Page 9 of High Reward

I lean against his leg.

“It’s OK,” I whisper. “I kind of like it.”

He chuckles for a moment but quickly sobers as whatever Matteo says gets his attention.

“We’ll be there. It would be strange for all three of us to miss.”

The call ends abruptly, and Victor fists a hand in my hair again.

“Is everything OK?” I ask, trying to keep the arousal out of my voice.

He studies my upturned face, cupping my jaw with his free hand. “Not even close. But we have to keep living.”

“Maybe we can go to my apartment before we go to the club? I’m going to start my period soon, and I don’t have any club-appropriate clothing here.”

“Sabrina can bring you a bag.”

I frown. “I want to be home, Victor. Even if it’s just for a few minutes.”

“And when this is all over, you will be. I promise, butterfly. But right now, it’s out of the question. In all the chaos, Owen hasn’t finished his search for whoever worked on your car or the person sending you the flowers.”

I rest my chin on his knee and sigh. “You’re right. Better to be safe.”

“Thank you for agreeing. Make a list for Sabrina and text it to her.”

“Why is the head of Crimson Peak coming to the club?”

He frowns and pulls me up into his lap. “You want to be kept separate from my... less than legal activities, yes?”

I sigh and shake my head. “If I’m going to be with you, I’m resigned to the fact that I’m going to have to know some things. Having you hide things from me is worse than knowing.”

His brows come together as his scowl deepens. “I’ll do my best to shield you. But he heard about the work we’ve done for some of our other clients and wants to come on board and have us handle some cash for him.”

That means money laundering. I’ve heard enough to know that. “Enough said. Is there anything I can do to help you get ready for tonight?”

He pulls me close. “Just be your usual self, Grace. And keep Liliana near you.”

“Yes, Sir,” I murmur.

“Time to get dressed. We’re going into the city early.”

When we get to his bedroom, Liliana is using the shower, and I’m tempted to join her. But the water turns off as I’m about to head for the bathroom, so I go to the dresser drawer Victor cleaned out for my clothes and pull out an outfit.

Lili steps out in a towel and blushes when she realizes we’re here.

“Hope you don’t mind, I used your shower,” she says. “I woke up and neither of you were here, so I thought I would enjoy some quiet time to myself.”

Victor crosses the room to her and pulls the towel free as he leans in to kiss her.

“You’re welcome to my shower anytime, Spitfire. We’re going for a ride soon, so get dressed.”

She puts a palm on his chest and stares up at him.

The sight of them together should make me uncomfortable, but it doesn’t. They make a striking couple, and I enjoy looking at them. My mind goes back to the day I watched Victor fuck her on his bed while I rode the Sybian, and the memory sends a little shiver through me.

“Uh Oh, Vic. Our toy appears to be having dirty thoughts about us,” Lili says in a loud whisper. Her calling him Vic catches me off guard, but I don’t have too much time to wonder about it.

Victor’s gaze shifts to me and he crooks a finger and points to the floor in front of him.