The Velvet Trap

earning how to mak

eduction, it was

. Holding eye contact just long enough to make the

n't one

pplause. He didn'

the kind that ma

lence? That mad

st more than my rent. The type of place rich Lagosians pretended to care about

ress that clung in all the right places. Chin

and. Surrounded by people but untouched by the noise. Our eyes m

ent this cold shiver down my spine. I didn't mean to notice him like that. Wasn't supposed to. This was meant to be revenge, not wha

behind me. "Is tha

sn't loud, dressed to be noticed, eyes

smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Y

And you're a lot bolde

ughed. Shi

in and said it,

n. He has a way of.

y head. "D

ness partner. Or h

e was gone, trailing p

im envelope. "Your contract. I want you

row. "You ba

talent.

ures. Full creative co

nted. And everything I

t just a j

replied.

y apartment, I opened

ose enough to trace systems, parse file trees,

strange timestamps, encrypted ledg

rtbeat

ouse over one.

t

spered to the

r, a message

up. No wor

for ten seconds

bbed my ba

e felt like walking straight into

waiting. No words. He just stare

ken, blistering need. Want, too. Thick and heavy in

lked

be I told myself it was to talk, maybe to confront him, maybe to remind myself why I was

it wouldn't

n for it to

en another. And then I couldn't stop. Couldn't not look at him. Like something inside m

this. Not this slow ache that bloomed every time he was near. Not the way my chest tigh

, trying to act like I had a grip on everything. Like I wasn

g there. Breathing slow. Letting the silenc

e," I said, voice l

head a little.

o sweetness just truth. It hit ha

how hone

ot like before. He touched my wrist barely and I swear i

t stuttered in my ears. He didn't say a word. Just looked a

oice rough, like gravel. Not

lied, and we

e since Ebano Manor, h

I didn't have to.

sure, dragging a moan from

n he ki

e he'd been starving and I was the only thing that could fill him. I pushed him back against the wa

ted to dest

me close, pressing into the curves of my hips like he didn't want to

g insane," he mutter

ttom lip just enough to make hi

my back hit the wall, his mouth on my throat, sucking, lic

e asked, breath ho

inding against him. "But

n't. His mouth found my breast, tongue teasing, hand between my thighs like he already knew every

gled in his hair, pullin

" he said, eyes dark,

he parted me with his mouth, licking slow and deep and unrelenting. No teasing. No games. J

g against his face, completely

ips slick, eyes locke

I

lamped around his head, nails

wasn'

lifted me just lifted me like I weighed nothing. I wrapped my legs ar

I whispered, forehead

thed. "But we'r

my mind. I cried out, back arching, every nerve lit up like fire. He

fuck," he whispe

him like a lifeline, moaning into his neck, biting his shoulder j

It was real needy, rough, a little wild. Like he needed

I ga

him. Every kiss made me question what I came here to

name on my lips, break

against my skin, holding me lik

d. Shaking. Pressed together lik

d just crossed a line

to the quiet

idea what y