Page 164 of Trapped Truth

“Smooth,” Axel mutters.

“Smoother than you, asshole.”

“Hey! I can flirt plenty well.”

Parking up, Hyland kills the engine then twists in his seat. “This morning’s viewing was good. If we’re not going to build, I think it has the potential to work for us with some modifications.”

“I agree.” Warner nods.

“You don’t mind being a bit farther outside of the city?” I study them both.

“Nope.” Hyland trails a heated stare over me. “I’m looking forward to it.”

He’s been on-edge all morning. I might’ve teased him a little too hard during the viewing, deliberately brushing up against his torso and feathering my fingers over the back of his neck. It was fun watching his expression darken when he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

“More privacy is a good thing,” Axel concurs. “Staying in the same hotel as Blaine’s mother is going to get old real fast. Why is she always dropping over unannounced?”

Next to me, Blaine groans. “I’ve spoken to her about boundaries.”

“She’s enjoying having her son back,” I snap at them. “Stop being mean.”

“You liked having her walk in when we were fucking in the shower?” Axel’s delivery is deadpan as ever. “Not really my kink, to be honest.”

Next to me, Blaine chokes on a breath. “Ew.”

“Well, maybe that was a bit much.” I internally cringe at the memory. “But I understand why she wants to be around us right now. Until she finds a permanent home, Blaine’s her only connection.”

“Because we really believe that Azrael has vanished.” Warner rolls his aquamarines. “She’s just covering for him so the authorities can’t arrest his ass. I’d bet anything he’s lurking around here somewhere.”

“Seems likely,” Blaine agrees.

The cover story didn’t fly with me either. When we put Angela up in her own hotel suite with around-the-clock security provided by Sabre, she claimed to have lost contact with the infamous mercenary after the raid. But we all saw the twinkle in her eye.

Climbing out of the car, our group moves in sync to take the private elevator to our top floor suite. Perks of booking the most expensive floor in the hotel for the foreseeable future. We’ve been house hunting for a few days now, but there’s no timeline on when we’ll move.

As the metal doors slide shut, Hyland abruptly rounds on me. Need clouds his earth-toned irises, brewing over the past few hours of exchanging subtle touches. He backs me up into the wall, narrowly avoiding crushing Axel in the process.

“You’re such a fucking tease.”

“Problem?” I play coy.

“You know there is.”

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then allow me to demonstrate.”

Two aggressive fingers drag my chin up, exposing my mouth to his sudden descent. I’m pinned in place by his hips as a furious kiss imprisons my lips without hope of release. The force of it clacks our teeth together.

“Damn,” someone mutters.

I couldn’t care less that we have an audience. Apparently, Hyland doesn’t either. He’s too busy thrusting his tongue in a possessive beat, scrambling any thought that wasn’t already locked on him.

My leg lifts on instinct to hook onto his hip. It brings us flush together, the promise of his hardened length rocking directly into my core. I can’t hold in a gasp. Jesus, he’s trying to kill me.

“All morning, Em,” he moans into the kiss.

“Sorry.”