Page 60 of His Lair

Then it clicks. She’s not just hanging out in a fucking room full of weapons. She’s there to load up on them, which means she’s planning on going out and doing something I really fucking wish she wouldn’t.

“Where exactly is this armory of yours?” I ask Emmanuel.

“Turn left, head down the stairs, hang a right, then down the stairs again. Just… take it easy on her, Sammie. I meant it when I said she actually likes you.”

I follow the instructions that lead me through the maze of a fucking house. How long has Emmanuel even had this place? This is the first time I’ve been here. Hell, I didn’t even know he bought a property in the city. Makes sense. He has been spending a lot more time in Vegas. Thanks to a certain woman who seems to be visiting just as much as he has been.

I finally make it to the armory. A huge steel door hangs ajar and I walk inside, blocking the only exit with my body.Lailani, or whoever the hell this woman is, looks up at me. She’s wearing a pair of skintight black jeans, a black V-neck shirt, and matching black combat boots.

Don’t get me wrong. She looks fucking hot. My cock is hard instantly, but this is not the woman I’ve been dating.

“Going somewhere?” I ask her, breaking the silence after my eyes have taken her in completely.

“Sammie, I…” she starts, and I quickly cut her off.

“Save your excuses. I just want to know why. You had plenty of chances to tell me who you were and you chose to lie to me instead.”

Lailani chuckles to herself. The sound humorless. “I was doing a job. And despite what you think, I didn’t like lying to you.”

“But you did lie. For months.”

“Because I’m not a fucking idiot. And I happen to like breathing. You think you can do a job for E, not uphold your end of the bargain, and live to talk about it?” She tilts her head to one side to look at me.

She’s right. She was doing a job, and Emmanuel wouldn’t think twice about ending their contract however he saw fit if she slighted him.

“For what it’s worth, it wasn’t all a lie. Everything we did was because I wanted to do it. I wanted to hang out with you. I wasn’t faking our relationship, Sammie,” she says.

“Relationship? You’re not the woman I thought I was dating. I don’t even knowyou.”

“You know me better than most people.” She walks towards me. “What you don’t know is that I’m good at what I do. And right now, as much as I want to hash this thing out with you, I don’t have time.”

Grabbing hold of her arm as she goes to step around me, I pull her to my chest and then spin, pushing her back up againstthe wall. My lips slam down on hers, and my tongue thrusts into her mouth. This kiss isn’t soft, like they usually are. This is hard, rough, punishing. I want her to feel every fucking bit of torture she made me feel since finding out she lied to me.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Sammie’s tongue swirls around mine. My arms snake around his neck, and I pull him against me. Raising up on my tiptoes to try to get that little bit closer to him. I knowI’ve lost him. I always knew I would, but I will take whatever this kiss is until he’s gone for good.

His palm presses to my throat and he pushes me harder against the wall. He’s mad. I get it. I would be mad too. I let him believe he’s got me pinned. I don’t think now is the time to show my hand here.

I jump up and wrap my legs around his waist and cling to him like a monkey. My core rubs against his cock, and I’m now regretting putting on my jeans. There is too much fabric between us. I need more. I need him. Even if it’s just one last time.

“Sammie, I…”

The moment the words are out of my mouth, his hold on me drops. I slide my feet back onto the floor, and he steps away from me. Anger, disgust, and lust all flickering in his eyes.

“I can’t do this,” he says. “I don’t even know you.”

“You know every woman you fuck?” I ask him.

“We were more than that. At least I thought we were,” he grumbles.

“Wearemore than that,” I tell him. “I’m still Lailani, but I’m not going to beg you for a scrap of attention you don’t want to give me. I have shit to do, and you obviously need time.” With that, I turn and walk out the door.

Sammie’s footsteps are quick to follow behind me. “Hold up!”

I pivot and wait for him to continue with whatever it is he has to say.

“Where are you going?” he asks. “What are you doing?”