“I’m great. How about you?”
He shoves a hand through his hair. “Never been better.”
His thumb gently caresses the small scrape on my chin. The small injury and the bruises on my neck left by Athena’s fingers are the only evidence of our fight. The flat of his palm finds my back. He buries his face in the curve of my neck and holds on to me, like he’s never going to let me go. I soak in his scent, his strength, his presence. “I love you so much, Jagger.”
“I hate to interrupt, but we’ve got to get going, and you’re blocking our takeoff.” Nicky’s voice interrupts us. He and Callie stand a few feet away from us, next to the railing. Callie’s eyes sparkle with tears of empathy. They’re holding hands, watching us like they get it. I don’t know the details of their story, but I’m looking forward to learning all about their relationship once things calm down.
“You’re not staying?” I’ve been in a state of shock since the warehouse incident and thought I’d have time to talk with Callie later.
“We’ve got business to attend, and the two of you need time to chill.” She squeezes my hand. “We’ll be back next week, and I expect you to catch me up on everything that’s happened in your life since the last time I saw you.” Her warm smile fills the hole that’s been empty since our separation. “Now that I’ve got you back, I’m not letting you go.”
“I owe you big time for this,” Cash says to our hosts. His arm remains tight around my waist, like he’s afraid I’ll disappear into thin air if he stops touching me.
Callie glares at him. “I still think you’re a dick. If you hurt my sister in any way, I’ll hunt you down and cut your balls off with a rusty butter knife.” Her tone softens. “As long as she’s happy, I’ll figure out a way to deal with you.”
Together, Cash and I watch them board the helicopter, lift into the air, and zoom into the distance.
“Now what?” I ask.
“I have no idea. I’ve never been dead before.” The tip of his nose traces the shell of my ear. Pleasant shivers run down my back.
“You tell me.” I take his face between my hands and kisses his cheeks, eyelids, and lips.
“I guess we have plenty of time to figure it out.” His arms tighten around my waist, like he’s never going to let me go.
“The way I see it, you owe me big time.” I rest my forehead against his. “So, what are we going to do about this, big guy?” I use the same words he uttered to me on our very first meeting.
His laugh rings across the water. “Why don’t you step into my cabin, and I’ll show you?”
Twenty-Nine
Jagger
One year later…
I flatten a hand over my forehead and scan the shore. All I see are the tall, jagged cliffs of the Santorini coastline, blazing white stucco buildings with blue roofs, and an endless stretch of Aegean Sea. Beneath my feet, the yacht rocks gently. After a year of sailing, I’ve finally gotten my sea legs. And a killer tan, I might add.
Cash is sitting in a deck chair, his bare legs stretched out in front of him, an iPad in his hands. He glances up at me and smiles indulgently. “Will you sit down? You’re getting on my nerves.”
“They should be here by now.” I ignore his request and continue staring toward the horizon. Emeline and Gage are coming to visit. I haven’t seen them in almost a month. Although I enjoy Cash’s company, I’m dying for new blood.
He lowers his sunglasses and cocks an eyebrow. The wind ruffles his hair, a little longer than before, curling slightly on the ends. He rubs a hand over his bare chest. Daily swims and hikes around the islands have kept his body fit. For an instant, I forget about everything but him. One corner of his mouth curls into a cocky smirk. “I know that look.”
A blush heats my face. “No, you don’t.” We’ve been together on this boat, sailing around the world, and I want him as much today as I wanted him the first time. In fact, the longer we’re together, the more I crave of him.
He dumps Lucy out of his lap, stands, and joins me at the railing. The warm wind whips my hair across my face. He brushes it back behind my ears. “I bet we’ve got time for a quickie.”
“We just had sex an hour ago. Don’t you ever get tired?”
“I’ll never get enough of this body.” To prove his point, he grabs my bottom with both hands and presses my hips into his erection.
“Cash.”
“Jagger.” His brown eyes sparkle with wicked intent.
I cup his face in my palms, drinking in the sight of him. After all that we’ve been through, I’ll never take him for granted. “Do you miss it? Your old life, I mean?”
We seldom talk about the old days. Our lives center around this yacht, exploring the world, and each other. Sometimes I catch him staring toward the horizon, his gaze dreamy and soft, and I wonder if he’s missing the things he gave up. As far as the world is concerned, Cash Delacorte died in an FBI raid gone bad. The two teeth found in the rubble of the explosion were enough to have him declared dead and the charges against him were dropped. The feds never found one shred of evidence to tie him to any of the crimes. Their failure to bring an indictment is documented in history as an embarrassment to law enforcement.
Cash’s teeth are the only human remains found at the warehouse. Chances are good that Athena survived the explosion, and she’s out there—somewhere. I don’t think she’ll bother us, though. Cash will make sure of it.
And me? Along with Gage, I inherited half of Cash’s estate. The legitimate businesses, the houses, the cars, the money, and the diamonds. In fact, I own this yacht. Emeline is our accountant. She lives with Gage at the Geist Lake mansion. Life is pretty much perfect.
“Nah. I don’t miss nothing.” Cash traces the line of my nose and taps the tip.
I lift on my toes for a kiss. His tongue dives into my mouth. My heart races, the same way it did the first time he kissed me at Mercer’s gallery. The way it races every time he touches me. In the distance, I hear the drone of a speed boat engine and pull away. “That’s them. They’re coming.”
