I shot a glance from Paxton to River. I didn’t miss the way Paxton smirked, almost as though he enjoyed River’s act of possessiveness. Waving a finger between them, I said, “Are you two—”
“He’s mine,” River answered bluntly, before nodding at Bishop. “And he’s taken, too. Trust me, you don’t want to mess with his boyfriend, either. He’ll claw your eyes out.”
“Oh, I think I’d like him. When can I meet him?” I asked the question over my shoulder at Bishop, who grinned proudly. That was cute. I wanted someone who’d smile at the mention of me, but I’d learned only the lucky ones got those kinds of men. I was far from lucky in love, my horoscope even suggested the same thing. I wouldn’t be meeting the man of my dreams anytime soon.
“So, who are you here to bail out? Me or Stormy?” Bishop asked.
River sighed and cleared his throat. “Both, but Stormy is first. Madam Winters is here, waiting to rip some shreds into the police officers who arrested him.” He sent Paxton a pointed look. “Maybe find something important to do until she’s gone. She doesn’t need to raise her voice to get a good jab into you, Sir.” The name was said quietly, I assumed so no one on the security cameras could hear him.
Paxton’s smile was fucking gorgeous, and I didn’t think I’d ever quite seen anin loveexpression like that before, but there it was. Paxton was head over heels with his submissive, who also happened to be my lawyer.Well, hell. I’d pay top dollar to see them fuck or play.
“Noted. I have a lot of paperwork to do anyway,” Paxton said as he pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the cell door.
Blondie groaned behind me, and Paxton pointed at him. “Stay where you are if you don’t want me to knock you on your arse, Lowe.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Blondie, also known as Lowe apparently, grumbled as he fell on his ass anyway, glaring at me.
I fluttered my fingers at him as a goodbye when Paxton opened the doors. Even though I knew I was looking for trouble, I kissed Paxton on the cheek as I slid past him. “Thanks, handsome.”
River’s glare turned so hot I swore I was about to catch fire any second. I smiled innocently at him and bounced my way toward the door, River not far behind me. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. If he wasn’t so professional with his job and business, I expect he would have let the cops throw me into prison for a few years just for touching his Dom.
He grabbed my arm as we walked down the hallway, a few cops joining us as soon as we exited the cell room. Clearly they were there to watch me, to make sure I wasn’t going to run away.
“I like you, Stormy,” River began, his voice tight and so low only I could hear him.
“Aw, I like you, too, River.”
“But if you put your lips near Jayce again, I won’t save your ass the next time you get in deep shit. You can find yourself a new lawyer. Am I clear?”
I swallowed, aware he was being completely serious. Nodding, I sent him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. You know I like teasing.”
“That’s fine, just don’t do it withmySir.” He straightened his suit and knocked his briefcase against my ass, gesturing for me to move forward, and I did. I followed his directions until we got to an interview room where Madam Winters was already waiting.
She looked as elegant as always, tall and willowy, with her blonde hair pulled up into a tight bun. Her dress was black and moved with her body, a perfect fit for her hourglass figure. Beside her, much to my dismay, was her son, Darcy.
“Fuck. The Ice Prince is here,” I mumbled.
River snorted quietly. “Come on, let’s get this over with. I’ll have you out inside of an hour.”
River didas he’d promised. It didn’t take much—a little ear twisting and the cops wanted me out as quickly as they could make it happen. I didn’t know what River said, exactly, that scared them into doing what he wanted, but whatever it was had them sweating like a few guys I’d been with in an all-night marathon.
I was a free man again, stepping out into the late afternoon sunlight with Madam Winters and Darcy at my side. River stayed to deal with Bishop next.
“What about Ross?” I asked the madam as we walked down the steps and past the waiting media. They either didn’t remember who I was, or they had no interest in me. I suspected they wanted to get more photos of the mayor.
Madam Winters got me into the back of a white Audi with the engine already idling as we all slipped inside. I took the middle seat, with Darcy and the madam squeezing in on either side of me.
“What about him, sugar?” she asked, leaning back against the leather seat. “Ross Midberry knew the risks. He signed a nondisclosure agreement. He can’t get you into trouble.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I winced and smoothed my hands over the mesh shirt that showed the tattoo in the middle of my chest—a pretty rainbow triangle with a black eye in the middle. Branches sprouted out as eyelashes and bled down the bottom of the eye as though they were tears. It was my only body art because I believed in quality over quantity. “I wanted to make sure he’ll be okay. They won’t fire him, will they?”
Darcy made a sound that was a mix of a snort and a grunt. He crossed his legs. His shiny black suit pants fit so perfectly they showed off his strong thighs. If he wasn’t such a prissy ice prince, I would have thought he was appealing. He didn’t have the personality to fit his attractiveness. “After this? He’ll be lucky to have a job at all. Maybe we can find space for him in the hotel as a Courtesan.”
“Darcy,” Madam Winters warned quietly before she patted me on the thigh. “Don’t you worry, sugar. I’ve seen Ross get out of the most impossible situations. He’s a chameleon, born to adapt.”
“I just don’t want him to lose everything because of me.” I shrugged, my stomach warming at the thought of the sex I’d had with him in the past. I had my favorites and Ross was one of them. He didn’t make me feel dirty or ashamed of what I did; he treated me the same as he would a favorite barista or a supermarket worker. I was doing my job, and he was paying me for the service. “I told him doing it there wasn’t a good idea. My horoscope said there’d be trouble.”
She smiled sympathetically and curled her arm around my shoulders. I leaned into her, laying my head against her bosom as though she really was my mother offering comfort. Madam Winters took us all under her wing and we owed her a lot.
