Page 107 of Never Tell Secrets

“Baby, that’s part of what makes this feel so good.” His voice was like liquid silk pouring into my bones, my legs felt like they might buckle.

“I know and I don’t want to ever lose the way I feel when I’m with you but Alfie…you can’t hurt me like that again.”

I peered up at him in the darkness, willing him to understand. If he betrayed me again like he had before, we would be finished and I didn’t know how I would repair myself again. He gazed down at me, the familiar tick in his jaw clenching. Something was wrong. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” he cleared his face, “I’m just tired.”

He’d dodged my question but for once I didn’t mind, I knew what plagued him. Guilt over his past actions, guilt that we didn’t need to pick apart again. I was trying to leave the man he’d been in the past behind and focus instead on the man he was now.

“You’re tired? The great Alfie Tell is admitting he actually needs sleep?”

“I’m working on my humanity,” he said with a wry smile. My breath hitched as he leaned into me, our bodies pressing flush. He bent, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Good night, O’Connell.”

“Goodnight, Tell.”

With a knot in my stomach, I pulled away from his arms, my skin running cold without him there to warm it. I closed the door and leaned against it, catching my breath.

That gorgeous man was going to be the death of me.

Thirty-Three

Iawoke in a bed of plush cotton sheets, the sun warming me. I stretched. Last night was one of the best of my life.

Alfie…

As always he was my first waking thought but for once, it didn’t hurt. Is this how it could be all the time? I could wake feeling happy and light?

I hadn’t lied last night when I’d told him I was close to letting him back in. I was there, poised right on the precipice of falling back into his arms, but not into our old bubble, but into the new world he’d built for us. I was so close, I just had to trust my instincts that I would know when I was ready.

I slid out of bed and headed for the ensuite bathroom. I relieved myself and brushed my teeth and pulled my hair into a ponytail. I dressed in last night's clothes, my heels and halter dress feeling out of place in the daylight.

I stepped out of my room and knocked on Alfie’s bedroom door but got no answer. I was about to head to his office when a strange sound caught my ears, a breathy moan, a grunt of exertion.

Of course.

After last night’s sexual frustration I should have known he’d need to beat the hell out of a punching bag today. I followed the sounds down the hall until I found the room they were coming from. I threw the door open, but instead of finding Alfie in a gym, I found a naked Damien Marx, handcuffed to a bed, struggling to get free. He stopped when he saw me, a wide grin on his face.

“Good morning, Lola. Help a guy out would you?” He rattled the cuffs at me.

“Uh…” I stammered, averting my eyes from his impressively large…

“The key is on the window ledge. If you wouldn’t mind, I’ve been here a while and I’m starving.”

Before I could move, another door opened and Keira appeared from the bathroom looking hotter than I’d ever seen her in black lingerie, stockings and the highest of heels. She glanced at me for a moment with a‘what?’ like you’re surprised?look on her face before turning back at her victim.

“On second thoughts, you can leave me here.” Damien grinned, settling back into the bed as Keira straddled him, ignoring me entirely.

“Come on, Nine. Let’s see if you can get up to double figures.”

I didn’t know what Keira meant by that and I didn’t want to know. I ducked out of there just as Keira reached between them and I closed the door on their breathy moans. I stared at the door in shock as I tried to process what I’d just witnessed.

“I didn’t know you were into voyeurism, O’Connell.” Alfie’s voice echoed down the hall and I yelped, jumping out of my skin. I turned to him, glaring.

“I’m not, I was looking for you!” I hissed, his muffled laughter my only response. After a second I broke too, laughing at myself. I stepped away from the door, not wanting to be tooclose to whatever was going on in that room. “Why didn’t you tell me Keira was here? Is Maia here too?”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know and Maia is still with Eli. I don’t know where but I can find out if you’re worried.”

I was a little worried but I’d already burned myself once stepping into my friends’ business, so I shook my head. “That’s okay, I’m sure she’s fine.”