CARLI
Two flights. Three thousand miles. Five liters of espresso at least, and I’m hiding in the only place I feel safe. I’m back in California.
I need my friend, even though I know it’s not smart. She’s never known the truth, but she’s the only person I have to talk to about this.
Walking into the UCLA hospital, the weight of what’s happened feels colossal. My body is jacked and my mind is wired. Avoiding Miori, Kano, and anyone else who texted me, I had Chris drop me at the apartment. When he asked what was going on, I answered as vaguely as I could. The more people that know the truth, the more their lives are at risk.
My family is dangerous, but I need Circe. Yeah, she’s mad at me, and I’m still a little pissed myself, but the best part of our friendship is that we don’t stay mad at each other for long.
Flying through the lobby to the elevators, I press that button for all it’s worth. If I press it anymore, the fucking thing will be an innie, not an outie. Hearing the ding, I watch as the doors peel apart. I’m so close to exploding with the knowledge of what I’ll unload on my friend that I don’t wait for the slow inhabitants inside to exit.
It’s like a clown car emptying out. As the last few saunter out, I can’t help but wonder how many fucking people can actually fit in there? Starting toward the side, squeezing past a stout little man in a bright plaid shirt, my arm is gripped gently.
“Whoa. What’s the rush, Katana?”
Jamieson.
I blow out a long breath. “I don’t have time to banter in an elevator,” I say, stepping inside.
Pushing up beside me, his size causes the stragglers to exit quickly. “Why are you back already?” Sounding concerned, he reaches over my shoulder and smacks the button for the floor. “Did you miss me?” I think he’s kidding, as his grin creeps dangerously toward his ears.
“You’re hardly the center of my world, Crown.” Stepping closer to him, I look him in the eyes. “Contrary to popular belief, not everything revolves around you.”
“And here I thought I was wearing you down, Katana.” His smile is almost charming—almost.
“It takes more than a wink and a nudge to get a response from me.” Pushing against his chest, I attempt to move him away, but he doesn’t budge. “Jamieson,” I say in a warning tone.
“Carli,” he grinds out, smirking.
“Back up, please.”
He rests his arms on the wall behind me, his broad chest surrounding me as he hits the emergency button. The sound of it squealing is awful, but his closeness is hard to ignore. My womanly bits have ideas of their own, screaming ‘yes, yes, yes,’ which is decidedly different than my head answering, ‘fuck this, remember what you’re here for.’
Against my better judgement, because I’m a glutton for punishment, I touch the thick scruff on his jaw. Jamieson’s eyes close as if relishing the feel from a dream. For a brief moment in time, I forget that I’m mixed up in family drama. I forget that I’ve placed Crown on the NTC—not that cock list—and that I’m here to tell my one and only friend what’s going on. She needs to know why I have to go home and leave for good.
I’m breathy, and my mind is clouded. “Jamieson, we can’t do this.”
He kisses the top of my head. “And why is that, Carli?”
“Five reasons.”
Kissing me again, he grasps my ponytail and winds it around his hand. My body is loving the feeling. Betraying my mind’s decision that he’s trouble, I’m enjoying the feeling of him being in control.
“Count them down. And each one better be good, Carli.”
“Fine. One, you’re a whore. The harder it is to get the more you want it. I’m not making it easy, so you’re only pushing until you get me. Then it’s bye-bye, thanks for the orgasm and the grinding screams.”
Pulling tightly on my hair, he tilts my head back. “I’m more than a one orgasm kind of guy. Bad reason one.”
Jeesh! Hold it together, Carli.
“Two. Your brother is dating my best friend, the closest I have to a sister here, so it’s technically incest in my book when you boink a sister’s fiance's brother.”
Slipping his leg between my thighs, he parts my knees, brushing against my center as he kisses the lobe of my ear. “Horrible. That wasn’t even an excuse worth mentioning.”
Shit, I’m losing this battle. Melting into his touch, I clear my throat. “Three, four and five, you’re not my type. I like a guy…” I pause, feeling his cock rub my hip, “with a big cock, a strong opinion, and that has a heavy tendency to let me win.”
Pulling the sleeve of my shirt low, he kisses the tattoo that runs across my shoulder, then he chuckles. “Carli Katana, you’re too much.”
And that there sealed the deal. I quickly gather my composure. “Jamieson,” I say, pushing him back. Moving easily away, I pull the edge of my shirt back into place as he relents and steps away, giving me space. With a serious tone, I say, “I can’t give you the real me. It’s not fair to you that you don’t know the difference between the woman you see and the woman I am.”
Confusion rages in his features. Trust me, buddy, I can’t clear up the situation without putting you in danger. Pressing the button on the console, I release the emergency signal. “We all have family obligations we don’t want to hold to. You, your brother, and your sister, you’re all dealing with taking the reins of Crown Industries in a shocking way.” I shrug. “I have to resign myself to my fate now, too.”
He still looks confused, and shocked, and before I give him the chance to speak, I place a finger to his soft lips to halt him. “Trust me. You don’t want to know this family. It could get you killed knowing too much about me.”
Faster than I expected, the door dings open. Passing through without looking back, I move as fast as I can away from the poisonous danger to my libido.
Jamieson fucking Crown will be the death of me.