Deception (Infidelity #3)(28)

“I only have my laptop.”

“My office is your office. Help yourself. I’ll leave all the necessary passwords on the desk.”

“Deloris?”

“She’ll be out here later. Let her or Jerrod know what you need and they’ll bring it.”

I sighed, laying my head back against the headboard.

“And stay inside,” he went on. “I’m not even a fan of the pool house, at least until Deloris is certain of the perimeter.”

Perimeter? I’m in a damn war zone.

“I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“Princess, you have a choice. If you choose me, then that’s your choice.”

“Fuck, Nox, of course my choice is you. Just tell me that I’ll be able to go back and be the student in the front row.”

“As soon as it’s safe.”

“What about you?” I asked.

“What about me?”

“How will I know you’re safe? Are you flying commercial or in your Batplane?”

“Batplane. The super-secret gadgets let me fly under the radar.”

I smiled at his grin and the menacing gleam, yet if he could be worried about me, I could be worried about him. “I still haven’t seen your cape, and I’d say we’re past the third date.”

“No, princess, you haven’t seen my cape, but you’ve seen under the mask. You do realize that makes you part of a very elite group.”

Though he was joking, I found more than a little bit of truth in his humor. Lennox Demetri had shown me a side of himself that I doubted many people had seen or even knew existed.

I pursed my lips. “Fine. I’ll stay here. Just promise me that you’ll come back. Promise me that you’ll stay safe.”

Once again he leaned down on the bed. This time he kissed me, soft and chaste. “I promise. Thank you for not fighting me on this. I need to concentrate on the hearing.” He looked down at his phone. “I need to be going.”

I nodded. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Will you please ask Silvia to hold my lunch?”

When he looked up, the menacing gleam was gone.

“What?” I asked.

“Look at this.” For the second time today, he thrust his phone my direction. “You might want to reconsider what you tell your professors.”

My stomach dropped as I secured his phone in my now-shaky grasp. The video queued on the screen needed only for me to push the small triangle in order for it to play. In the still picture I could make out a crowd of people.

I hit the triangle.

The sound was terrible, mostly static and unrecognizable voices. The picture was shaky and unfocused. It had undoubtedly been taken with someone’s cell phone. It wasn’t until near the end when the photographer zoomed in on a couple being escorted into an SUV that I saw myself. Instead of keeping my head down like Nox had done, I looked up over my shoulder at the crowd. There wasn’t a name, but it wouldn’t take long before it was figured out.

The small news snippet asked if anyone knew how this couple was involved in the shooting of an innocent woman in Central Park.

I dropped the phone on the bed, my stomach bubbling with acid and dread. “What? What can I do?”

“Stay put. Let me talk to Deloris. Don’t call Columbia or talk to anyone until she tells you what to say.”

I nodded.

“Princess, I love you. Don’t go rogue on me. With all the fucking chaos, please let me have the peace of knowing that you’re safe.”

The corner of my lips quirked upward as I tilted my head. “Only because you begged, Mr. Demetri. I do love it when you beg.”

Nox came closer and reached for my hand, encouraging me to stand.

“No,” I shook my head. “I’m… well, I reek.”

“Fucking stop saying that,” he admonished as he pulled me to my feet. “You smell amazing.” He smoothed my hair. “And your hair is perfect. Hot sex is the best hairstyle on you.”

My cheeks filled with warmth as they undoubtedly colored with crimson.

He pulled me close, my bare skin against his slacks and shirt. I inhaled as the cold buckle of his belt sent a chill against my stomach. “Alexandria Collins, I meant it when I said I love you. I will beg you every fucking day if it keeps you with me, but…” The gleam returned to his sexy blue eyes. “…I expect to be obeyed.” I fidgeted in his grasp. “Princess, I’ll be glad to spank your ass, just don’t make me do it because of your putting yourself in danger.”

“Is that a promise, Mr. Demetri?”

He shook his head. “Are you trying to make me later than I already am?”

I nodded. “Guilty as charged. I’m trying to make you want to stay with me. Maybe you should punish me now?”

He shook his head again. “I should, and I do want to stay.” He kissed me, his tongue teasing my lips, urging them to part. Willingly, I opened, taking all that he had to offer. When he pulled away, he continued. “I’ll call.”

“Nox?”

“Yes, princess?”

“I love you, too. You told me that you’re always truthful. You promised you’d come back safe. I’m holding you to that.”

“I won’t disappoint.”