Page 32 of The Burdens We Share (Satan’s Angels #3)

I raise a brow and down at her, “No, Ivory. Because I care about your well being and don’t want to see you hurt.” I tug her closer to me with my hands around her waist before I smirk, “Ensuring you don’t break in half when I fuck you is an added bonus.”

She laughs and I nod my head towards the door, “Now let’s go before we miss the flight and Selene kills us both.”

She grabs the torn-up g-string, not wanting to leave any evidence behind, and I grab it from her and stuff it into the inside pocket of my suit jacket.

I usher her out of the room and downstairs where we say very long goodbyes to Tara and right before we leave, Tara pulls me aside and suddenly goes all business mode on me, “Take care of my baby. I think something’s off with her and she seems like her normal self when you’re close.

” The idea of being any form of comfort to her sends a hum of pleasure through me.

I promise, “She’s safe with me, Tara.”

She nods, “I know she is.”

She hugs me goodbye and I see Ivory from the corner of my eye on the porch waiting for me with Sam.

I ruffle Sam’s perfectly styled hair on my way out and raise a brow at him, “Remember what we talked about, okay?” He gives me an acknowledging nod and I add, “And you have my number so if you need help with math or any school stuff, let me know.”

“Thank you,” he says appreciatively.

I look over at Ivory and find her grinning so wide, I want to snap a picture of her on my phone and stare at it.

God, I’m an obsessed moron. What happened to me?

That’s such a dumb question because the answer is staring up at me affectionately like I deserve it.

I remember I’m playing the fake boyfriend role and I grab her hand in mine, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head.

We say our final goodbyes before I usher Ivory into the car and we’re on our way to the airport.

Ivory

DALLAS MOTHERFUCKING CARTER, EVERYBODY. Holy shit, I think to myself as I reminisce on the way he fingered, licked, and teased me. If only I knew before what an expert he was with his tongue, I would’ve gotten naked for him a lot sooner.

In all seriousness, it isn’t about his skill, though he’s extremely proficient.

It’s about the tension between us and this connection we have that keeps strengthening, and growing.

I can’t deny that I’m unbelievably attracted to him, and that I have feelings that are growing for him.

I’m starting to become attached which scares the shit out of me because when he stood up before and ended our little rendezvous, I was truly and desperately afraid that he saw my body and saw something he didn’t like and that’s why he didn’t want to go further with me.

I was afraid he just gave me the orgasm to be polite but didn’t want to fuck me because I was too unattractive to him.

When he reassured me, I was able to breathe. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly anxious still that he would change his mind and no longer be attracted to me when he really saw me. Especially because of all the work I have to do to look like Cami.

Dallas’ phone rings which draws my attention away from my darker thoughts.

He reads the screen and quickly accepts the call, pressing his phone to his ear and greeting the person on the other line.

I look out the window of the car and take in the familiar streets of LA as we make our way to set.

The flight was about five hours long which totally sucked, and it sucks even more to have to work after flying for so long, but that’s the business and the life I chose to live.

Dallas snaps at the person on the phone, “But how can he keep wiping footage? This guy is bound to make a mistake sooner or later and when he does, we can not miss it.”

I turn my head to face him and know immediately that he’s talking about my stalker.

That has to be someone he works with on the other line or even Harvey.

I noticed that Dallas seems to only entrust Harvey with sensitive information.

Their relationship reminds me a lot of my relationship with the girls.

At the thought, I feel guilty because my friends still aren’t aware of what’s going on in my life. I need to tell them.

He sighs, “Fine. But don’t pull the effort. If anything we might be able to trace the location the override was made from and maybe we can follow a trail from there.”

He listens to the other person for a moment before he mutters a quick goodbye and hangs up. I ask, “What’s going on?”

Dallas tucks his phone back inside his suit jacket and gives me an exhausted look, “Harvey called to let me know that the hotel footage was wiped from last night. There’s no elevator footage or anything that would give us a lead into identifying your stalker.

Whoever he is, he knows his way around computers and he’s good. ”

I swallow around a lump in my throat and feel my palms growing damp with nerves. Dallas reaches out and tucks an errant strand of hair behind my ear before promising, “He might be good, but I’m better. Leave everything to me, okay?”

I nod, “Okay.” I trust Dallas completely.

