Sweet Little Lies (Dirty Little Lies Duet 2)

A bastard like me can only dream. I can pretend what we’re doing isn’t wrong, but in the end, it’s my funeral. Heath will resent me and possibly her for her poor decisions. And for that, I need to make some decisions. He loves her with all his being. How would our relationship taint how he sees her? I wouldn’t live long enough to find out.

The thought of losing Heath as a friend further sours my mood.

Every single day, I take from people. In my line of business, being ruthless is the only way I know. It’s what makes me filthy, fucking rich. But some things come with too high of a price tag, one being my friendship with Heath. And for that, I have to make a decision—one where fewer people get hurt.

“What’s got you so quiet? Thinking of ways to violate me in your master shower?” Hazel pulls me back to the present. I bask in the feel of her breasts resting against my chest and her fingernails grazing up and down my stomach.

I run my hands through her hair. “I’m thinking about all the toys I have yet to shove up your pretty little asshole.” Lies. I’m thinking about whether I should keep you or let you go.

Her lips press against my chest, and I memorize the way they feel against my skin.

“I feel a challenge coming on.” Her soft giggle guts me because I know what I need to do.

I need to set her free. Tonight. Because if I don’t, I’ll never be able to let her go.HazelInstead of getting a tour of sex toys, Gabriel insists we go for a swim. My body is already becoming sore, so a dip in the cool water sounds like a great idea.

Like a gentleman, he carries me outside, insisting on zero clothing. He’ll just be tearing it off anyhow.

“Jesus, do you host the water Olympics here?” I gasp at how gigantic his pool is. It has to be three times the size of ours.

“I like big things.” He chuckles and walks us into the pool. I keep hold of him, my arms wrapped around his neck, and enjoy the smell of him.

“I seem to like big things too,” I reply, giggling at the double meaning. He doesn’t respond. He holds me as we float around in his pool. I love the way we’ve become so comfortable with each other. So at ease. I love how perfectly I fit in his arms. How right we feel together. And I know he senses it too. I can tell when I catch him looking at me. Stealing glances. Little does he know, I’m doing the same. As if we can’t get enough. And I never want that to end.

I move my head away from his shoulder, stealing a peek at his beautiful eyes. “How do you think it will be when we’re all together again?”

“What do you mean?” he asks, moving closer to the side of the pool.

“Us. Like my dad and you. How different will it be?”

There’s some pause before he answers. “I highly doubt anything will be the same, little bird. I used to tuck you into your bed at night. Now, I’m chaining you to mine.” I can’t hide the snicker at his truthful response. “Why do you laugh?” He threatens to dunk me, but I hold tight around his neck.

“I don’t know. Just that I know it’s crazy how we came to be together. And I know, God, people will talk… but…”

Before I can finish, his lips fuse to mine in a passionate kiss. It’s not aggressive, but it’s not gentle either. It’s…with purpose. As if he’s silently telling me something.

When he finally pulls away, I ask, “What was that for?”

My nerves coil with worry at his stark expression. He stares back at me as if memorizing my every feature. “It’s for you to remember. In the nights when you hate me. When you hate what I’ve done to you.” My stomach drops, afraid of where he’s going with this.

“Gabriel—”

“It’s something to remind you that there was a part of the beast that fell for the beauty.” He kisses me again. “But in the end, the beast doesn’t win this one. He doesn’t turn into the prince you’re hoping for.”

“Please don’t—”

“And when this doesn’t end as you hope it does, I want you to remember this moment. When I kissed you and gave you a part of me that I’ve never offered another woman: my heart.”

He wipes away the tears that cascade down my cheek. “Why the tears, pet? What did you think would happen? That your father would accept this? That we would walk in his house one day, hand in hand, and have our happily ever after?” He brushes my hair away from my face. “We both knew from the start that that wasn’t going to be how our story ended. As much as you want…” He pauses, swallowing back emotion. “As much as I’m sad admitting this, I have to let you go. I’m not your destiny, Hazel.”