Page 113 of Running Winter

"Shall we order food in tonight?"

I looked up to see Leigh leaning back in his chair, gazing at me from behind his glasses. I climbed out of the pool slowly, aware he was shaking his head as I did. He stood up, offering me a towel, which I took, dabbing my skin lightly.

"Whatever," I said airily before dropping to the sun lounger beside him.

The heat of the early morning sun was still intense, and I felt myself relax. It was beautiful here and so tranquil when Dad wasn't barking orders at everyone.

"You're pissed off at me," Leigh sighed, taking me by surprise. "It's not you, Raven, or anything you've done."

I lifted onto my elbows, staring at him in disbelief.

"It's not me; it’s you? Really, Leigh?" I echoed in disbelief.

"Look, don't give me shit, alright? I'm going to ask your dad if I can do something else. It's a conflict of interest."

Leigh turned away, and anger surged through my veins.

"So wait, one minute you're asking me to be your dirty little secret, the next I'm a ‘conflict of interest?’ Wow, Leigh. Wow."

"Raven, it's not like that. You don't even know me, not really."

"So? Does that mean I can't fuck you?" I shot back as his lips pursed together.

God, he is sexy.

"Is that it, Raven? Is that all you want, a fuck? Because baby, you could get that with anyone."

"I want it with you," I stubbornly crossed my arms as he shook his head.

"I know. But it was a—"

"If you say mistake, I'll drown you," I muttered, lifting my knees to my chest as I gazed at him.

Hot tears threatened to spill down my cheeks, and he didn’t say anything to reassure me.

"So you'd rather just be my bodyguard."

"As opposed to what? Come on, Raven. You don't know how much your father has helped me, and what have I done in return?" He tugged his sunglasses off, then his gaze locked onto mine. "It's disrespectful. When he finds out—"

"If," I corrected him as he walked over to my sun lounger.

"Lucas Deacon knows everything, doll."

"So that's why you’re backing away from me?" I hissed, jumping up. "You aren't making any fucking sense! You want me, or you don't. Which is it?"

His arm wrapped around my waist, and he held my chin tightly in his hand.

"I want you, Raven. It's my downfall. But I can't go backward—I can't lose this gig."

"And I'm going backward, right?" I whispered as he gazed at my lips.

"No, fuck! You're twisting my words," Leigh snapped, releasing me. "You and me—we’re from different worlds. You're gonna be running this shit one day—you're running it now. Me? I work for people like you."

So fucking judgemental.

"You'll end up rich and powerful with a string of men following you around. I'll end up dead for fucking you. You need to understand something—"

He reached forward then, dragging me back towards him as I moved backward, trying to resist him.

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