Lust (Vegas Nights 2)

He nodded and lead the way down the stairs.

Adrian paused just long enough to give me a meaningful look before he followed his son.

Me?

I waited until the rumble of his car had faded from earshot.

Then, and only then, did I go downstairs and lock the door behind him.

I was in so much trouble.

Chapter Fifteen

Adrian

She was fucking everywhere. Asleep, awake, the inbetween. Perrie dominated my thoughts to the point of fucking mind control. Every time I licked my lips, I tasted her. Every time I ran my fingers through my hair, I felt the softness of her blond hair. Every time I adjusted myself, I remembered the gentle yet sexy as fuck way she’d cupped my cock with her tiny hand against my warning.

She was taking me over, spreading through my veins like a fucking disease. Except there was no cure. Nothing to alleviate the symptoms of her.

If I were a smarter man, I’d have put a stop to us working together. But I wasn’t smart. I was fucking stupid, and I couldn’t quit her.

It was that simple.

I couldn’t quit Perrie Fox any more than I could quit screaming at the idiots on the field during football season.

Now, tonight, I had to go to work and watch her chat up a male prostitute because she was the only one who could. She’d know how to make herself available for his attention and weave it until she got the sweet spot. Then, we’d swoop in, and she’d give an anonymous statement to us and one to the court.

Easy.

Except after last night, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to watch her essentially seduce another man.

I wanted to watch her be seduced by me.

“Hello? Earth to Adrian?” My sister waved her hand in front of my face.

I blinked, focusing on her.

“Oh, good. You’re back with the living.” She paused, a twinkle in her eye. “Who is she?”

“What?” I blinked again. “Who’s who?”

Amie smiled. “The woman who’s got you all in a twist.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She leaned back and pulled her dark curls into a high ponytail. “I’ve been asking you the same question for five minutes. Zac asked if he could have a coffee like Dad and you said yes before I intervened. So, tell me. Who is she?”

“I said what to Zac?”

“Adrian.” She snapped her fingers only an inch from my face. “I will bug you until you tell me.”

“This is where your kids get their ability to bug you until you die from.”

“Win some, lose some.” Amie shrugged a shoulder. “Tell me.”

“Drop it.”

“I’ll bug you ‘til you die.”

“I don’t care.”

“Tell me.”

“No.”

“Tell me.”

“Her name is Perrie and she’s pretty and they work together and I like Lola!” Zac hollered from the doorway.

“Thanks, Zac!”

“Welcome. Do I get extra sprinkles on my ice cream now?”

Amie winked at him.

“Result!”

“Now you’re bribing my son?” I asked, staring flatly at her.

Unconcerned, my big sister stood and made her way to the fridge. She pulled out two bottles of water and when she sat down, slid me one. “I don’t care how I get my information, little bro. Someone has to provide it, and if that means I bribe your son, it means I bribe your son. I’m a hustler, what can I say?”

“You’re also a thirty-year-old woman who regresses to being three when she doesn’t get what she wants,” her husband, Dwayne, said dryly.

“Hello, darling. Thank you for your input.” She shot him a sweet smile. “It’s harmless questioning.”

“Yeah, well, I’m the one who has to hear your voice over and over, so harmless is relative,” I muttered.

“Ah, there’s the other three-year-old.” Dwayne grinned at me.

“If you weren’t my brother-in-law, I’d probably shoot you.”

He laughed. “Nah, you wouldn’t. I’d still be the only person who can keep your sister in line.” He kissed the top of Amie’s head. “I have to go to work. Be nice, Amie.”

“Or what?” She raised her chin in defiance.

“Or you can buy your own wine.”

“I’ll be nice.”

I had to remember that for future reference.

Dwayne disappeared out the front door, leaving us alone.

I looked out of the window. The kids played nicely together, and the sound of their laughter trickled through.

Was this how Zac played with Lola? Did he laugh this much around her?

“I’m sorry,” Amie said after a moment, looking in the same direction I was. “I don’t mean to be pushy, Ad. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy. I don’t need someone in my life to make me feel good.”

“No, you don’t, but I can see it. Plus, Zac? He needs a woman’s touch. Sooner or later.”

“He’s got you and mom.”

“Stop deflecting.”

I sighed, rubbing my hand across my forehead. “It’s complicated, all right? I picked Perrie up one night and let her go. Then, I pretty much blackmailed her into working with us to locate other hookers…”