Lochlan

Millie wasn't in the kitchen when I returned, and although I told her we needed to talk, I was grateful for the temporary respite. After coming home from the office, I headed straight for my shower, only to find water all over the bathroom floor. It didn't take long to clean up the mess and arrange repairs, and Alex's dot appeared to be stuck in traffic, meaning I had plenty of time to jump into one of the guest room showers and wash the day's grime and stress away.

I poured a glass of water and put the cup to my mouth, rubbing the cool rim absentmindedly across my bottom lip. I should have used the guest shower that was unoccupied. Instead, I found myself in Millie's bathroom. Her scent surrounded me as the water heated and steam billowed out the open door. There was no questioning what I was about to do.

After this morning's interaction, I had found no time to relieve the raging hard on caused by having my mouth so close to her wet pussy. The videos had provided a temporary distraction as my desperate need to make sure she was safe won out over my fantasies of bending her over my desk and punishing her for every lie she'd ever told me.

But standing in her bathroom, the smell of her in my nose and the image of her naked and wet in my mind, I had to find release. I stepped into the shower and poured her shampoo onto my abdomen, rubbing it up to my chest with one hand while the other squeezed my dick, starting at the base and working up to the tip. Then, I brought the lather down my stomach, swapping hands so I could begin stroking. Within moments, I was panting and bracing against the wall.

Someone knocked on the door, and I choked on the water I'd just swallowed. Fucking hell. I wiped the dribble from my chin and called out, "One second!"

Funny how history was repeating itself. I'd been sure someone entered the bathroom just before I came. It could have been the Pope, and at that point, I wouldn't have stopped. Couldn't have stopped. Now, I was half hard again while answering the door, and the gray sweatpants I pulled on to torment my houseguest would not hide anything.

"Lochlan dear. Is everything okay?"

"Mrs. R!" Why was Anna Reed here? Her timing was... I glanced down and saw the tent I had been sporting was lowering. Okay, her timing was welcome. I opened the door. "I didn't expect you back this evening."

She brushed past me and dropped her purse on the counter. Spinning around to face me, she smiled, and I was pleased to see the color was back in her face. "I hadn't planned on it, but I got a phone call about an hour ago. I wanted to share the news in person."

"Anna." Millie walked into the kitchen in a cloud of citrus and roses, and my groin tightened at once. Her honey colored hair was twisted in a damp braid and hung over her shoulder. She wouldn't look me in the eye, confirming my earlier suspicions.

"Oh good. You haven't told him yet, have you?"

Millie's grin was strained. "No, I haven't had the chance."

"Told me what?" I asked, confused by the two very different countenances before me. Mrs. R was nearly levitating off the floor with excitement while Millie looked like she wished to be anywhere but in this room. Of course, that might be for another reason.

Mrs. R clapped her hands together. "Your father is coming to Thanksgiving this year!"

Sound faded away as she squealed and began filling Millie in on the epic event that was the Reed family Thanksgiving. Any lingering arousal flew out of my system, and I put the heel of my hand on the edge of the counter to remain upright. Of all the terrible news I'd received today, hearing that my father was coming to a family function nearly topped it. The man didn't do family. He produced heirs and excused himself from anything to do with them until they served a purpose.

"Lochlan? Lochlan," Millie whispered. I pulled myself out of the fog and glanced down to find her leaning close to me, her fingers curled around mine and concern filling her eyes.

"Are you not excited?" Mrs. R asked, finally taking stock of his reaction. She deflated with disappointment when he hesitated. "Oh, no. You aren't."

"No, no," I insisted when I found my voice. Millie squeezed my hand, and I returned it. "I am simply shocked."

She perked back up and waved her hand in front of her face. "I am too. Could've knocked me over with a feather, but I think it's a sign."

"A sign?"

Mrs. R cupped Millie's face in her hand and dropped a kiss on her nose. "A sign that better things are coming. I have to go. Lots to do now. This is going to be our biggest year yet."

