Leaning closer to the mirror, I apply my favorite shade of red to my lips and blow myself a kiss. It might be vain of me to think, but I’m hot as hell. Revenge in the form of hopefully making him regret how he just left and avoided me for far longer than he said—two full days instead of hours.
I’ve been bored out of my fucking mind and out of touch with the world. I couldn’t lay in bed and zone out to the TV because of Leandro, and when I decided to finally leave the room, he controlled the remote and only streamed things as not to risk the news popping up.
The doorbell rings in several quick successions as Talon announces his arrival. I shouldn’t be this nervous.
Fluffing my fingers through my dark brown hair, I force a smile on my face and take a deep breath. I’m going to pretend like nothing happened. Fixing my boobs to accentuate my cleavage, I give myself one more look in the mirror.
Leandro leans against the wall near the door, his arms folded over his chest. Goosebumps bloom across my skin in waves, and I strut closer, wishing I could throw on some stilettos to give me height. It might be a bit too much, though. I don’t want Talon thinking I did this for him. Because really, it’s for me. Maybe Leandro. He drinks me in from head to toe and whistles under his breath, not even hesitating to declare his attraction to me. I knew he wouldn’t keep his professional boundaries with me.
“You know, one sure way to make your point to the bastard is if you put thoughts in his head.” Leandro lowers his voice, his handsome smile curving with his mischievous thoughts.
“What kind of thoughts?” I close the space completely, using Leandro to give myself a few extra minutes to stabilize my confidence.
“Maybe leave a little of your lipstick right here.” Leandro taps his cheek, his smile widening.
I giggle breathlessly, meeting his silent dare. Except I don’t kiss his cheek. Cupping his face, I close the space and kiss him on the lips, humming under my breath as I test the seam of his mouth. He parts his lips without resisting, deepening our kiss, gliding his tongue over mine. Our first night together is a bit foggy, but his mouth against mine, how his tongue effortlessly explores mine, I remember how amazing a kisser he truly is. How fucking good a quickie we had.
He pulls back first for a second to look into my eyes but then he leans in and continues like he can’t get enough.
Footsteps sound on the stairs, clomping loudly, and despite wanting Talon to capture us in this moment, Leandro pulls away and puts space between us. He swipes his hand across his mouth, smearing the lipstick without getting rid of it, and I straighten my shoulders.
“Stacia? You decent?” Talon calls out from the hallway. “Where’s Leandro?”
I bite my lip and smile at Leandro. He tugs at his collar and cracks his neck, his playful expression vanishing. I might’ve taken the kiss too far, yet he didn’t resist. I’d do it all over again.
I quickly close the door completely. “Go away, birdie. We’re bus—”
Leandro flies at me, covering my mouth with his hand. “Come on in, Talon.”
“Don’t you dare,” I say in a sing-song voice. “You’re not welcome here.”
“I live here, wild child. Now stop acting like a brat. I’ve been running on no fucking sleep. We need to talk.” Talon turns the knob, pushing the door open, forcing me out of the way.
His gaze falls on Leandro first since I’m off to the side, and fuck. I wish I could savor his expression forever. A thick vein pulses in his neck with the bulging of his muscles. Leandro stands tall, not letting Talon’s jealously intimidate him.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Talon shouts, fisting his hand.
He doesn’t get a chance to step forward because Leandro lunges first, shoving Talon hard enough to send him reeling into the hallway. “Before you fucking start throwing punches, you better stop and think about shit.”
“You crossed a line,” Talon growls, straightening his jacket. It’s now that I see a shadow on the floor just out of my view. Talon didn’t come alone.
“Me?” Leandro retorts, laughing in exasperation. “You fucked her and then le—”
“Stop! Fuck!” I get in the doorway, separating Leandro and Talon from each other. I wanted to make Talon jealous and regret treating me like nothing happened. I didn’t want him to get in a fight with my bodyguard. “I’m a consenting adult and there is no damn supposed line you two are accusing each other of crossing. What I do with who I choose is no one’s business. I’m not with either of you. I’m just a stressed out, wanted woman, who feels like doing whoever she goddamn wants until I end up in prison.”
Silence falls over us, and I steel myself, trying not to think about the words that spilled from my mouth.
“Stacia, you’re not going to prison, okay?” Talon droops his shoulders, ruffling his fingers through his surprisingly unkempt hair.
Now that my adrenaline wanes, I give him a once-over, noticing he’s in the same suit he left me in, unshaven with dark circles under his eyes—or maybe bruises. His lip is split too.
I try not to let his sudden broodiness get to me. “How can you say that? I saw the news. They said I’m wanted.”
Groaning, Talon shuffles past me, heading to the sitting area. Leandro and I glance at each other in silence. Movement in the corner of my eye snags my attention, and I finally see who stands in the hallway lurking.
Esteban twists his lips to the side and shrugs without a word. He rests his back against the wall without asking to come in. So I shut the door in his face. I have no idea what he’s doing here with Talon but my room thickens with enough testosterone as it is, and I don’t want to exactly make eye contact with the man my ex sucked off while listening to my voice.
“Leandro, you weren’t supposed to let her see the news until I returned. I didn’t want the media speculation fucking with Stacia’s head.” Talon slumps in one of the chairs and rests his elbows on his knees.