by Meghan March
“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to think of the last time I saw Yve.
“We came to your apartment. Harriet let us in. We brought food, and flowers, and cards, but you were asleep in a corner, curled up in a chair. Don’t you remember?”
My mind races to remember what she’s talking about, and I come up blank.
I shake my head.
“Me, Valentina, Ariel . . .” She trails off when she sees no recognition on my face.
“I’m really sorry. I was in a dark place. Everything from that month is basically a blur. If Harriet hadn’t forced food into me, I probably would’ve starved.”
Yve’s expression softens with a hint of pity, but I don’t need it now, not that I can tell her that I don’t need it. “I’m so sorry anyway. It’s hard to be alone in the world. Losing family is never easy.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly, accepting her hug. Even though it makes me feel like a fraud, it’s comforting. I didn’t realize I had support from such amazing friends.
On the flip side, it’s also a reminder that Rafe has to stay dead. He can never come back to life in Louisiana. The realization hits me hard, and a shaft of unexpected pain stabs me in the gut.
It’s okay, though. At least he’s alive.
“Now, can you tell me about this piece? I didn’t see it before, but my husband would die for it. And since he’s on a business trip, it’s my duty to surprise him.” Yve points to a large crown mounted on the wall.
By the time Yve makes her second purchase, there are only two pieces left for sale, and my imposter syndrome starts to fade.
I can do this.
I can have my dream.
37
Kane
Later that night, after Temperance’s first sold-out showing, she rests her head on my chest.
“I can’t believe this is real. That this is my life.”
She looks up at me with wonder shining in her eyes, and I vow to do everything I can to keep that look on her face for as long as I live.
“Believe it. I’m so damn proud of you, princess. You deserve every single bit of it.”
She traces one of my tattoos with her finger. “You know, I made a bucket list when I decided I wasn’t going to give up on life. Actually, Harriet mostly made me.”
“Oh yeah?” I meet her dark gaze. “What was on it?”
“A few things I can already check off, actually.”
“Like what?”
“Introduce myself as an artist, and be happy.”
A feeling of contentment, unlike anything I’ve ever known, builds in me. “I’m glad I can make you happy. What else do we still need to check off?”
“You want to do it with me?”
“Do you really need to ask that?”
She smiles. “Drink wine at Harriet’s vineyard in Italy, and travel the world.”
“Is that all?”
“I can cross the last one off, and thankfully not because I completed it.”
“What’s that?”
“Honor my brother’s memory.” A feeling of foreboding pervades my contentment when she says it and then looks back up at me. “Because he’s going to be safe, right?”
I nod because there’s no other choice. I just hope I’m not lying.
38
Temperance
“You came!” Yve says as I walk through the door of Pretty Kitty a week after my showing at Noble Art—which Valentina called a smash hit. On top of buying the crown sculpture, Yve commissioned another piece, and I’ve been working on it for three days.
“I snuck away from working on a certain custom piece, so I hope the customer isn’t upset that it’s going to be a few more days in production.”
She smiles. “As long as you leave here with lingerie and a smile, I’ve got no complaints,” she says, crossing the room and wrapping an arm around me to squeeze.
Six months ago, I didn’t know what it was like to have women friends, but it seems I’ve been adopted by several, and hugs are now a commonplace thing. It’s crazy how life can change.
Before Kane came into my life, I was working at the distillery, assuming that’s what I was going to do with the rest of my life, and hadn’t had sex in forever. Now I’m in a lingerie store, surrounded by familiar faces, and I’m going to pick out some killer stuff so I can shock the hell out of my man and be a very bad girl.
In fact, I feel the urge to role-play coming back. We may not be able to go back to the club anymore because Kane doesn’t think it’s safe, but my need for what he gave me there hasn’t disappeared. I’ll just reclaim it at home.
A plan is already taking shape in my mind when I see Ariel holding up a sinful black bra-and-panty set.
Her eyes brighten when she sees me. “Hey, girl! You look fabulous. How are you doing? Are you okay? Can I do anything? Do you need anyone added to the no-fly list?”
Her over-the-top greeting reminds me just how much I like the girl genius who is more computer hacker than CEO.
“I’m good. Things are going well. Life is finding a new rhythm, and I’m hanging in there.” It’s hard not to tell her the truth, but keeping Rafe’s secret is at the top of the priority list, so I have no choice.
“Good. We were so worried about you. I even did a few things I shouldn’t have . . .”
Oh Jesus. “Like?”
She stares at the ceiling for a moment.
“Ariel?”
With a wince, she meets my gaze. “I hacked a few satellites and found out where it all went down. I know about the cover-up.” She keeps her voice low so no one can overhear her.
“Please tell me you haven’t told anyone.”
She glances over to where Keira stands near Yve, making sure the whiskey is being enjoyed.
“No. Everything I could figure led right back to a place I don’t want to mess with because I don’t have a death wish.”
I know she’s talking about Mount, and for the first time, I’m really glad he’s a super-scary mofo who is married to my former boss.
