AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERTWELVE
Temptation
“Carter called, he wants us to meet him at Chez Etienne for dinner. He’ll be there within the hour,” I say, entering the kitchen a full forty-eight hours after I killed Dougie and his cronies.
“Surely he’s tired after his trip? Why doesn’t he just come home?” Kate asks, glancing up from the plans for the refit at Tales spread out in front of her on the kitchen table. Her brows lift at my outfit. It’s not often you see me in a tailored suit. “Why’re you so dressed up?”
“Boss’s orders. I’ve laid a dress out on your bed for you to wear tonight.”
Kate scowls as she gathers up the plans. “Presumptuous much? You know Iamcapable of picking out my own clothes to wear.”
“Carter requested you wear something suitable for dinner,” I reply evenly.
“Suitable? I don’t see why I need to dress up, it’s just dinner,” she says, eying me with suspicion.
“Apparently not. Carter wants you to meet someone,” I reply, fiddling with my cufflinks.
“Who?”
“He didn’t say,” I reply, turning my attention to Nadia who’s quietly watching our exchange with humour in her eyes. “Good evening, Nadia.”
Nadia dips her head respectfully. “Good evening, Mr Beast.”
“You know it’s just Beast,” I say, striding over to her and pressing a kiss against her cheek. Her face flushes and she mutters something in Italian under her breath. My Italian is rusty, but I’m pretty sure she just said I look deliciously devilish. She ain’t wrong. “I aim to please.”
“Indeed.” She grins, glancing at Kate who’s still staring at me like she hasn’t seen a man in a suit before. “Perhaps you should go and get ready, Miss Kate?” Nadia urges.
“I really don’t want to go out,” Kate says, wincing.
She’s still in pain from her bruised rib and whilst the swelling around her eye has gone down, the bruise hasn’t. She’s got a proper shiner. I don’t blame her for not wanting to go out. I had explained this to her dad but he didn’t much care which, I must admit, pissed me off. That and the fact he asked me to pick out a dress for Kate. He’d been very specific about what he wanted her to wear. Something that was knee-length, covered her up. Made her look demure, respectable. His fucking words, not mine.
Something about that got my back up.
“I can cook us all a meal, I’m not completely useless,” Kate continues. “He can ask his friend here.”
“No! You cannot cookragazza dolce, you will all die,” Nadia says in that dramatic way of hers.
I can’t help but laugh which only earns me another death stare from Kate.
“Our Princess might be a shit cook but she’s most definitely not asweet girl,” I remark with a knowing smile as I check my gun then slide it into the holster strapped to my chest, before pulling on my dinner jacket. “Besides, this is business, not pleasure. Go and get changed.”
“Don’t order me about!” Kate retorts, folding her arms across her chest. “You’ve been nothing but a pain in my arse all weekend.”
I meet her gaze.“YouwishI was a pain in your arse.”
Her eyes narrow at me, and I chuckle. Truthfully, I’ve been avoiding her as best I can all weekend and she fucking knows it. After whatever-the-fuck that conversation was on Friday night, I’ve made sure I’ve stayed out of her way, especially since my dick got rock hard at the thought of her pleasuring herself. Fuck, she knew exactly which buttons to push and it took every last shred of control not to chase her up the stairs and take all of her firsts in one moment of madness. If she’s not a virgin them I’m the fucking Pope.
“Whatever you say,” Kate replies, giving me a look that I’d love to fucking kiss off her face.
We stare at one another way past what is comfortable or socially acceptable only looking away when Nadia clears her throat.
“Bella, go shower and change. If your father wishes for you to dress up then it must be for a good reason, hmm?” Nadia says, ushering her out of her seat.
Kate rolls her eyes. “Fine. I’ll go get ready,” she agrees, traversing the table, her gaze meeting mine. “But you better believe I’m wearing whatIwant to wear. The day I let a man dress me is the day I lose my lady balls.”
Nadia smiles, her pretty brown eyes flashing with amusement and pride. “That’s my girl.”
“Lady balls?” I scoff, shaking my head.
