PEOPLE. SO MANY PEOPLE.
The doorman, people in the lobby, and in the elevator. My feet staggered. I was drunk though I’d barely consumed more than a couple of sips of my martini. I was intoxicated on Nox and on life. His strong arm steadied me as he led me from the elevator and down the hallway to our apartment door. Each step reminded me of my arousal as my essence coated my thighs.
The key jiggled in the lock, the tumblers refusing to turn. Everything was happening in slow motion. I couldn’t speed it up.
Before opening the door, Nox leaned down and kissed me. My body melted against his as he pulled me close. “I’m hurrying.”
“Not fast enough.”
The living room flooded with light as he opened and closed the door and flipped the switch. His lips captured mine, their heat the final degree to my combustion. Some scrumptious aroma emanated from the kitchen, awakening a different hunger I didn’t realize I possessed.
My stomach growled—loudly.
The blush of embarrassment covered my cheeks as my arm crossed over my stomach.
A grin spread across Nox’s lips. “Hungry?” he asked, his eyes widening.
“I want to say no, but I think you know the answer.”
“I think I can satisfy both your needs. Go to the bedroom, take off the dress, but leave on the heels.” He reached for my chin and his demands slowed. “Climb on the bed and spread those sexy legs. When I walk in there, I want you positioned so I can see how much your pussy wants me.”
My mouth dried.
“I’ll bring in a plate of food.” He kissed me. “You may eat—after me. And princess, I’m not eating whatever Lana made.”
My heart thumped against my chest.
“Yes, Mr. Demetri.”
He rubbed his nose against mine. “Oh, just wait.” His lips softly brushed mine.
I didn’t want soft. I pushed myself toward him.
Nox shook his head. “So greedy. Remember, this is on my schedule. Now, go. I’ll be in the bedroom in a minute, and you’d better be ready.”
Excitement, curiosity, anxiousness… were only some of the many emotions flooding my bloodstream as I hurried toward our bedroom. Each step intensified the suspense. Being with Nox was like a high I never wanted to go away. If Nox were a pill, I’d sell my soul for a lifetime prescription.
I eased the dress from my shoulders and shimmied out. The urge to relieve my own tension fluttered across my mind. It would be so easy. I knew it wouldn’t take long. Then again, on the bed was my vibrator, right where I’d left it. I had confidence that relief would be coming soon, and often.
“Charli.” I turned toward the hallway, toward the sound of Nox’s voice.
This was sooner than I expected. Nox appeared in the doorway. The passion and command of moments ago were gone. Even his tone was different. His eyes did a sweep of my body. “Get dressed. We need to get out of here.”
“What? Why?”
“Now,” he said as he scooped my dress from the floor and handed it back to me.
“What happened?”
He held out his phone. “It’s the security system. Someone’s been in here.”
“Lana?”
“No. They didn’t use her code. It was a bogus code, something only a professional could do. The system didn’t catch it right away. It activated a delayed alarm. It only happened about twenty minutes ago. Deloris is on her way.”
I pulled the dress over my head as my hands began to tremble. Sometimes Nox worked late. I could’ve been here alone. What if? “Are you sure they’re gone?”
He looked down at the screen of his phone. “Yes. There are sensors throughout the apartment. No one’s here now but us.”
“You’re sure someone was in here? Is anything…” I turned a circle and looked around the bedroom. The damn vibrator mocked me from the middle of our bed. An intruder saw that. “…missing?”
Nox’s eyes followed mine. He quirked a brow. “I thought you didn’t have plans?”
“I was hoping you could come up with something.”
He reached for my hand and started to pull me out of the bedroom, but stopped. “We’re getting out of here. Go put something on under that dress and throw some things in an overnight bag. Try not to touch anything other than what you need. Deloris needs to be able to do what she does.”
I nodded. “You’re sure… no one.”
He kissed my forehead. “I wouldn’t fucking let you out of my sight if I wasn’t.”
Hurriedly, I did as he said. Fear replaced my desire. Clothes for tomorrow, a nightgown, underwear: I made a mental list as I threw things in my small suitcase. I rushed to the bathroom and gathered my cosmetics and toothbrush.
“Do you want me to pack things for you?” I yelled toward the hallway.
I didn’t hear his answer as I dashed across the hallway to my office and picked up the backpack I’d left there after class. It had all the books I’d need for tomorrow as well as my tablet.
As I turned to ask Nox again if he wanted me to pack for him, I saw the plain white envelope lying on the middle of my desk. Slowly, I moved forward, confident it hadn’t been there earlier in the evening. My feet barely moved as I made my way around the desk. It was like a dream as I floated closer, as if the envelope were a snake and would sense my sudden movement and strike.
Alexandria was scrolled across the front.
My heart did triple time as I reached for it. Blood coursed through my veins and through my ears, muting the world around me. With shaking fingers, I lifted it and opened the flap.
