Indulge

by E. B. Walters

  She laughed. He loved heist movies, she liked Lifetime, but they both enjoyed spy sagas—James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Bauer… Because of the initials JB, she’d picked a Jack Black movie—Kung Fu Panda. Lex had enjoyed it, but he drew a line at Lifetime movies. He’d fallen asleep the two times she’d chosen one.

  Jillian stood. “Maybe I’ll let you choose again. So why do you think the poison is related to the man you sent to prison?”

  “He threatened you.”

  Jillian blinked. “What? How?”

  “He sent us an e-mail and hinted that he had access to you and I should watch you carefully. I saw it while we were flying back.”

  No wonder he’d seem pre-occupied. Whoever this bastard was, he had cojones to openly threaten her like that. “Do you have the e-mail?”

  Lex pulled his phone from its holder and showed her the e-mail. Jillian wasn’t sure who Gigi was, but the threatening e-mail was chilling. Jillian shivered. “Is that where you went after we arrived home? To talk to the others?”

  “Yes.” Lex rubbed her arms, a frown creasing his forehead. “We didn’t care when he threatened us before. He was egotistical even in college.”

  “Before? He’s threatened you before?” She sounded outraged. “Who does he think he is?”

  “He is a sociopath, and he’s hurt a lot of people. Women. After we put him away, we started a secret organization to help his victims. The ones who needed therapy or startup funds for business, we made sure they got it. Then we expanded to help other victims, those without the means to fight their abusers and attackers. Not just here in the U.S. but globally.”

  Jillian stared at him slack-jawed. “You help rape victims globally?”

  He nodded. “Not just rape victims. All victims. It doesn’t matter whether they are casualties of war or famine, tribal, religious, or racial cleansing. We do whatever we can to lend a hand, channeling funds, medicine, and food through trusted middle men and organizations.”

  She was in awe of this man. He never ceased to amaze her. “Do people know who you are? What you do?”

  He chuckled. “No. We prefer to remain anonymous. What’s the fun in having our faces all over the news? It’s a lot more satisfying to be silent benefactors. But Warwick has found out about our organization. He didn’t just threaten you, he knows we are members of Infinitus Agendum.”

  Infinitus Agendum. It sounded so exotic. God, she was so proud of him. Proud to know him and be associated with him. To love him and to have him love her. Yeah, well, he hadn’t said it yet, but she didn’t care. He would one day. When he was ready.

  “What does it mean?”

  “Forever Mission. Endless goal. It’s Latin with varied meanings. I see it as a mission that never ends. The eight of us have decided Infinitus will go public, so I’m not worried about what Warwick can do with his knowledge. But I’m not taking chances when it comes to you and your safety.” He peered at her. “Work with me, sweetheart. Take Troy or Douglas with you whenever you leave the house.”

  After what he just told her, she’d be a fool to fight him on this. “Okay.” Lex sighed with relief, and she chuckled. “So when do you have time to save the world when Sloan throws decadent and scandalous parties?”

  “We discuss business first then have all-night orgies with multiple partners,” he said with a deadpan expression. “Best way to release steam.” Somehow she couldn’t help wondering if there was some element of truth to what he’d just said.

  “I don’t care how many women you screwed in a night.” She cared and hated that he’d done the things they did together with some faceless women. “It stops now. I don’t like sharing.” He grinned. “Because I know you wouldn’t like it if I slept with another man.” He stopped smiling. “Or men,” she added and received a glare. Grinning, she gripped his shirt, went on her toes, and looked him straight in the eye. “I’m proud of you, Lex Fitzgerald. Proud of the man you are, and I’m lucky to have you in my life, but tonight will be your last lap dance. Just a lap dance. Nothing else. Whatever the bitch starts, I’ll finish at home.”

  “Have you had many threesomes?” he asked.

  Despite never meeting a man who rocked her world like Lex did, she’d never gone for a threesome. Not with another woman or man. She was too possessive to share.

  “No. I’m a one-man woman, big guy. Always have been. Just remember that I will not share you with anyone. You break my heart and I’ll make your life a living hell.” She kissed him and started to sashay away, but he caught her hand and pulled her into his arms.

