Page 40 of The Games We Play

I close my eyes when he raises his head and his lips slam into mine. His hands work earnestly, grabbing at my clothes, ripping the seams andflinging them across the room. I run my fingers through his hair and pull on the strands, exposing his throat so I can kiss, bite, and suck my way up to his perfect lips. I can’t get his shirt off fast enough and grab my knife once more, cutting the fabric away. Licking up his chiseled torso, I rip his belt off and yank his pants to his ankles.

I don’t look up to see his face, worried that learning who X really is will break the magic we have.

His cock springs free and ready. I squeeze his balls, guiding the erection into my mouth. I close my eyes and take all of him in one motion. He pulses against the back of my throat, causing me to gag and groans my name like a prayer to his deity.

Me.

I’m his goddess and he’s my god. Two powerful people living for each other and belonging to one another. My cheeks hollow as I take him with a hunger I’ve never felt before. Each moan of my name eggs me on. To pull his confessions from his soul. I am his salvation and he will damn well remember it.

Twenty-Two - X

She was fucking amazing,honestly I never dreamed last night would have gone the way it did. Puppet showed me her true self, admitting the worst thing she’d ever done—and didn’t hide from me.

Watching her take that pathetic frat boy’s life—my cock hardens just thinking about it all. And the way she drew that girl from the floor and killed her right there, surrounded by hundreds of others—fuck! I wish she could have seen my expression under my mask.

She’s ready. I’ve got her right where I want her. And soon, I’ll make the call. My gut twists at that thought, but I push the feelings aside. I knew what this was from the beginning. There is no place for emotions. Those turn into leverage and fuck that.

I park my car in a dark alley and check that I have the correct location before getting out. The soles of my dress shoes tap against the worn black top, the sound echoing off the brick buildings.

Sierra steps out of the shadows in a very expensive suit and a cocky grin.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss.

“It’s real, Lima. This job will change our lives and we’ll never have to work for anyone again.”

I run my fingers through my hair and tug on the ends.

Do not talk outside of the job.

That’s one of the utmost important rules. It’s how we don’t get caught and fly under the radar. If we’re made, then it’s not cops we’ll have to worry about. There will be a bounty on our heads that will make what I do look like child’s play.

“How did you even get my number?” I ask.

He takes a slow drag of his cigarette and smiles as smoke plumes from between his lips. “I found them. Yourboss. I hacked their systems and got your phone number. Your address…your records…yourfamily…where you like to spend your free time.” He arches his brow and my hands clench. “They know, by the way. It was all there in black and white.” He pauses and studies me.

I keep my expression neutral while inside. I’m debating cutting him up to keep my private life safe. To keephersafe.

Buttheyknow about her. So why hasn’t anyone made their move? What are they waiting for?

“Are you threatening me? We both know how this will end and I’m not one to lose,” I seethe.

He laughs as if I didn’t just promise him death and clasps my shoulder.

“We’re friends. I’m simply here to give you the offer and bring you on board. We don’t answer to anyone. Given a list and choose who and when we kill. No more waiting for someone’s beck and call. It’s freedom, man.”

I snort. “Really? Because it just sounds like someone else’s chain attached to our balls. What’s gotten into you, Sierra? We have a good thing going here. We’re able to kill, to get that fix we need. Then go home and live our lives. You’re ruining everything!”

His humorous demeanor disappears, and he levels me with a stare. “This is a onetime offer, Lance.”

My hands fist at the use of the legal name.

“You’re the one reason our targets are getting snatched out from under us,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Actually, I’m the one who is snatching them.” His lips turn into a cocky grin. “I think you should know; it’s Darius that reached out to me. He says that would mean something to you and have you change your mind.”

Darius…

It doesn’t mean shit aside from a threat, a promise that this isn’t an option. I say yes, I die. I say no, I’ll be hunted. He’s toying with me. Showing how close he can get and that if he wanted me dead, I would be at any moment. I stopped worrying about my life a long time ago, but if he knows about her and what I’ve been doing—nobody is going to fuck with her but me.