Page 60 of The Lies of Bryn van Doren

Jessica now bites her lower lip in a last-ditch effort to conceal her grin. Khalohn opens his eyes, his gaze immediately pinned to her mouth. She can tell he appreciates what he sees when his hand slides down over one of her butt cheeks, pulling her closer still.

“Do you like the apartment?” he asks, lifting his eyes to find hers.

She nods, he squeezes her ass and then closes his eyes again.

“Good,” he breathes.

“Are you going to sleep?” she whispers.

He grunts then blindly reaches for a kiss. His lips still grazing hers, he replies, “Not done with you yet.”

Relieved to hear their night is not yet finished, she slips one of her legs up over his hip, touching her forehead to his as she murmurs, “Are you hungry? I could make us some bacon and eggs. Or we could open the wine and eat what you brought.”

“Both,” he grunts.

“’Kay.”

Before Jessica can move, Khalohn slides his hand further down her rear, until it’s between her thighs. She sucks in a spurt of air as he teases her entrance with his fingertips, instantly aroused at his touch.

“Khalohn?” she calls softly.

“After.”

It’s all he says before he owns her body yet again, beckoning her fifth orgasm of the night.

Khalohn wakes, fullyimmersed in a daze. He squints his eyes open, the sun shining brightly through the windows beside the bed. He’s on his side, and the first thing he’s aware of are the bare breasts of the woman at his back. He looks down and see’s Bryn’s arm draped over his waist, her hand anchoring them together pressed against his abs. It’s been a while since he’s woken in the morning with a woman. Even longer since he didn’t mind. He has no idea what time it is, only that he can’t stay. It was after two a.m. before he was ready to let Bryn sleep. It’s only the awareness that she’s his when he wants her which makes him not regret slipping out of her grasp.

Gently, he lifts her arm from around him and climbs out of bed. He pauses when she stirs. As she settles, he starts to gather his clothing from around the apartment. Picking up his shirt from the foot of the bed, he remembers Bryn slipping into it after midnight—rolling up the sleeves before she made them scrambled eggs. The memory slows down his movements until he shakes it away. Looking down at himself, wrinkled and in need of a shower, he makes a mental note to bring a couple suits and a few bathroom necessities to prevent him leaving the apartment looking like a slob in the future.

Before he dons his shoes, he sends a text to Atzel and then returns to the door to grab the cash he brought with him for Bryn. He sets the two thousand dollars on the dining room table and then returns to the bed. Sitting on the edge, he does up his shoes and takes a moment to absorb the details of the apartment he was too distracted to notice the day before. The décor is simple. Clean. Warm. Neither feminine nor entirely masculine. He wonders if he’s seeing Bryn’s tastes or what she thought he might like. Either way, after last night, there’s no question that it’stheirspace; and if she likes it, so does he.

Khalohn turns and takes in the sleeping figure beside him. He thinks of the work he has to catch up on, having been out of town with only a few hours in the office the night before. It’s not realistic to think he’ll have time to come back that night, but he can’t ignore his desire to prioritize a return as soon as possible. All night, she’d called his name over and over—Khalohn. He didn’t realize how much he missed hearing his name on a woman’s lips in the throes of passion until he had it again.

He wants more, and he’s not too proud to admit it.

Knowing Atzel will likely arrive any minute, Khalohn reaches out and grazes his hand down Bryn’s back. When he reaches her naked waist, he gives her a squeeze. She pulls in a startled breath before turning to face him.

Her eyes take in his present state before a frown tugs at her brow. She washed away her makeup when she freshened up, prior to their midnight snack. The sight of her bare face is just as alluring as it is when she’s all made up.

“Hi,” she mumbles, clearly still half sleep.

“Hi.”

“You’re dressed.”

“Time for me to go. Your payment is on the table.”

The slight crease between her eyebrows vanishes, her face falling at his declaration. Instantly, he understands what he’s done. Never before has he mentioned payment with a woman while she’s still naked. Their arrangement is business, and they both know it. But as a man determined to provide pleasure, it’s impossible to ignore—whatever fantasy they’d created since he walked through the door the night before, his announcement ofpaymenthas shattered it.

In that moment, he vows never to ruin another morning like he feels he just has. Never again does he wish to see disappointment rob him of the cute way she looks upon first waking.

“On Monday, I’ll have my accountant contact you. From here on out, I won’t leave cash. The funds will be wired to you.”

“Okay,” she murmurs with a small nod.

He reaches out, sweeping her wild hair away from her neck before leaning over her. He presses a soft kiss just behind her ear and then whispers, “Bryn?”

“Hmm?” she hums.

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