I mean, she hasn’t even asked about Monarch.
“What’re you brooding about there, pretty Molly?” Declan slides in behind me, his hand wrapping low around my hips, fingers spreading over the black dresshechose for tonight. Heat floods my cheeks at the memory of our fight about whether I can pick my own clothes…and at the slick little trickle of cum sliding down my inner thigh. A reminder of who really is in charge.
“You and your molesting ways.”
Declan looks delighted and grins, his dimple flashing and blue-green eyes dancing. And in a room of expensive perfume, I try to subtly turn into him and breathe him in.
“You love my molesting ways, Molly girl. And…are you sniffing me?”
I grit my teeth.
“No,” I lie. “I’m thinking how you fucked me hard over the bathroom sink before we left and wouldn’t let me shower again. Or put on panties.”
He gives me a hurt look. “And be late to a thing like this? I’d never.”
“Why didn’t Lucie come?”
“Because my fucking brother’s soft when it comes to her and hisweans?—”
“Hiswhat?”
“Weans? Wee ones? Kids, brats, spawn.”
I roll my eyes at him.
“Also, this is the place where he killed her not-father.”
“Hewhat?Andnot-father?”I stare at him. Ice slides down my spine.
“Killed the fucking asshole. Also, a long time ago, Harriet shot Torin. And my da’s in prison in Ireland.” He brushes a kiss over my hair. “There. All the family secrets. You owe me for that fuck, by the way. I allowed you to come.”
My head spins, and I focus on the one thing I can.
“You came too. It’s literally dribbling down?—”
I stop as he laughs. And I narrow my eyes.
“You suck,” I mutter. “Thank goodness you at least let me wear the garter.”
“No, Marlowe, you suck, which gives me some ideas.” This time he pulls me close. “And the garter’s sexy and smart. You remember which leg’s injured now.”
“Doesn’t matter since I’m stuck doing this.”
He’s the epitome of a loving, attentive husband. It makes my heart flutter, and my stomach jump and spin, even though I know there is steel behind the charm. He’s surveying the room closely. For what, I don’t know. Counting potential threats?
But I’m safe. Right?
“You’re only stuck because you allow it, Molly.” And he kisses me again, the brief brush of his lips striking like a match. “Where did Leon go? And don’t say he wasn’t even here. You know what I mean.”
I try to pull free, but he won’t let me. I think about stomping his foot into dust, but I’m wearing pretty little shoes that won’t do much. And I bet he’s wearing steel-toe boots.
“I don’t know, he just said away.”
A big man comes up to talk with Declan, and he keeps mepositioned next to him as they talk about an area in the Garment District the man seems eager to sell.
But I end up getting pulled away by Topher, who’s got a new girlfriend. She’s prettier, but twice as bored. I catch her scouting the room, looking for a better option.
“I should have stuck with you, Mar,” he murmurs into my ear, his hand sliding around my waist as he breathes alcohol fumes on me. I don’t know if he’s drunk or just finished a drink. He can hold his liquor when he wants to. “You’re the only one who doesn’t bore me.”
