Liars Like Us (Morally Gray, #1)

by J.T. Geissinger

Thunderclouds descend over his head. He glowers at me, his jaw muscle popped out and his brows drawn together. Oh, the thrill it gives me, making him mad. It’s perverse, but it’s good for him. The man needs someone in his life who doesn’t cower or swoon in his presence. In fact, I’m probably doing a public service. I should get a tax credit for this.

🤭😈🫠

When I whimper softly, he moves his hand down from my jaw to encircle my neck. “Sweet little lamb,” he murmurs against my lips. “Hungry, aren’t you?” “Why do you have to ruin everything by talking?”

lol

“You never have to be afraid of anything again. If you have a problem, I’ll fix it. If you need something, I’ll give it to you. If anyone bothers you, I’ll make them wish they hadn’t. Whatever you want or need, you tell me, and you’ll have it. You’re mine now.”

“When I said you don’t have to be afraid of anything again, that includes me. I’ll never harm you, Emery. And deep down, you know that, or you’d never have agreed to become my wife.”

shock, or any of the other things I currently am—I say calmly, “Your home is lovely. A bit gargantuan for one person, but I suppose you need all the extra space for your ego.

“Whoa, cowboy!” I say, panicking. His sideways glance is so hot, it sears me. He grins and chuckles darkly. “Oh, I’m a cowboy all right. Just wait until I show you my pistol.”

“Are you really such a narcissist that you need every woman in your orbit to want to have sex with you?” “No. Only you. Tell me.”

“I’m Arlo, by the way. Mr. McCord’s driver and personal assistant. I’m happy to help you with anything you might want or need.” He put an emphasis on “anything.” I suspect I could ask this guy to help me bury a body, and he’d say no problem, let me just go get the shovels, and we’ll get started.

“I’m using this freaky batphone Callum gave me.

A single word appears on the pale blue background. Daddy. I know immediately who it is. “No,” I say forcefully, glaring at it. “No way am I calling you Daddy.”

Dani arrive, I put those into the guest bedroom too. And because I’m vindictive and want revenge on Callum for weirdly knowing how I like my eggs and coffee, I make a game of ordering breakfast from the chef, but only unhealthy sugary things that come in a box. One day it’s Froot Loops. Another day it’s PopTarts. Another it’s Pillsbury cinnamon toaster strudel. I imagine the chef reporting back to Callum that he married a child.

“Aw, that’s cute. You actually believe that, don’t you?” Rolling me onto my back, he settles himself on top of me and stares down into my face. “I’m not intimidated by that look, Callum.” “You should be.” “Annoyance always gives me courage. I can’t breathe with you on top of me like this. You weigh as much as a small European car.” “That’s the strangest compliment I’ve ever been given.” “It wasn’t a compliment.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “I love it when you glare at me like that. Small evil things are my favorite.” “Get a Chihuahua. What are you going to tell your police chief buddy when I suffocate to death?” He smiles. “That you died happy.” I close my eyes and sigh.

Then he kisses me deeply, holding my head in his hands. When we come up for air, he says gruffly, “I need to fuck you again.” “I like that plan, but we need to talk about some things first. No, don’t flex your hips. That’s distracting. And stop kissing my neck. I have more questions.” “So go ahead and ask them.”

It’s huge, hot, and hard. All the good words start with the letter H.

“Hello, gorgeous,” she drawls, eyeing me. “You’ve got that freshly fucked look.” My face reddens. I unlock the front door. Still talking, she follows me inside. “Which is interesting, since when you called to give me the news, you said that this thing with you and the billionaire was purely a matter of convenience.” “It was.” “What changed?” I flip on the lights, stash my handbag under the counter, and turn to her, sighing. “In a nutshell? The man is a sorcerer. He entranced me with his dick. Now I know why it’s called a magic wand. But let’s never talk about it again. I’m pretending it didn’t happen.” “Deal.” She pauses. “Which means I’ll ask again in ten minutes.”

Smiling, I pat him on the shoulder. “Good man. She’s a lucky girl. Try this one.” I pull out one of Harper’s favorites and hand it to him. He looks at it doubtfully. “Don’t let the flowery cover fool you. This sucker will burn off your eyebrows.”

“Wow. I’m so impressed by how you handled him.” “You were eavesdropping?” “Of course.” “You could at least sound apologetic about it.” “Except we both know I’m not. And where is all this new patience coming from, Em? I was expecting you to clobber him with the nearest copy of Bridgerton.” Sighing, I walk around to the other side of the shelves where she’s standing. “He must’ve dicked all the anger out of me.” She snorts. “That must’ve been some good dick to calm you down so much.” “I told you, he’s a magician.”

A glowering Callum makes a beeline straight for me. “Oh, look,” says Sabine. “The warlock is back. And judging by his expression, you’re about to practice all that fun new patience of yours.” Callum stops in front of us and stares down at me as if he’s deciding what to bite first. Then he thrusts out his hand. “Here.” I look at the small red velvet box he’s holding. “What’s that?” He closes his eyes, clenches his jaw, and exhales. “Oh for God’s sake, Callum, take up yoga.”

