by Meghan March
“’Bout what?”
“Whatever you want,” I said, repositioning the canvas on my easel. I was ready to start. “Anything, actually.”
“I don’t like you seeing that cop.”
I stopped before my brush touched the canvas. “That’s what you want to talk about?”
“You said anything. I’m going with that.”
Rolling my eyes, I began to paint. “That’s not really your decision.”
“Pisses me off, though. Knowing he can take you out to dinner, in public, and I can’t. It fuckin’ bothers me.”
I bit my lip because I didn’t know how to reply. I decided to go with the question that was really on my mind. “Why do you do what you do?”
Glancing up at Rix, I watched the interplay of his muscles as he shrugged. For now, he had his pants on, because I knew he’d be too distracting to paint without them at first.
“This is what I know. It’s what I’m good at. You wouldn’t understand, duchess. My life isn’t something that will ever make sense to someone like you.”
“Are you ever going to stop doing what you do?” My question hung between us, and I knew the impact his answer would have.
Even though it seemed utterly impossible, I was fascinated with him. If there was a chance he would leave this life behind, then maybe there was some sliver of a possibility that we could have a future where he wasn’t breaking into my house.
Since when do I want a future with Rix? Since I woke up with him in my bed, apparently. I liked it way too much and wanted it to happen again.
Rix flexed his hand, curling it into a fist and releasing it. “It ain’t that easy. This isn’t something I can just walk away from any time I want.” Curling his hand back into a fist, he added, “And while I’m in this life, I can’t take you out and let people see me doing it—even if you’d let me. It’s not safe. You don’t get to where I am without collecting a hell of a lot of enemies, and those enemies are always looking for weaknesses.”
I paused as I dabbed my brush in the paint. “Am I a weakness?”
Rix’s nod was short. “Yeah. Because if someone took you, I’d tear this town apart to find you.”
The vehemence behind his words should have been scary, but it wasn’t. It was actually comforting. He felt something for me, and whatever it was, he felt it strongly.
“So you think someone would target me to get to you if they knew?”
“That I’m hung up on you? I’m not taking the chance. That’s why you won’t ever find me knocking on your front door. That’s why I won’t be picking you up and taking you out. That’s why I need to stop fuckin’ thinkin’ about you, but I can’t.” He looked at me, the muscle in his jaw clenching.
“I—I don’t know what to say.”
Rix shook his head. “You don’t need to say anything. I don’t have family, don’t have friends outside my crew. Because it’s too dangerous. I can’t afford to have weaknesses, and once you get your girl back, you should never see me again.”
His words hit me with the force of a blow. “You—what? You’re going to just disappear?”
“I said should. Guess we’ll see what happens.” He met my gaze over the canvas. “You want me gone anyway.”
I replied with the truth. “If I wanted you gone, you would’ve been in jail the first time you broke into my house.”
His expression changed, the silver burning brightly. “That so?”
Nodding, I knew I had to change the subject. “Drop your pants. I’m ready to do your lower half.”
Rix threw his head back and laughed. “Didn’t even offer to buy me dinner first.”
“I’d offer to make you dinner, but you might not survive. I’m a terrible cook.”
Rix reached for the button on his jeans and unhooked it before shoving them down.
Three.
That was how many times I’d officially seen him naked, and every single one of them was going to be burned into my brain for the rest of my life. One man shouldn’t be allowed to have such a beautiful body. I’d also never been so thankful to have a paintbrush in my hand.
“You can sit back down, if you want.” I nodded to the chaise behind him.
“How do you want me?” he asked, the double entendre clear in his tone.
“Sit, lay back. Throw your arm over the back of the chaise. Just . . . get comfortable.”
Rix complied silently.
“You can keep talking.”
“You want me to keep spilling secrets?”
I shrugged. “I want you to keep my mind off the fact that I’m staring at you naked, and the silence is making it awkward.”
“Long as you see something you like, we’re good.”
“I think it’s pretty clear I like what I see.”
“Seems like you should be naked too,” Rix said, a mischievous smile on his face. “Only fair.”
I’d thrown on a pair of leggings and an old, paint-covered tank top. Without a bra, there was no way he could miss the press of my hard nipples against the thin cotton.
“I think you’re getting mixed up about how this works.” Heat curled between my legs, and I felt myself grow wet.
“Nah, I’m just saying that if you’re going to study every detail of me, I should have the same opportunity. Watching you sleep wasn’t quite the same.”
I paused. “You watched me sleep?”
Another shrug from Rix. “Maybe.” He shifted on the chaise. “I struck a deal for your girl. Should have her back to you before the end of the week.”
“Really?” Hope filled me, because that was the best news I’d gotten in a long, long time. “You could’ve maybe led with that, you know.”
“I was gonna tell you before I left either way.”
I kept painting, and we lapsed into silence. I concentrated on the canvas, and when my gaze flicked back to him, I froze. His hand was wrapped around his cock and he was stroking it, his eyes burning into me.
My thighs squeezed together. “Wha—what are you doing?”
“Think that’s obvious.”
“You . . . have to stop.” I swallowed, unable to tear my eyes away from the sight.
