Eve cuddled close, keeping her voice low. “Because Serena needs him and we need Adam.”
He ran his hands through her hair, fisting it gently and forcing her to look up at him. He damn straight liked the new hair. Even the color looked good on her, making her skin glow. She’d been a cool blonde for so long that he’d forgotten how the more natural brown shade brought out a flush in her cheeks. He’d made her leave off most of her makeup, allowing only a little mascara and some gloss. She’d been bitterly angry about that. Apparently, she didn’t find the dusting of freckles across her nose and cheekbones as sweet as he did. And someone was walking up behind them. He hardened his voice. “Be a good girl. I need to plant a GPS on one of the fuckers we’re meeting with. I would really like to know where some of the strongholds are. If I get a chance, I’m going to try to slip it into a pocket.”
The tiny GPS locators were one of Adam’s new playthings. He was a tech guru who very likely could have made millions off some of his little toys, but luckily, Adam was damn loyal. The tiny locator was black and would stick to a piece of clothing or a briefcase. He just had to find the right time to tag one of the bastards.
The blank doll face was back. “Yes, Master. I am always a good girl. Not that it does me any good.”
He felt a grin slide across his face and quickly quashed it though he couldn’t dampen the joy he felt. Withholding sex had been hell on earth, but he had a point to prove. She wanted to start over? He could do that, but it would be his way this time, and part of his way was proving he was boss in the bedroom. He slept with her in his arms every night and then showered with her in the morning, washing every inch of her himself. At first she’d stood stiffly in his arms as though it was something to endure. Slowly but surely, she’d softened, allowing him to touch her and comfort her. Somewhere around day three, she’d started rubbing against him. And this morning she’d been damn sullen about the fact that he wouldn’t take her.
His plan was working perfectly. At least the plan with Eve was working. The operation was another story.
“Gentlemen, these are the two I was telling you about. This is Master A and his slave. What should I call her?” Chazz asked.
Mine. He felt a growl start in the back of his throat because the slimy fucker was practically looking down Eve’s shirt. “Slave will be fine in a dungeon setting or one in which we’re working in high protocol, like today. In a more casual setting, you can call her Amanda. For the purposes of today, I thought we would be formal.”
Chazz nodded. “Absolutely. Everyone is very curious. I’ve seated you at the head of the table and your slave next to you.”
Alex shook his head. That simply wouldn’t do. “She doesn’t need a chair. She sits in my lap or at my feet. And I’ll feed her from my plate. She takes only what I give her.”
She would look very nonthreatening and she would be able to make a careful study of every man in the room. Still, her nails slightly dug into the flesh of his hand even though her expression never changed. She kept her head lowered submissively, but she got her point across. He would pay for it later. Or he would spank her ass for brattiness. Either way, he was looking forward to it.
She’d said good-bye on the balcony five days before, and he’d woken up knowing she’d been right. They would never have a clean slate. He didn’t want one. He wanted to acknowledge the relationship they’d had before, but he’d made a shrine of it and he’d been forced that night to really look at it. Their marriage had been far from perfect. He’d made mistakes. She’d made mistakes.
They were starting over.
Because he’d realized one thing. She still loved him. Deep down and underneath it all—Eve still loved him. Still needed him.
He wouldn’t let her down this time.
But he might piss her off. Since they’d come to Florida, she’d received three disciplinary spankings. She’d been late to workouts twice and mouthed off at him when he’d very politely requested that she perform another set of squats. He’d kept her off-kilter all week long.
And he had no intention of changing that.
He led her to the seat they had offered him. Four men sat around the table besides Chazz and Jake. Jesse, the little fucker, already had eyes on Eve. And he wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that he was carrying. Alex could see the round edge of his shoulder holster peeking from under his jacket. The ex-soldier looked a little awkward in a sport coat.