Silver Edge
Page 20
When my toes touched the floor, he brushed the hair from my eyes. “I love you, Scarlet Bain. With all my heart. I’m so sorry Margo hurt you…hurt us.”
“Does this mean we can have sex now?” I blurted out, the microphone picking up every word.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I tossed the last few plastic cups I’d collected from the dance floor into the garbage. “I’m so glad Values won the competition. They were my fave.”
“You picked them from the start.” Drake pecked my lips for the tenth time that hour.
Ton lifted the trash bag out of the can, tied it off, and tossed it with the others by the door while Hawaiian wiped down the bar top. “I’m surprised that Margo lady left. She ain’t the type to give up.”
Drake laughed. “I called her father and threatened a scandal. I told him about her tactics and what she did here, and he agreed to handle it. It turns out, her father had no interest in this land and she’d lied about everything. Her father even threatened to disown her if she didn’t leave me alone. And, well, there are plenty of people willing to share incriminating photos with the press.”
Ton opened the back door and tossed the bags outside. “Yeah, I saw her outside getting manhandled into a black SUV by two men.”
Drake wrapped his arm around me. “Those were probably some of her dad’s goons, so we definitely don’t have anything to worry about, then.”
A twinkle of pleasure seeped through me. “Is it bad that that makes me happy?”
“No, I think it’s fine,” Hawaiian answered. “Makes me happy, too. All right. Drake, Einstein, I’m goin’ to bolt. It’s been a long night.”
I smiled and hugged Hawaiian. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
“Yeah. I can’t stay mad at you.”
Ton offered his hand to Drake. “I’m gonna leave her in your capable hands.” Then he turned to me. “But first, what did you do with that coke?”
“I don’t know.” I patted my pockets and looked around.
“You don’t have to worry about that,” Drake said. “When she was busy trying to beg my forgiveness I snatched it and tossed it in the trash.”
“I didn’t beg,” I huffed.
“You kind of did.” Hawaiian headed out the door and it slammed shut behind him.
“Ton, stick up for your little sister,” I pleaded.
Ton only offered a wave then disappeared out the door behind Hawaiian.
Finally alone, I turned around in Drake’s arms to face him. “So, you own the club now? Margo doesn’t have a say?”
He quirked an eyebrow at me. “You called her Margo.”
“Yeah, well, I took Ton’s advice. It’s time for me to grow up. Speaking of growing up, if she’s gone now, can we change the name of this place? I mean, Bands is embarrassing.” I rolled my eyes.
“Already done.”
A little miffed, I quirked my head to one side. “Really? What happened to our partnership?”
Drake brushed my crazy hair from my face. “I think you’ll like the name.”
I sighed. “What is it?”
He slid from my arms and rounded the stage, where he reached behind the piano and retrieved a box with a big red bow. With a cat-who-swallowed-the-hummingbird smile, Drake handed me the box. “Happy birthday.”
“You remembered?” I eyed the white box with a satin bow. “A gift, for me?”
“Yes. And you better get used to being spoiled.”
I slid the ribbon from the box and opened it. Inside, I found a black plaque with gray writing that said, Silver Edge. In smaller writing underneath, it read, Inspired by Scarlet Bain. In loving memory of Devon Markham.
I stepped back, confused. “But you thought I’d left. What made you choose that?”
“Because I knew if you ever returned, that would be my silver edge.” Drake took the plaque, set it on the bar, and pulled me tight against him. “I’m sorry. I was angry and upset. I should have listened. I’d been so worried and when I saw you I was relieved and mad all at the same time. Will you forgive me?”
“I’ll make a deal,” I whispered.
“What’s that?”
“If you make love to me, I’ll think about it.”
He lifted me into his arms and carried me up the stairs. “My pleasure. I’ll do my best to earn your forgiveness.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, my body already heating with want.
He reached the top of the stairs and headed past the bed. “But we need to start in the shower. We both reek of sweat and stale soda.” His strong arms released me to stand on the tile floor. Longing to have a hot shower and climb into Drake’s bed, not to mention his arms around me, I tore my clothes from my body.
He followed my lead, and in a matter of seconds we both stood naked, facing each other. Steam began to coat the mirror and warm the room. I couldn’t help but admire him. He looked a bit thinner and less muscular than the last time I’d seen him nude, but he was still beyond stunning.
He stepped into the shower and held the curtain open for me to join him. The warm water flowed down my back, and I welcomed his chest pressed against mine. We were both exhausted, and I worried tonight wasn’t the right time to take the plunge, but his hardness pressing into my navel proved it wasn’t an issue.
I grabbed the soap and lathered him up, swishing the suds across his chest and down his middle. Dipping lower between his legs, he gasped and pressed into my hand. My legs trembled with want, and I kissed him deeply.
He took the soap from me and massaged suds around my breasts. I moaned and leaned back, letting the water soak my hair.
“I’ve waited so long, I think we should switch this to cold water before I get too excited too quick.”
I grabbed the shampoo and squirted some on top of his head, then mine. “Or we can just shower faster.” I quickly rinsed my hair then grabbed the towel, not caring about conditioner. I stepped out and wrapped the towel around the back of me, holding it open for him to join. He cut off the water and obliged with a smile before backing me through the bathroom door toward the bed.
He snatched the towel and threw it to the side.
“We’re gonna get the bed all wet,” I protested, but he tossed me on the covers. I bounced twice before he landed on top of me.
“Sounds like fun.” Droplets of water ran from his hair and dripped onto my chin. He kissed and nipped along my jawline. “How does this feel?”
“Good,” I breathed.
He moved to my collarbone. “And here?”
“Great.”
Lower and lower, he traveled until I writhed with want under him. “I’m going to make love to you now.”
I couldn’t speak. My mind whirled, trying to process all the mind-blowing movements of his fingers, body, and whispered kisses across my flesh. He took me in his arms and made love to me slowly, deliciously. My senses unable to process anything but his touch. Growing, mounting, swirling waves of bliss crashed over me until the world faded away and finally, I experienced love. Love I thought never existed. True, pure, all-consuming love.
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Acknowledgments
First and foremost, thank you Entangled Publishing for taking a chance on a book that resides a mile outside the box of normal. Also, thank you to my amazing editor, Tera Cuskaden, for her appreciation and love of Scarlet’s snarky and misguided ways. And as always, thank you to my street team for all their love and encouragement during this crazy writing journey. I love you all.
About the Author
Ciara Knight is a USA Today and Amazon Bestselling author who writes ‘A Little Edge and A Lot of Heart’ that spans the heat scales.
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