Elin's lips curled into a practiced smile, her eyes dancing with mischief as she adopted the sweet facade she wore so well. She raised her hand gracefully, acknowledging the sender with a wave that was both dismissive and enticing. "Tell him thank you for me, will you, Clive?" Her voice, sugared with feigned appreciation, only served to tighten the knot further.
He nodded, oblivious to the undercurrents swirling between us, and retreated to relay her message. I watched the exchange, a silent spectator to the theater of deception she played so skillfully.
I stood there, rooted to the spot as the redhead's gaze lingered on Elin. His smug smirk suggested a victory, a claim he presumed to have staked. The simmering jealousy within me threatened to boil over. It wasn't just about protection anymore.No, as my jaw clenched so hard I thought my teeth might crack, I realized this was about possession.
"Are you mad that someone bought me a drink?" Her voice cut through the haze, laced with challenge and a trace of amusement. She turned to face me, her eyes gleaming with defiance and something else, something that teased at the edges of my consciousness—provocation.
The question hung in the air between us, a test of my restraint and desires. A part of me wanted to roar with fury, to shatter this illusion of ownership. Instead, I held her gaze, battling the primal urge to react.
In a futile attempt to hide the storm of emotions brewing within me, I narrowed my eyes at her. The word tumbled out, doing nothing to hide my inner turmoil. "No."
"Good boy." Her response came drizzled with both sarcasm and command. Lifting the glass, she took a small sip that seemed to punctuate her control. Then, as she held my gaze, she ran her tongue over her lips, causing my cock to twitch within its chain mail confines.
"Go upstairs to my office," she instructed, her voice a velvet purr that wrapped around my senses. Her command was clear. "I want you on your knees and naked when I walk in. I'll be five minutes or five hours. I expect you to be there waiting for me."
As I stood there, the weight of her expectations settled upon my shoulders. The thought of her finding me in position sent a thrill down my spine. Was it the punishment or the expectation of pleasure that awaited me that had heat flooding my body? With the command still hanging in the air, I straightened. "Yes, Goddess."
For a moment, our eyes locked. Hers were filled with an intensity that could ignite the very air between us, and mine reflected a mix of reverence and rebellion. Turning away from her gaze, I made my way toward the elevator. A few minuteslater, the leather of her office couch groaned beneath me as I collapsed onto it, letting out a long, drawn-out groan.
What have I gotten myself into?
Not letting myself dwell too hard, I stood back up. Stripping, I folded my clothes, set them on the couch behind me, but I placed my cell on top, just in case.
Kneeling on the floor, I waited.
And waited.
When my father’s ringtone came through a couple hours later, I reached back, answering it quickly.
“Hello, Father.”
“Gavriel.” There was a heavy pause as I waited for what he was going to say. “Did you see Rhea today?”
“Not today.”Why?
Turning to look at the clock, I furrowed my brows. Why would he be calling in the middle of the night about Rhea? I heard the long breath he let out as it blew over the microphone of the phone. “The contract is signed with Juarez. I advised her of her duty and well, she’s not agreeable to the arrangement.”
“She loved Joel. Just as much as you loved Mom.” He gave a grunt of derision.
And I am going to find a way to get her out of this. Do I have a clue how yet? No, no, I don’t.
“What can I do for you, Father?” There was more to this phone call than to feign concern about my sister’s discontent.
“I am in need of the Owl’s Talon.” A completely different kind of excitement rushed through my veins as I waited for his instructions. “One of the old Westwood bookies forfeited. Time to collect in blood. I’ll send you the location.”
“Yes, sir.”
He hung up at my agreement, and I stood on stiff legs.
Wait.
Goddess told me to wait here for her.
But the Don requires my services.
Torn, I reminded myself that the agreement was she was in control of all except for family business. This was family business.
Why am I even questioning this? What in the ever-living fuck is wrong with me?
