Poison - Jade West Page 0,31

was no way she’d ever hear it.

Chapter Eleven

Anna

The room was barely lit – just a dull orange glow of light shining through from the landing. Still, it was enough to make out the obvious. There was no sign of Lucas.

The other half of the bed was empty, covers tossed back in my direction, just me alone in his silent bedroom before sunrise.

I didn’t expect to be alone in his silent bedroom before sunrise.

Along came a flood of dread that him bailing from the bedcovers was due to a flood of piss between my legs, but no. I patted down the sheets underneath me and found them dry. No seizures in the night. At least I could hold on to what tattered scrap of dignity I had left around the man who’d destroyed it in the first place.

I found him downstairs making coffee at the kitchen counter with a cigarette in his mouth, already suited and groomed for the day ahead, and seemingly immune to the hangover from the decent volume of wine he’d guzzled the night before.

I felt anything but immune to anything as I stared over at the creature who’d torn my heart to shreds and yet still managed to get me off ten times in a row.

“Breakfast? Coffee?” he asked, but I shook my head, wrapping myself tighter in the robe I’d taken from behind his bathroom door.

“No, thanks.”

“Suit yourself,” he said, and took a sip of his drink.

Silence.

We both stood in stupid silence, his stare on me, while I cast my eyes around anything in the room that wasn’t him.

He didn’t try to make conversation to ease the tension. Small talk wasn’t high on his agenda seemingly. Just as well since it had no place whatsoever on mine.

“We need to be out of here soon,” he said, finally, and gestured to the wall clock. “Monday morning is calling me loud and clear.”

“Ditto,” I replied. “I’ve got plenty to be doing, too.”

But I didn’t move as he got on with kitchen duties, glued to the spot like a stupid mute fool, blindsided by the way that stunning creature went about his regular life.

I watched him pet his dogs and grin at them, then put some toast in the toaster. I watched him clean down the countertops and shove a few plates in the dishwasher, and there he was. The man I’d fallen in love with. Mannerisms, and breaths, and expressions. The bounce in his step as he crossed the kitchen to the back door and let the dogs out into the garden.

I knew this man.

I knew his usual bright-eyed morning brilliance.

I knew the way he clicked his tongue and whistled to call the dogs back inside again once they’d done their business.

I knew the way he wriggled his tie into position and smoothed down his jacket once he’d laced his feet into his brogues, ready for the outside world.

I knew everything about him, because I’d known everything about him. He was still him. The same Lucas Pierce who’d captivated me from the beginning.

With that realisation came a nagging little twist in my belly – a gust of something far deeper than words. Something way beyond my control. Way beyond anything I’d ever want to feel in a thousand years.

Please, universe, no.

Please, brain, get a goddamn grip.

But I couldn’t deny it. I couldn’t even hide it from the part of myself screaming for his blood and his tears and the battering retribution for all the tears he’d given me.

That twist in my belly was stating the very damn obvious.

I didn’t want it to be time to go soon. Not from Lucas Pierce and his stunning dick and his stunning countryside bolthole. Monday morning could get stuffed, because I wasn’t ready.

I wasn’t ready for this one off to be over.

“Sure I can’t tempt you with breakfast?” he asked again, when he noticed I was still standing there staring over like an idiot.

It was enough to snap me out of my immediate stupor.

“No, thanks,” I repeated. “I’m not hungry.”

I wasn’t lying on that score. I wasn’t hungry, and I didn’t want any breakfast from that asshole. I should never have taken anything from him in this place, especially not his cock. It was my own fault for being led so easily by my bleating little clit.

I should have told him he was a prick all over again and come to my senses, but I didn’t. In the cold light of morning, as it dared to peep its face through the kitchen