“You should definitely not dig any further into that situation,” I tell her, matching her tone of voice.
Ariel nods. “I got that. But . . . I’m still not going to feel okay about leaving it be until you get justice for what happened.”
“Oh Lord, what business are you sticking your nose into now?” The question comes from the gorgeous blonde stepping closer to us that I remember as Vanessa from the girls’ night I went to at Valentina’s.
“Not important,” I reply, just as Ariel says, “Nothing.”
“I’m around sneaky teenagers all day, and I know you’re both full of shit,” Vanessa says.
“Trust me when I say you don’t want to know,” I tell her.
Vanessa tilts her head. “Please tell me Ariel isn’t hacking into something that’s going to get you both killed.”
“I don’t do that stuff anymore.”
“Right. Like I believe that for a second.” She glances behind Ariel. “Where’s the laptop?”
“Yve forbid me from bringing it. Again.”
Vanessa shakes her head and laughs. “I can’t believe you actually left home without the thing.”
Ariel’s fingers twitch. “I usually don’t. You never know when you’ll need to hack into North Korea’s missile guidance system to save the free world.”
I let out an uncomfortable laugh, not sure if she’s joking or not.
“I’m off to buy something that’s going to blow Con’s mind. You two . . .” Vanessa looks at both Ariel and me like we’re as guilty as the teenagers she spends time around. “Stay out of trouble.”
As soon as she turns her back, Ariel shoots me a sideways glance. “If there’s information you need that you don’t want to talk about here, come to my place tomorrow.”
I give her a nod because I don’t want to get myself into any trouble. But . . . there’s definitely information I need. We need the connection between Giles and the human traffickers. We need to find Lag
arto. And I want my brother home safe and sound.
“I don’t care what you’re talking about, but tonight is about lingerie,” Yve says, joining our group. “So go find some, drink the amazing whiskey, and spend all your money.”
“Girl, you don’t stock enough lingerie for us to spend all our money. Didn’t you know we’re ballers?” Ariel says with a smile.
Hearing her talk so easily and confidently about who and what she is gives me a new goal.
Someday I’m going to be a badass like Ariel.
The door chimes again, and I see another familiar face.
“You made it!” Yve calls, and the dark-haired gallery owner joins us.
“Pass up whiskey and driving my husband wild with something naughty? Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Valentina sees me next. “Temperance! I’m so glad you’re here. I was going to call you in the morning because I need your wire-transfer information.”
Wire-transfer information. It makes me sound so fancy, which is definitely not the case.
“Whatever you need,” I say. “Although I have no idea what that information is.”
“I can get it for her,” Ariel says with a smile. “But you probably don’t want me to.”
“Oh Lord. Don’t get the girl started hacking into all our bank accounts. She’ll probably put more money in them because she’s a weird-ass benevolent hacker. Or start college funds for all our kids.” This comment comes from Yve.
Ariel flips her the bird with a smile as she sips a glass of water.
“Why are you drinking water and not whiskey?” Valentina asks, her eyes narrowed.
“Why do you think?” Ariel replies with a hint of attitude.
“Oh my God! Really? You’re—”
“Knocked up and can’t stop crying when I’m happy or feeling like I’m going to puke pretty much all the time.”
“Holy shit!” A woman with deep auburn hair walks in the door, and she gives a little shimmy. “The girl genius is knocked up! I didn’t expect to hear that tonight!”
“Elle! You came.” Vanessa squeals and hugs the woman.
As everyone catches up with the new arrival, my mind is stuck on what Ariel said. Crying all the time and constantly feeling like you want to puke . . .
No. Way.
Seriously. There’s no way I’m . . . I do the math in my head.
Not possible. Is it?
Maybe.
There’s a definite maybe.
I should be freaking the fuck out about the possibility of being pregnant, especially right now, but instead, a tiny kernel of hope blooms inside me.
The timing wouldn’t be great, and I’m not going to jump to conclusions, but . . . wow.
I bite down on my lip as my mouth curves into a smile. How crazy would that be? One thing is for sure, though.
I’m not saying anything until I know one way or the other.
39
Kane
When Temperance walks out of the lingerie store, I’m glad to see she has a bag in her hand and a smile on her face. She needed tonight. Something good and normal.
Through the brightly lit windows, I watch her give good-bye hugs to her newfound friends, so glad she has that. I want her to have that. I want her to have everything.
I get out of the car and open the door for her. “My lady,” I say, gesturing for her to enter.
“Gallant. You’re totally hoping I bought something scandalous, and now you want to see it on, don’t you?” she asks as she slides into the seat.
“That’s not why I’m opening your door for you, but I wouldn’t say no regardless.”
“Good,” she says with a smile. “Because it’s definitely scandalous.”
I close her door and round the hood to get in the driver’s side. “Where to tonight?”
We’ve been splitting our time between Temperance’s apartment and the warehouse, depending on what hours she’s working, but we’ve spent the majority of nights at her place. Thankfully, Harriet has been out of town quite a bit, otherwise I’d be worried the noises we make upstairs would give the old woman a heart attack.
