London stood on her tiptoes then pressed her lips to mine. It might have been her last plan to persuade me, to kiss me and soften my calloused heart. Her soft lips moved with mine, and she gave me some of her tongue, giving me a playful lick that made the rest of my skin tingle. Her arm moved around my neck, and she kissed me in front of my men, making me hard in my slacks.
My arm circled her petite waist, and her sinister plan worked. I didn’t hold my ground because I no longer cared. When those perky tits were pressed against me and her tongue tangled with mine, I became a different man. Her kiss was different from the kind I shared with most women. Perhaps she was just a good kisser, or maybe it was because she was so unattainable. Whenever I fought her, she fought harder. She had a smartass comment to make in retaliation to everything I said. But I finally earned her cooperation. That made her more valuable than all my other women combined.
Because I was a sick bastard.
She finished the kiss then breathed gently into my mouth, the smell of her hair complimenting her naturally addictive fragrance.
Now that I was hard, I didn’t want her to leave my side. My men saw that little performance, and I didn’t want to leave my toy behind and give them the wrong idea. I wanted to pull over on the drive, have her suck my dick, and then continue on with my life. “Let’s go.”
Victory shone in her eyes now that she was getting her way.
“But don’t try anything.” I didn’t need to finish the threat.
“I won’t.”
We arrived at the Barsetti estate, a three-story mansion with vineyards on either side of it. The black gates opened as I approached, and I circled the fountain in the center and the valet parked my car.
London stood beside me and looked up at the magnificent house with green ivy growing over the walls. The Mediterranean style windows were open, letting the fresh air enter the multiple bedrooms upstairs.
When I reached the door, it opened before I could knock.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Donoghue. I’m Lars.” An older man in a gray suit gave me a quick bow. He looked like the butler of the house, reminding me of Finley but with fancier clothes. “Mr. Barsetti and Mr. Barsetti are expecting you in the drawing room.” He turned to London, clearly not expecting her to accompany me.
“I’m sorry, Lars. This is Lady London. I should have mentioned I was bringing her today.” Even though there only would have been a thirty-minute warning.
“Lady London, it’s a pleasure to have you.” Lars ushered us inside. “I know the men prefer scotch. Can I get you the same, or would you rather have something else?”
“Scotch is fine,” she said with a smile. “Thank you, Lars.”
I stared at her in surprise.
“Let me show you the way.” Lars walked in front and led us to the drawing room on the second floor.
I eyed London, watching her every move.
She turned to me when she noticed my stare. “What?”
“You’re beautiful like a flower, but you drink like a man.”
“Your point?”
I grabbed her hand. “No point at all.” I may have to pour a bottle of scotch all over her body and lick it away when we were home. I’d lick it out of every opening on her body. Her nipples would taste even better coated in the amber liquid.
We entered the drawing room, and I walked inside first when I would normally show my manners by letting London step inside before me. The two brothers sat on different couches in front of the fire. A bottle of iced scotch sat on the table along with three glasses. The men were already drinking. I would have been disappointed if they weren’t.
“I’ll return with hors d’oeuvres.” Lars bowed before he returned to the door.
“We don’t need any food, Lars,” Crow said. “Men just want to drink.”
London cleared her throat. “I’m not gonna turn down some homemade Italian cooking.”
Lars smiled like that made him happier than he’d been in a long time. “On the way.” He walked out.
Crow and Cane both stared at her, obviously not noticing her until then.
“My apologies,” Crow said. “Didn’t realize a lady was joining us. What can I get you, sweetheart?”
I didn’t hide my glare, offended he called my woman by such an endearment. “She’ll have scotch—like the rest of us.” I took a seat and tapped the cushion next to me, telling her exactly where I wanted her.
The second her ass was on the cushion, my hand moved to her thigh and I crossed her legs. I shouldn’t care if Crow and Cane found her attractive. She didn’t mean anything to me anyway.
But I did care.
Crow smiled before he opened the bottle. “My apologies.” He poured two glasses and handed them over.
I handed London hers even though she could have reached it herself. It was an unnecessary act of possession, but Crow and Cane weren’t typical criminals. They were both handsome and wealthy. “This is London. London, this is Crow.” I held up my glass and aimed in his direction. “And that’s Cane.”
Crow nodded in acknowledgment. He was the older brother with the winery, while Cane was in charge of their arms business. They laundered their money through their clean business, just the way I did with my scotch.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Cane’s eyes settled on her a little longer than I preferred.
I shouldn’t have brought her.
“Where’s Ariel?” Crow asked.
“Working.” I didn’t have to explain where my business partner was. I handled all the deals while she worked in the dark. That was how the arrangement went. Sometimes I brought her along. Sometimes I didn’t.
“I was hoping London was her replacement,” Cane said.
Cane wasn’t a fan of Ariel. Probably because she didn’t put up with his sleazy lines and sexist comments. “London is my personal property.” I wouldn’t call her my woman because that would imply she meant a great deal to me. But I wouldn’t use the word slave because London would have an outburst.
“Oh…even better.” Cane winked.
Crow glared at his brother before he turned to me. “Let’s talk business. That’s what we’re here for, right?”
I always preferred Crow. He got right to the point and didn’t ask too many questions. “Let’s.”
Cane left the room to take a call, and London walked to the large windows on the other side of the room to admire the view of the vineyards and the pool. It was just Crow and me for a brief time.
“How’s business?” I knew he would give me a rehearsed answer since we never revealed our secrets to one another.
“No complaints. You?”
I smiled. “No complaints.” I knew he had a blood feud with one of my clients, so I never mentioned his name while we were together. I considered myself to be a mutual businessman who didn’t have any emotional investment in my clients. They bought what I was selling, or they didn’t. End of story.
Crow nodded to London on the other side of the room. “Josephine is long gone, huh?”
I didn’t like to speak of that woman, but all of Western Europe knew of my engagement. I’d never been so humiliated in my life. She left me for a man with a better chance at the throne, spitting on my legacy and everything I had to offer. It probably wouldn’t have hurt so much if I’d never loved the bitch.