The first page was a picture. I’d never seen the woman before, but she looked familiar. It was because she looked like me. Her hair wasn’t auburn but beautiful rich shades of brown, long and flowing about the same length as mine. Her eyes were a soft brown, darker than mine, but with golden flecks. She was smiling at the camera and dressed in something red. It was only a headshot.
I sank to the chair. I didn’t want to keep looking, but like gawking at a train wreck, I couldn’t look away. My heart knew who she was, but it needed confirmation. I moved the picture to the back of the stack of pages and began to read.
Alexandria,
I’m sure you’re mad or even freaked out that I had this put where you’d find it. I’m sorry. I won’t say that I’m not trying to scare you. I am.
You won’t return my calls. You won’t return my text messages even when Adelaide explained how much I need you. Now I need you to listen. Please listen. Please keep reading.
You know who she is, don’t you? The woman in the picture?
Her name was Jocelyn Marie Matthews Demetri.
My stomach sank. I needed to stop, to show this to Nox, but I couldn’t.
Was, Alexandria, she was. She’s dead.
Your boyfriend killed her.
The Demetris are dangerous. I won’t go into all the illegal activities, including prostitution, but know that it’s there. I just want you to know about the man you’re sleeping with. The man she slept with. The man who killed her.
My empty stomach twisted violently.
Stop! Stop! Stop reading!
My heart screamed out, but my eyes continued to roam.
Lennox wouldn’t allow her family to see her body. He had her cremated before any evidence could be found.
Evidence. Her parents have both sworn statements about his abuse. On more than one occasion they witnessed bruises on her wrists. They’ve both testified to that.
I looked to my wrists. There was a faint brown mark from where I’d pulled too hard against the satin. I continued to read.
He was a workaholic. They say she was sad and scared.
Their testimony is available. They have a civil suit pending against him. He bought off the judge for the petition of evidence in a criminal matter, but even the great Lennox Demetri can’t stop all the wheels of justice.
Get out. Leave. Come home or at least move back to your apartment.
Alexandria, I’m scared to death.
I also think he’s behind framing me with Melissa. He could be the reason she’s missing. By getting rid of her, he can remove me from your life.
Lennox is dangerous.
I’m begging you. Your mother is begging you.
Ask him if he’s responsible for Jocelyn’s death… and get out!
Bryce
Why couldn’t he let this go? Why would he think Nox was connected to Melissa? That didn’t make sense.
The letter consisted of two pages. Each handwritten page surrounded the picture. I didn’t want to move the last page of words. I didn’t want to see her again.
I hadn’t realized I was crying until a tear splashed against the paper.
When I looked up, my eyes met Nox’s. His pallor matched his cold icy eyes, so different than only minutes earlier.
“You shouldn’t have touched it.”
I couldn’t comprehend. “Touched what?”
“That letter, Charli. You’re destroying evidence. Deloris can dust it for fingerprints.”
My head moved slowly back and forth as I realized I was holding Jocelyn’s picture.
How angry would Nox be?
Before I could think, I was up on my feet, my heels sliding across the wooden floor as I backed away from him. “Where’s Deloris?”
“She’s on her way up. What’s the matter? What did that say?”
“I-I” I rolled my lips between my teeth. “I need to talk to her.”
Nox took a step toward me. His expression morphed from concern to something more intense as I once again took a step back. “What the fuck, Charli? Are you afraid of me?”
“No,” I answered too quickly and too loudly.
When he closed the distance, he snatched the papers from my hand. I didn’t release them quickly enough. The momentary tug of war allowed them to fall. They fluttered to the floor, Jocelyn’s smiling face looking up at us.
Color returned to his face as red covered his cheeks. The vein in his forehead bulged, and the muscles in his neck tensed. “What the fuck is this?”
I blinked, afraid to speak, yet unable to stay silent. I searched his eyes and worked to even my voice. “I think it’s nothing. I think it’s my family trying to scare me.”
“You think?” He lifted her picture from the floor. “Your family broke into our apartment?”
I shook my head. “I doubt it. They probably paid someone.”
Nox couldn’t pull his eyes away from Jocelyn. The edge of the page crumpled as his grasp tightened.
“Please look at me,” I begged.
The muscles in his temples flexed as he clenched and unclenched his jaw.
“Nox!”
Slowly, he looked away from her to me.
“Just tell me that you had nothing to do with her death. Tell me you weren’t responsible, and we will go to the hotel, or stay here. There’s no threat.”
He didn’t speak.
“Please, Nox,” I begged, reaching for his hands, wanting to help him, to take away the pain this letter caused. “Please. I didn’t gather this information. It was thrown at me. It doesn’t even make sense. Just tell me you aren’t responsible for her death, and I’ll ignore everything the letter said.”
The floor dropped out from under me as his answer echoed against the freshly painted walls.
“I can’t.”
The end of Cunning…
Learn what is next for Nox and Charli in DECEPTION