Page 26 of Forever Lies
“Not to me, no—at least, not physically.”
“What does that mean? You think he could be emotionally abusive?”
“No! It’s just that he’s addictive, and I have this feeling he’s going to break my heart. I can’t stop thinking about him, and I love the way I feel when I’m with him, but I know he has secrets. Dark secrets.”
“Yikes, that is rough. What are you going to do?”
“Hell, if I know. Eat ice cream and watch movies—care to join me?”
A wide grin spread across her face. “I thought you’d never ask.”
CHAPTER 11
LUCA
I knewthe minute she texted—she was running.
My intuition about people was impeccable. There was no meeting. She’d used the excuse to avoid me. As pissed as I was to have her run from me, I was also pleased to confirm she had a decent head on her shoulders. Some women loved to get a taste of danger—enjoyed a walk on the wild side.
A smart woman would be wary of associating with me.
Alessia had not been blind to the dangers and was wise enough to heed the warnings. Not only that, I’d been impressed with her practiced ability to remain composed when she’d overheard my phone call. Apart of me even questioned if maybe it hadn’t bothered her, but the text had verified her calm demeanor had been an act.
Fucking Rafi.
I’d been using him to handle my affairs while I gathered information, but there was only so much he was capable of. The others knew he spoke on my behalf, but he had no authority. He was too low-level to give orders, not that I was particularly high up. I’d been surprised when they called me in to do the job, but as they explained, my history made me more qualified than most. I’d get the answers they were looking for, and when I did, it would help secure my future in the organization.
I understood Rafi’s need to call for help, but that didn’t mean it didn’t piss me off. I considered censoring my words while Alessia was in the car, but an overwhelming part of me wanted her to know, wanted her to put the pieces together. She needed to understand I wasn’t some Johnny Homemaker, but there were rules I had to obey. More than my career was at stake if I gave her more information than I should. I had to put the pieces before her and hope she not only put them together, but she didn’t walk away for good.
I needed her. I needed her to open up to me, and that wouldn’t happen unless she trusted me. It would be easy if I pretended to be someone else, but I didn’t have it in me to play weak. I could only be myself and trust I could win her over on my own.
Our exchange at her apartment had been reassuring. She was scared, but she wasn’t beyond my reach. She was just as much a victim to the magnetic pull between us as I was. I craved to be near her when she wasn’t around, and when she was, all I could think about was getting inside her. All of her. I wanted to sink my cock inside her and penetrate that sharpmind of hers. I wanted to possess her inside and out. I wanted to know why she exercised such strict control over all aspects of her life and how she’d remained so naïve and innocent in the City That Never Sleeps.
There were monsters everywhere, and I was one of them.
I hadn’t targeted her only for her luscious body and intriguing mind; I needed information from her. I’d been telling the truth when I said I hadn’t planned to want her. She had likely given her own meaning to the words, but the truth was, I had initiated our little elevator encounter for a purpose, which had nothing to do with my dick. Had I just walked up to her on the street and tried to strike up a conversation, it would never have worked. She was entirely too wary for something like that. I had to come up with an in, a way to slip under her outer walls. There was something intimate about elevators. It had been the perfect way to freeze time and connect us in a shared moment.
I had needed a contact inside Triton, and Alessia had seemed perfect for the job. Then I hit snags, one after the other—the least of which was my growing need for the woman. She was an unholy seductress without the faintest clue of her effect on every heterosexual man who crossed her path. I wanted every ounce of that latent sexuality for myself, feeling the need to pluck the eyes from every other man who dared look at her.
I wanted her, but there was more to it than that. When she discovered I had ulterior motives, and she undoubtedly would, I’d have a fight on my hands. I was going to have to find a way to get what I needed without losing her in the process.
Just like I’d said, she complicated everything.
CHAPTER 12
ALESSIA
The morningafter Luca came by my apartment, I had no idea what to expect. Our conversation had eased my mind somewhat, but I still didn’t have any answers. He knew I was worried and had urged me to trust him. I knew he had secrets but had been soothed by his assurances.
Nothing had changed.
I was still uncertain about Luca, but I wasn’t actively pushing him away. There was no deadline to make a decision, so until I had more information, I would try to guard myself and move cautiously forward.
We hadn’t spoken since he’d left, which meant I wasn’t sure if he was picking me up or where thingsstood between us. I carried on as if it were any other normal day, except for my choice of outfit. In the event I would see him, I wore a silk blouse that was more low-cut than I would ordinarily wear to work. My desire to appeal to Luca apparently outweighed my concerns about him, not to mention the risk of Roger putting on the moves.
Luca hadn’t said anything about giving me a ride, so I kept my scheduled appointment with Leo to drive me. Instead of feeling despair over not hearing from him, I was relieved and reassured Luca had heard my request to slow down and was making an effort to give me space. His actions went a long way to ease my concerns about his domineering tendencies. Knowing I had a say in the relationship and he respected my wishes was just as attractive as his assertive, controlling nature. The only way for it to work was if the two were mutually inclusive. I wasn’t sure a kind, respectful man with no backbone would stir my interest, just as an egotistical control freak would make me crazy. There had to be a delicate balance between the two, and it appeared Luca could walk that fine line.
My morning went smoothly, answering emails with few interruptions. Feeling a bit more at ease about the Luca situation, I was able to focus on my work and accomplished several tasks that had fallen to the wayside. I was so in the zone, I almost didn’t notice when Roger stepped into my office. I was sitting at my desk, looking over printed drafts of a commercial storyboard when he approached, walking to my desk and standing over me, rather than taking one of the empty chairs.