  He kissed her properly, taking his time, molding her to his will. She soaked it all in. Greedily and without shame. He was hers, and she reveled in it.

  “Be careful,” he warned when he eased off the kiss. “If anything happens to you, no law will protect the person responsible.”

  He spoke calmly, but Jillian knew he meant every word. He was deadly and borderline scary when he pulled that cool and serious tone. She grinned and patted his chest. “Okay, hun.”

  “I’m serious, Jillian.”

  “I know. I know.”

  A haunted look flashed across his face so fast she might have imagined it. He pressed a kiss on her temple. “Be safe.”

  She grabbed her shoes and blew him a kiss on her way out. She would be careful. Not just for her sake, but for his too.

  ~*~

  As soon as Jillian and the others left, Lex made a call. “Did you get extra guards?” Lex asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Troy said. “They are tailing us. The driver is also one of our guys.”

  “Call me if anything seems off.” He hung up and made another call. Dom picked up after a ring. “How long before you get here?”

  “Do I look like a taxi service, Fitz?”

  “Screw you, Dom. If you didn’t insist on dropping me off at the hospital earlier I would have my own ride.”

  Dom laughed. “You were in no state to control the chopper. You lost it, man.” Someone said something in the background, and Dom laughed. “Sloan says you almost mowed down Rod in your haste to get out of the house. What? Really?” Dom asked, his voice fading. Music filtered through. Then his voice came back strong. “The guys said I should wait until you get here before I start pissing you off. Will be there in thirty minutes.”

  Lex refused to apologize for his reaction. Loving Jillian and worrying about her came hand-in-hand. When she’d mentioned poison right after their discussion about Warwick, he’d seen red. Lex didn’t believe in coincidences. He hoped it was one of her relatives playing mind games and trying to scare her off. Handling a few greedy Armenians was a piece of cake. Warwick was much more unpredictable.

  Dom arrived just after Lex finished changing.

  “Sloan went all out,” Dom said during their ride. “He even has a surprise for you.”

  A surprise usually meant a higher ratio of women to men. Sloan often used an exclusive “hostesses-for-hire” agency. Most of the hostesses were aspiring actresses and models. Whatever happened during the party and afterward was confidential and mutual.

  “You guys understand my participation tonight will be limited.”

  “And hurt Sloan’s feelings? Come on, Fitz. This is the last time you’re going to score before you get hitched. Several girls plan to show you what you’ll be missing once you have that noose around your neck.”

  “Spoken like a man who’s never been in love.”

  “Oh, I’ve been in love plenty, my friend. The women I bed know my position on monogamous relationships. I do short-term sexual arrangements. I have many interesting positions for that.”

  Lex chuckled at the double entendre. “I’m getting married, jackass, not having an arrangement. Have you guys ever hosted a bachelor party?”

  “Nope. I’ve attended a few. Mainly for my employees, but I never hang around after the obligatory toast. It is against nature to expect a man to be satisfied by one woman.”

  “Let’s have this conversation after you meet h
er.”

  “Who?” Dom asked expectantly. “Please tell me Jillian has unmarried bridesmaids. Seducing one might make up for not being your best man.”

  “I’m talking about the woman you’d be willing to break rules for.” Lex checked his phone. He wanted to call Troy again to check on them.

  “Damn, you’re whipped. I’m never falling in love or getting married,” Dom vowed. “If I’m forced to, I’ll have several mistresses on the side for variety.”

  Lex resigned himself to listening to Dom talk like an idiot. He couldn’t wait for him to eat those words. He, on the other hand, had always known he’d one day find the woman for him. He’d watched his brothers fall in love with amazing women. The rough edges in their personalities smoothed out and the hungry looks in their eyes disappeared. None of his brothers or brothers-in-law bothered to hide their smugness whenever they looked at their women. It wasn’t a look of possessiveness, but one filled with love and appreciation, shared secrets, and desires. And the women were no different. It was as though they belonged to an exclusive club for two.

