Aras

“Left,” I said to Lake, guiding her to the suite I had set aside for exactly this purpose.

Not even a second passed between my words and her compliance.

What a shift from just minutes ago.

She hadn’t thought that halfhearted escape through, and she seemed to understand and accept that.

Just as I understood and accepted her answer.

That drive to fight even when the odds weren’t stacked in your favor, even when doing so was not in your best interest, was something I understood.

And something that revealed yet another aspect of Lake.

Which was definitely something I didn’t need to see.

She was a bargaining chip, no more important or valuable than cash, guns, drugs, any of the currencies that would help me get to where I wanted to be and accomplish what I had set out to do.

I told myself that, told myself again, but couldn’t shake the seed of grudging admiration.

And whatever else it was that Lake was inspiring in me.

She had undoubtedly glanced around the room, one that was furnished with a king bed, opulent wood pieces of furniture.

I thought it was ridiculous and gaudy, but what did I know or care about interior design?

I didn’t, and from the quick way Lake assessed and then dismissed the furnishings, she didn’t either.

“Through that door,” I said.

Lake tilted her head slightly, telling me without words that she had assumed as much.

I felt another bubble of amusement but ignored it just as I had the others.

She pulled open the door to the bathroom and then stopped.

“Do you want to let my hair go?” she said.

Then she shook her head. “No. Wait. Let my hair go,” she corrected.

She was taking the no-questions rule quite seriously, something that amused me.

“Sure,” I said, unwinding my fingers from her hair.

Strangely, even though I wasn’t touching her anymore, I still felt the weight of her head against my palm, which tingled.

I curled my fist against the temptation to touch her again and instead watched as she stepped deeper into the bathroom and came to a stop in front of the sink.

“Give me privacy. Please,” she added.

“No,” I responded.

I stayed still long enough to catch Lake’s split-second frown, then saw as she schooled her features to show no emotion.

I shifted my eyes and listened as she handled bathroom matters.

She finished, washed her hands, and then came to stand in the doorway.

“That wasn’t weird at all,” she said sarcastically, a small smile on her face. “But thank you.”

I knew this was a game, an attempt to get on my good side, ingratiate herself and then hope she could manipulate me.

Knew that, but still felt pleased that she had thanked me, even more pleased that I had done something to make her happy.

“I couldn’t help but notice there’s a shower in here. I could use one,” Lake said.

My first instinct was to say no, but that was for my benefit and not hers.

“You done with your games?” I asked.

“No more harebrained escape attempts,” she said, not even bothering to pretend she didn’t understand my question.

I believed her answer.

Oh, she would try to escape again.

I felt certain of that, but she would think it through, wouldn’t act so rashly.

A more methodical Lake was probably bad for me, but better that than her being stupid, putting herself at risk for no reason.

“Okay,” I said.

She looked excited, but then that excitement dropped.

“I don’t suppose you plan on giving me any privacy,” she said.

“No,” I responded.

Her expression darkened, but again she wiped away that reaction and made her face placid.

I could have told her that I had seen her naked countless times already, but that probably wouldn’t make her feel better—not that making her feel better was something I cared about, I reminded myself.

She waited a moment, a moment longer.

“Your choice. But I don’t have all day,” I said.

I watched her, saw as she seemed to reach a decision.

I couldn’t peel my eyes away as she turned the water on, making it as hot as she could get it.

She stood in the robe that left her thick thighs exposed and barely covered her full ass until the glass shower door steamed up and then stepped inside, robe and all.

She tossed the garment at me with one hand, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.

An interesting gambit, one that wasn’t having the effect she had hoped for.

The glass was foggy, but the steam enveloped her, gave her rich, dark skin a sheen that made it that much more delectable, the steam simultaneously hiding her from my eyes and accentuating her curves.

My reaction to her was instant, so strong that it surprised me.

I watched her, having seen all there was to see of her, but never in person.

She had captured me through the cameras, and seeing her in the flesh was more than I could have hoped for, gave me a reaction that I could barely contain.

I was hard instantly, the blood rushing from my brain to my cock so fast I was light-headed.

Or maybe it was the woman who had done that.

I didn’t know, but one thing I was certain of was that I needed to leave, now.

Lake was a flame, and I was a moth.

If I wasn’t careful, I was going to get burned.