In unison, we turn to face the approaching boat. I raise a hand and wave. Em waves back. Her hair is flying in the wind. Gage has an arm around her waist and his opposite hand on the steering wheel. They’re smiling and happy. My heart skips a beat. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited. Tomorrow, Callie and Nicky are sailing here to join us. Mr. Mercer is asleep in his cabin below. I need to go wake him up so he can join the fun.
“Happy?” Cash pulls me into his side for one last kiss.
“Like crazy,” I reply, and take a breath to prepare myself for what comes next.
Epilogue
JAGGER
Cash’s voice speaks into the earpiece in my ear. “Up the stairs. Second door on your right. It should be unlocked.”
“Got it.” I blow out a cleansing breath to steady my nerves. With light steps, I race down the hall to the second door and place a gloved hand on the knob. It turns easily. I step inside, close it behind me, and wait for my eyes to adjust to the light.
I’m in an enormous bedroom. Yards of heavy velvet drape the king-sized canopy bed. Fat cherubs and naked women cover the muraled ceiling. Possibly a work of Ruben’s. If only I had time to admire all the amazing treasures inside this ancient villa. Unfortunately, time is my enemy in this circumstance.
“Are you in?” Cash’s voice buzzes in my ear. Every time I hear him speak, I get a jolt of desire between my legs. High-stakes thievery always makes me horny.
“Yes. Just give me a minute.” I scan the room for the bookcase. Soft Aubusson rugs cushion my footsteps. There are gold lanterns on each side of the shelves. I run a tentative finger over the left one, wrap my fingers around the base, and pull it toward me. The bookcase groans then swings open to reveal a wall safe. Just like Cash said. “Bingo.”
“Excellent, baby girl. You’re doing great.” His words of praise heat my cheeks. “Now, eighteen left, eighteen right, and twenty-eight left.”
&nb
sp; The dial clicks into place at each number. “You’d think people with this much money would update their security systems,” I say as I scoop two diamond rings, a ruby pendant, and two watches into the pouches hidden beneath the black skirt I’m wearing. It’s an outfit identical to those worn by the female catering staff at the fancy dinner party downstairs.
“These people are old money. They’ve grown complacent. Why are you complaining?” His chuckle spreads warmth through my chest. “Their oversight is our gain.”
“I’m not complaining, just making a general comment.” I return to the door. “All done.”
“Great. Head downstairs to the party. I’ll meet you at the back door in ten.”
I open the bedroom door and peer into the hallway. The voices of the guests float up the stairs. I straighten the collar of my white blouse, adjust the waistband of my skirt, and smooth the bun at the nape of my neck. Adrenaline hums through my blood. I descend the staircase. At the bottom, I pick up a catering tray and make my way into the kitchen.
No one looks at me or blinks in my direction. I drop the tray near the back door and step outside into the mild air. Cash is waiting on a scooter a few paces away. My stomach does a crazy flip-flop at the sight of his windblown hair and mischievous grin. He jerks his chin toward the back of the scooter. “Hop on, sexy.”
I climb onto the seat and hold on for dear life as we zoom through the narrow, winding streets. At the dock, we trade the scooter for a jet ski. Within ten minutes, we’re skimming along the water toward our yacht. Another twenty minutes and we’re sipping champagne on the lower deck under a sky filled with twinkling stars.
“It never gets old, does it?” Cash asks, his eyes dark and filled with desire.
“Nope.” I set my champagne flute on the table so that I can straddle his lap.
His hands find my ass and squeeze. “This is the last time. For real.”
“Of course,” I say, even though we both know it’s a lie. We’ve been sneaking into houses of the rich and famous, skirting the coast of the Mediterranean for the better part of six months. Not for revenge. For fun.
I lower my lips to his and savor the taste of Moët on his tongue. He tugs the pins from my hair, letting it spill over my shoulders and down my back. I rock forward. Behind the fly of his shorts, he’s as rigid as a steel rod. The soft breeze tickles over my bare legs. Beyond the scent of his cologne hovers the tang of sea salt and the flowers on the table.
“Let’s go to bed,” Cash whispers into my ear, and I nod, because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
Also by Jeana E. Mann
The Rich Royal and Ruthless Collection
(In reading order)
THE EXILED PRINCE TRILOGY
The Exiled Prince
The Dirty Princess
The War King
THE REBEL QUEEN DUET
The Royal Arrangement
The Rebel Queen
STANDALONE
The Ruthless Knight
THE ABSOLUTE POWER DUET
Absolute Power
Absolute Trust
PRETTY BROKEN SERIES
(In reading order)
* * *
Pretty Broken Girl
Pretty Filthy Lies
Pretty Dirty Secrets
Pretty Wild Thing
Pretty Broken Promises
Pretty Broken Dreams
Pretty Broken Baby
Pretty Broken Hearts
Pretty Broken Bastard
FELONY ROMANCE SERIES
* * *
Intoxicated
Unexpected
Vindicated
Impulsive
Drift
Committed
STANDALONES
Lies We Tell
Dirty Work
SHORT STORIES
Everything
Linger
About the Author
Jeana is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author from Indiana. She gave up a career in the corporate world to write about sexy billionaires and alpha bad boys. With over twenty books, three series, and many awards beneath her belt, she’s never regretted her choice to live out her dream. She’s a free spirit, a wanderer at heart, and loves animals with a passion. When she’s not tripping over random objects, you’ll find her walking in the sunshine with her rambunctious dogs and dreaming about true love. Subscribe to Jeana’s newsletter and get the inside scoop on new and upcoming releases, giveaways, and much more! SUBSCRIBE
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Copyright © 2020 by Jeana E Mann
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