My mouth opened, but suddenly all my questions fled my brain and just left an echoing void instead. A void which quickly filled with memories of Beck’s hands on my naked flesh, his lips on mine, his…

“Fuck,” I whispered, covering my face with my hands and breaking the intense stare off I’d somehow become locked in with my former fuck buddy.

“Riles? Are you okay?” Dylan’s concerned voice was too close on my other side, and I jumped slightly, feeling my cheeks heat. What the fuck had just happened? I get told we have to break into a senator’s office to steal a sex tape, and suddenly I couldn’t form coherent thoughts without picturing Beck naked? Anyone would think his dick was made of cocaine and I was in withdrawals.

“Wait!” A thought finally resurfaced in my lust filled brain. “What does Delta want with this tape? I’m not believing for a second that it’s just for a rainy day. What’s the end game?”

Jasper grinned at me in the rear view mirror and Dylan nodded approvingly. “You’re getting it now,” Dylan commented. “I agree, and if I were to speculate … I would wonder if this has something to do with a rumored arms deal with the Ukraine. Theoretically, this particular senator would have the power to cut some serious red tape on flight plans, customs inspections, all that fun stuff. He could be a real ace in the hole.”

Evan and Jasper made noises of thoughtful agreement, but it was Beck’s total silence that drew my curiosity.

“Is that what it is?” I asked him directly, then remembered the whole gag order bullshit that he’d signed. “Blink once if Dylan is right and twice if he’s wrong,” I suggested.

Beck turned his steely gaze back to me and held eye contact with me … not blinking at all. Damn him.

Dylan chuckled, patting me on the knee. “Good try, Riles. Come on, we don’t have time to stop at the deli, so let’s order some room service before the wardrobe chicks arrive.” He clicked his door open, and I peered out to see we’d arrived at some fancy hotel. A valet opened Jasper’s door and took his keys, so I followed after Dylan and waited for my bag to be unloaded from the back.

“Come on, Spare,” Evan said, slinging his arm over my shoulders and directing me to the main doors of the hotel. “Hotel staff bring bags, babe. Appearances, remember?”

“Appears like we’re lazy as fuck,” I muttered, but let him guide me through the opulent foyer and over to the elevators. We took them straight to the penthouse—of course—which required a thumb print access pad before the elevator would even move. I was coming to appreciate all the security, though.

“We own the whole penthouse,” Jasper informed me, like I hadn’t already guessed that. “We had it renovated a couple of years back so there were rooms for all of us, but uh…” He avoided looking at me and shifted awkwardly.

“But … I would need to sleep in Oscar’s room?” I guessed what he was trying to say. “That’s okay. I mean, it’s a little weird, I guess? But I never met him, and it’s probably a whole lot safer staying on the same floor as you all.” I shrugged.

Beck made a small, rumbling noise of disagreement as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open on the top floor. “You’re not sleeping in Oscar’s room,” he said in that quiet, don’t-fucking-mess-with-me voice of his.

“Ooookay.” I rolled my eyes, but who was I to argue. Oscar was my brother, but he was Beck’s friend. Who was I to piss all over those memories? “I’ll sleep on the couch. No big deal.”

“No.” Beck snatched my hand in his, tugging me along behind him as he strode through the insane penthouse suite. “You’re staying with me.”

I struggled in his grip—not super hard, but enough to say I put up a fight—before snapping at him. “Beck, just chill. We can argue about sleeping arrangements tonight, right now I want to hear more about this room service.”

Beck reluctantly released my wrist—probably because I had a pretty good point about it not being remotely near sleep time—and took a seat on one of the soft leather couches. I barely got to glance around before he snaked an arm around my waist and dragged me into his lap.

Possessive bastard.

“Hey.” I laid a hand on his chest and spoke as firmly as I could. “We talked, we’re not okay. Quit acting like we are.”

He stared up at me for a long moment, his eyes a puddle of angst and emotion, but nodded just the slightest bit and loosened his grip enough that I could stand up and move to another seat.

Jasper handed me a hotel menu. “Pick what you want. I suspect wardrobe will be bringing hair and makeup for you, so you’ll need to eat quick. This is going to be an … interesting night.”

My brow wrinkled, but I opened the menu anyway. I was sick of constantly asking questions, so for once I’d just roll with it and take the night as it came.

17

Cool air blew across my exposed back as I slipped out of my long coat and handed it over to coat check. A shiver ran through me, and I resisted the urge to hug my arms around myself. Appearances were going to be the death of me.

All my bruises were covered with movie quality concealer—the stuff they used to cover tattoos—but I could still feel the damn things.

“Have I mentioned how fucking sexy you look tonight?” Jasper grinned, falling into step beside me as we ascended the huge internal staircase, heading in the direction of music and chatter.

I grinned back. “Only seven or eight times. But keep going, my ego could do with the boost, right now. I feel like I’m playing dress up or something.” Trying to cover my nerves with laughter, I smoothed my sweaty hands down the front of the scarlet silk evening gown. At least my makeup was so heavy I could almost pretend it was a mask. I sure as shit didn’t look like me with the heavy dark lashes and blood red lipstick highlighting the paleness of my skin. I was like an anime version of myself.

“Back off,” Beck snarled from behind Jasper. The blond playboy just gave me a cheeky wink and ducked out of the line of fire as Beck took my arm in his. “But he’s right. You look stunning, Butterfly.”

I huffed at the use of that nickname, despite my requests he not. But this wasn’t the time or place for yet another argument with Beck, so I let it slide. Not to mention, seeing him—and all of the boys—decked out in black tie had me all frazzled. Like, they were super fucking hot. Do something stupid and regret it in the morning sort of hot.