Page 82 of Elicit (Decadence After Dark)

That sparring look in his eyes tells me everything I need to know.

“Why does Kayne need a sex slave?” I hyperventilate. “He has a whole house full of women he can fuck. Who will do anything he asks. He hasme.”

Jett grimaces. He doesn’t like that factoid one bit, but it’s the truth.

“It’s complicated,” is his pathetic explanation.

“Then un-complicate it,” I demand, tears welling in my eyes. “After everything. After knowing my past. Knowing what Alistair did to me, you’re condoning this?”

Heart-wrenching does not begin to describe how I feel.

“London.” Jett grabs my arms and pins me to the wall. “There are things happening under this roof that are beyond your understanding.”

Beyond my understanding? Did he just insult my fucking intelligence? I understand just fucking fine.

“What things?” I clench my jaw, indulging in my anger.

“I can’t tell you, but you have to trust me.”

“You know how hard trust is for me, Jett. Especially after finding out what I just did. I’m not even sure I know who you are.”

Jett’s pretty aqua eyes flash with something distressing and hurtful.

“I’m exactly the man I was the first day you met me. I’m exactly the man who pursued you, and protected you, and cares about you. I will always be that man.” He shakes me lightly. “And right now, I’m protecting and caring about the woman behind that door, too.”

Protecting and caring about her?“Are you both fucking her?” I spit.

Jett rolls his eyes, annoyed. “You are misinterpreting what caring and protecting means.”

“Then why don’t you clarify,” I seethe. “Because I’m having a difficult time trying to understand.” How could he do this?Betray me?Betray that girl? He’s done nothing but preach about freedom of choice, yet here he is conspiring with Kayne.

Everything I feel for him is suddenly in question.

Who is Jett, really? What is his endgame?

Jett expels a deep, unsettled breath before pressing his forehead to mine. I know he sees the doubt swirling in my eyes.

“Do you trust me, London?” he asks simply.

“I did up until five minutes ago,” I profess.

“I’m asking you to not give up on that trust. To have everything we’ve been through the last few months outweigh the last few minutes. I need your trust now more than ever.Nowmore than I ever will,” he actually pleads.

“You don’t know what you’re asking me.” I fight to keep my voice resilient.

“Yes, I do. I know exactly what I’m asking you. I’m asking you to be there for me the same way I am for you, and when the time is right, I’ll tell you everything. If what we’ve been through matters at all. IfImatter at all, you’ll do this. You’ll trust me with no questions asked.”

“You’re asking me to go on blind faith?” Does he have any idea who he’s talking to?

“Blind faith.” He captures my face sternly. Severely. Almost alarmingly.

What Kayne and Jett are doing goes against everything I fled from. Escaped from. He must know that. He must know what he’s asking me to do is nearly impossible.

“London, please.” Jett kisses me zealously. Passionately. Downright desperately. “I don’t want to lose you over this. We’ve come too far, and there’s too much at stake to turn back now.” Jett continues to kiss me urgently, over and over again. It’s a plea I can’t resist. Or deny. I grab his wrists and kiss him back, our tongues dueling as my head and my heart engage in an epic battle.

“Don’t make me regret this.” I sink my nails into his skin. “Don’t make me fucking regret trusting you, Jett.”

“Little bird.” He presses his entire body against mine. “When this is all over, regret will no longer exist in your vocabulary. I’m going to give you everything you never knew you needed, and all the things you’ve been too afraid to wish for.”

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