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“This is all a misunderstanding, Mr. Asher,” Marcus begins once more while his son’s eyes remain on the television. “Nothing that can’t be talked over. We don’t know why this young man involved us in anything.”
Idiot gave himself away. Fucking amateurs.
“And who said that he involved you in anything?”
“But you said...”
“That I know it all. Take that as you wish.” Standing up, I press a few buttons to hide everything again. Javier follows my lead, and we both walk to the room’s entrance where I pause to address them again. “Today is nothing more than a friendly reminder. A warning, dear friends. Don’t cross me, and mind yourselves—this isn’t Miami. Thiago isn’t who you should fear here.”
It doesn’t take long for me to find her.
She’s alone and sitting on a small bench surrounded by roses. They’re in full bloom, a small window of time here in Illinois that allows us to enjoy warm weather and the beauty of nature. It’ll be gone soon enough; in a few weeks the temperatures will drop, and all this will die.
And yet, she stands out as the most exquisite flower of all.
Delicate and soft.
Decadent and sweet.
The innocence to my sins.
“I knew you would come,” she says without looking up, in her hand a long-stemmed rose with a single petal still attached. The rest lay at her feet. “Mariah wasn’t very secretive, nor was she a good actress.”
“Is that so.” I chuckle, coming closer. Just a few tiny steps separate us, and the fucking pull she holds over me is maddening. An invisible cord that controls me. “I’ll be sure to tell her as much.”
“Why did you demand that we visit today? Are you going to tell them about…” she trails off, embarrassment coloring her tone. “This is such a mess.”
“I’ll never say a word.” Seeing her in distress makes my hands clench, but if I touch her, this conversation won’t happen. My need is too strong, and I have very little control left when it comes to her. “Trust me.”
“But I don’t know you.”
“My intentions will be very clear soon.”
“That’s very cryptic, Malcolm,” she sighs, shoulders dropping low. “Is this some kind of game? Because if they find out I work at that club, I’m dead.”
“That’s something I will never allow. Never.” Taking the remaining steps between us, I lift her chin with the tip of my finger. Force her bright blues on mine. “This isn’t a game, Twirl. To me this—”
“Why do you call me Twirl?” she interrupts, and if she were anyone else, that would annoy me. However, even while being inquisitive, I find her utterly adorable in her purity.
London has the upper hand here and has no idea.
“It’s simple, really.” My finger skims down her warm cheek, following the soft trail of flesh until I reach the edge of her dress. A dress that I know she hates; I fist the material and in a single tug, pull her against me. The material stretches, showing me her strapless bra and a peak at her flat stomach, but I focus on her reaction instead.
“What the!” London yelps, stumbling into my chest at the sudden move. Her soft to my hard. Her delicate to my animalistic desires.
“Quiet, sweetheart. Let’s not attract the attention of my guards.” Wrapping my arms around her waist, I draw her in close, run the fingertips of my right hand up her spine until reaching her nape. My fingers wrap around the base, tilting her head back to face me. “I just want a little more time with you. Just us.”
“You’re so confusing,” she mumbles, but I hear her. I also don’t miss the small shivers rushing through her. The goose bumps on her skin. How she never pushes me away.
“No more than you are.” I dip low and place my forehead against hers, lips hovering. “I’m still trying to understand what this undeniable pull is. Why I can’t keep my hands to myself when you’re near.”
“You can’t?” Fuck, how naïve she is rocks me. Sends a shock wave of pleasure through every limb, and I can’t stop myself when I pull her even closer. Let her feel me. And she does. Those doe eyes widen and her lips part, her breath coming out in small pants against my mouth.
“I can’t stay away. Not even if you asked me to.” That realization should rock me, but it doesn’t. Instead, it pulls everything into focus. I will bring the world down to its knees for her if she so much as asks. I will kill to own her. “My intentions aren’t noble, Twirl. I want you. All of you.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispers, cheeks flushing as her eyes wander to my mouth. “My family will never allow us to—”
“They are for me to worry about, baby…” I lick my lips, a move she follows “…leave everything to me.”
