Page 114 of Deceit

“What are you doing here?” I ask off a shaky exhale, my hand flying to my stomach because it won’t stop knotting.

I’m going to throw up.

I can’t keep doing this with him and everything begs me to let go. To finish this and start new with something else. I deserve better, but some of me doesn’t want it.

“Just got back,” he deadpans, keeping his intense stare on me and tossing the perfectly arranged bouquet to the ground.

His eyes are dark now, full of anger, confusion, and regret as he stands before me.

I’m guessing that he wishes he never would’ve shown up here. That it took him a lot to do so, and now he could kick himself in the ass for giving in. I long and crave for more, and he does the same. We both won’t give in, but we’re hydrogen and oxygen; we need each other to breathe.

“How did it go?” I ask, digging my fingertips into my t-shirt. “The mission, I mean.”

“He’s dead.”

I bob my head. “Good. When did you get back?”

“Yesterday.” His head cocks to the left. “Miss me, baby?”

The squeaking of my front door whines but Bishop and I don’t break eye contact.

No, it’s more dangerous than that.

I’ve seen Bishop take on multiple men at one time and come out on the other side with only a few bruises. Alexander could become dog food if Bishop so pleased.

My guest being in plain view of such a creature isn’t safe. And the fullness of Bishop’s glare isn’t necessarily a secure location either.

“Hi,” Alexander greets, and—Lord help the man—he holds out a hand. “I’m Alexander.”

“You must be the boyfriend,” my husband grumbles, flicking his gaze to him.

“You’ve heard of me?” Alexander’s voice goes up a notch, sounding completely surprised and thrilled at the news.

I want to crawl into a tiny hole and die.

Bishop steps up on him, and I know that move anywhere. I’ve seen all the boys do it, even Blue. It ends up with Bishop’s fist in someone else’s face.

Quickly I step in, trying to make it look casual as I block Alexander from being swung on, sandwiching myself between the bold and the freaking beautiful.

“Bishop just came back from Germany. He had a few things he had to run by me real quick.”

“Oh, fantastic,” Alexander marvels behind me. “Did you get a chance to see the Heidelberg Castle or the Colgate Cathedral?”

“No, I was too busy stalking—“

“Bishop would’ve been too held up in an office.” I compel a cheap giggle. “He’s not much of a tourist anyway.”

Bishop lifts a brow. “Really? Because I remember on onebusinesstrip we spent it eating off every food truck and stand in Venice. You recall Vegas, don’t you?”

An ear-piercing silence encases us, and I scowl at him while my words come out with nothing but honey.

“That’s because I had to practically drag you around.” I step backward, forcing Alexander to get back in the house. “Thanks for stopping by and letting me know what happened. I’ll see you—uh, I’ll see you when I see you.”

“Lunch tomorrow?” I can’t tell if this asshole is serious or just fucking with the man behind me, but the answer is going to be no.

No more private times.

No more getting wrapped up in his grip.

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