  He’d looked forward to joining them. Falling for Jillian hadn’t surprised him. Having her love him back was something he’d hoped for. He still did. One day, she’d return his love. He hadn’t miscalculated his ability to make her fall in love with him. Before the year was over, she’d be looking at him with love and appreciation.

  Lex pushed that nagging thought aside and focused on Dom, who was now talking about an employee of his who just got married and almost caused an accident. “He’s on desk duty until he gets his shit together.”

  Dom and the rest of their friends ascribed to their own set of rules. Despite believing there was a woman out there for him, Lex had enjoyed their sexual escapades. Sleeping with several women in a night was something he’d done with willing partners. Some women considered it a challenge, while others saw it as a fantasy. He’d even doubled the pleasure of a few of them by partnering with one of the guys. They all had. But the idea of sharing Jillian with one of his friends was abhorrent. If any one of them looked at her wrong, he’d gut him.

  Music greeted them before they reached the top of the stairs. Nude and semi-nude women frolicked in the pool. Lucien was drinking champagne off the belly of a chocolate exotic beauty while the other women cheered. Not an easy feat when treading the water while she lay on a floatation device.

  Lex recognized a few of the women from previous parties. He never asked for last names, and their first names were forgettable like their brief encounters. If their paths ever crossed off this island, he’d never recognized them. Most kept their distance because of the disclosure agreement Sloan made them sign. The man took his privacy seriously and lived by one motto. What happens on his island stays on the island.

  Rake grinned at him from a lounger, a stunning brunette working hard to keep his attention. She was wasting her time. Rake was on self-imposed celibacy for reasons he refused to divulge.

  “Can I get a ride home before midnight?” Lex asked.

  Rake raised his glass, which Lex took as a yes. In college, Rake would get wasted every weekend. Lex couldn’t remember when the heavy drinking had started. Probably after his breakup with Gigi. Just before graduating, he’d gone and quit drinking. He had stayed sober since and was often the designated driver/pilot/captain, depending on where they were and the mode of transportation.

  A woman placed a champagne flute in Lex’s hand, her perky breasts brushing against his arm as she kissed his cheek. “Congratulations.”

  “Congratulations,” others added, raising their flutes, except the two kissing at the edge of the pool and entertaining Rod. He looked ready to join them or haul them out of the pool and disappear inside one of the private and lavishly decorated bedrooms.

  “Don’t let me stop you, Rod,” Lex teased.

  Rod laughed, dragging his eyes away from the two beauties. He gave Lex a manly hug. “Nah, you get to choose yours first. If she lets you,” he added and smirked.

  Jillian would yank the women’s hair out and rip apart his friends if he so much as touched another woman tonight. He planned to drink, hang out, get the obligatory lap dance, and then head home.

  “She doesn’t have to. I’m willingly giving them all up”—he waved to indicate the women by the pool—“for her.”

  A twinkle entered Rod’s eyes. “Damn, I suspected she was good, but…”

  “No nefarious thoughts about my woman, Rod,” Lex warned, keeping his voice mild. Rod thrived on being outrageous, but he wasn’t enabling him when it came to Jillian.

  Rod blocked the doorway and reached up to stroke his beard, a telltale sign that he was about to say something outrageous. “I was hoping I’d take her off your hands tonight.”

  The fun went out of their conversation.

  “Never going to happen,” Lex said, his voice calm, but the punch he delivered on Rod’s arm was hard. “So where’s my surprise? I hope she’s British with a V12 engine and a smooth power delivery system.” Aiden had promised to replace his totaled Phantom before his wedding. The Jag was nice, but he had a special connection with his Rolls. He had a Wraith too, but the Phantom was Jillian’s favorite. He planned to give it to her as a wedding present.

  “She’s definitely British,” Dom said, chuckling. He’d been quiet during Lex and Rod’s exchange. Now he could barely contain himself.

  “V12? You didn’t tell him?” Rod asked.

  “And miss watching you make an ass of yourself?” Dom asked. “Nah.”

  Lex was entering the house when Rod asked, “Then who the hell does he think I’m talking about?”

