Her mouth parts as she looks around the room again. “When can I see you again?”
A chuckle escapes. “Does your pussy need some more attention?”
“No. Well, yes, but I just want to spend more time with you.”
I knew the flowers were a bad idea. She’s getting attached. As much as I want her to fall in love with me, I want her to fall in love with Shane, not the mask. But if she knows we’re the same man, our relationship will be over for both of us.
A groan tumbles from my lips. “I wish I was there now.”
She drops onto the bed, twirling a lock of hair with one hand and holding the phone with the other. “If you were here now, what would you do?”
“I’d eat your delicious pussy.” Another groan rumbles down the line. “What would you want me to do?”
Her hand slides over the slip in her nightdress, her nails caressing her inner thigh, inching closer to her pussy. With a breathy whisper, she says, “Fuck me.”
A dark chuckle escapes my mouth. “I thought about fucking you last night. I wanted to, but all good things come to those who wait.”
“I have condoms in my bedside drawer, if that’s what held you back.”
“I’m clean, and I’m guessing you are, too.” Now I’ve seen her birth control pills in her bathroom cabinet, I’m more comfortable fucking her raw. Not that I wouldn’t welcome a family with her, but that would mean revealing my identity. “When I fuck you, there’ll be no barrier between us.”
She sucks in a breath, her nipples like bullets standing tall under the silk fabric of her nightdress. “Sir,” she breathes out, fluttering her lashes.
“Get some rest, nightingale. Go out with your friends tonight, and we’ll catch up soon.”
Ben bursts through the office door. “Sarge, the inspector’s waiting to start the de-briefing.”
I nod, covering the handset with my hand and hoping she didn’t hear that. Lifting it to my ear, I say, “I’ll call you when I’m free.”
“Okay, sir.”
22
LILLY
The rusty swing sign above the entrance creaks in the wind as I push open the wooden door to the Black Crow. Seeing as I have a night off from myotherjob, I came to the bar tonight. It’s becoming my favourite hang out spot, and there’s always someone here who I know.
When my shadow said he couldn’t make our live tonight, I didn’t want to spend the evening alone. I should be happy that he’s busy. He’s already paid me so it shouldn’t make any difference to me whether he joins a live or not. But I can’t deny I was disappointed, hoping for a rerun of last night.
I fight my way through the crowd. A guy brushes past me, causing my wide-neck jumper to fall from my shoulder.
Shane locks eyes with me from the bar, a pint in his hand. He zeroes in on my exposed red bra strap and his gaze darkens, causing a flutter in my core. When I put on my lipstick tonight, I chose the red to match my bra with Shane in mind and one mission. For him to notice me.
The way he’s drinking me in from across the room tells me he’s definitely noticed me. I might not be able to do anything about it, but basking in his gaze gives me a newfoundconfidence. After all the jibes he gave me growing up, it’s empowering.
Trying to act like he doesn’t make me hot and wet with one look, I turn away and push open the back door to the games room, seeking anyone else I know.
Heather waves a hand as she does her rounds, collecting glasses. Kane lifts his head and catches my eye as I walk by, waving back at the barmaid under the bright hanging lights.
Kane snatches my wrist, causing me to suck in a breath. It’s been a while since he had his hands on me, but I don’t feel the usual flutters in my stomach like I used to. It burns where he grips me.
“Ow.” I pull my hand back, but he holds me firm and yanks my sleeve further up my arm, revealing the chafed skin there.
With both his hands holding me, he examines the bruising around my wrist under the lights over the pool table. “What the fuck happened to you?” His grip loosens as his thumb strokes over the marks there.
I pull my hand away and cover my wrist with my sleeve. “In case you’ve forgotten, we’re not together, and what I get up to is none of your business.”
“Just because we’re not fucking doesn’t mean I stopped caring about you. If someone’s hurt you, I want to know about it.” He grabs my other arm and inspects my wrist there, seeing the same marks when he rolls up my sleeve.
