Millie

Cold air hit me in the face like a fist when I stepped outside. I welcomed its cooling effect on my face, pressing my hands over my middle and blowing out all the breath in my lungs until the last bit of adrenaline fizzled out of my system. Everything went fuzzy around the edges, but I fought through the darkness and fatigue with the calming counting exercise Marcus taught me after my first con. No matter how many times I role played, it always left me drained and emotional afterward. A funny thing, considering I was no more than a parasite, latching onto others and taking what wasn't mine.

Fishing my phone from my purse, I called Marcus and meandered down the sidewalk even as alarm bells ringing in the back of my brain told me to stay put. Lochlan very much expected me to be waiting for him, but I was done jumping when he snapped his fingers. All damn day. I would never survive this job if I didn't get away from him.

"Hey," I blurted when Marcus answered, "Good call on Grace Forest."

"I take it went well then."

"As well as it could. I left before I found out if he's going to renew the contract."

"Mmhmm."

"Are you with someone?" I asked. Subdued was not a quality associated with Marcus. Over the top. Loquacious. Energetic. Those were more appropriate descriptions of my friend, and a successful job only amplified his personality.

"I am."

"I just don't understand how you have already found someone to sleep with in this city," I fumed, raising my hand in front of my face and touching all my fingers together as I exhaled. "You cannot leave me alone in this."

The distant sound of a chair scraping across the floor floated through the speakers, then Marcus spoke in a harsh whisper. "First off, I saw the way Lochlan looked at you, and if you're not sleeping with him already, that's on you. Don't be a jealous bitch."

"Hey—"

"And second, I'm not leaving you alone. I'm working another angle."

Maneuvering through the crowded sidewalk, I snapped, "We don't do that, Marcus. We don't leave each other out of the loop."

"I'm not. This happened fast, and as soon as we can meet up alone, I will fill you in."

"Well, that's going to be easier said than done. Lochlan is keeping me on a short leash."

"Please tell me you're referring to a real leash."

A blinking neon sign proclaiming coffee and twenty-four/seven breakfast food distracted me, and it took a second for his meaning to sink in. I rolled my eyes. "Not everyone is obsessed with sex like you."

"Oh, honey, I think you're confused. Not everyone is a prude like you. I promise we will chat soon. You just do what you can to get close to Anna. Text me next time before calling."

Without saying goodbye, we ended the call. Nothing around me appeared familiar. The Pritchard Medical Center Corporate building was no longer visible, and since this wasn't an area known for tourism, none of the street names offered a clue where I was. The simple solution would be to turn around and walk back toward the direction I came from, but I dismissed the idea as soon as it occurred. My legs and arms were freezing, my injured feet were screaming from walking in heels, and my stomach was taking this moment to remind me I missed breakfast.

Heading toward the diner, I made it two steps before someone knocked into me, nearly causing me to fall. The man didn't bother to apologize—just muttered something profane, flipped the bird, and kept on walking while I flailed my arms to stay upright. Just when I thought I was good, someone shoved me, and with a cry, I pitched forward, bracing myself for impact.

It never came. His arms came around from behind and pulled me tight against him. The sharp point of his chin rested on the crown of my head, while I could felt the wild fluttering of his heart against my back. Not a single person bumped into us. Lochlan's commanding presence and hard glare was deterrent enough, and the crowd parted around us like a river around a stone.

"Thank you," I murmured.

He said nothing, clenching my hand in his and dragging me into an alley. Rusted fire escapes adorned the buildings, and various plants and drying clothes were visible outside the windows. Overhead, the wispy clouds of morning had turned to a thick blanket of gray, and I could smell rain—barely over the aroma of rotting garbage.

When there was nothing else I could look at, I finally focused on the fuming male in front of me. He had released me and put several feet between us. This morning when we left his apartment, he had been perfectly polished, like a magazine cover model. His hair slicked back, and his suit perfectly pressed. Now, those black satin strands curled at the ends. Stubble dotted his chin, and the top button of his shirt had come undone. His tie and suit jacket were missing, and the sleeves of his button up were shoved above his elbows, exposing tanned forearms lightly dusted with dark hair.

"I'm going to guess you're upset?" He arched a brow, so I continued, "But are you upset about what happened with Mr. Pritchard or because I went for a walk?"

Lochlan took a step toward me. The lines of his body were taut. A coil too tight, almost to a breaking point. "Let's start with the walk."

Keeping my tone even, I replied, "I didn't mean to wander that far. I was on the phone and wasn't paying attention."

"For fuck's sake." He put his hands on his hips and tilted his head heavenward while muttering something I couldn't hear over the honking cars and chatter on the sidewalk. "I'm going to forget you just told me you walk around a city like New York and don't pay fucking attention because even though I don't know you very well, I think you're smarter than that. Especially after I warned you earlier about the dangers of being associated with the Reed family."

"Fair point."

"As for what you did with Matt, I have a lot of questions, but I'm going to start with what the hell were you thinking?"

Now, it was my turn to get angry. "Why are you so upset? I did what you asked."

"Not exactly—"

"You told me to appeal to his baser instincts as a man. To essentially seduce him. Am I wrong?"

Lochlan closed the distance between us, backing me against the wall. The concrete was cold, but I didn't feel it. Not with so much heat between us. He put one hand beside my head. The other gripped my chin and forced me to look into his eyes. I flinched at what I found there. Fury. Fear. Lust. Each a flame that would consume us both.

"That was before I found out you weren't wearing any fucking underwear beneath that pitiful excuse for a dress," he seethed, lowering his head and halting with his lips just millimeters from mine.

"It's your fault for rushing me," I returned, hating myself for straining toward him, aching for just the tiniest taste.

The hand beside my head disappeared from my peripheral vision, but I didn't have long to wonder where it was headed. A shocked gasp escaped me at his initial touch, but it quickly became a moan that lured him closer like a siren's song—but not close enough.

"Do you like that?" Lochlan's breath was warm and sweet against my face. The bottom of my blazer rode up as he gripped the back of my leg just under the swell of my butt. Strong, thick fingers spread out and dipped between my cheeks, parting them as he forced a leg between mine.

"This is absurd." I said it only because I wanted to agree with the logical voice in my head. The one growing more muffled as his fingers inched toward the wet heat in my center.

"Your body doesn't seem to agree with you."

I gripped his shoulders and tried to throw my head back when the first finger sank inside me, but his grip on my chin was ironclad, and he held my gaze as he added a second finger, plunged them deep, and curled them forward, hitting a spot inside me that nearly made my legs give out.

"Would you rather it was him doing this to you? I saw how you looked at him. Were you wet when you stepped between his legs? Is that the game you play with men? Like in the parking garage yesterday when I felt you through my pants? Making us want you gets you off?"

The stars bursting in my vision faded, and I shoved him away. Ignoring the sudden sensation of emptiness, I jerked my blazer down until I was properly covered and glared at him with as much venom as I could muster.

"You're a real asshole."

His accusations stung because they were partially true. I was always playing a part, working an angle, getting what I wanted from a mark. Men were often easily led around by their dicks, and I took advantage of the fact in nearly every con I'd ever worked. But what never happened was me being turned on in response. Lochlan was the first man to get past my defenses, and it was time to put a stop to it.

"I've got a couple of names for you, and none of them are nice," he replied.

"That's great. You just forced yourself on me in an alley where everyone passing by could see it, and I'm the whore."

"Millie—" Panic laced through his words.

I flipped him off and headed toward the diner. Right now, if the Butcher showed up, I would welcome him with open arms. I was done with this bullshit.

I was done with Lochlan Sloane.