Page 18 of The Obedient Lie

Then the towel dropped.

And I swear to God I stoppedbreathing.

Tiny lace panties.White.

Soft.So small they barely counted.

She didn’t even pause — just stepped into a pair of high-waisted shorts like she wasn’t setting fire to the whole room.

My mouth was dry. My fingers gripped the edge of the sheet like I couldstranglethe heat out of myself.

She turned.

“Morning,” she said softly, smiling like it wasnothing. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

I closed my eyes fully. “No.”

Her voice was light. “I’m heading down to breakfast. Want me to bring you anything?”

I forced myself to roll onto my back. Opened my eyes.

She was standing between our beds, brushing her fingers through her hair like ahalowasn’t already glowing over her head.

Why. Why did she have to be so damn sweet.

Her tank top had twisted slightly, giving me the perfect side view of her breast. Of course she didn’t fix it. Just stood between our beds as if she belonged here.

“No,” I said, voice tight.

She looked to Luca. “Coffee?”

He nodded without opening his eyes.

She beamed. “Got it.”

And just like that, she left.

The second it closed, Luca sat up. He rubbed a hand over his jaw. “You were awake the whole time.”

“So were you.”

“Sheknew.”

“No,” I said quietly. “She didn’t.”

“She’s wearingwhite lace, Bastion.”

“Yeah.” I stared at the ceiling. “Inoticed.”

We sat there in silence. Then I got out of bed, grabbed my towel, and went to take the coldest shower of my life.

Chapter Eight

BASTION

She was in the middle of the floor like sheownedthe fucking place.

No mat. No music. No awareness of the fact that thirty armed men lived here — and she was currently stretched out in the main lounge like it was herprivate yoga studio.