He didn’t. Stroke after stroke, I stared as he grew even bigger and harder. I wanted him in my mouth. Right now.
Rix wanted the same thing. “Put your brush down, duchess. I want you on your knees.”
Unmoving, I continued to stare.
“Come here.”
I lowered my brush to the tray beside me and wiped my hands on a rag. Standing slowly, I crossed toward him. He nodded to his hand, which was still wrapped around his cock.
I pressed a knee to the chaise, and then the other, finding space between his spread legs. Licking my lips, I lowered my head.
At the sound of the doorbell ringing, we both froze.
“No fucking way. Do not move.”
My phone buzzed on the side table with a text, and I bit my lip. “What if—”
Rix growled. “Go. I’ll keep myself entertained.”
“It’ll just take me a second. Stay here.”
“I don’t take orders, duchess.”
“I know, but it could be my parents. Or one of my neighbors.” I headed for the door.
“How is someone getting to your door anyway? You’ve got a gated yard.”
“I know, but the pedestrian gate isn’t locked. It broke a couple weeks ago, and I haven’t gotten it fixed.”
“Jesus, here I’ve been jumping the fence, and all along you’ve got a broken latch? You need to get that shit fixed ASAP.”
“How about I worry about that later,” I said, my gaze once again dropping to his cock, which had softened only slightly, before I stepped back and headed out of the studio.
When I reached the front door, I peeked out the sidelight and recognized my visitor immediately.
Rhett. What was he doing here? And what would Rix do when he realized who it was?
I felt like I was sitting on top of a powder keg
Rhett’s eyebrows shot up when I opened the door. I shouldn’t have been in such a rush to answer it. No makeup, paint on my hands and arms, and from the way his gaze rested on my face, I’d probably smeared some on there too.
I pushed back my hair, wondering if I looked like I’d been doing what I’d just been doing. My cheeks were hot, and I quickly crossed my arms over my still hard nipples.
“Now, what exactly were you doing?”
“Uh . . . painting?” I bit my lip and lifted a hand to my face to cover what I was sure were even redder cheeks than I’d started with. That’s when his gaze dropped to my nipples.
Something lit in his green eyes. “Fuck, I want you.”
He didn’t even give me time to react before he wrapped a hand around my waist and yanked me against his body, his lips finding mine and his tongue sliding inside.
Oh my God. Oh my God. This is not happening. Rix is going to go to prison for killing a cop.
And yet the kiss was good. Delicious, actually. Rhett had serious skills, but the heat that roared through me when Rix kissed me was missing.
Finally, Rhett released me. “I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I couldn’t help it. You can’t answer the door like that.”
“Um. Uh. Okay. Sorry?”
I was babbling words that made no sense. The kiss had thrown me completely off-balance, but Rhett just smiled. A little smugly, in my opinion.
“Was there something you needed?” I asked, grasping onto the fact that I needed him gone as quickly as possible because I didn’t want to clean blood off the floor in my foyer.
“Besides another taste of you? I thought I could take you to coffee to make up for cutting our date short the other night. It’s been a hectic few days and I had a couple hours free, so I stopped by.”
Oh shit. I looked down, desperately thinking of something to say. I caught sight of the paint and my nipples pressing against my shirt.
“I’m a mess,” I blurted. “I’m really not in any condition to be leaving the house.” I looked up as he reached out and caught a tangle of my wild hair.
“But you look beautiful. I hope you were thinking about me before you answered the door.”
My mind immediately went to Rix and the memory of him stroking his cock. Heat flushed my cheeks again.
“Well . . . I, uh . . .” Get it together, Valentina, I scolded myself. “I guess a lady should have some secrets. But thank you. I appreciate the invite.”
“That’s too bad. How about tomorrow?”
Tomorrow. Tomorrow. I bit my lip, trying to remember what was going on tomorrow. The opening.
“Work,” I said. “I have a work thing. Maybe another time?”
“Thursday night.”
Thursday. Crap. What was Thursday? I was beginning to think my brain was fried from man-overload.
“Um,” I mumbled. “I don’t think I have anything going on.” As soon as the words were out, I kicked myself. I wasn’t supposed to be seeing him again.
“Then Thursday it is. Enjoy your Sunday.” He leaned in and stole another kiss. “This is a good look on you.”
I smiled and shakily closed the door and locked it. I jumped when I felt the heat of a body behind me. A really big, really hot body.
“You let him touch you,” Rix growled in my ear.
“I didn’t ask him to.”
“Don’t care. No one touches what’s mine.”
I spun to face him. “You just told me that you couldn’t really have someone because it was too dangerous. So explain to me how that makes me yours?”
Rix’s growl deepened. “Don’t throw that back at me. So long as no one knows about us, you’re safe.”
“I don’t even know what that means.”
“Guess I’ll have to show you.” Rix cupped my jaw and lowered his mouth to mine. “No lips but mine kiss you. I don’t fucking care whether you like it or not. Mine.” His other hand smoothed the hair out of my face. “No hands but mine touch you.”
“So you want me to tell him no?”
