Blinking my eyes open, I turn my head toward that familiar deep voice and smile. “I haven’t been in the sun long. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, why do you ask?”
He sits in the chair next to me and reaches for my hand.
“I heard you yell a couple of times.”
“I’m having issues with a shipment that’s coming into my LA port tonight. I don’t want to have to go there, so I’ve been trying to manage it from my office.”
“Why don’t you want to go to California?”
He squeezes my fingers before bringing them to his lips. “Because I have a sexy wife at home, and I’d rather not leave her.”
Okay, that might be the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.
“I’d be okay,” I whisper, and then yelp when he tugs me into his lap and buries his face in my neck, giving it a little nibble. “Okay, fine, I like it better when you’re here.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. We have to go in a few minutes.”
I can’t resist dragging my fingers down his cheek as I ask, “Go where?”
“We’re going into the city for dinner,” he replies. “Nothing fancy.”
“Oh, I’ll go change. I don’t know if you’re aware, but my super over-the-top husband bought me all kinds of pretty new clothes, and I’ve hardly had the chance to wear them.”
Julian smirks and then pats me on the ass as I stand up to go inside and get ready.
“I like this sassy side of you, Angel.”
Me too.
I wonderwhere he’s taking me.
Staring out the window of the SUV, I see the lights of the city come into view. I know that Las Vegas can be a dangerous, seedy place for a lot of people, but I’ve always thought it was beautiful. I love all the lights, the people shuffling around. Some of them make me laugh, like that Elvis impersonator who’s currently thrusting his hips back and forth, drawing a crowd.
“I love this city,” I find myself saying out loud. “I always have. Even the tourist traps.”
“I’m glad you do because you’re married to a man who owns most of it,” he says, bringing my hand to his lips. “Before we get where we’re going, I want to take a minute to talk about what you said when I got home last night.”
“What did I say?” I ask him.
“That having food ready for me, and not leaving the kitchen until I’ve eaten, is your job.”
“It is?—”
“No. It isn’t, Natasha. I want you to throw pretty much every rule you’ve been taught out the fucking window. You and I are figuring this out as we go. There aren’t any rules until we make them for ourselves. I don’t want you to go without eating or to exhaust yourself like that again. Eat when you’re hungry, especially if I’m not home. And I’ll do better at communicating with you. I should have let you know that I’d be home late, and I’ll do better.”
“Okay. Thank you.” I lick my lips. “I have a rule.”
His eyebrow kicks up with amusement. “I can’t wait to hear this.”
“No other women.”
“I already told you that I’m not interested in other women.”
“I know.” I nod and squeeze his hand in mine, trying to reassure myself more than him. “And I believe you. But in our world, most men don’t honor that for long. If you’re ever with someone else, you won’t be withmeever again. I can’t handle that, Julian.”
He nods and reaches out to cup my cheek.
