Taken by Lies (Truth or Lies 1)

I smile. I have a new favorite memory. The only way it could have been better would have been to combine the two memories. Kissing while coming would have made it better.

I don’t know what time it is. I fell asleep in the early morning. I pick up my discarded shirt from last night and put it on before I walk over to the curtains and pull them open. The sun is low in the sky. It’s almost sunset. I slept all day, no wonder Enzo left the bed. He’s probably at work.

I don’t hesitate, I push the glass open and step outside. I take a deep breath of salty air, feeling like a new woman as I walk over to the edge of the balcony and lean against the railing. Today is a new start. I don’t need answers to heal anymore. All I need is me.

I can decide my own future. And Enzo will just have to deal with it. He won’t stop me. I’m his kryptonite. I can have anything I want, and he’d give it to me. I just need to figure out what I want.

Him.

Shit, I think.

“You’re entering a brave new world,” Enzo says from behind me in his suit.

I smile. “Thanks to you.”

He frowns. “No, I had nothing to do with it.”

That’s not true. He gave me back myself after being the one who took it in the first place. I feel settled for the first time in years.

“Here,” he says holding out a tall drink with a straw to me.

“What’s this?”

“Try it.”

I take it from him and sip. It’s crisp and sweet and delicious.

He grins, his dimple showing as my eyes light up. “It’s iced coffee with cream and sugar. I know Westcott has been trying to get you to drink coffee or tea when you wake up. But I knew you would enjoy something cold more than hot at the moment.”

“Thank you.”

He sighs. “Stop thanking me.”

“I can’t. You helped me. Why do you keep being so nice to me?”

“Trust me; I’m not nice. If you knew what was going on in my head, you wouldn’t be thinking that way. I have my own devious reasons for helping you. And in the end, you will hate me again. So don’t let yourself like me for a second. Because I will just use it to destroy you.”

I don’t believe him. I misjudged him. He’s my savior.

I step toward him.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer.

My hand outstretched as I hesitantly lay my hand against his chest.

Spark.

Fire.

Fuck.

The sensation of only our touch is more than the explosion I felt last night when I came. His heart squeezes at my touch—his dark, dangerous heart. The one that can be cruel or kind.

“I’m glad you didn’t take my innocence that night. The kiss was enough to survive on.”