I pulled her into my arms, brushing her hair off her face, but my gaze drifted back to him. He was still watching her—not a passing glance, but a stare so intense it edged on obsession. Not good. Not at all. Who the fuck was this guy, and how was I going to make him disappear?
She let out a soft mewl in my arms—her signature sound after a soul-snatching orgasm. A sound that usually made me smug. But now?
“You,” he said, addressing me without even looking my way. Asshole. “What’s the highest membership tier here?”
“God tier.”
He nodded, calmly smoothing out his shirt and jacket like he hadn’t just finger-fucked a fairy into a coma. Turning toward the door, he tossed words over his shoulder like casual confetti. “I’ll be in touch tomorrow with the deposit. Send over whatever contracts or forms you need. I'll handle them immediately.” His eyes still hadn’t left her. “I’ve got meetings this week and decided to extend my stay. I find New York… intriguing.”
I gave him a curt nod, wanting the exchange over.
“My name is Lucus Kingsley, but after that, I suppose you can just call me Luc.” He paused, head tilted in expectation.
“Van Tempest,” I replied, tugging off my mask so he could see exactly who he was dealing with. “Concierge of the Winged Palace.”
He let out a booming laugh I didn’t expect, too full, too casual for a man who just oozed predatory charm. Wiping a fake tear from the corner of his eye, he muttered, “God, I’m glad I missed that appointment.”
Then, just before he yanked the door open, I caught a glimpse of something I wished I hadn’t— he sniffed his fingers.
As the door shut behind him, Aniyah stirred against me, stretching like a cat just waking from the sun.
“Mmm… Where did Mr. Kingsley go?” she asked, voice lazy and glowing with post-bliss softness.
“He left,” I replied, “but not before signing up for God tier.”
Her smile widened, dazzling enough to make my pulse trip, and then came the bragging.
“That’s right! I bagged a whale—the same one who ditched your tour yesterday.” She grinned like she’d won a prize. “Guess showing him the ropespersonallysealed the deal.”
I think just seeing you again sealed the deal,I wanted to say, but, of course I didn’t.
Who knows? Maybe this guy’s just a tourist with a kink and a week to burn, then it’s back to rich-boy London for him, and my peace returns.
Aniyah stood and crossed the room, unbothered and unapologetic about her body, moving with that easy confidence I always admired. She opened the drawer and pulled out a pack of wet wipes.
I quickly threw on my pants and met her halfway, gently taking the wipes from her hand. “I got this.”
She cocked her hip and crossed her arms beneath her chest, the curve of a smirk already forming.
“It’s the least I can do,” I added. “Iwasthe one who made the mess.”
A slow, dangerous smile curled her lips. “Yes. That sounds fair.”
As I cleaned her, I kept my eyes on hers, hoping, praying, she’d see what I’d been hiding for two years. “Look, about that kiss?—”
She cut me off, quick and sharp. “Don’t worry about it.” A shrug. Casual. Too casual. “It was the right move at that moment. Let’s not call it a rule break, okay? Let’s just pretend it didn’t happen.”
But her eyes betrayed her. They were guarded, hesitant, scared of something too deep to name. I nodded, meeting her halfway like I always did.
“Good,” she said, plucking the wipe from my hand and tossing it in the trash. “Now, let’s order Chinese and finish his paperwork. I want to see how that whale’s money changes our projections. God, Ilovewhen we rake it in.”
She moved to the door, already pulling up the food order like nothing had changed. Like everything hadn’t.
I gripped the edge of the table, grounding myself. Maybe she’d never open that door. Maybe she nevercould.
But looking at her now, laughing at her phone, hair a wild halo, skin still glowing, I knew I’d never be able to walk away.
If she wouldn’t take my love, then I’d give her the next best thing. My loyalty. Every last breath of it.