His grip on my face tightened slightly. “You’re gonna tell him no. Whatever he thinks you’re doing on Thursday night, you’re not. You’re gonna be with me. I’ll have your girl back, and we’ll figure out how this is gonna move forward. You got that?”
Finally. God, the relief of having a defined date was palpable. That was the best news I’d heard all day, and in exchange for that, I’d agree to just about anything, including canceling a date with Rhett.
After that kiss, I knew I didn’t want him the way I wanted Rix. Rhett was an honest, good guy, and I couldn’t keep jerking him around. This juggling two men business was exhausting, and I was ready to be done.
But even having made that decision, I knew that I wouldn’t necessarily get to keep Rix when this was all over. He’d made that clear. His life didn’t allow for attachments, and I needed to find a way to unattach myself before I was in too deep and set myself up for a fall.
Who would have ever thought I’d be worried about falling for him?
“You get me, duchess? That’s how it’s goin’ down.”
I slid my hand around the back of his head and raised up on my toes to press a kiss to his lips. “I think I get you.”
BECAUSE I WAS STILL A novice when it came to girl posses, I didn’t realize having one meant that they’d show up uninvited at your exclusive gallery openings. But halfway into the evening, Yve, Elle, and Vanessa came through the door of Noble Art.
“I need something for the lake house,” Vanessa said. “And I saw the flyer for Burton Ridgeway’s work, and I fell in love.”
“That’s only because you didn’t see the painting I snagged by Valentina’s anonymous artist friend,” Yve countered. She turned to look at me. “Did you get more yet?”
I shook my head. “No, sorry.”
“Let me know. I called dibs.”
“I’m here for the champagne,” Elle added. She shrugged. “I mean, let’s be honest. Someone’s going to pawn some of this stuff eventually, and I’ll get it for a song.”
Elle was a nut. But she was probably right. People pawned all sorts of things at Chains, where she worked with her boyfriend, Lord.
“Well, thank you so much for coming. Feel free to look around. Champagne is on the table in the corner.”
“Good looking out, girl.” Elle looped her arm through Vanessa’s and took off in the direction of the champagne.
I was turning back to Yve when I caught sight of a man across the street in a black T-shirt with a build like Rix’s. Was he watching me tonight?
“You aren’t listening to a word I’ve said, are you?” Yve drawled.
I jerked around to face her as she studied me. “Sorry. I thought I saw someone out there.”
“Is there something going on with you? You’ve been acting different lately.”
I wondered if she was referring to me actually going out and having fun, but I couldn’t be sure. “Things have been a little hectic lately. I’m . . . distracted.”
Elle and Vanessa came back with champagne and caught the last bit of my explanation.
“Distracted? I’m calling bullshit. You look like you’ve got man problems.”
Oh shit. I didn’t want to discuss this. Not right now. I scanned the rest of the gallery, looking for a customer who needed assistance, but Burton was speaking with one small group and Remy was chatting with another couple.
When I didn’t immediately answer Elle, she kept going. “Mm-hmm. Man problems, for sure. You find yourself an alpha to keep you busy at night?”
I thought of the man I’d woken up next to yesterday morning—who’d stroked himself while I painted. My cheeks flushed with color every time I thought of it. And then the one who was insisting on taking me to dinner on Thursday. What a mess.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Elle laughed. “Tell us about him.”
“Which one?” I said, not thinking before I spoke.
“It’s a mess. I . . . I don’t know what to do. I’m trying to figure out how to let one of them down easy, but he just won’t take the hint. He knows there’s someone else, and I think he gets off on the competition.”
“They all do,” Vanessa said. “It’s an alpha thing.”
“Who are they?” Elle asked.
I froze because I couldn’t tell them about Rix, which told me once again that I was insane for even thinking that we could possibly have something. And did I really want to tell them about Rhett?
“I’d rather not say just yet.”
“Cagey. I like it.” Elle raised her glass to me and sipped.
“How do I get the one to stand down?”
“Hmm . . .” Yve tapped the side of her glass. “You could tell him you require a better-equipped man. Generally, insults about dick size work really well.”
“Oh no, don’t do that. You’ll damage the poor guy for life,” Vanessa said. “Just tell him you don’t feel the same way about him, and that if the other guy ever screws up, you’ll keep him in mind. Lets him down easy without breaking his heart completely.”
That could actually work. “I’ll give it a try and see what happens.”
In the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking, Maybe when this thing with Rix blows up in my face . . .
I would let him down easy, and this would be over.
I WAS NOT ON A date. I swore I wasn’t. And yet, here I was sitting across the table again from Rhett Hennessy. Table ambush. Let’s call it that. Much like the first night we had dinner together, this one wasn’t intentional, and I hadn’t been able to come up with a polite excuse as to why he couldn’t join me.
To celebrate the success of our Monday-night opening and all the hard work Remy had been putting in without Trinity there to help, I’d taken him out to dinner after we closed the gallery. Burton Ridgeway had sold well over half of the pieces we’d been showing.
But Remy’s roommate had texted a few minutes after we’d been seated and she’d lost her key. Being the nice guy that he was, Remy ditched a free dinner to help a friend.
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