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CHAPTERTWELVE
MALCOLM
It’s nearing midnight when my phone rings. Désirée and I were in bed watching a movie—something she wanted to see. I don’t see how she could want to watch a woman who pretends to be something in order to interview someone only to end up hunted by them. It’s some strange as shit, that’s for sure.
The other day, Désirée and I shared a kiss. One I wanted to take to a whole other level, but when I felt her scars, I froze up. I backed off and all but ran away like a fucking teenage boy who got caught jacking off. Sure, she kissed me, but it was me who took it too far. I told myself I’d wait for her to tell me. I wouldn’t do anything that would lead to something more intimate unless she told me she was ready.
Neither of us has talked about it, but it does seem we’re closer, like now with us watching a movie in bed.
Muttering a curse. I glance at the nightstand and sigh.
Without removing my arm from behind Désirée, I reach out and grab my phone from the nightstand. Spying Rémy’s name, I swipe across the screen before bringing the phone to my ear.
“Everything okay, Rémy?” I ask, feeling Désirée tense at the mention of her brother’s name. She’s yet to see any of them, but I’m hoping soon that’ll change. With each day, she’s becoming more confident. Coming back to the way she used to be, though nothing about how she is now is bad.
Last night she slept through the night without a nightmare, and I’m happy for it. Not because I slept, but because she didn’t wake after reliving the hell she endured.
“Wouldn’t call if I didn’t need help but need you to come down and help with security,” Rémy mutters, talking about Diamond Dancer’s.
“What’s going on?” I ask, shifting slightly and pulling my arm from behind Désirée.
“Big crowd tonight, lot of them being important players we need to keep our eyes on,” Rémy informs before going on. “And Tristan’s got some of our men out handling business with a few customers who wanted to rough up a couple of the girls.”
“I’ll be there soon as I can,” I mutter, hanging up and looking at Désirée while climbing out of bed. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to go help Rémy at the club.”
“I understand,” she says quietly, nodding, not meeting my gaze.
She knows the type of place Diamond Dancer’s is. It’s a club with many faces. The legit side has strippers, then you have the burlesque dancers, and the smaller section is full nude. Some would say the place is not somewhere you want to go, but it’s been rated in the top ten for Louisiana. The establishment is high class and caters to all needs.
The other side of things, however, isn’t legit, and it’s run by Tristan. He handles all the women that work for them in other ways. It’s Tristan’s job to make sure no one screws with the girls while they’re with a John. They do. He sends a few of the men after them to rough up whoever hurt one of them.
I normally don’t get called into Diamond Dancer’s, not unless it’s important or Rémy needs back up.
“Mon trésor, look at me,” I command, leaning in to press my hands on the bed as she brings her eyes to mine. Only when I’m holding her gaze do I ask, “What’s wrong?
“Nothing,” she mumbles, pulling her bottom lip in between her teeth.
“Désirée, don’t lie to me,” I mutter, reaching across to drag her across the bed and out of it to stand in front of me. Désirée plants her hands against my chest. As I wrap my arms around her waist, I ask her again. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing, stupid really,” she murmurs, keeping her gaze straight.
Since we were lying in bed, I was shirtless and laying in sweatpants, my cock decides to make himself known at the feeling of her so close. And not like we normally are. Thoughts of Désirée roaming those hands of hers over my body while I showed her the attention she deserves to feel.
“With you, nothing is stupid. Now eyes on me and tell me what’s wrong, baby,” I demand, sliding a hand up her back, trailing the fingertips along her spine.
“It’s just that . . .” she murmurs, lifting her gaze to mine. “I just . . . you know all the women there are pretty and . . .”
“You’ve got nothing to worry about, Désirée. I can promise you that. No one is as pretty as you are. I don’t want anyone else,” I say, interrupting her. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see where she’s going with this, and she’s nervous. Leaning my forehead against hers, I bring both hands up to cup either side of her face. “Mon trésor, you know the type of business your brothers own. Youknowwho I am. We’ve spent enough time together over the past few weeks, you knowme. I see something Iwant—I go for it. And just to say, baby, when it comes toyou, you’rewhatIwant. Nothing’s going to changemymind either.”
I make a decision at this moment to do something I said I wouldn’t do again until she told me she was ready. I press a chaste kiss to Désirée’s lips, not taking it further than a simple kiss so hopefully, she’d understand, I mean what I say. Pressing my forehead to hers, I give her one more thing in hopes that it will make her feel safe and secure with me not here. Since she moved in, I haven’t been away from her at night. “Also, I want you to know you can sleep soundly knowing you’re safe. The security system will be set, and there are cameras throughout the house. I’ll be able to keep an eye on you and appease my mind.”
I release her and make my way to the walk-in closet shutting the door behind me. I quickly put on a pair of jeans and a black button-up dress shirt. I slip on my boots, which I wear when in jeans, and step out of the closet, rolling the sleeves up to my elbows.
My eyes automatically lock in on Désirée, and I find her sitting in the middle of the bed with her legs crossed under her. She’s watching me while I do the same with her. I prowl over to the bed and lean across, bracing myself on the mattress. Getting in her face, I kiss her once more and whisper against her lips. “I’ll be back,mon trésor.”
“Okay,” she murmurs breathy-like.
Pulling away, I snatch up my phone on the nightstand and give her a smile before heading out of the room. As I walk down the stairs and to the front doors, I bring up the app for the cameras switching them on.
Once I know she’s locked safely inside and the cameras are working, I get in my car and head for Diamond Dancer’s.
The entire drive to the club, my mind is filled with visions of Désirée and all that I want to do to her. I want nothing more than to have her stretched out on my bed, with me between her legs, feasting on her pussy. Better yet, buried deep in her sweetness while hearing her cries of pleasure.
But she’s not ready for any of that. I’ll wait until she gives me a sign that she is. When she does, I intend to make it worth the wait—for both of us.
Turning into the parking lot for Diamond Dancer’s, I shove all thoughts of anything else but work from my mind. I can’t be distracted. It’s another reason for the cameras at the house.
I park the car and glance at the screen on my phone, assuring myself Désirée’s okay. Satisfied, I get out and shove the phone in my pocket.
Time to get to work.
