“I belong to a club in Dallas.” His hand came off her head and his feet disappeared. “It’s very nice.”
She knew the one he was talking about. “Well, then if we’re in Dallas, you can take me someplace new. I’ve heard The Club is lovely and that Julian Lodge knows how to treat his clients. It’s probably better than Ian Taggart. Ian treats everyone like we’re still in the Army and he’s the general in charge.”
“Lodge is polite, but I still feel like I’m on the outside any place other than The Reef.”
She heard the door to the closet open and took a long breath. “It’s good to have a place where you belong.”
She couldn’t see what he was doing. It was part of the glorious mind fuck that got her adrenaline going.
“You seem to belong a lot of places.”
“I have a membership to The Garden and Sanctum, but only because of my work status. I feel weird in Sanctum. For a long time I was on the opposite side of Ian Taggart—well, he thought I was on the opposite side. No one was allowed to know my true identity except my handler and his boss. It’s the curse of the double agent. Sometimes you feel like no one believes you at all because you’ve become such a master at lying.”
She was surprised that came out as easily as it had. Her former career wasn’t something she liked to talk about, but something about being in the dungeon always made her vulnerable. In many ways, the dungeon was the only place she did talk about what had happened to her. It was her confessional, the one place she could be vulnerable because she knew there would be absolution.
“Do you still lie?”
“I try not to. In my daily life, I don’t lie at all. I don’t care enough to lie. I can be too harsh at times because I gave all my fucks up a long time ago.” Except that I’ll lie to you. I’ll lie because my job and my friends are all I really care about anymore.
Yeah, she didn’t say that part out loud.
“I like honesty,” he said. “No, I require it. I can’t stand people blowing sunshine up my ass. I have far too much of that every day. It makes you wonder who to trust. It’s why I like Jared. I don’t think he’s smart enough to lie.”
“That feels rough.”
“I guess I gave away all my fucks, too. Eyes up.”
She brought her eyes to meet his gaze and couldn’t help the shiver of desire that went through her body. He’d shed his shirt and every bit of dietary restraint showed in his perfectly cut body. Wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung jeans, he stared down at her. There was no way to miss the bulge in his denims. Joshua Hunt was built on long, lean lines, but that erection was anything but lean. It was a massive beast restrained by denim.
He held a crop in his hand, looking every inch the dark, decadent Dom.
Acknowledgments
I’m thrilled to bring this next book of the Scorpius Syndrome to readers, and I have many people to thank.
Thank you to my wonderful family, Big Tone, Karlina, and Gabe. I love you very much.
Thanks to Asha Hossain Design for the fabulous cover, Chelle Olson for the fantastic edits, and Michael Pauley for the wonderful audio narrations of the Scorpius Syndrome Books.
Thank you to my agent, Caitlin Blasdell, who gives fantastic advice across the board, and who has been with me through six series. Thanks also to Liza Dawson and the entire Dawson gang for their hard work and support.
Thanks to Jillian Stein, Minga Portillo, Anissa Hammons, Rebecca’s Rebels, Writer Space, and Fresh Fiction for getting the word out about the books.
Thanks to my constant support system: Jim and Gail English, Travis and Debbie Smith, Donald and Stephanie West, Jonah and Jessica Namson, and Herb and Kathy Zanetti.
Also by Rebecca Zanetti
The Scorpius Syndrome Series
Prequel: Scorpius Rising
Mercury Striking
Shadow Falling
Justice Ascending
Storm Gathering
Winter Igniting
Knight Awakening (Release date TBD)
Scorpius Syndrome/The Brigade Novellas
Scorpius Rising
Blaze Erupting
The Dark Protector Series
Fated (Book 1)
Claimed (Book 2)
Tempted (2.5)
Hunted (Book 3)
Consumed (Book 4)
Provoked (Book 5)
Twisted (5.5)
Shadowed (Book 6)
Tamed (6.5)
Marked (Book 7)
Vampire’s Faith (Book 8)
Realm Enforcers (Dark Protector spinoff)
Wicked Ride
Wicked Edge
Wicked Burn
Wicked Kiss
Wicked Bite
Dark Protectors: Reese Family novellas
Teased
Tricked
Tangled
The Sin Brothers series
Forgotten Sins
Sweet Revenge
Blind Faith
Total Surrender
The Blood Brother series
Deadly Silence
Lethal Lies
Twisted Truths
The Maverick Montana series
Against the Wall
Under the Covers
Rising Assets
Over the Top
To keep up to date:
www.RebeccaZanetti.com
https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaZanetti.books
http://rebeccazanetti.com/rebeccas-newsletter/
Winter Igniting (Scorpius Syndrome Book 5) Page 32