He didn’t get it. "No. She's skittish as it is. Besides, Gabe already cleared it."
Lock laughed. "Are you fucking kidding me? Look, Gabe and I have reached a détente, but do you think I don't know that he will do everything in his power to attain his goals? He's not above using a twenty-year-old uni student. If he wanted you toprotect her in the first place, he has a reason. And you're just playing right into his hands."
Lock did see Gabe clearly. Gabe was ruthless. When it came to missions and the safety of his agents, he would do anything. But he was also ruthless. He would use someone to his advantage if he needed to. He was probably using Kaya, and I had no idea why. The problem was I needed her. At least to buy time. There was an even exchange.
Except she doesn't know anything about it.
"I have it under control."
“So you don’t actually want her? I’ve seen her, mate. She’s bloody fit.”
“Of course not,” I lied smoothly. “Besides, even if I did want her, which I don’t, I’m perfectly capable of keeping my hands to myself.”
Lachlan laughed. "Famous last words. I’ve said them myself."
CHAPTER 13
KAYA
"Xander,oh my God, oh my God, right there. Xander. Fuck."
"That's it, Imani.One more. Let me feel your tight pussy squeezing around me one more time."
I shifted uncomfortably on my feet, trying to pretend I couldn't hear the sounds coming out of my professor's office. There were rumors, of course. We'd all heard them. Hell, we'd all heard the moans coming from his classroom. And there was the way that he constantly looked at his wife like he wanted to eat her, or well…eather. But I never thoughtIwould be a witness.
Next to me, Saint slouched in his chair, head leaned back against the wood paneling with a dirty smirk on his face. "Well then, he certainly is…thorough."
Deep in my core, something clenched at the way he saidthorough. Fuck me. Jasper Saint was probably very…thorough.
I jerked my face away, focusing on the wood floor then the announcements posted along the hall on corkboards. The advert for an easy internship with pleas to call. Abandoned posters for past department parties.
Anything to avoid looking at Saint. I couldn't think if I did. Those were not the kind of thoughts I should be having. Nope. Uh-uh. I should focus on other things. Except he was looking atme, and I could remember the feel of his lips on mine, the tease, the temptation, the sinful deliciousness of it. And that was just a teaser. A taste. Imagining if he kissed me for real, like he meant it, like we had all the time in the world and he'd lay out a full seduction, and I'd be toast.
He would absolutely bethorough.
I shifted in my seat.
"Are you all right?” he asked. “You look slightly flushed."
"You can't tell that."
"Yes, I can. Just here." His thumb reached out and dusted my cheek lightly.
I froze, because even though I basically now lived with him, he never touched me. Which was probably for the best because I would explode into a puddle of need.
Five minutes later, when the door to Xander's office was finally yanked open, Imani Chase came stumbling out.
I'd seen her earlier today when she'd dropped Xander off for work. Her hair had been in a braided bun. Now her braids swung free over her shoulder, completely loose except part of them in the back was secured by a ponytail holder, so maybe he'd ripped them down. Which was hot. Jesus.
When she saw us outside waiting, her lips parted in surprise, but then she gave us a broad smile and a shrug and kept marching. That was the full confidence of a woman who had been thoroughly dicked and didn’t give a fuck who knew about it.
Xander poked his head out of his office, and he too seemed surprised. "Oh, you're early."
I shook my head. "We were on time. You're late."
Xander's brow lifted, and he grinned at me when his gaze fell on Saint. "Well, ah, come in."
As he walked in, Saint leaned into me and said, "Tough little Sprite."