The rest of the ride is silent until we make it to set and Dallas opens my door and helps me out of the car.

I try to grab my own luggage, but he doesn’t let me.

He brings both of our bags to my trailer and drops them off before he follows me to the main set where hair and makeup artists immediately start working on me.

Once they finish, I’m ushered over to the cameras where I’ll be filming a scene with Brody and Aria who are already here and waiting for me. When they see me, their eyes light up and they swarm me with hugs. “I missed you, my little pink haired friend,” Aria exclaims as she squeezes me.

I laugh and return the sentiment, “I missed my blue-haired friend, too.”

Brody tosses her hair over her shoulder, “What about the black-haired friend?”

I grin as I pull her into a hug, “Of course, I missed her too.”

We film the scene in a few takes and when the directors call a scene and start to focus on a scene with Lucy playing little me, we have some time to catch up. “So how did it go?” Brody asks.

I roll my eyes, “Sam really got himself into some trouble, but thank God Dallas was there because Dallas spoke to him and I think he actually really broke through to Sam. Sam is a whole new person now. Dallas literally had him at the counter doing homework before we left.”

Their jaws drop, “No fucking way,” Aria says in utter surprise.

I nod, “I know, right? He was so amazing with Sam.”

Brody beams, “Taking him home to meet the family already, huh? I just know your mother had a field day with him.”

I frown, “I think she’s in love with him.”

Aria chuckles, “How could she not be? He’s gorgeous. That’s so sweet of him to help with Sam though.”

“I know. I think Sam’s problem is that he doesn’t have a consistent male figure around to show him the right way.

He seems to really like Dallas,” I get sad as I say the last sentence because I realize that when my stalker is caught and Dallas and I aren’t spending as much time together, he may just forget about me and then I’ll feel the loss of his presence myself, but Sam will too.

Brody is bouncing on the heels of her feet in excitement, “So you and Dallas are still just friends or whatever it is you are that you aren’t telling us?”

I blush, “I promise I will tell you guys about that. It’s something we have to talk about with Selene.” I refer to my stalker situation. I shrug as I explain the next part, “But I guess we’re friends.”

Aria smirks as if she knows what went on in my childhood bedroom as if she was there herself and saw it with her own eyes. “You naughty, naughty girl, Ivory Aslan.”

I widen my eyes, playing the innocent act, “Excuse me?”

Her smirk deepens, “You slept with him.”

Brody gasps and looks suddenly so pleased and I shush them, “Be quiet! I don’t want people to hear.”

“So you did?” Brody asks, a little more quiet this time.

I look around to see if we have any listening ears and when I catch sight of Dallas on his phone on the other side of the set, I turn around, “Not exactly.”

Aria squeals, “Oh my God, spill.”

I wave her off, “We just kissed and then he kinda, you know.”

Brody wiggles her brows, “Oh, I know.”

Aria claps her hands, “How was it?”

I groan, “So good.”

Brody grins, “So are you two a thing now?”

I shrug, “I don’t think so. I think we’re just friends.”

Aria tilts her head, suddenly serious, “But you like him?”

I nod, biting my lip. “I think I do. A little too much.”

Aria drapes an arm over my shoulder, “So what’s the problem?”

I give her a hard look, “The problem is that I know we have a connection and I like him, but I’m not sure if he feels the same way, or if it’s just a sexual thing for him.”

Brody gives me a look like I’m incompetent, “Ivory, he likes you just as much, if not more, than you like him.”

I roll my eyes, “And how would you know that?”

She gives me a look like she knows a lot more than she’s letting on, but won’t be giving me answers. “I just do.”

“Whatever,” I wave them off.

Heels click beside us and an assertive voice interrupts, “Hello, deranged people.” We all turn and find Selene beside us.

“Hi, mistress of evil,” Brody greets in return.

Selene immediately frowns, “I told you to stop that.”

Brody taps her chin as if in thought, “And I’m pretty sure I told you I don’t give a shit.”

Selene takes a deep breath and gathers herself, “You know what? I am not engaging today. I am in too good of a mood.”

“You? In a good mood? Did Hell freeze over?” I ask, feigning shock in my voice.

She narrows her eyes at me, “No. I’ll have you three know that I spoke with Martin and he reported that he has been very pleased with your professionalism.”

Aria raises a brow, “That’s why you’re happy?”