She places a soft hand on my cheek. “Duncan?”
The gentle touch makes me realize I’m clenching my jaw. Grinding my teeth. Audibly.
“He had no right to say those things to you,” I snap, nostrils flaring. “No right. He never will again.”
“You…” She slams a hand over her mouth. I peel it off. “Mary and Herbert eavesdropped on my phone call?”
The distance between us offends me. Though she squirms and huffs, I yank her onto my lap.
That’s better, with her turned sideways, tucked against me. Her head fits under my chin, the length of her body pressed to mine. Locked in my embrace.
“Tell me,” she insists.
The scent of her vanilla shampoo—the one I ordered the day she moved into my room—invades my senses.
“No,” I growl, cursing myself inwardly for the slip-up.
“You promised no more lies.”
I’m about to agree with her. But her wiggling gets me harder. Needier.
At the feel of my erection, Elowyn stares at me beneath her lashes, breathing heavily. “This is serious.”
“Yes, it is, and no, they didn’t violate your privacy.” I stroke her waist when what I really want is to lay her down, spread her legs, and lose myself in her. “See, what happened with your brother ten years ago taught me to keep receipts. That’s why I have cameras everywhere. My phone calls are recorded too.”
“You could’ve waited until you got home to ask me.” Her shoulders slump, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “I mean, youdidask, just after the fact. Don’t you trust me?”
“More than anything, but I needed to hear every word from him.” My muscles tense, bracing for the impact, for anger she’d have every right to unleash. It doesn’t come, so I go on. “I couldn’t afford to miss a single detail. Every hint of what else he might have on us. Or what he’s planning. It wasn’t about trust. But I’m sorry I made you feel that way.” My gaze holds hers. “From now on, I’ll talk to you first, investigate second.”
“Thank you.” A bright red flush rushes up her cheeks. Relief surges through my body because, yeah, she definitely forgives me. Then her mouth gapes and—“Oh.Oh. That means you also heard…”
A pause. A long one.
Since she’s too shy to say it, I start.
“I love you, little moon.” I thread a hand through her hair before kissing her slack, parted lips. Biting them. Sucking on—God, she tastes good—them. “So much.”
“I love you too.” The way she explores my mouth, tasting me, moaning for me, I’ll never get enough of it. “You’re a stalker”—kiss—“but I love you.”
“And you get off on being stalked.” My dick throbs when Elowyn twists to straddle my legs. “On being mine.”
“Yes.” She rocks her hips, finding my neck with delicate fingers that make me buck beneath her. “I do.”
“I’ll tell you a little secret.” I wind my fist in her hair, yanking it so I can suck and kiss the elegant slope of her neck. “This—you, grinding on my cock—makes me want to fuck you. On this bed. Up against the wall. In the bath, where I’ll lick your clit first and rail you second. But…”
Elowyn doesn’t ask what. She hums, seeking more pleasure by rubbing herself up against me.
I’ll give her what she needs. After I’m done dealing with her brother.
“But.” One last taste because, fuck, she’s good enough to eat. “I have to take care of business.”
I hitch Elowyn over my shoulder. She yelps when I stand up and head over to my second, smaller studio. The one I hardly use.
“Duncan.” She laughs, all cute and nervous. The reminder that I was this close to never hearing this again hurts. “What are you doing?”
“I told you, I have business to take care of.” My voice turns serious the closer I am to the studio. “I need you to stay here, where I want you.”
“You’re going to see Barclay.” She’s silent for a beat. “You’re going to kill him. Let me be there for you. I don’t think I could kill him, but you shouldn’t be there by yourself.”
