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At some point, I would meet her kids. Though our relationship hadn’t surpassed fledgling status, I knew she was it for me. My One. The woman I needed in my life.
I remembered a fine detail as she dashed for the door. “Willow. Did you get the money I sent through?”
Silence reigned on the other side of my desk.
She cleared her throat. “Yes.”
“All in order?” If I’d been smart, I would have noted her stunted words, the soft quality in her voice that hadn’t been there before.
“Of course.”
“Good.”
The door shut behind her. I reveled in the silence of my office, her phantom touch grazing my skin in memory of our frantic fucking, and let myself drift while my ass went numb on the cold, hard floor.
****
My office. Friday. Wear something cute.
I sent the message to her Monday morning the week afterI first fucked her on my desk, unable to hold off any longer. She’d met me for a few chaste dates, and a little playtime in one of the upstairs playrooms. I didn’t take her downstairs again and requested she never play there again, with me, or anyone else. Not after what could have happened to her the last time she played there.
Still, we’d missed theexclusivetalk, and I hadn’t confirmed where she stood on the matter. For the first time, I cared whether another man touched my playdate, as she’d fast become something much more. Maybe that chat hadn’t occurred because I didn’t feel the need for it on my side of the equation. Willow’s sassy attitude and those sweet-as-cherry lips soothed every ache and scar I’d covered over the years with work and building my businesses.
That she might be open to a relationship lit a spark of hope in my chest. Another word I couldn’t say—yet—but that last caveat ruined me for anyone else.
I couldn’t bear the thought of her with anyone else, their hands on her sweet body, breathing in her scent, or stealing her moans. Lansdown gave me the perfect excuse to keep her away from the darker areas. As her current lover, I claimed the prerogative of teaching her the literal ropes of pain and pleasure. And where the line lay for her.
Willow occupied my thoughts from dawn until close when we evicted the few loiterers from Fray’s doors. The bar cut off an hour earlier, leaving time for the regulars to finish their drinks and move on for the night with their chosen partner.
Killian and I took to populating a pair of lounges by the downstairs bar. Lux served us alcohol post the last-drinks call, knowing it would wreak havoc with the remaining clientele. A guy had to get his giggles somewhere. I smiled into my drink. The emu shifter flirted with a couple of local guys who would never end up taking her home tonight or any night.
My phone buzzed as she perched her round ass on the side of Killian’s lounge chair and leaned forward to laugh at something her paramours said that wasn’t remotely amusing. Killian looked away in the opposite direction, disdain written across his face. It did nothing to conceal the raging hard-on he had at her proximity.
I dug into my pocket for my phone, placed my top-end scotch on the small table at my side, and read Willow’s reply.
Can’t wait. And I have the perfect thing.
Of course she did. No matter what I said or did, Willow came back to me with a smile and acceptance. If any of my demands on her time or body made her uncomfortable, either she’d become the perfect actress or it didn’t bother her. She took everything in stride. As far as I could tell, our hours together were perfect.
Being with her was easy.
“Still in that honeymoon phase, huh?” Killian stared at the stage where dancers packed up the props as the club wound down for the night. He grimaced and adjusted himself not-so-discreetly as Lux moved her leather-clad tush off his chair. “It’ll wear off.”
“You’re in a foul mood.” I eyed him, then shut up. There was no point poking the proverbial bear when he was like this.
“They won’t accept her. You know that.”
“Accept who?” Lux leaned over my chair, topping up my whiskey. She wiggled the bottle in Killian’s direction, making sure he got an eyeful of her tits, and wiggled her shoulders to seal the deal. “Your new girl?” A small frown marred her smooth, pixie-like features.
“He’s in love with her. A tiny little marsupial shifter. Prey.” Killian spat the last word before I could intervene.
I leaned back and closed my eyes. My fingers ached, my talons pressing against the invisible barrier between man andbeast. A long breath calmed me and pushed my predator back. When I opened my eyes, Lux stood before me, concern written across her face.
“Why would you—” She stopped and seemed to reconsider, forming each word with care. “Are you able to prevent another incident?”
“Are you able to shut up, look pretty, and do your fucking job?” I snapped back.
Lux recoiled, horrified at my words. Behind her, James, her co-bartender, fixed me with a hard stare and crossed his arms over his chest as her eyes filled with tears.
