Pres engages me in conversation as I stand next to the SUV in a parking garage, waiting for Georgie. Maitland was supposed to go in and come back out in the amount of time it took him to get to her room and bring her down. When ten minutes went by, I sent Kiln.
Helen has brokered an uneasy deal between us. My father isn’t happy but since she knows he was supposed to have gone to Cassandra’s and Parnell’s bed, he has no choice but to agree.
On the surface, Helen’s spoiling Georgie by allowing her to come with me. But this is all for Cassandra’s benefit, retribution on her behalf. My father should take lessons from Helen. She’s more brutal than he could ever hope to be, and she doesn’t leave corpses in her wake. Her pleasure comes from creating a hell on earth for the living.
The doors open. Maitland walks out, grim-faced, followed by Kiln with Georgie in his arms. Distaste runs through me. I hurry to them, snatching her into my hold.
Our gazes meet for a brief moment before she lays her head on my chest and sighs. I draw in a deep breath, too. The time we spend together will be about control and self-restraint. Once I’m done, Helen expects me to walk away and never look back.
Georgie
Although it isn’t needed, a blanket is tossed around my shoulders as Sloane guides me from the SUV to a private jet. It’s still dark, early morning, just after three, and I spent the entire ride curled up on his lap, feeling safe and protected. The intermittent kisses he placed on the crown of my head opens a well of tenderness in me. My adoration with the “idol” is quickly turning into love for the “man”. I’m not sure where this is leading, but instinct tells me it isn’t anywhere either of us would like to be.
It was a quick, selfish decision on my part that made me choose him over my grandmother. Sloane’s recklessness is well-documented, which is the reason I changed my mind, until Sloane weighed in.
Press reports may have gotten his favorite food and movie wrong, but they’ve nailed his rashness on the head. And, yet, now that I’m in his arms, his erection hard against my ass, his scent invading my nostrils, unerring trust replaces my regret.
He knows what he’s doing. More than that, though, he has my grandmother’s support. She’ll make it all right.
When we walk on the band’s plane, I gasp. Dad is wealthy, but even he isn’t this wealthy. The luxurious cream-colored interior boggles my mind. Everything is plush and decadent. My feet sink into the carpeting. The seats look inviting and overstuffed. The only splash of color is the band’s logo painted on the ceiling.
I’m so awed I allow Sloane to lead me through a door, passing through a room with seats and a large screen television, and into a lavish area with a round bed, a mirrored ceiling with track lighting marching down the middle, and two shiny red nightstands.
As he removes the blanket, his fingers touch my collarbone. I’m still in a hospital gown, as if I’m an escapee. I smile at the thought, not protesting when he guides me to the bed and urges me down. Once I sit, he lifts each of my hands to check my wrists.
“What the fuck possessed you?” he says, more to himself than to me, so I don’t respond.
“Sleep,” he tells me and begins to turn away.
“Where are you going?”
“To my seat.”
“You aren’t joining me?”
Sighing, he kneels next to me. “Our time together won’t be what you’re expecting,” he reiterates and brushes my cheek. “Just listen to me and it’ll be fine.”
“But—“
He stands up. “No buts, Georgiana,” he says harshly. “I told you to sleep and I expect you to go to fucking sleep.”
“You’re really impressed with your powers of persuasion if you believe I’ll fall asleep because you’ve ordered me to do so,” I grouch to goad him.
For a moment, it works. He pauses at the door before stalking out without responding to me.
Chapter Fourteen
Sloane
“Sit.”
The harshness of my voice resounds in my head, but I ignore every thought except my need to snap Georgie into shape. Coddling her won’t do the trick, for me or for her. I’ll forget my purpose for this and lose my battle to keep my hands off of her.
This is all new to me and another pathetic excuse to have her at my side. As pathetic as I am. However, I have a plan to overcome my wretchedness as I look after Georgie. Hire escorts. Or, maybe, an escort, so my location is better kept secret.
Fucking women is the only way to keep my libido under control with Georgie. Not that I have a problem with that. Except I know Georgie will…would, if she ever found out.
I don’t foresee that happening. In the hours we’ve been at this house, it’s been boring and quiet.
We landed near Gulfport yesterday at Ocean Springs Airport, where the prerequisite black SUV—once again an Escalade—awaited us. While me, Kiln, and Georgie whisked away to a mansion overlooking Biloxi Back Bay, the others headed to Florida. I didn’t want a bunch of men crowding Georgie, so I sent them on their way.
Kiln was bad enough. It seems the bastard is always being stuffed down my throat as a deterrent. First, my father did it and, now, Helen.