“I shouldn’t have ordered you to come home like that. Especially in front of Sabine. For that, I apologize. It won’t happen again. But I can’t promise I won’t be possessive, or worry about you when I don’t know where you are, or want you to show me the simple courtesy of informing me of your whereabouts, because that would mean I’d have to become a different man. I know I’m not perfect, but you don’t have to play games to try to get me to change my behavior. Tell me, and give me the opportunity to correct it myself.”

We love a man who wants to correct his very wrong behavior… We love it we love it. We love it.

“Yes?” “I want to restrain you.” Oh God. The rope. Swallowing, I say, “Will…will it hurt?” “No. I’ll be careful.” “Um. Okay, um. I believe you, but I’m still nervous. Why do you have to restrain me?” Staring into my eyes, he says softly, “I need control. I crave it. When I don’t have control, I feel…I don’t know how to explain the feeling. Only that I hate it.” “It calms you,” I whisper, suddenly understanding, though I don’t know how. Nodding, he moistens his lips. “Yes. Exactly.”

This is when I realize I’m the one in control here.

He snaps, “You made me a baby shit sandwich!” “With love, darling. With oodles of love.”

My hand FLEW to my mouth 🤭☠️

“Call Callum.” Nothing happens. The screen stays dark. When I understand why, I sigh and shake my head. “Call Daddy.” As I knew it would, the screen lights up with Calling Daddy.

Holding my startled gaze, he says softly, “Sweet little lamb. I’ll give you a five-second head start.” “No.” “Five.” I say sternly, “Don’t you dare start that counting thing.” “Four.” “I’m not kidding. I won’t run. I’ll stab you with my fork.” “Three.” My voice comes out breathless from nerves. “Callum, stop it.” His smile could send every demon screaming in terror straight from the depths of hell. “Two.” My mouth goes dry, my pulse goes haywire, and the hair on my arms stands on end. “One.” The air turns to fire. For a split second, neither of us moves.

derision.

You’re comfortable in your own skin. I admit I’m a bit jealous of that, because I always feel like some alien who crash-landed on this planet and has to figure out how to blend in without getting shot at, experimented on, or stuck in a zoo. You’re self-confident is what I’m saying. It’s a very attractive quality in a person.”

“I can’t.” “Your father thinks you can.” “My father has a stale crouton for a brain.” “Really? The man who founded a multibillion dollar empire is an idiot? Somehow, I find that hard to believe.” “You find everything I say hard to believe.”

“I missed you too. This big old castle gets lonely without its bad-tempered beast.” “Why don’t you call me when I’m away if you get lonely?” “Because asking that stupid batphone to call Daddy gives me hives.”

“Hi there.” “Hi yourself.” “How did you sleep?” “Like the dead. You milked every last drop of cum out of my dick. I’m completely dehydrated.” I press my face against his chest and laugh, ridiculously pleased with myself. “Are you complaining?” “Hell no. You can drain me dry anytime, baby.”

🤭🥰✨😂

Callum lifts the sheet and grins down at me hiding beneath. “I told him we’d be hungry.” I mutter, “I bet you did.” “You’re cute when you’re mortified.” “And you’re insufferable when you’re smug.” “It’s not as if he hasn’t seen a pair of breasts before.” “So you’d like me to start parading around stark naked in front of him and the chef?”

“You look like a cat that can’t decide if it’s going to purr or claw me to shreds.”

“You wear my ring. You sleep in my bed. You made a promise in front of witnesses to have and to hold me for the rest of your life. You chose me, Emery. And because you chose me, you own me, now and forever, come what may.”

Crushing me against his chest, he says gruffly, “I know you think we should’ve gone slow. But I know nothing of slowness. I dove into you like the ocean, headfirst, not caring if I’d drown.”

How do you tell the stranger you married for his money that he’s becoming your center of gravity?

“There are a million shades of gray between good and evil, love. Am I on the darker end of the spectrum? Yes. Am I a bad man who does good things or a good man who does bad things? Both. But you made this monster your slave. All of what I am, good and bad, light and dark, belongs to you.”

“Sometimes love doesn’t make any sense. But it doesn’t have to. When you find someone who makes your soul sing, all that matters is joining in the song.”

I loved you before I even knew your name, when you were wearing cat ears and spitting fire at me. You ripped my heart out of my chest the first time we met, and you’ve been carrying it around with you ever since, bloody and beating in your hands. If you truly want me to leave you alone, I’ll do it. But be prepared to have a ghost for the rest of your life, because I’ll never stop haunting you. Which is only fair, considering you’ll always haunt me.”

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💛

A note lies on the pillow beside me. I pick it up and read. Not all happily-ever-afters are for white knights, darling. Sometimes the villain gets the girl. And isn’t that a much more interesting ending to the story? With all my black heart, Your monster I read it over and over until I realize I’m smiling. Then I rip the note into pieces, flush it down the toilet, and pack my bag.

The emotion in his eyes is overwhelming. “Because you’re everything good and true, and I trust you. With my heart, with my life, with everything I am, I trust you, Emery. And I’ve never loved anyone more.”

“You told me once that you didn’t want kids. Was that the truth?” He stirs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. His chest rises as he inhales a breath. “Yes.” “Can I ask why?” “You won’t like the answer.” “You can’t see it, but I’m making a face at you.” “All right. The answer is because I don’t want to share you.” “You’re right. I don’t like the answer.” “Told you.”