Page 45 of Labria

Lord chuckled. I guess I was saying something comical.

I didn’t find a damn thing funny. He wouldn’t either if I married another man that didn’t have these old-fashioned racist restrictions on his life plans. I wasn’t stupid. I knew Lord loved having siblings and being a crime boss. If I wanted him, I was stuck here in Sin city. We weren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Actually, he wasn’t going anywhere. I could dip at any minute.

In Chicago, I had a house, friends, and family to return to. I didn’t have to put up with this ridiculousness. Being married wouldn’t be such a big deal if I didn’t love this man with my whole heart. I was ready to be a wife, his wife— not a girlfriend. I’d been there and done that. The next step was marriage, the place where we should be headed.

“Bria.”

“What?”

“You are insufferable.”

“You can keep your Webster’s Dictionary words. I got one better. You are wishy-washy.”

Lord shrugged and sat on the edge of the bed. “Did you miss me?”

“I did not. Didn’t even know you were gone.” I knew he didn’t believe me. “Do you want to tell me what really happened in Chicago?”

“I told you. I had a lot of meetings.”

“Meetings about what?” I got off the bed and walked over to the small wine bar.

“Business.” He started unbuttoning his shirt. “I said this already.”

“What kind of business?”

“The kind I shouldn’t tell you about because if you ever had to take a polygraph or testify in court, you would be able to not have any knowledge of.”

“Okay, Mr. Dramatic. Why would I testify in court and why would I take a polygraph? I’m a lawyer. Give me some credit. I know how to remain quiet.”

“Well, what’s with all the questions?”

“You didn’t call me when you were gone.”

“I did. You never responded to my text, and you never called me back.”

“I thought you needed your time with your sister.”

He was lying. He was gone longer than my sister was here. She was only here for the weekend.

“So, you’re inside my head and know what I’m thinking.” I chirped.

“I’ve been gone for a week and all you want to do is argue with me.”

“I’m not arguing with you. My voice isn’t raised. I’m having regular conversation with you.”

“I’d rather fuck.”

My eyebrows rose. He had to be tweaking.

“I can’t find my birth control pills.”

“Not my problem.” Lord stood and stalked over to me. He was standing right in my face.

Without my consent, he grabbed me in his firm embrace. We were merged together in the open space. He pressed his lips to mine and took me in his mouth. His tricky hands were in various places all over my body. I wanted to pull away, but he had the arms of an octopus.

In the heat of the moment, he grabbed me and swung me around toward the bed. I stumbled and almost fell over my heels that I discarded on the floor by the bed. Our bodies tumbled on the bed. Lord was on top of me. He had completely latched onto my neck like a leech sucking blood from their prey.

I was overwhelmed with heat below my waist. I couldn’t help myself. I clawed at Lord’s bare back.

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