Free Layers Deep by Lacey Silks Page A

me.”
    “How do you
know she needs to feel safe?”
    “I’ve seen the
locks on the door, Allie. And the shot gun. You’ve done your
research, too. The demographics of her moves are clear. You always
found an apartment for her in the safest neighborhoods you could
afford.”
    Gosh, he was
good!
    Tristan
strolled toward the bed, making me aware of my naked tingling body
underneath the thin sheets. I wondered whether I’d have been in his
hotel room bed if I hadn’t been drunk last night. Would he have
made a move on me then? Or would he have simply offered a handshake
and a peck on the cheek as a good night token?
    “I’m the best
in the business, Allie. Nothing can pass me by. I’m just not sure
you’re up for the hooker position.”
    “I can do
it.”
    “You’re too
frail. Too innocent.”
    “You need to
give me a chance. I can do the job.”
    “We’ll see.
Get dressed.” He pointed to my small suitcase by his chair.
    I couldn’t
believe my mother had given him my suitcase! What kind of charm had
he used on her?
    “Wear
something comfortable, please. Breakfast is ready in the dinette.
We’re leaving in an hour.”
    He lowered
himself to kiss me, on my mouth, but he didn’t force a tongue or
linger for long. It was the sweetest good morning kiss I’d ever
had. Even with the tequila morning breath and all. And because of
that kiss I forgot to ask him where we were going. Not that it
mattered, so long as Cross still wanted to be with me and to hire
me. I had to make sure he did. At this point I couldn’t picture not
working for him, with him, and perhaps one day under him. What had
he done to me to become so dependent on his company?
    Tristan lifted
my panties off the chaise by the corner. He let them hang
provocatively on his finger, swaying back and forth. The little
scar on his upper lip did something funny and sexy as hell as his
lip twitched, like he wanted to taste what he had in his hand.
    “Black
lingerie is my favorite, by the way. I’m looking forward to a day I
can remove it from you piece by piece, with my teeth. Need help
putting them on?” The deep growl that rolled his voice, trembling
my body, made me want to flip that cover off the bed and let him do
to me as he pleased.
    And there was
that dimple again. Heat spread from my cheeks down between my legs.
Tristan had no idea how much I was looking forward to him removing
them as well, but I didn’t think allowing him help me with the
undergarments was a good idea. I doubted I’d get them on at all,
with him that close to me.
    * * *
    We drove over
an hour west of Charleston. The houses began to scatter, their
distance increasing to miles apart. Tristan steered up a dirt road,
weaving up the mountain. The first leaves had begun falling here. A
blend of oranges, reds, and yellows decorated the hillside, and the
valleys below were covered in beautiful autumn blends. I rolled
down the window. The warm wind fluttered my hair, smelling of
passed rain and fresh moss. Near the peak, Tristan pulled over to
the graveled side. We were still in the middle of nowhere. Beyond
the wall of shrubs, a forest covered the valley below. With
binoculars in one hand, he took my other hand into his and led me
toward the hill’s edge.
    “Are we
bird-watching?” I asked. The curiosity inside me almost burst out
my seams.
    “No, not bird
watching. Get comfortable.” He pointed to a patch of grass in the
clearing that overlooked a valley, lay down on his stomach, and
placed the binoculars to his eyes, adjusting their focus.
    I lay beside
him, looking in the same direction, waiting for my turn. The dried
grass tickled the sides of my arms and I was thankful I was wearing
jeans. It held the same smell I’d remembered on Tristan when he
came to the bar, and I wondered whether he scouted like this
often.
    Tristan kept
looking through the lens, his face more serious than I’d expected.
What did he want to show me? His lips formed a straight line,
lopsided a