  “Jillian,” Dom said and burst out laughing.

  “Shit! No, Jillian is off-limits. Fitz!”

  Lex ignored him, but then he realized who Rod had been discussing when a stunning brunette entered the foyer with Sloan. Jocelyn Grayson. British. Brilliant. CEO of a software company—Grayson Inc. He’d had his share of long-term sexual arrangements, but his and Jocelyn’s had lasted the longest. She’d loved Sloan’s parties, preferring a threesome with another woman.

  “You are an ass,” Rod snarled from behind Lex.

  “Happy to know my skills are appreciated,” Dom shot back, his voice carrying. Jocelyn looked up and saw Lex.

  “Lex, dahling,” she said in her upper-crust English accent, closing the gap between them. She cupped his face and kissed him, her exuberance not toned down despite the fact that she probably knew he was getting married in two days.

  Lex waited for the hum of his senses that often accompanied Jillian’s kisses, touch, or scent. He felt nothing, except the pleasantness that accompanied a kiss.

  “I don’t hear from you for a few months and you go and get engaged.” She smacked his chest with the back of her hand, the gesture so like Jillian’s he wanted to protest. “Rod. Get me a drink.”

  Rod placed champagne in her hand, and she guzzled half of it. Usually, she took dainty sips.

  “Come with me.” She grabbed Lex’s hand. “We need to talk in private, then party.” She drained her glass and pressed it in Sloan’s hand. “I want to hear all about her.”

  Lex was frowning by the time Jocelyn pulled him into a spare bedroom and closed the door.

  ~*~

  Jillian tried the next cake and moaned. “Oh, that tastes even better. What is in it?” she asked, glancing at Deanna.

  They were at Eros—the same restaurant Lex took her to on their first date, same private room. Once again, Deanna Marshal was plying them with mouthwatering dishes. She was also the one catering Jillian’s wedding reception and making her wedding cake.

  Deanna smiled. “Lemon-coconut with lemon curd filling and French vanilla buttercream icing. The fondant will have lemon extract.”

  The woman was an amazing cook. Dinner had been delicious, and the assortment of cake samples literally melted in the mouth. Jillian sipped her mint drink to clear her palette and moved to the next one—an almond paste piece with raspberry pur
ee for filling and French vanilla icing. She’d already tried all six samples and had narrowed it down to two. She took another sample and let the moist blend of flavors and textures spread across her taste buds.

  She sighed blissfully and opened her eyes. “Almond wins.”

  A cheer swept the room, and she grinned at the Fitzgerald women and Deedee, who extended her hand toward Faith. Faith placed a pile of one-dollar bills in her hand.

  “We made a bet, and I won,” Deedee said. “I told them you looked like an almond girl.”

  Jillian had no idea what an almond girl looked like, but she’d warmed to Sloan’s sister as the evening progressed. Deedee was fun once she stopped acting like a glamorous socialite. Or maybe Jillian had forgiven her for the way she freely kissed Lex whenever she saw him. Deedee wasn’t as perfect as she’d first thought. Jillian had caught the longing in her eyes as she studied the Fitzgeralds, making her wonder if she was envious of them. She couldn’t be lacking in the female friendship department because she’d mentioned female friends several times.

  Jillian moved back to her seat as Eros workers cleared the tables and someone placed a drink in her hand. The evening had started with a limo ride to Eros. She’d been concerned they’d want to go to a club and had dreaded being recognized and people intruding on their time. But they were keeping tonight low-key. Even the music filtering into the room was turned so low it was just background noise. Best part, she was getting to know her future in-laws.

  The Fitzgerald women were down-to-earth. They plied her with questions about her years in the circus and Hollywood and laughed at her anecdotes without being condescending. Nikki, Chase Fitzgerald’s wife, even pulled up an online video of Jillian’s performances on her cell phone and passed it around.

  Jillian didn’t mind answering their questions. The only time silence filled the room was when discussion moved to her mother and her untimely death. Then things got downright morbid as others shared stories of their losses—Troy, Ashley Fitzgerald-Noble, and Faith had all lost their mothers at a young age.