Liam walked for hours, ignoring the impulse to go right back to Avery’s flat and get her on her knees at his feet, begging for his forgiveness. He would eventually give in, but not before she’d begged a little. Then he would show her just how forgiving he could be. He would start with a spanking. A sub should always be disciplined, but that wasn’t the point of this spanking. It would be to get her hot and needy. Only when she begged him would he break down and give her his cock, thrusting inside what had to be a tight, hot pussy and bringing them both some fucking relief.
Yeah, he wasn’t going to do any of that.
After making certain he wasn’t being tailed, he made his way back to The Garden. He needed to file a report. What the fuck would he write down? Caught subject before she caused a national incident. Forced subject to eat fish and chips. Nearly fucked subject on the street. Yeah, that would go over really well. Ian would love that one.
Damon stood at the front desk, talking to a couple of men. A Dom and his male sub from the looks of it. The thinner man had a leash trailing from the collar around his throat. Damon nodded them in when he caught Liam’s eye. A broad grin bloomed over the bugger’s face, and Liam had the sudden revelation that Damon had been brought up to speed on everything that had gone on today. The tiny wire he’d been wearing had captured everything he and Avery had said, and he’d had backup on him at all times.
Fucking Alex, who probably couldn’t wait to tell everyone what had happened.
“I am in the presence of a real-life fancy man,” Damon said in that oh so upper-crust accent. “Is Ian not paying you enough?”
He gave the wanker his happy middle finger. “Fuck off. Where’s Eve?”
She was the only one who wouldn’t give him hell.
“Li,” Ian called out as he opened the door that led back to the locker room. “Nice to see you’ve decided to join us. I was worried for a minute that you had found another career. How’s tricks?”
“Fuck you, too, Ian.” He’d screwed up. He wasn’t sure how because she’d seemed so happy right up until he’d tried to get an invitation inside. He’d been so sure she was wriggling on his hook and he could reel her in.
Fuck all. What if she wouldn’t see him again? What if he’d blown his shot to get into her bed? Would Ian send Alex in? Would he go in himself? The thought wasn’t a pleasant one. A vision of Avery in bed with someone else assaulted him. The man in that bed was going to be him.
“I know I fucked up.”
“You moved way too fast for her,” Ian said, sobering a little.
He was used to fast women. He fucked most of the women he dated before he knew their last names. And suddenly that seemed empty. Cold and lonely. “She seemed to be responding.”
Ian sighed and started walking toward the lifts. “Come on upstairs. Eve said she was expecting you. Damon, if you don’t mind taking a look at those files I sent you?”
The big Dom nodded. “Not a problem. I’ll let you know if I see anything out of the ordinary.”
Liam followed Ian, his brain scrambling as he tried to put together a decent argument that might keep him in the game.
“I have Damon looking into all the files Adam managed to pull on the United One Fund employees,” Ian explained, pushing the button for the lift. “He’s got a good eye. He might find something I missed. It’s just Alex and Eve staying upstairs on the fifth floor. I rented a place here in Chelsea in case you need to produce your friend’s place.”
It was all part of the elaborate setup to make Avery believe he was just another tourist.
“Yeah, I don’t think I’ll need that now. How long did it take him to tell you just how badly I’d fucked up? Did he send you the tape immediately or just give you a rundown?” Bitterness welled inside him.
Ian turned, a surprised look on his face. “Are you talking about Alex? Alex hasn’t told me shit. He hasn’t submitted the tape or the report yet. Jake, on the other hand, called from Serena’s and had a great time telling us how Avery thought you were in the flesh trade.”
“Fucker.” Jake was supposed to be his friend. Of course, Liam probably would have done the same damn thing.
“Alex is professional. It’s all he has left.” The lift dinged and Ian got in. “When are you going to let him off the hook?”
Liam had to squeeze inside. Lifts in Europe were a little like cars. Small, sleek, not built for overgrown men. “What do you mean?”
“He thinks you’re sleeping with Eve.”
“That ain’t my problem, mate.” He winced. He had to stop doing that. He’d been too relaxed for too long. He had to stay in character even when they were alone. He forced his Irish down. “What happens between me and Eve isn’t his business.”
Ian’s hand shot out and the elevator stopped. “He loves her.”