Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 101840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
As we parted ways, I dragged myself back to my suite. Every step felt like ten, and my eyes stung like I’d pulled an all-nighter.
I’d grown up knowing I’d eventually wear twin capes of power and secrecy, but in moments like this, the weight of them was almost too much to carry.
And there wasn’t a single soul I could share that weight with either. No one in my life—not the sister I adored, not the people I worked with, not the women (or man) who’d shared my bed—could ever know the truth of Paxis. And I couldn’t trust anyone on the council enough to get close to them.
The realization made me on edge and out of sorts.
And that was before I got to my bedroom and remembered I had a drug lord’s son to murder.
“You’re here,” Jett said, glancing up from where he already reclined in my bed.
“I’m here.”
His face was serious as he met my eyes. “We need to talk.”
I crossed my arms and glared at him. “Agreed. Start talking.”
Jett pushed himself upright and leaned against the headboard.
What exactly was he going to say? That the punk had made him a better offer?
If Jett thought for one moment I was going to let him out of his commitment to me before the end of this week, he was wrong. If he thought I’d allow him to move from my bed into Santi-fucking-Alvarado’s, he was mistaken.
“Easy, tiger,” he said with a frown as he patted the bed next to him. “Why do you look so angry?”
I tried ignoring his concerned expression. “Whatever you’re going to say, the answer’s no.”
He made a funny expression, a little tilt of the head and purse of the lips, and then he looked amused. “Well, I was going to ask if you’d mind letting me fuck you. Since you said no, that means you won’t mind. Great! Let me show you how to prep.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Don’t be cute,” I muttered.
Jett’s sunshine smile was warmer than the Mediterranean sun. “I mean, I could try, but it’s kind of my permanent state.” He patted the bed again. “Orrr you could just tell me what got you upset.”
“Damn it.” I yanked the covers back and climbed in. I gave in to the urge to hold him, pulling him fully into my arms, where I was starting to believe he might belong.
It wasn’t the same as being able to trust him, but the connection felt damn good anyway.
“Fuck,” I mumbled. He felt fucking incredible, all lean muscle and coiled tension.
He snuggled against me with a contented sound before grumbling about how many clothes I was wearing. “Get them off.”
I stepped out of the bed and stripped down to my boxer briefs before sliding in and pulling him down to lie face-to-face with me on our sides. Then I reached for his hand.
“Tell me what Santi wanted.”
“How’d you know Santi talked to me?” he demanded.
I rolled my eyes. “Next time you have an assignation with someone, maybe don’t do it where I can see you out the window.”
Jett rolled his own eyes twice as hard. “Next time you think you’ve caught me having an assignation with someone, maybe remember that I’m not an idiot or an asshole… and that no one actually uses the word assignation.”
Despite myself, I huffed out a laugh. “Touché. What did he want?”
Jett hesitated, his eyes flicking between mine. I could tell he was caught between telling me the truth or a lie. But when he blew out a breath and opened his mouth, I wasn’t sure which he’d chosen.
“Santi said to be careful of you. That he thought something suspicious was going on here. With the Paxis players.”
My antennae pricked, and I leaned up on an elbow. “Suspicious how?”
Jett hesitated. “He… he thinks the game is a front. He implied you’re using your ships to help his father move drugs or… or people.”
I stared at him. So much for Santi being worthy of the game. This was enough reason to ban him from ever becoming a player. Not to mention, it was a dirty lie.
“I’m not,” I assured Jett, cupping his face so he could see the truth in my eyes. “I don’t have a professional relationship with Esteban. And they don’t use Maris ships. At least, not to my knowledge.”
“You gonna tell me why you play chess with a drug lord, then?” The words were softly spoken, but his eyes pleaded.
It wasn’t his first time asking, but it was the first time I was tempted to tell him the truth. Instead, I leaned down to kiss him.
He let me kiss him once, twice, three times, before he pulled away. “That’s a good trick—the best—but I’m not falling for it.”
I combed my fingers through his messy waves. “I can’t answer that, Jethro.”