Page 33 of Hide From Me

I nudge Raylen’s hips, causing her to turn and face me. Forcing a smile, I ask, “And how would you know that?”

“I snuck in once,” she says proudly, as if it’s no big deal.

My fingers flex into her lush hips, and I tug her closer between my legs to cover the motion. She braces her hands on my chest, as if she's trying to keep a distance between us.

“You know you could get in real trouble for that, right?”

“It was one time,” she says, brushing it off—but her cheeks flush.

My fingers flex into her lush hips, and I tug her closer between my legs to cover the motion. She braces her hands on my chest, as if she's trying to keep a distance between us.

“You could get in serious trouble for that,” I mutter, trying to mask the panic in my tone.

“It was one time,” she says, brushing it off—but her cheeks flush.

“And what was it like?” I ask, nudging her with my knee, forcing her to roll her hips. Her breath catches.Got her.

“Exhilarating,” she whispers, her hands tightening.

“I—I trained with them for a bit. Back in February,” she adds quickly. “The blonde lady said I beat some kind of record.”

My lips brush her jaw. My gut churns.Fuck.

My brain scrambles. Training course. Blonde... Jasmine.Fuck.

She doesn’t realize what she’s saying. Doesn’t realize what shedid.

“It was only once,” she huffs, trying to harden her features as if she isn’t totally into this. I wish I were, but now I’m internally panicking. I need to figure out how she got in, when it was, and if she told anyone about it. I need to know how she even found the place.

“And they didn't notice? Seems odd for highly trained professionals. You sure you’re not lying to impress me?” I tease. Her focus stays trained on my mouth as if she's waiting to watch me close that small space.

As if she's just now processing my words, her head jerks, barely moving in my grasp, and she snaps, “I'm not!”

I know I’m pissing her off but what am I supposed to say?Yeah it’s called a training course, you probably beat the rookies for the day and since you were in that group Jasmine didn’t notice you weren’t even a goddamn soldier.Yupp, that would go over so smoothly.

“Shhh, baby, don't get so mad. I believe you.” I mutter as my lips barely brush against hers before instantly moving to her cheek and down to her jaw.

“No, you don't! Jack didn't either. This is why I don't tell anyone anything. You're all the same.”

Even if her words come out as a whispered growl, catching in her throat, they create an ache in my chest.

“I believe you,” I say softly this time. She hasn't told anyone else, and now that I have the timeline, I can see who was on guard that day. This realization eases a weight off my chest, allowing me to focus solely on how her skin feels beneath my lips.

“Tell me one of your secrets, then. Something no one believed when you shared it.” She gasps as I place a gentle kiss on her pulse point. My hands shift—one moving into her hair, tilting her head back to give me more access, and the other finding her waist to reposition her so I can slip my leg between hers.

Humming in contemplation, I shift more of her weight against my leg. She's already so warm, and I can't help but nudge her slightly, making her hips roll as I flex my muscle.

“I wasn't fazed when…” I pause, considering my word choice before placing another lazy, open-mouthed kiss on the column of her throat. I wish it were those mesmerizing lips, but beggars can’t be choosers. “When I found out that my biological mother and grandfather were murdered.”

I swallow hard, wanting to bare everything to her. I’m sure she would listen, or at least pretend to. If I told her every nitty-gritty detail, she might be overwhelmed, but I know I’d be able to hold onto her. God, I fucking hate this world.

"Biological?" she says quietly, and I chuckle softly against her skin.Ofcourse,that'swhatshefocuseson.My fingers slide over the exposed skin at her hip and slip under the high hem of her crop top.

"I'm adopted."

"So the man who comes with you sometimes—the one with the brown-haired girl?" I take a deep breath, taking in her question and memorizing her scent.

"He's my adopted brother, and that's his fiancée."