Page 24 of Devil’s Snare

I could hear Gwen but not the specific words she spoke.

“Yes. I’ll send him up. Thank you. Have a good evening.” The security guard didn’t look happy. “She’s got my number on speed dial. You hurt her, I’ll find you. Got cameras all over this building. Won’t be anywhere you can hide.”

“Appreciate the concern, but I don’t plan to hurt her.” I leaned forward, closing the distance so only he could hear me as the elevator door dinged. “I’m planning to fuck her so good she forgets her name. Don’t worry. I’ll be back. Often.”

He blinked, shock written all over his face as he turned beet red.

Shoving away from the desk, I walked to the elevator in time to catch it, riding it up to Gwen’s floor. When I reached the right floor, I walked off, heading straight to her apartment. It felt odd to come to her actual door instead of the bedroom window. I preferred the privacy of her room.

Turned out I didn’t have to knock. The feisty little doe-eyed beauty was waiting for me as I shrugged on my cut.

“Cin.” My name left her lips like a curse.

I grinned. Couldn’t help it. “Bambi.”

“Get in here.”

I entered her apartment and reached for her, shutting the door with my boot while I pressed her back against the wall. Just being this close to her wreaked havoc on her emotions. She was all over the place. I sensed desire. Frustration. Worry. Uncertainty. Lust. A little bit of anger rounded out that delicious cocktail that I drank in as I lowered my head and brushed my lips over her jaw. Kissing up to her ear, I whispered, “Glad you missed me.”

She shoved my chest. I didn’t budge. “Poor little deer, you feelin’ cornered by the predator?”

“Knock it off,” she hissed. “I need to talk to you.”

Fine. We could come back to my hands and mouth on her body a little later. I straightened but still stayed pressed close, our chests nearly touching with every breath. “What is it?”

“I want to know more about you.”

Good. “Ask away, Bambi.”

She pursed her lips. “Stop that. I’m being serious.”

Lifting my hands, I backed a foot away, still keeping her snared in my line of sight. “What do you want to know?”

She clasped her fingers together, and I noticed they lightly trembled. “Do you have a criminal record?”

The fuck? Why was she asking me that question?

“Or,” she rushed on, “Have you been to prison? Killed anyone?”

Motherfucker. This didn’t come outta nowhere. Who the hell made her worry about that shit?

“Need you to tell me who you’ve been talking to, Bambi. And why you’re suddenly needing to know shit like that.”

“Are you refusing to answer me?” Her left eye began to twitch.

Shit, she was serious. Maybe pissed. “No. Just need to know where this is coming from first.”

Her shoulders lost a little of the tension. “It’s not important.”

The fuck it wasn’t. “Gotta contradict you, my little doe-eyed beauty. Someone spooked you. Tell me.”

She sighed. “I’m not doing this with you, Cin.”

“I know. That’s why you’re telling me. Right. Now.”

“Do you have a criminal record or not?”

“Yeah. Petty shit. Nothing too serious. Never spent more than a little time in jail.”