Page 191 of A Vicious Love

“Sienna, I need to speak with you.”

I sounded like I was about to explain a contract violation.

I tried again.

“I fucked up.”

Too blunt? No. She knew me. Blunt was at least honest.

“I fucked up,” I repeated. “I should have told you before anyone else did. Celeste means nothing. The clause is being corrected. I should have never let them put another woman near my name.”

That was good.

“And I bought you things.”

Fuck.

No.

That made it sound like bribery.

I dragged a hand through my hair and looked at the canopy above me. The tree offered no advice.

Useless plant.

“I cared,” I said, lower.

The words hit strangely in the quiet. My mouth tightened. The apology grew longer with all the fucked up ways, I resented treating her.

Too honest.

Possibly fatal…I would say half. Maybe a quarter, or maybe I would open with the gifts and let the diamonds do the work.

Coward.

I took another step.

Then I saw her.

Sienna sat high on the rocks above the waterfall pool. She was turned slightly away from me, one leg bent, one stretched long.

Her swimsuit was pale blue, tiny and fucking cruel.

The fabric clung to her.

My cock went painfully fucking hard.

Oh, baby.

The things you do to Daddy.

The thought landed so violently I had to stop walking.

I had not fucked a woman in three years. Since the engagement was announced.

Crows did not cheat.

It was law. Bloodline discipline. Public order. A Crow fiancée meant clubs ended, private rooms ended, women kneeling on velvet floors ended. My role in my own establishments had stopped overnight. Dom, owner, monster behind the private doors—gone. Locked away because Sienna Bellemere wore a handler’s ring on her finger, and even a bastard knew where the line was.