Page 20 of Vex
No, better to hold onto hate and hope it didn't become something unmanageable.
It was easy to hate him when Vex was nowhere to be found. They'd spent another sleepless night in the giant bed, not saying a word about the kiss.
She'd lain there in the darkness, hyperaware of every small movement he made. The space between them had felt charged with possibility. With desire. More than once, she'd found herself turning toward his warmth before she jerked herself back to sanity.
He'd been awake too. She could tell from the careful way he held himself, the rhythm of his breathing that was just a little too controlled to be natural. It only made everything worse.
They’d both been lying there, wanting. And reaching for more would ruin everything.
And now his lordship had sent a note, summoning her like she belonged to him.
Which, she sort of did. Given their cover. But still, it was the principle of the thing. If he wanted her on the floor with him, he could ask.
But she wasn't going to put the mission at risk for a temper tantrum.
If Vex wanted arm candy, she was going to kill him with sweetness.
A half hour later, she slunk through the casino like she was built for it. The whisper of silk against her skin was a reminder of the role she was playing, each sway of her hips calculated to draw attention and hold it. Eyes snaked over her. Conversations stuttered.
And when Vex spotted her, his mouth actually dropped open. Only a bit, barely more than if he were taking a breath. But that reaction was all for her. She even saw a wisp of smoke come off his hand before quickly dispelling.
She wasn't the only one affected by the inconvenient thing between them.
The dress was a masterpiece of strategic seduction, emerald silk that clung to her body. It hugged her curves from breast to hip before flaring into a skirt that was just long enough to be decent and short enough to promise scandal with every step. The neckline plunged deep enough to showcase the necklace Vex had given her, the gems laying against her skin like a brand of ownership.
Every eye in the casino tracked her movement, but she only cared about one pair. Vex's gaze sizzled in a way that made heat pool low in her belly. The careful mask of aristocratic boredom had slipped completely, replaced by something hungry.
His attention fixed on the necklace at her throat, and a wisp of smoke curled off of him. The gems lay against her pulse point like a collar, a visible statement of possession that everyone in the room could read. The weight of it was warm against her skin.
She was wearing his claim for all to see.
She sauntered over to Vex and draped herself over him, letting her body go limp in all the right places as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She nuzzled against him. "Hey, baby, are you winning?"
He grunted and pulled her close. His arm banded around her waist with unmistakable greediness, hauling her against his side until there was no space between them. The heat of his body seeped through the thin silk, making her skin tingle with awareness. She was practically sitting in his lap.
And now that she was where she belonged, no one was staring at them. This kind of behavior was normal, expected even, from assholes like Vex.
After a moment, Luisa spotted Maera carefully weaving her way towards them past crowded tables. The woman moved like a shark through the crowd, pausing to exchange pleasantries while her gaze kept drifting back to their corner.
And then her past chose that moment to punch her right in the gut.
Maera passed in front of a tall, broad man wearing a casino uniform. At first, he didn't look like anyone in particular, then Luisa's brain, and her survival instincts, caught up.
Brant Tallyer.
Her veins chilled to ice, every muscle in her body going rigid with shock. The years fell away in an instant, leaving her feeling like the desperate data-rat she'd once been.
Tallyer looked older, his face harder, but those cold eyes were exactly the same. Eyes that had watched while his enforcers worked people over for information. And worse.
She didn't realize that she'd stiffened until Vex placed a hand on her arm and shot her a questioning look.
Right. Play the part. Be the mistress.
She let out a vapid little laugh and nuzzled closer. Then she reached for Vex's whiskey and knocked it back like it was her own. The liquor burned down her throat, and it was a welcome distraction from the fear racing through her system.
She wanted another. Or three.
What the fuck was that bastard doing here?