Then again, it’s Harriet . . .
I’m not complaining, though. I don’t care where we are as long as I fall asleep beside her.
“Let’s go to the warehouse . . .”
When Temperance trails off, I immediately wonder what she has planned.
Since we stopped going to the club because of Giles, I’ve wondered whether she was getting everything she needed from me, or if she still needs that dark edge of the voyeurism that brought us together.
When I pull into the garage, she’s out of the car before I can open her door.
“Eager?”
She nods. “Give me twenty minutes before you come up, though. I promise it’ll be worth the wait.”
“I’d wait forever for you.”
Her face softens, and I lean in for a kiss before she heads upstairs to no doubt blow my mind with whatever she has planned.
40
Temperance
When Kane walks upstairs after waiting like I asked, I hear him check the bedroom first. But he won’t find me there. No, I’m down the hall in an office that I don’t think he’s ever used based on the completely clear state of the desk.
Which works perfectly for my purposes.
Regardless of how our lives are going to change in the near future, whether from the suspicions I now have or because of the mess my brother dragged us into, I need one night to not worry about any of it.
I need one night of just us and what originally brought us together.
Kane’s not slow, so it doesn’t take him long to find me in the office, leaning against the edge of the desk in my brand-new purchase—which shows more than it conceals.
I don’t need to hide anything from him. I just want to continue to tempt him.
“I didn’t realize we had a meeting planned for this evening,” Kane says, his icy gaze sweeping over me with approval.
“Your seat, sir.” I nod to the armchair in the corner that has the only dim light in the room above it.
Kane sits, his legs spread and his hands resting on his knees, and he watches me where I stand in black stilettos.
The things I want to do to that man . . . or let him do to me.
“What’s on the agenda for tonight’s meeting?”
“Just a little temptation.”
“I think you’ve miscalculated.”
I tilt my head, swinging my hair to the side. “How’s that?”
“You’re no little temptation. You’re the ultimate.” His gaze starts at my feet and caresses my body as it rises. “Those black stilettos. Sexy as fuck. Those stockings? I want to peel them down with my teeth before I push those tiny red-and-gold panties aside and taste the sweet pussy you’re hiding.”
In the beginning, it was watching someone else that unleashed the fire within me. But now, I realize that was just the catalyst to make me go after the real prize—a man who could give me everything I needed, in bed and out. Who could help me shed my inhibitions. Forget everything except how he makes me feel.
“I want that. I want everything from you. Everything you’ve promised me.”
His gaze reaches my face. “I sure as hell hope so, because it’s already yours.”
He’s speaking in generalities, and I’m thinking in specifics, but he’ll understand soon enough. Like in ten seconds. My core pulses at the thought of what’s coming.
“Do you want to see the rest?” I ask, a hint of tease in my voice.
“Always.”
I push off the desk and slowly turn in a circle, and I know the moment he sees the lack of material in a very specific place in my lingerie choice.
“Sweet fucking Christ. Princess . . .”
I glance over my shoulder to see him gripping the arms of the chair. “You like?”
His nostrils flare as he loosens his grip and stands. “No. I fucking love you. Every inch of you.” He crosses the floor
separating us and stops close behind me. His breath touches my shoulder as his hand covers one cheek of my ass and gives it a delicious squeeze.
I release a soft moan.
“You flash this beautiful ass at me, and there’s no way in hell I can stop from touching it.”
“I want you to touch it.” I meet his stare. “I want even more than that.”
I didn’t know his blue eyes could burn so hot before this moment. Kane’s palm slides from my cheek to trail two fingers up my crack.
“You want me to fuck this sweet ass?”
“Yes.”
He groans, his eyelids dropping before he moves, and jerks me back against his chest so he can take my mouth. As his lips devour mine, I give myself over to his kiss.
When we’re both breathless, he pulls back and stares into my eyes.
“You. Are. Mine.”
“I know.”
His lips skim down my neck to where it meets my shoulder, and the arousal he’s stoked burns even hotter.
Since the moment I picked this particular pair of panties off the rack, I knew what I wanted tonight. That’s why there’s a plug and a bottle of lube already here.
“I bought supplies too . . . in the drawer.” My voice is breathy, and we’ve barely gotten started.
Kane pulls back. “I already knew you were perfect, but this seals it.”
I start to bend over, but he stops me.
“Not yet, princess. First, I’m going to enjoy these pretty tits and eat that tight little pussy.”
I don’t know what it is about when his mouth turns filthy, but it kicks everything up to the next level.
He turns me around and both hands wrap around my waist to lift me onto the desk. His lips find my nipples through the sheer lace of the bra, and he sucks them into his mouth one at a time.
When my head is thrown back, he finally reaches for the clasp and it releases. Inch by inch, he pulls the bra down my arms, and my skin tingles in the wake of where his fingers touch. He plays with my nipples until they’re as hard as diamonds and I’m begging.