Millie and I remained where we were for several long seconds after Mrs. R left the house. She jumped, pulling her hand out of mine and stepping away. A blush stained her cheeks. The red deepened when her eyes drifted downward and spied what I was wearing. My cock twitched beneath her gaze, and she licked her lips. Suddenly, I wasn't sure who was winning this game of tease because I was in as much agony as I'd been in before the shower. Before she watched me getting off with her name on my tongue.

"You okay?" She asked. The painful rasp of her voice grounded me.

"Why would you ask that?"

She scoffed. "You turned as white as these countertops when she told you that your father was coming to Thanksgiving, and Alex said you were going to be pissed."

"Alex talks too fucking much, and what were you two doing out?"

Her chin lifted, and the fire in her eyes brightened with anger. "Excuse me? I don't remember you leaving any instructions about staying put before you took off—without telling me you were leaving, I might add."

I'd successfully redirected our conversation, but this one wasn't proving to be anymore pleasant. "I had things to attend."

"I had things to attend," she mocked. "I have a life to live. One that doesn't include being kept a prisoner in this house. Is this what you wanted to talk about? Because if it is, I'm done."

"You were just attacked, Millie." I was in her personal space now, chest heaving as I waited for her to lie to me. Please don't fucking lie again.

"I told you what happened."

Damn it. I grabbed her by the wrist and led her to my office, grateful she didn't resist because I would have thrown her over my shoulder to avoid dragging her. Shoving open the door, I flipped on the light and grabbed the folder from the top of my neatly organized desk.

"I think this proves you lied," I growled, opening to a picture and shoving it under her nose. She studied the photograph. It was one where she was on her knees as the man pulled her by her hair. "I have video too."

"Good for you," she said, her voice flat.

"Millie, talk to me. I'm giving you the out again." Because I was too weak to do what I should do. Kick her to the curb before she hurt my family.

"You're in over your head, Lochlan. You should just let me leave. That's the out I need. The one that's best for everyone."

Papers filled the air as I flung the folder across the room before gripping her by her chin. She resisted only a moment before allowing me to force her to look at me. "Why?"

"I'm no good. You were right."

"Of all the lies you've told me, that's the worst one," I snarled before slamming my mouth onto hers.

She gripped my shoulders as I fisted her hair, pulling her head back to deepen the kiss, and she opened for me with the first swipe of my tongue along the seam of her lips. From the moment I laid eyes on her in the coffee shop, I'd been obsessed with her mouth—had imagined so many filthy things she could do with it—but this kiss was better than any of the fantasies.

Someone moaned—maybe we both did. She tasted like sin, and I wanted to sink to my knees and compare the flavors.

"Lochlan," she panted, breaking away from me as I gripped her hips and ground her against my cock. "I need... I need... there. More."

"Tell me why The Butcher is looking for you," I commanded, dropping hot kisses on her neck. I wanted nothing else than to give her what she needed. To strip her down and make her come on my face until she couldn't stand upright. "Tell me, and we can finally put these flames out."

All the heat disappeared, and my arms were empty. Millie had extricated herself from our embrace and escaped to the door. Swollen lips and red streaks on her skin gave her a wanton, thoroughly fucked look I desperately wished was true, and I forced myself to take a calming breath before speaking.

Only she beat me to it. "How do you know that name?"

"His crimes aren't limited to the West Coast, Millie. He's part of the mob here, and I make it my business to know everyone who comes and goes in my city. That's why I'm telling you to trust me. If he has something on you, I'll help. If it's money, it's easy. You just have to be honest with me."

"I'm exhausted," she whispered.

I nodded, scrubbing my hand over the back of my neck. There was no use in pushing her anymore tonight. She wanted to tell me. I could see it, but she didn't believe I could handle whatever it was.

"Goodnight, Lochlan."

"Goodnight."

I dropped into the chair behind my desk and slammed my fist on the surface. Outside, lightning flashed over the city, and rain pattered against the glass. Any other time, I would find the storm soothing, but now it only mirrored what I felt inside of me.