A light flickers on.
Langston’s angry glare leaves me timid and weak at the knees.
His eyes roam up and down my body, like he’s taking inventory of it.
A soft breeze blows through the window. It’s then I realize I’m naked. My robe must have fallen off as I was chasing after him.
His eyes heat on the scar on my stomach.
I move my hands to cover it, but he gently and firmly removes my hand so he can inspect my scar.
“Are you ready to sleep in my bed?” he asks sternly.
“No.”
“Then what are you doing out of the closet?”
“I—I, uh, just wanted to know why you stopped. What you were chasing?”
“Go back to bed, Liesel.”
“What about—”
“Now!” His booming voice demands compliance.
I have no choice but to walk back to the closet.
I find my robe on the floor and cover my body. Once again, I find myself slumping in the corner of the closet.
He walks to the door, and this time, I see his eyes before he closes the door. They brand into me, hiding his thoughts but making it clear he’s angry with me.
Then the door is shut and locked.
I’m left alone once again.
Once again with my demons.
Once again to finish myself.
I huff, knowing there is no way I’m going to come now. Tonight, I’m going to have to deal with my monsters.
To make things worse, I’ve shown Langston how weak I am for his body. Now he has an even bigger advantage. I need to figure out how to get the upper hand. I need to get ahold of a phone and call Waylon, Siren, or Kai. Anyone who might search and find me.
Or I could strike my own deal with Langston. One that keeps him from touching me during the day, but at night…
22
Langston
I wake before the sun—not that I slept. I couldn’t after what happened with Liesel last night.
The woman is the most irritating, confounding, frustrating woman on the planet. She’s also the most intriguing, alluring, beautiful woman.
And that means I’m fucked.
I should stay away, except when I’m pushing her to spill her secrets, but I can’t. I want to fuck her so badly. My balls are blue just thinking about it.
I can’t.
I can do many things to Liesel—torture her, demand truths, even kill her. I just can’t fuck her.
Dammit, do my balls ache. My cock is stiff as a board, and after thirty minutes of trying to jack myself off, I’m more sexually frustrated than I was when I started. Finally, I just give up and decide to start my day.
I flick the lock on the door and wait, but Liesel doesn’t move inside the closet.
I listen carefully and hear her soft snoring—she’s asleep.
She’ll figure out soon enough that the door is unlocked.
I head downstairs and find Amelia in the kitchen.
“Oh, Langston, I don’t have coffee made yet. I wasn’t expecting you to wake up for another hour like you usually do,” Amelia says.
I grunt and make my way to the coffee machine. I don’t usually operate it, but I’m too tired for words. I take the bag of coffee beans and put them into the hand grinder. I begin grinding when the handle pops off.
“Son of a bitch.” I slam the grinder down on the counter—beans and broken metal fly everywhere.
I breathe heavily, realizing I need a release, any release. I need to get far away from the blonde upstairs.
“Let me work on your coffee for you,” Amelia says, taking what remains of the grinder from my hands.
I nod and place my hands on my head as I storm out of the kitchen.
I should go for a run. Or meditate. Or swim. Something healthy to get my pent up frustration out.
Instead, I go see Joel.
I’m not sure if it will help or make things worse, but I need to see him. I need answers to what happened last night.
Joel is one of my trusted men who lives in the house with me, so I don’t have to go far.
I walk to his door, letting my feet hit the floor roughly so he can hear me coming. When I knock, the sound is loud enough to wake the entire house up.
I can hear him moving in his bed, and then his feet hit the floor as he runs to answer the door. He knows it’s me. He knows I have questions for him.
He opens the door without a shirt on. His hair is a disheveled mess, and a five o’clock shadow covers his face.
“Yes?” he asks as he grips the doorframe.
“What happened last night?”
He frowns. “Nothing. Nothing happened.”
My eyes scan his face, looking for the truth.
For the first time, I wish I had cameras in my bedroom so I could know for sure if he’s telling the truth.
“Did you do what I asked?”
Joel’s eyes linger behind me, and I realize that Liesel has woken up. Probably my knocking or the blunder with the coffee grinder jolted her into the morning.
I glare at Joel.
I don’t care that Liesel is standing behind us watching the exchange. I want to know what happened from his mouth because Lord knows I don’t trust a word out of Liesel’s.
“Yes,” he answers before closing the door.
I turn and glance at Liesel but don’t speak to her. She’s still wearing that damn robe, even though she can’t seem to keep it on her body all the time. She won’t ask for clothes, but I won’t survive her staying here a year without her completely covered in layers.
Liesel’s eyes follow me while I walk back to the kitchen.
“Amelia, get Liesel some clothes and make sure she’s wearing them by the time I get back.”
Amelia blushes with a knowing smile as Liesel enters the kitchen.
“Langston, can we—” Liesel starts.
“I’m taking the helicopter to the other side of the island. Don’t worry about lunch or dinner for me today, Amelia.”
Liesel’s mouth snaps shut. Finally, she understands I won’t be talking to her during the day. My only use for her is at night.
I walk away from Liesel before she has a chance to open her sassy mouth.
I’m grumpy, annoyed, and sex-deprived. And based on how Liesel is telling her stories, I know what story she’s going to tell next.
I’m terrified of her lying about the next part of her story.
I’m more terrified if she finally decides to tell the truth.
One of us might end up dead tonight.
Or worse—I’ll lose control and fuck her. Although, from the way her body responded to me last night, she just might enjoy that.
I’m not surprised to find Liesel already sitting on the beach as the sun begins to set.
She’s wearing a red bikini top and jean shorts. Her skin is more tanned than it was this morning. She must have spent the day in the sun.
Meanwhile, I spent the day in torment.
I readjust the bag on my shoulder as I walk down to the beach to meet her. I’m glad she’s wearing clothes; I just wish she was wearing more clothes.
The waves crash against the shore as I take a seat next to her. I don’t bother with a towel this time. We sit directly on the sand tonight.
Once again, I pull out two lowball glasses and pour them with Liesel’s favorite scotch. Luckily, it’s my favorite scotch too.