I was well aware of what a hypocrite I was being, but I couldn’t seem to help it. The wiring in my brain just fizzled out whenever I was around him, causing me to do things I never would normally.

“Ouch, hit me where it hurts, why don’t ya?” Lee chuckled, and my temper rose.

“This is all just a big joke to you, isn’t it? Just a bloody game to occupy your time.”

“No one’s playing games. I like you a whole hell of a lot, Karla. I’ve told you that already, so stop trying to convince yourself otherwise.”

All the air left me when he moved forward, backing me into the door and cupping my face in his hands, his gaze reverent. “Give me a chance, and I’ll prove to you that everything you think you see is blurred by perception.”

His lips met mine, soft and tender, and after a moment of resistance, I kissed him back. My hands fisted in his black T-shirt. The sweet way his mouth worshipped mine hit me even harder than having him inside me. With a sharp breath he broke away and drew me into a hug. We stood there, holding one another but not saying a word. When my phone started buzzing again, I knew I had to go find Reya.

Lee bent down to place one last kiss on my lips before pulling my thong from his pocket and bending to help me back into it. He smoothed down my dress, then ran his hands through my hair. Lastly, he swiped a thumb under both my eyes to fix my makeup.

“All better,” he whispered, and my heart thrummed. I knew we’d just had sex in a musty old office, but that was probably the sweetest thing a man had ever done for me.

Unable to form words, I nodded, and Lee laced his fingers through mine, opening the door and leading me outside. He stayed with me as we searched the club for Reya, finally finding her outside in the smoking area. Ingrid and Gina were nowhere to be seen, and I got a surprise to see her sitting with Trevor, deep in conversation.

“Reya,” I called out to grab her attention.

She turned to me, and I was uncomfortably aware of how her gaze lowered to my hand, which Lee was still holding. She cocked an eyebrow, and I dropped his hand instantly. I didn’t turn to see his face, but I knew how quickly I’d let go must have bothered him.

“Uh, hey,” I said, stepping over and casting a hesitant glance in Trevor’s direction.

“Where were you?” Reya asked, the knowing slant to her mouth telling me she already had her suspicions.

“Have Ingrid and Gina gone home?” I asked, ignoring her question because I didn’t know how to answer it. Lee was unnervingly quiet beside me, and I could feel his eyes practically scorching a hole in my head.

“They went back to a party with those guys from earlier. I stayed to wait for you, and that’s how I bumped into Trevor here.”

My brow furrowed. “Oh, do you two know each other?” Sitting there, they seemed way too comfortable for two people who’d just met.

“Nah, never laid on eyes on her before,” Trevor cut in with a charming smile before glancing back to Reya. “Which, quite frankly, is a travesty.”

She narrowed her gaze at him, but she wasn’t doing a very good job of restraining her smile. Trevor grinned wider, like he knew he had her in the palm of his hand, despite her acting unimpressed.

“Well,” I said, clearing my throat, “we should get going. Do you want to share a cab?”

At this I felt Lee’s hand press into my lower back. “I’ll drive you.”

I glanced at him. “I don’t think so. You’ve been drinking.”

“I had one shot and half a beer. I’ll be fine,” he insisted.

“He’s not lying. I’ve seen him drink a whole bottle of tequila and still score a perfect bullseye on the dart board,” said Trevor.

Lee patted his chest. “Strong constitution.”

“Let him drive us,” said Reya shyly. “I don’t want to pay for a taxi.”

I thought it was more that she didn’t want to say goodbye to Trevor yet, but I didn’t call her out on it. Giving in, I sighed and said, “Fine.”

A moment later, Lee was wrapping his arm around my middle and leading me from the club, while Reya and Trevor followed behind. I bristled at his show of possession, my body growing rigid.

“Ashamed of me, Snap?” Lee whispered in my ear, and I looked up. The way his eyebrows dipped down made me feel terribly guilty for my behaviour.

“I’m not ashamed. It’s just complicated. You know that. If anyone I work with saw me here with you, it’d create a whole host of problems.”

There was understanding in his eyes before he bent to whisper in my ear, “Let me drop your friend home and then take you back to mine. I need to be inside you again.”

I shivered at his words, but I knew I couldn’t say yes. Having sex with him had been even more intense than I’d imagined. Going home with him was too close, and I knew that if I spent the night in his bed, I’d end up falling for him.

“I can’t,” I said, my throat constricting.

His thumb rubbed back and forth over my hip. “Don’t make me beg.”

“I have a, uh, a thing early tomorrow morning,” I said, my brain scrambling for an excuse but coming up empty. There were too few plausible commitments that took place early on a Sunday morning.

Lee didn’t say anything as we walked around the corner to where he’d left his car. I spotted it right away, but frowned when his arm around my waist tightened. That was when I noticed the guy standing there. He was all alone, wearing a black hoodie and dark jeans. A peaked cap shielded his face from view, but somehow I felt his eyes fall on me with interest.

“You all right there, mate?” Lee called, his voice hard. Everything in him was coiled tight as he scanned the figure standing on the footpath.

“Just passing through,” the man answered, twisting his head to take a leisurely look at Lee’s car before he turned and walked away. Lee was frowning, and Trevor seemed just as tightly wound. They shared a moment of silent communication.

“Who was that?” I asked, a feeling of unease coming over me, and I wasn’t quite sure why.

Lee wore a faraway expression as he answered, “Someone trying to send a message.”

“What does that mean?”

Shaking himself out of it, he blinked before replying, “Nothing, Karla. Come on, let’s get you home.”

I knew instinctively that there was something he wasn’t telling me, but I allowed him to lead me into the car anyway.

Nine

Lee spent several minutes checking out his car before finally starting the engine. He seemed distant, his mind elsewhere as his fists white-knuckled the steering wheel and he drove in the direction of Reya’s house. She lived with a couple of other students and was always complaining about how messy and rude they were. I didn’t envy her.

Glancing through the overhead mirror, I saw Trevor with his arm resting along the back of the car seat while he asked Reya questions and she gave him tentative answers, trying not to blush at his attention. I was jolted out of watching them when I felt a warm hand grasp my knee, and looked to the side to see Lee’s eyes flickering from the road to the hem of my dress. His thumb grazed the inside of my thigh, and I was suddenly remembering our time in the office room, how good it felt to have him inside me, invading every one of my senses.

God, I wanted to go back to his place so badly. Being with him tonight hadn’t quelled my hunger at all. On the contrary¸ it only grew stronger.

A few minutes later, we were stopping outside Reya’s. Trevor got out and walked her to her door. When he returned, he let his head fall back, grinning like the cat that got the cream.

“Okay, this is probably verging on TMI, but that is the finest rack I’ve ever seen.”

Lee chuckled at his brother, and I twisted around in my seat to eye him. “That’s my friend you’re talking about, and she’s more than just a pair of tits, so show some respect.”

“Oh, calm your knickers. My intentions are pure – purely sexual.”