Page 46 of Filthy Liar

“Not yet.” The door shuts behind me, and we’re alone. The roof is built up along the edges, and has a bunch of nooks and crannies with covered shelter spots, so it feels private up here even with the street noise below. “Wilson seems to think we should hash out the past.”

“And what does Melinda Gray think?”

“There are more important things going on right now.”

“I’m fully aware that you wouldn’t be here if you could help it.” He turns and looks south toward the Washington Monument. “I’m not having any trouble focusing on the real issues at hand, I assure you.”

“I have no doubt. You’re a kingmaker.”

“Do you believe that?”

I move closer to him. “As much as anyone can be. Nobody controls this game, though.”

“That’s the problem, isn’t it?” He glances sideways at me. “There are people who think they do. But we’re all pawns.”

I nod. “Even the people who think they pull the strings… We’re all at the mercy of everyone else.”

His mouth quirks. “That’s the social experiment, isn’t it? We all lift each other up?”

“Well, if you insist on putting a positive spin on it.” I move past him, sliding into the shadows beneath an overhang. I’m pretty sure Wilson can’t see me here, and even if he can, he’ll turn off the monitor and find something else to do. I undo my belt and the silk panels of my dress slide against my body, falling open.

Jason’s gaze drops to my breasts, lingering there long enough for my nipples to harden under his appraisal, then he rakes his hot inspection lower. To my belly and the shadow between my legs.

“You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Really?” I smirk. “I think I do. It’s time you stop underestimating me.”

He moves against me, pushing me deeper into the shadow. His fingers tangle in my hair, holding me still as he crushes his mouth against mine. Hard, ruthless, demanding.

When he pulls away, his grip tightens. “How do you see this going? You think I’m going to fuck you, and we’ll forget the rest of the conversation we should have had?”

“If only it were that easy.” I lick my lips, wet still from the savaging of his kiss. “I didn’t come up here to distract you.”

“That’s a shame. I could use a distraction right now.” He nips at my jaw. “We both could. Talking is overrated.” His devouring mouth moves to my neck, his breath hot against my ear. “I know we don’t have long, Ellie. We don’t need to hash anything out. It’s fine.”

It’s not, really, but talking won’t make it any better.

But before we get further than his mouth on my breasts, his phone goes off.

He digs it out. “There’s a response. They’ve sent a photo.”

I tug my dress back together and smooth down my hair.

Jason straightens my belt, then catches my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Hey. Whatever the photo looks like…it’s not real.”

“I know.”

“And we’ll continue this later.”

“Yeah.”

He frowns.

“What?”

“What are you running from?”

“Nothing,” I say lightly.

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