Possessed by Lies (Truth or Lies 5)

I turn.

“But you can’t! Don’t tell her I told you! She won’t be happy. We have an understanding—a truce.”

“What sort of understanding?” I ask, maybe I should have gotten Liesel drunk earlier. She’s answering a lot more questions now than she was earlier in the night. Even if I have to decipher what she means.

“I mean understanding.” She gets on all fours on the bed and crooks her finger to come to me.

I walk to her and lean my ear down.

“We tell each other secrets.”

“And what are those secret

s?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I mean, we keep each other’s secrets.” And then she snaps her hand over her mouth like she wasn’t even supposed to say that.

“Get some sleep, Liesel.” I walk out of her room and close the door. I’ve gotten all that I’m going to get out of her tonight.

But I got enough. Kai has nightmares. And Langston has been helping her.

Kai may not love me anymore, but she’s going to accept my help.

I storm down the hallway and stop in front of her door. I resist the urge to barge in and instead knock three times. Then I wait. Because for the first time since I got Kai back, I have a plan to spend the night with her.

2

KAI

LANGSTON STANDS in the corner and removes his shirt revealing the leanest body I’ve ever seen. If I wasn’t so fucked up, I’d be drooling right now. I’d be hot and bothered and trying to find a way to seduce him into my bed.

I already get Langston in my bed.

He’s been sleeping in my bed every night, trying everything in his power to keep my nightmares away, but they always come back. We discovered being able to rest my head against his bare chest so I can hear his heartbeat against my face sometimes calms me down, hence why he’s shirtless.

He climbs into bed, waiting for me. I remove my shirt, standing in a thin tank top and shorts. I prefer to sleep naked, but it bothers Langston. I’m completely secure in my nakedness. I have no problem with men looking at my body, but it’s pushing too far for Langston and I’s strictly platonic relationship.

I get into the bed and lean against his warm, hard chest, trying to heat up before I sleep. Langston’s body is definitely warmer than mine, but it is nothing compared to Enzo’s body.

Langston shivers at my touch.

“Sorry,” I say, knowing my touch chills him.

“Don’t apologize. I want to help, even if I become an ice cube after you touch me.”

He’s a good man. I used to think Zeke was the good one, but Langston’s heart is just as big. And Enzo…I can’t go there. Enzo is such a mix of good and bad. One moment he’s killing innocent people, the next he’s saving them. I’m the perfect example of how Enzo doesn’t stand firmly on the good or bad side. He’s saved me from death and sold me. He’s hated me and loved me. I can’t go back to that. I can’t go back to not knowing whether he loves me or hates me, even if it seems his love is real this time. It’s too late. His love isn’t enough to overcome my own problems.

I try to match my breathing to Langston’s slow, steady breaths, knowing that is the only way I will be able to get to sleep. But my stomach starts doing these weird flips, and I know what’s about to happen. My morning sickness has been pretty inconsistent so far, but it’s been happening more and more at night.

“Be right back,” I say, jumping out of Langston’s arms and running to the bathroom.

I feel queasy, sweaty, and weak gripping the toilet, waiting for the inevitable to happen.

I close my eyes and take long deep breaths as my stomach slowly quiets.

False alarm.

I sigh and lean against the wall.