “You can’t believe that. This, right now, is just a pit stop. You can have more. A better life.”With me, I want to tack on, but I choke.

“A better life?” She pushes out of my grasp. “There is no better life for me.”

“There can be,” I argue.

“No, there can’t.” She shoots to her feet and heads for the door. I’m in front of her in a millisecond.

“Why are you getting so upset?” I push, but she just keeps her head down in silence. “London.” I take her chin, battling with her to look up at me. The pained sigh she emits breaks me; the tears brimming in her eyes finish me off. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying,” she huffs.

Tough little bird. Even when she’s visibly upset, she won’t own up. That’s one of my favorite things about her. Her grit.

“Fine,” I pacify her. “You’re not technically crying, but you’re clearly upset. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“Nothing,” she replies meekly.

I pin her with a skeptical glare. “Don’t make me tie you up and tickle it out of you. I’m deadly with a rope and feather,” I warn.

She stares at me blankly. “You’re threatening me withtickle torture?”

“If that’s what it comes to. I’m a ruthless man.”

London’s lip quivers. “No, you’re not.” Her voice is hushed.

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