Page 112 of These White Lies

Lifting my weight slightly, I slip my free hand beneath the waistband of her sleep shorts, desperate to feel her bare skin. Sliding a finger beneath the elastic, I move her panties to the side and groan at the feel of her hot and ready for me.

Elizabeth arches up, seeking more friction. My mouth seizes hers in a bruising kiss, and as I’m just about to work my own waist band down?—

“BREAKFAST IS READY!” her mother yells from far too close to our door.

We freeze.

Elizabeth lets out a dramatic groan, flopping back against the pillow. “Noooo,” she whines.

I can’t help one last slide of my fingers through her heat, before removing my hand. Pressing a hard, fast kiss to her lips, my head ducks to bury my face in her neck, trying to get my body back under control.

When she continues to mutter under her breath about her mom being the ultimate cockblock, I laugh into her heated skin.

“We'd better get up,” I say, even though my body demands I finish what we started.

“Humph.” She pouts, swinging her legs off the bed when I force myself to push off her.

I pull on jeans and a dark T-shirt, leaving it untucked, thankful the hem hangs low enough to spare me from explaining anything at her parents’ breakfast table. Elizabeth smooths her shirt down and runs a brush through her hair, still looking adorably frustrated.

Coming up behind her, I kiss her cheek. “I’ll make it up to you, later.”

“This better be a damn good breakfast.” She meets my eyes in the mirror. “Is it super obvious what we were…”

“Yes,” I immediately answer, looking at her flushed skin, and swollen lips. I lift my finger to lightly brush over the mark I left on her neck. She glares at my reflection before reaching for a narrow tube of makeup.

We’re halfway down the stairs when my phone buzzes, Vincent’s name on the display. I step to the side to answer.

“My guy’s in town,” Vincent says without a greeting. “He’ll be at the office at one.”

Anticipation surges through me. At last, we might get some answers. “Good. We’ll head out after breakfast.”

When I hang up, Elizabeth tilts her head, watching me carefully from where she is waiting for me at the bottom of the steps. “Vincent?”

“Yeah.” I slip the phone into my pocket. “His expert is going to wait for us at Elite.”

She bites her bottom lip, hope flickering in her eyes. “Do you think he’ll be able to figure out what’s so special about the necklace?”

“Fingers crossed. How mad are your parents going to be if we disappear right after eating?”

“Not as disappointed in me as usual, if you mention coming back for Thanksgiving.”

She winks, and it strikes me how I’m willing to do pretty much whatever she wants, if it will keep that relaxed, happy look on her face.

By the timewe get back to headquarters, tension has a firm grip on my ribs.

We take the stairs to the second floor, where the conference room is already set up. Everyone is waiting for us around the long table, seated in the padded, black leather chairs. Two laptops are open, ready to send information to three oversized monitors mounted on the far wall.

I don’t recognize the man standing next to Vincent. He appears to be in his late fifties, his lanky frame dressed in a stylish brown suit. Laid out in front of him is a black roll-up tool bundle, a small, goose-necked table lamp, and a black velvet mat.

“This is Hal.” Vincent introduces the man as he adjusts the wire-framed glasses that slightly magnify his sharp brown eyes.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.” Hal’s tone is clipped as he pulls on a pair of white gloves.

Elizabeth glances at me, and when I nod, she hands over the necklace without a word, placing the white velvet box in his outstretched palm. Her expression is guarded, and the elegant line of her shoulders is tense.

If Hal doesn’t figure out what secret the necklace is hiding, I’m going to have to take amuchblunter approach to those I believe might be Lapidarists. That will take time. And that’s unacceptable. I want to start my life with Elizabeth free of this bullshit.

Hal places the box on the table, and I swear everyone in the room holds their breath as he lifts the hinged lid.