Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Years. It had been years, and he knew it. “It’s been a while.”
He let a moment go by before sighing. “I’ll talk about work. I’ll talk about what’s happened and why I did what I did.”
She hadn’t expected the offer. “I thought it was classified.”
“Well, it is, but if you’re going to be a part of this, you should know.”
“I thought you were going to talk me out of it.”
His head tilted slightly, acknowledging the truth. “I am, but I’m not going to force it if you agree to my terms.”
“That I sleep with you.”
“That you play with me,” Tristan corrected. “Think about it. You need a session, likely more than one. You play with me and Aidan and I answer your every question openly and honestly.”
Well, the man knew how to tempt her. “It won’t change things. I’ll admit I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay mad at Aidan, but I don’t think I’ll ever trust you again. I’ll always be waiting for you to leave me.”
“Then you don’t have anything to lose. Then you can take what you want from me and walk away at the end. You can know how much it’s going to hurt me if you leave. Show me everything I’m going to miss because I fucked up.”
“But there’s no guarantee you won’t pull the whole mission?” She could see all the ways he could wriggle out of the position Aidan had put him in.
“That’s the risk you take. What do you say, Carys?” It was more of a challenge than a question. “You get anything you want information-wise out of me. No holds barred.”
There were a few problems with his offer. “You could lie.”
“Ask me something. Something you think I would lie about.”
“Have you been with someone else?” She wasn’t sure she believed him. Or maybe it would make everything easier if he admitted he’d been unfaithful.
His head shook like he was disappointed in her. “I told you. No one else. Not ever. You’re the only woman on earth I’ve ever had sex with, and Aidan’s the only other human I’ve shared any kind of intimacy with. Try again. Ask a hard one.”
“Did you miss me?” The minute the question was out of her mouth, she regretted it.
He started to take a step toward her but backed off. “Of course. I’ve missed you every single day.”
“Would you take it back?”
He hesitated. “I don’t know. Part of me says yes. Part of me….part of me is addicted to this life. Part of me can’t stand the thought of not having this kind of power. I want to tell you I’ll walk away and come home and work for my dad. But I don’t know if I can.”
Well, he’d said he would be honest. She glanced at the clock. It was so late. “Can I take the night to think about it?”
Tristan nodded and moved to the door. “Of course. If you decide it’s a no and you still need a session, Cooper can run one for you. Kala wouldn’t mind helping.”
They would give her the pain she needed but none of the pleasure.
She knew what she was going to say but she couldn’t give it to him tonight.
If this was the end, she wanted something from him. From them.
“Okay,” she agreed. “I’ll let you know tomorrow.”
“It is tomorrow.” Tristan yawned. “Can I have a pillow?”
She picked up the extra. Kala’s room was oddly spartan. The most decoration she had was a wall of pictures of her and her family and friends. There was a pic of her with Bud One, along with his old collar hanging off it. A pic of her and Lou and Cooper and TJ in high school.
Her and Aidan’s apartment was filled with memories. Did she want to lose them? Would she even be able to look at the pictures if they broke up?
She handed Tristan the pillow, careful not to touch him. “You staying on the couch? It might be better than the office, or so I’ve heard.”
He opened the door and stepped just outside. There was a sleeping bag rolled up on the floor. “I’ve been told the only place I should sleep tonight is outside your door. Your father gave me a whole lecture on how it’s the traditional sleeping place of a Taggart who fucked up.”
Her father was mean, but she’d certainly heard the stories. “My mom kicked him out of their bedroom once, and he slept outside her door. He was worried about her at the time.”
“And apparently your brother did the same for MaeBe.” Tristan unrolled the sleeping bag. “But this is where I’m smarter than they were. I only have to take half the night because I have a partner. He might be pissed at me, but he’ll do his part. Also, I came prepared. I got a bunch of complaints about how crappy it is to sleep on the floor. This baby has a new type of memory foam built in.”