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“We can look through some of the suites if you want?” The voice beside me pulls my brain out of its imminent tailspin.
“Maybe next time, I—” Faltering, I twist my hands together.
“Of course, Fox…this is a lot to take in on your first visit.” I’m so grateful that she gets it, and doesn’t press the issue. “Come for a more in-depth tour anytime you want.”
As relieved as I am feeling that we can continue this another day, I don’t want her to think I’m not impressed. “It’s…I honestly don’t know what to say. You’ve created something incredible.” I truly mean it. Beyond the fact that my father was a sick asshole, there is a world within the Anguis that this woman and Hawke Calliano are running in respectable standing.
The world will never be rid of power-hungry individuals who choose to pledge their lives to these sorts of organizations. And they are willing to work with that to create something better than existed while Andreas Noire was in control.
“You know, you really should come and enjoy an evening here sometime.” Poe bumps her shoulder against mine. My cheeks turn crimson.
“I don’t—Umm—Maybe?” The words are tangled in my mouth like fishing line.
She laughs and encourages me to follow her the way we just came, checking an alert on her phone as we start heading back toward the main room.
“Don’t have a heart attack on me. But keep it in mind.”
“I definitely will.” Although I really don’t know what or when or how that would ever happen. If I’m truthful with myself, I don’t want to come back here without my men. And I also don’t know how any of them would feel about being here with me, especially since I know they’ve all previously taken part in the pleasures on offer here.
God. That sends the jealous bitch in my chest into a feral, screeching, clawing mess again.
But who am I to judge anything? I wasn’t exactly some pristine Barbie doll left in her packaging and never played with before I met them. Add that to the fact that they’re all older than I am, and I really cannot be feeling any particular way about their activities here in the past.
Even so…I hate it. Violently.
“Come on, let’s get a drink and see where those bulldogs of yours have gone, hmm?” Poe taps out a message on her phone as we walk back down to the first floor, where there is decidedly less explicit fucking going on out in the open.
As we reach the bottom of the stairs, my heart rate triples. Heading toward us are the two men I should not be surprised to see here at all, but I’m still faltering a little anyway.
Thorne and Hawke Calliano.
It’s easy to tell the difference between them tonight, even though it feels like forever since I last saw Thorne…while shoving a gun below his chin, no less. He’s immaculate in a white dress shirt with collar buttons popped open, sleeves rolled up. Seeing him dressed like this reminds me of the man who asked me out on a date and was charming, but also a stand-offish prick, and my core clenches as he draws closer.
Thorne carries two glasses, one in each hand, which makes me suspect that Poe has masterminded this whole chance encounter judging by the way she’s beaming from ear to ear. As I almost reach the last step, he’s right in front of me. My tiny perch to stand on draws us eye level, despite him usually towering over me even when in heels.
There’s no hatred or malice or disgust in his eyes, just a warmth and affection there that I don’t deserve.
“Did you enjoy your look around?” His eyes drop appreciatively down my body. “More importantly, did Poe behave herself?” There’s a crease at the corner of his eyes, and I know he’s trying to tell me all is forgiven. He’s not making this awful, or hard, or punishing me.
I want to kiss him senseless and rub all over him.
That kind of thing is probably encouraged here.
“I did. We did.” Darting my tongue out to wet my lips, I manage to give him a small smile in return. This man makes me giddy in a way I’ve never experienced before. One glance is all it takes to reduce me to a blushing mess.
“Would you like a drink?” He offers me one of the glasses, which looks like whiskey, and I gladly take it. My fingers brush his as I reach for the beverage, and there’s that same familiar spark that I always get jolted by when it comes to him.
“Come join us in a booth for a bit. You don’t have to rush off or anything, right?” Poe is angling herself to herd me over to one of the luxury leather seats over at the far end of the room, where it’s a little less crowded. “I’m sure even Thorne Calliano can have a little downtime every now and then.”
I see Hawke giving him a look that must be brother-code for listen to the woman.
Taking a small sip from my glass, the burn of the whiskey going down actually feels superb, especially considering my jangled nerves. That’s when Thorne does the most surprising thing he could possibly do at this juncture, and wraps my hand in his. He intertwines our fingers, leading me behind him as we head over to the booth.
There’s every chance I fell and hit my head on the way down the steps, because this cannot be real. He’s surely not holding my hand like we’re lovers, and this is what we do on a regular occasion.
My eyes fixate on the spot where our fingers link, and my brain ceases all functionality.
He flexes against my hand, and I nervously bring my gaze up to meet his. Resembling a gaping fish, I imagine. He sits and tugs me to follow, keeping me tucked close. It’s like he doesn’t want to stop touching me. Those sapphire eyes shimmer under the low lighting, pausing on my mouth, and I immediately transform into the horniest little bitch alive.
