Page 12 of Lau Ahi
He sat up fully, no longer propped up on his elbows the way he’d been to appear less intimidating. Sitting at his full height on the bed displayed just how impressively tall he was. Like a human tree I wanted to cli—
“Normally I’m not. But again, intrigued.” I saw his sharp black brows raise over the mask that carefully obscured his face the way mine did. The way the leather molded to his features showed it had been custom made to fit his face while also concealing identifying marks.
Who is the man behind the mask?
“How do you expect this to go?” I stepped closer to him but still far enough away so that I wouldn’t have trouble reaching the door no matter how long his legs were. Oddly enough, I didn’t think it would be necessary.
Amusement cast a brief shadow in his eyes that I could still somehow see despite the dimness of the room. “You take whatever you want from me.”
“What if I want your wallet?”
His lips pulled into something akin to a smirk and he shook his head knowingly. “You’ve already grown bored with divesting men of their capital for the night. If you hadn’t, you would be out there with McFatty.”
“You mean Wilbur?”
“‘Some pig’” He quipped one of the notes that had been woven into Charlotte’s web about Wilbur the pig to save him from slaughter and I had no choice but to laugh. He matched my laugh with a smile of his own revealing white teeth that had been hidden. That was why his smile had seemed so awkward. He hadn’t shown his teeth when he’d done it.
I shouldn’t have been…impressed. Or pleased or whatever the hell it was I was feeling. It was strange, a connection albeit small and brief but one that was there disrupting everything I wanted out of life.
“Cute. Very cute.”
And something I shouldn’t have said because his eyes were now focused on me. Their color had been hidden by the way his mask hooded them but the obscenely long, thick, black fringe of lashes that any woman would envy made them appear sultry.
“Glad I could impress you with a novel I read when I was in kindergarten.”
I wasn’t too keen on the American school system but Nev and Tee always joked about how Bush the second would have to pay for his crimes. If he were readingCharlotte’s Webso early—
“Advanced reader were you?”
More amusement this time, less lighthearted than before. My words had hit on something that he didn’t want me to touch and he seemed to physically pull back from me, although he hadn’t moved a muscle. “Something like that.”
I was at a loss as to how to proceed. I felt how the mood had shifted and part of me felt guilty. The way we’d had an easy camaraderie that was now strained silence threw me off. I wasn’t one to back down especially since I’d taken the time to come here. I’d give it one more try before I found a reason to excuse myself.
“Since I’ve never graced anyone with my presence in these rooms, tell me how things normally go here?”
He maneuvered again showing that what I thought was his full height wasn’t. His back was ramrod straight as though my question reminded him of why we were here and he was almost as tall as I was still standing. He was a giant of a man, with the type of width and girth that televised the brutal, deadly strength I was sure he possessed. And yet, I could tell he only wielded it when necessary. He was probably the type of man that had a strong sense of morality focusing on duty and honor and chivalry and I was now back to being irritated with him. I needed to find fault with him. Something that would allow me to hold onto my disdain but this unicorn of a man was trying to make me feel as though I’d unfairly judged his sex for over a decade.
Then again, maybe he’s just one of the good ones. Unicorns were prized because of how rare they were.
Now you’re calling a man a prize? Abort mission.
“Normally, things are discussed before the threshold has been crossed. We would simply play the role as soon as the door was closed. But this isn’t that type of situation.”
I felt his eyes rake over me even with the shadows over his face. It was like a wave of warmth that traced over my legs stopping at the apex of my thighs and creeping up my stomach until it rested briefly on my chest. I was in a long red dress that was probably better suited to being something worn at home but it clung to my assets, showcasing them in the best light. The slit of the floor-length skirt stopped at my pelvis so I had to be careful as I walked or my labia would be on display for all to see. I knew that he appreciated what he saw and instead of being insulted I felt proud. Which again pissed me off.
“It’s not?”
He eyed me again before shaking his head slowly. “No. I’m going to lie back and allow myself to be used.”
“Not your normal role?”
His head tilted like I had eyes and should’ve known that he wasn’t going to be submissive. But I had rich men lining up to take advantage of them financially and treat them like shit so nothing was truly as it appeared.
“Frankly, no.”
“Have an abundance of practice here? In how these situations work I mean.” I had to mentally restrain myself from digging my nails into my palm because my nerves were getting the best of me.
“Not nearly as much as people would assume.” I watched him lean to one side and his massive arms reached the side tableeasily. I saw him pick up a tablet that was resting there and I could study him
