Lust & Lies Box Set-Sexual Awakenings, Excess, Predator & Prey

Play it cool, Vi. If he’s kept up his end, he should be fit to be tied as well. You can do this. Be cool.

I pulled up to a house that sat on a square on in downtown Savannah across from Forsyth Park and studied it. It was a huge family home, and I was utterly confused. It looked like something out of a Southern Home magazine. Minutes later, he was at the front door, waving me in. I walked up the three hundred steps to the door—okay, that’s a slight exaggeration—and greeted him with a false smile.

“Out of breath, huh?” He was bare chested and looked incredible in nothing but a pair of jogging pants. His torso was ripped and his sweats clung to his toned waist. His black hair, normally styled to perfection, was disheveled and hung loose on his forehead. Full lips turned up at the corners in a familiar smirk as his eyes met mine. It took everything I had in me not to lunge at him.

“Screw you, buddy,” I said, walking past him.

“I’ve got something for that mouth of yours,” he said, swatting my ass hard as he closed the door behind me.

“This place is beautiful,” I said, taking a look around. The hardwood floors were, of course, antique, and the house looked to be restored. There were modern furnishings and it had an amazing homey feel to it. “Whose is it?”

He furrowed his brows together and tilted his head. “Mine.”

“Oh,” I said, feeling my cheeks heat, “it’s just…I didn’t picture you in a place like this.”

“Uh huh, let me guess, a high rise with stainless steel appliances and fur covered floors?” He was laughing at me again.

“I really don’t like you right now,” I said honestly, walking past him to take a tour. A walk around downstairs revealed two large living areas, a study, and a huge kitchen. I took the first step of the staircase and was stopped short.

“Let’s keep it down here for now.” He gave me a stern look and I crossed my arms.

“You hiding a wife up there?”

He crossed his in reply, his biceps bulging as my mouth went dry. “Depends, are you hiding a husband?”

“I told you about my husband,” I said, cowering under his glare.

“I want to believe you, I do, but a weekend trip, Violet?”

Was this why I hadn’t heard from him in a week?

“I went to my mother’s. I didn’t think you’d care,” I said, shrugging.

“Do you live with him still?”

My lie came quickly. I couldn’t lose Rhys, and Alex would be gone soon, anyway. “No.”

“All right,” he said, eyeing me appreciatively. He closed the gap between us and yanked my shirt over my head.

“Why are you half-dressed and what are we doing today?” I said, half laughing as he tugged my jeans down.

“We are working out,” he said enthusiastically.

“Uh, Rhys, it’s Sunday, which is technically a day of rest. It’s God’s law.”

“Lady, you might have to pray for forgiveness for the kind of workout you are about to get.”

I shut up, because I wanted him, because the urge to reach out and kiss him was killing me. We didn’t share like that and I couldn’t show him how much I’d missed him, though my treacherous body gave me away.

When he had me naked, he pointed to a large solid oak coffee table. “On all fours,” he barked, picking up my clothes and laying them neatly on the stairs.

Walking over to the table, I did what he asked, a little embarrassed at the setting. His blinds were closed, but I felt completely vulnerable, ass in the air. It was getting chilly and being in an old drafty house had me covered in goose bumps. Rhys came back a few minutes later with a small yellow box and set it beside me on the table. I was intrigued.

He sat on his couch as I waited on all fours, giving him a strange look when he

turned his TV to a college football game. He stretched an arm behind him, holding his head with his hand. Minutes passed as he watched the game, looking completely relaxed.

“Hell of a workout plan you got here, Rhys,” I joked as I waited for him to make a move. He didn’t acknowledge or look at me as I waited patiently. Surely this had to be a joke. Any minute he would burst out laughing. He pulled his phone from his pocket to send a text and I gave him wide eyes and a “Hello!”