What exactly was he going to say? That the punk had made him a better offer?
If Jett thought for one moment I was going to let him out of his commitment to me before the end of this week, he was wrong. If he thought I’d allow him to move from my bed into Santi-fucking-Alvarado’s, he was mistaken.
“Easy, tiger,” he said with a frown as he patted the bed next to him. “Why do you look so angry?”
I tried ignoring his concerned expression. “Whatever you’re going to say, the answer’s no.”
He made a funny expression, a little tilt of the head and purse of the lips, and then he looked amused. “Well, I was going to ask if you’d mind letting me fuck you. Since you said no, that means you won’t mind. Great! Let me show you how to prep.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Don’t be cute,” I muttered.
Jett’s sunshine smile was warmer than the Mediterranean sun. “I mean, I couldtry,but it’s kind of my permanent state.” He patted the bed again. “Orrryou could just tell me what got you upset.”
“Damn it.” I yanked the covers back and climbed in. I gave in to the urge to hold him, pulling him fully into my arms, where I was starting to believe he might belong.
It wasn’t the same as being able to trust him, but the connection felt damn good anyway.
“Fuck,” I mumbled. He felt fucking incredible, all lean muscle and coiled tension.
He snuggled against me with a contented sound before grumbling about how many clothes I was wearing. “Get them off.”
I stepped out of the bed and stripped down to my boxer briefs before sliding in and pulling him down to lie face-to-face with me on our sides. Then I reached for his hand.
“Tell me what Santi wanted.”
“How’d you know Santi talked to me?” he demanded.
I rolled my eyes. “Next time you have an assignation with someone, maybe don’t do it where I can see you out the window.”
Jett rolled his own eyes twice as hard. “Next time you think you’ve caught me having an assignation with someone, mayberemember that I’m not an idiotoran asshole… and that no one actually uses the wordassignation.”
Despite myself, I huffed out a laugh. “Touché. What did he want?”
Jett hesitated, his eyes flicking between mine. I could tell he was caught between telling me the truth or a lie. But when he blew out a breath and opened his mouth, I wasn’t sure which he’d chosen.
“Santi said to be careful of you. That he thought something suspicious was going on here. With the Paxis players.”
My antennae pricked, and I leaned up on an elbow. “Suspicious how?”
Jett hesitated. “He… he thinks the game is a front. He implied you’re using your ships to help his father move drugs or… or people.”
I stared at him. So much for Santi being worthy of the game. This was enough reason to ban him from ever becoming a player. Not to mention, it was a dirty lie.
“I’m not,” I assured Jett, cupping his face so he could see the truth in my eyes. “I don’t have a professional relationship with Esteban. And they don’t use Maris ships. At least, not to my knowledge.”
“You gonna tell me why you play chess with a drug lord, then?” The words were softly spoken, but his eyes pleaded.
It wasn’t his first time asking, but it was the first time I was tempted to tell him the truth. Instead, I leaned down to kiss him.
He let me kiss him once, twice, three times, before he pulled away. “That’s a good trick—the best—but I’m not falling for it.”
I combed my fingers through his messy waves. “I can’t answer that, Jethro.”
“Are you into anything illegal?”
I didn’t want to lie to him, so I hesitated, trying to find the right words.
“Correction,” he said with the barest smile. “Are you into anything nefarious?”
