"What?" Lila's brows shoot to her hairline, and she shakes her head, reeling backward so that the thin silk robe she's wearing tumbles off her shoulder, revealing the matching pajamas beneath. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Your father had Cilento's men intimidate people in the study. I have to assume there were probably side effects that would have prevented them from getting FDA approval and launching so quickly. That's why he's been threatening you. He's trying to force your father's hand, make him fork over more of the profits."
"The drug…isn't safe? He's…My father has been selling and profiting off something that could hurt people?" Lila is reeling, falling apart at the seams, and I'm watching it live. "He worked with the mob to cover it up? Am I really hearing this? You…you can't be serious. He wouldn't?—"
"You didn't know who Cilento was?" I'm sitting next to her now, rubbing along her arm just like last night. Her skin is so damn soft under my palm, nothing separating us since she's wearing a tank and flouncy little sleep shorts.
"No. Hell, no. I had no idea. My father never tells me anything. Christ, I had no idea how true that was. I…I trusted him. I live with the man, and now…all this?"
As she gestures around herself, Lila is shaking. I can see the tears threatening to trickle down her cheeks.
"Hey, I'll figure this out. I've got contacts. I can make sure Cilento never gets near you."
I rub both Lila's arms now, turning her toward me as we sit so close on the bed.
"How? You're one guy." She eyes me, the tears mingling with this look of snark that has my cock twitching.
"I'm one guy with a lot of training, Lila. Don't doubt what I can do."
Something in the air shifts, and we stare at each other as the moment charges with intense energy. Lila holds my stare, but her eyes flick to my lips too often not to notice.
"Careful, princess." My voice is a low rasp, my body humming with need. "That's not smart."
"And who says I want to be smart right now?" She faces off with me—sassy, bratty, and oh so delectable. "The worst thing about my father is all out there now. They're his rules I've been obeying. And I don't want to anymore. What? Are you chicken?"
I snap, yanking Lila close and crashing my lips down on hers. She tastes like sin and cinnamon, and I can't get enough. She's been such a brat, and it looks like my taming side gets to come out to play at last.
She melts against my hold, but only for a moment. Then Lila is pulling back, eyeing me with that damn sass. Cocking my head, I narrow my eyes at her.
"Get over here, princess."
Lila grins. "Make me."
Moving fast and grabbing hold of Lila's leg so I can drag her across the bed toward me, I waste absolutely no time, pressing my lips to hers again and reaching into her silk shorts.
And it hits me. Lila isn't wearing any panties.
"You little…You were thinking about this, weren't you?"
Pink colors Lila's cheeks, but she doesn't back down, her eyelids fluttering as I smooth my fingers across her skin.
She's fucking dripping for me.
"You aren't answering me, princess." I stroke harder, teasing her seam until I begin to slip deeper, making her moan. "I want to hear you say it."
"Y-Yes." Melting into my hold, Lila grips my shirt between her fingers, squeezing the tee till her knuckles go white. "I—Oh god, that's…this is the first time."
That gets my attention, but damn me to hell and back, I don't stop. I keep playing Lila like my own personal piano, circling my thumb around her clit as I tease her entrance with my fingers.
"First time what?" A dark growl rumbles in my words, and I don't have the strength to hold back. Lila feels too good, feels too much like…mine.
"I'm…I'm…oh hell."
She arches against me, her thighs trembling as I finger her beneath the expensive fabric of her pajamas. Everything tightens in her, and she sinks down on my digits as she comes.
It's beautiful, utter perfection to see her so blissed out for me, and I ride her through the waves as I ask again.
"First time what, princess?"
