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27 | A Spider's Web

Weaved through the air like magic, the web comes together. Not with teeth, but with sticky intentions and even stickier results.

"You're testing my patience, Devani."

His hand released my clit and slid up my stomach to cup my breast. I gasped, tightening my grip on the headboard as he rammed inside me. My cheeks reddened when a moan slipped between my lips.

"Did you really think you'd get away from me?" He whispered against my ear. "Did you really think I'd ever let you go?"

I whimpered, trying to answer his question. As soon as I stepped out on the curb of the hotel at 6 AM, he was waiting for me. Casually leaned against a vantablack Astin Martin Vanquish with a smirk on his face.

His hand closed around my throat, forcing my head to press back into his shoulder. Trapped, I could do nothing but stare at his black headboard and let him have his way.

"Answer me!" He snapped, yanking me harshly to meet his next thrust. My hands clutched the headboard tighter, losing my voice at his anger.

"I-I just..." I gasped again, bowing my back deeper. "I needed..."

His hot breath speared across my back, following the trail of wet kisses down my spine. He released my throat to slap my ass, catching a globe to squeeze in his hands until it hurt. I ground my fingernails into the oak wood, forcing down a pleasured scream.

Suddenly he stopped moving, forced himself to the hilt and rested his weight on my back. Another whimper left me, and I clawed across the bedsheets and wildly turned my head, side-to-side, trying to see what he was up to. I started when his tongue traveled across the shell of my ear and dipped inside.

"Answer me, Devani."

"I..." I sighed, gathering my wits. "Euphrates..."

"You're doing it again."

I raised my eyes to focus on the woman across from me. She had become a close friend over the last few months. And she was right, I was doing it again.

I was fantasizing. Daydreaming of a man I left behind two months ago in hopes of creating a better future. My hands fisted on the table as I stared around the small town. And now, all I wanted was to feel his strong arms around my waist.

Selene Weatherly, my new best friend, was nothing less than utterly beautiful. Her golden skin was buttery and soft, and always aglow. A smile came across her face, bringing attention to the spread of freckles on her nose and high cheekbones. The little gathering of dots looked like sprinkles of cinnamon in the sun.

"You're going to have to tell me why you always look so forlorn."

Trying to laugh off her somber look, I shook my head as I reddened. "It's nothing. Sometimes I just feel... down." And lost, and guilty, and a fool. I couldn't voice those thoughts though. It would open a can of worms that wouldn't close.

"Yeah. I get that." Selene agreed but looked unconvinced. Her almond shaped hazel eyes narrowed infinitesimally, but she mercifully let the subject rest.

We both know I wasn't just sad. Forlorn didn't even describe how I felt. Leaving Euphrates behind had seemed like such a good idea when the action was happening. I didn't even say a proper goodbye.

As soon as the clock struck five I was up and out of the bed, gathering my things together and hitting the road. A car was waiting next to the curb, ready to take me to the airport. I sunk down into the backseat of the Range Rover and let my brain convince me that running was the answer.

I'm sure when he attended the Chalet Splash at Broughton Manor the very next night that he looked for me. I know that his first guess would be VIP and then a quick trip to security to ask if I was still preparing. Afterward, he would have immediately gone to Ballarina or Carter, demanding to know where I went. I could see his green eyes in my head as I sat.