“Damn, that was fast.”
“That’s what I pay my men for.” He unclasped his watch and slid it off his wrist. “And you know I’m fast too.” He winked then leaned down and kissed me where I sat on the couch.
“I do, actually.” I set my book on the table and rose to my feet so I could give him a hug. “So, I have a number and everything?”
“Expect a lot of inappropriate texts throughout the day.”
“Oh, I will.”
He grabbed the bag and pulled out the phone and a MacBook. “You’re set. I added the Wi-Fi information for you.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.” He slid his arms around my waist and looked down at me. It was rare for him not to kiss me, but he seemed content with just a stare. He slightly swayed from side to side with me, almost as if we were slow dancing at a junior high dance.
“What is it?”
“Nothing,” he whispered. “I just like to look at you.”
“Good thing I like to look at you too.”
“Well, how can you not? I’m a very handsome man.” He smiled like he was teasing me.
“Very true.”
He pulled me tighter against his chest, his powerful physique feeling like concrete. “So, are you going to apply for classes with that laptop?”
“No. I just need something to do during the day while you’re at work.”
He gave me a quizzical expression. “Are you saying you won’t be taking classes again?”
“Probably not.”
He couldn’t hide the happiness on his face. He didn’t smile, but the joy was in his eyes. “Why is that?”
“I don’t know. Just not sure if I want to go to class while I’m here. Seems like a hassle.”
“Well, you’re more than welcome to live here—with me.” He cupped my face and brushed his thumb across my bottom lip. “Pleasing me is a full-time job. It comes with great benefits.”
“So I hear.”
“It comes with anything you could ever need. And it comes with a personal heater too.”
“You do keep the sheets warm.”
His happiness dimmed. “Don’t tease me, Lovely. Are you going to stay with me? You know there’s nothing I want more.”
It was easy to give up everything for him, at least when he looked at me like that. There was no sacrifice I wouldn’t make to feel this good, to be this happy. I wanted this man to love me just like this for the rest of my life. I would never forget the way I felt the first time I laid eyes on him. There was so much hatred I couldn’t bottle it all inside. But now when I looked at him, I saw the greatest man I’d ever met. “I’d like to stay with you.”
His happiness immediately returned. “You’ve made me a very happy man.”
That made everything worth it. When I packed my bags and left, I would remember this moment to give me the strength to walk away. “There’s something I want from you…and you aren’t going to be happy about it.”
“You know I’ll do anything for you.”
“My brother can’t hate my boyfriend, and my boyfriend can’t hate my brother.”
He stared at me without blinking.
“So I need you guys to get along. He’s the only family I’ve got left.”
“Lovely, you know he shot me.”
“I know. And you kidnapped me. You’re both guilty of terrible things.”
“But I never tried to murder you. And when you were in my captivity, I always treated you with respect.”
“Except when you stripped me naked and forced me to have dinner with Bones.” I didn’t remind him of the incident to make him feel terrible, just to prove my point.
His gaze darkened.
“I need you guys to get along. I’ve done my best with Ariel. You can do this for me.”
“Totally different. Ariel has never done anything to you except make a few insults.”
And force me to give up the love of my life. “You said you would do anything for me, Crewe. This is what I want.”
He sighed as his fingertips loosened on my waist. “Goddammit.”
“What’s it going to be?”
“Has he agreed to this?”
I hadn’t even mentioned it to him. “No…but he will.”
“I highly doubt that.”
“Crewe.” I was giving up a lot just to be with him. He could do this.
He sighed again before he pressed his forehead against mine. “Fine. I’ll do one dinner. One time.”
“Not one time. I want to spend time with my brother.”
“You’ll have a car soon. You can leave the castle and see him whenever you want.”
“I still need him to be welcome in your home.”
He dropped his hands and stepped back. “Don’t push it. That man killed some of my men. You think he can just walk onto this property and insult all my employees?”
“He wouldn’t insult them—”
“His presence is insulting. I’ve agreed to dinner, and that’s all I’m willing to do, London. Be grateful, and let’s move on.”
We would have to take this in baby steps. “Okay, that’s fine.”
Crewe stepped away and unbuttoned his collared shirt. He turned his back to me, hiding the irritation on his face. His jaw was probably clenched tightly in annoyance.
The only solution to this problem was sex. And it usually worked every time. I undressed behind him, stripping off my dress and bra until I was just in my white thong. My heels were on my feet, but I left them on because I thought it would only enhance the ensemble.
He turned around with his shirt open and his tie uneven. He looked me up and down, his eyes focusing on my bare tits. Instantly, the anger was gone as his mind appeared to swim with heavy thoughts of sex. His hands moved to his belt on their own, and he loosened his slacks until they fell to his ankles.
“How do you want me?” There was nothing Crewe wanted more than power. When I freely gave it to him, it made him feel aroused in a whole new way. My hands moved up to my tits, and I squeezed them hard.
He watched my movements, his gaze darkening with every passing second. “Edge of the bed. Ass in the air.”
I said the magic words to make everything better. “Yes, sir.”
“Are you free for dinner tonight?” I asked Joseph over the phone. Last time we spoke, he was in London, but he seemed to move around a lot.
“I’m in Edinburgh, actually. Just went golfing with some buddies.”
“Is that a yes, then?”
“Depends. Are you buying?”
I couldn’t suppress the smile that formed on my lips. “Sure. Just don’t order the most expensive thing on the menu.”
“You know I’m an expensive date.”
“Which is strange considering you’re such poor company.”
“Ha,” he said sarcastically. “Now I’m getting two beers instead of one.”
“Fine by me. Is seven okay?”
“Sure. There’s this great steakhouse in Edinburgh. I’ll text you the name.”
“That sounds great.”
“Alright, see you then.”
Before he could hang up, I slipped in an extra detail I didn’t mention before. “Perfect. Crewe and I will see you then.” I hung up before I could hear him make an argument. Crewe was pissed about spending time with Joseph, but Joseph would be even angrier about it.
He called back—like a pain in the ass. “Hey, what’s up?” I answered casually.
“Did you say Crewe was coming?” He spoke with suppressed rage, completely the opposite of how he sounded before.