Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(101)

“Look again,” he ordered.

I turned around and this time when I searched the room I didn’t look for leather and mayhem, I searched until I found my queen.

Eyes dark as the night met mine.

All the noise faded.

And the people crowding the room seemed to disappear.

It was just her.

My angel.

I started for her as she pushed back her chair and slowly rose to her feet.

Face to face.

Here we were again.

Leather and Lace.

Just when you think you’re done. That you’ve lost everything and you have nothing left, nowhere else to go, that higher ground shakes things around and gives you a new path.

I was staring my path in the eyes and the future never looked so bright.

I was a man behind bars, with no release date, not even sentenced yet but, still a man who had a future.

That pretty face was my future.

“What’re you doing here?” I asked, finding my voice as we stood across from one another with the table between us. Her eyes scanned me, zeroing in on my inmate number before finding mine again.

“I’m visiting my favorite Knight,” she whispered, offering me a smile as she cocked her head to the side. “What do you think I’m doing here? I miss you.”

I closed my eyes as her words punched me in the gut.

She had no f*cking idea how much I missed her.

No f*cking clue.

“I miss you too,” I rasped, opening my eyes.

“They told me I wasn’t allowed to touch you,” she murmured, eyeing the guards positioned around the perimeter of the room.

I followed her gaze before turning back to her and shrugged my shoulders.

“Yeah, you might slip me something,” I explained as I let my eyes travel down her body and back up to her face. I could stare at that face for the rest of my life and never want another.

“You look good, Lace,” I said. “Real good,” I tipped my chin toward the chair beside her.

“Thanks,” she said, pulling out the chair. She took a seat and raised an eyebrow waiting for me to do the same. I felt a muscle twitch and my lips curve slightly as I took the seat in front of her.

I placed my palms flat against the table and kept my head down as my eyes bore into hers.

Come on girl.

Follow my lead.

She kept her eyes trained on mine and mimicked my stance, placing both hands flat against the table.

That’s my girl.

“I told you father something but I should’ve told you first,” I said, straightening up but kept my hands firmly where they were. “I should’ve told you a long time ago, should’ve told you when you came to the Dog Pound but instead I was cruel to you. Time you got the truth, girl.”

“Then give it to me,” she coaxed.

“Every word I said that night was a lie. You stopped being Jack’s daughter a long time ago. At first I didn’t want to see it, I didn’t want to see you but it was inevitable. You were created for me and only me. I told you were nothing more than...,” I stopped, shook my head unable to repeat the harsh lie and blew out a breath before I looked back at her. “You’re everything,” I whispered.

I caught the sheen of fresh tears in her eyes before I diverted mine down to her hands and saw her curl her fingers. She fought to keep the stance we were both holding, itching to move them and lift them to her face.

“Keep your hands flat,” I whispered.

She blinked, and the tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.

“You okay?”

She nodded.

“It’s coming,” I teased, winking at her.

My sweet Lace, full of life and so much strength left behind those dark eyes.

“I love you Lacey,” I whispered the words and gave her my smile, inching my hands closer to hers.

“I’m sorry you’re hearing it like this and not some grand way. I’m sorry I let you think for one second I didn’t give a damn.”

“Stop,” she croaked.

I furrowed my brows and stilled my hands.

“Say it again.”

My lips quirked.

“I love you, girl. Only you. Forever you,” I swore.

She smiled at me, making me forget she would walk away and I would go back to my cell.

“I love you too,” she said through her tears. “I knew you loved me,” she whispered. “In my heart I knew I had your love and when my mind told me it was a lie I fought against it.”

“You keep fighting,” I interjected. “You hear me? You walk out of here today and you keep fighting that shit, never let that maker win,” I stressed.

“I’m guessing my dad told you?”

I nodded.

“He was vague. You want to clue me in?”

I watched her look down, spread her fingers a part and slowly slide them closer to the middle of the table before she let them be.

“I’ve known for a long time,” she admitted. “Every breakdown my father has had made it easy for me to diagnose myself.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You’ve got your own demons, Blackie. You don’t need mine,” she murmured.

“Yeah, babe, we both got demons we can’t stand, but you took mine and when I get out of here you’re going to give me yours,” I told her. “I don’t know when that will be so you’ve got to promise me you’re going to stay strong and do what you got to do to keep it quiet up there,” I said, motioning to her head with my chin.