"And you know them well?"
"I’ve only met them a couple of times, thanks to Summer, but they are all men at the top of their game, and you’ve set your sights on the most intriguing of them."
I bite my lips. "Saint confuses me."
"How?"
"He saw me dancing, came barreling down from where he was. He marched up to me, and I swear, I thought he was going to go all caveman and drag me out of there."
"But he didn’t?"
I shake my head, pull my feet up under me. "He seemed to change his mind, and decided to humiliate me right there…."
"Then?"
I swipe my hair back from my face. "Then he stepped back, almost as if he was recalibrating his strategy. He accepted my offer."
She blinks, then whoops, "So that's good right?"
"Maybe." I shift around in the chair, "I may have overdone things. He seemed to get all jealous. So much so that he beat up a man who charged up to me."
She sits up straight, "He did?"
I nod. "It was…"
"Dramatic?" She asks.
"A surprise." I shiver. "Guess I simply knew what to say to intrigue him."
She tilts her head, "He has a hidden side, huh?"
"I researched him before approaching him."
"You did?"
I nod, "There are enough pictures of him leaving well-known BDSM clubs."
"Are you worried that you're out of your depth?" She purses her lips. "You think you'll be able to handle the lifestyle?"
I shuffle my feet… "Um," I glance at her, then away. Shit, I revealed too much.
How many times does a person lie, before the lie becomes the truth?
Too many.
And now I am asking riddles and answering them, as if I learned the technique at the feet of the alphahole himself. Shit. Get a grip.
"I’ve, uh, always been drawn to it." I tip up my chin, "I’ve never practiced it before… I hadn’t seriously thought of dipping my toes into it, until Saint." That much is true, at least.
"So, you chose him because you were curious? I mean, he’s not the only one of the Seven who has a hankering for that stuff, you know?"
I twist a strand of hair around my fingers, "I chose him because..."
"Because?" She asks.
It’s so tempting to spill my plan…the part that really matters. If I could get it off my chest to even one person, it would help me feel lighter… I open my mouth, then shake my head. I can’t. This part of my plan? It’s the part that counts. It’s also the one thing I dare not speak openly about. Call me superstitious, but I don’t want to spoil my chances by revealing too much…too soon… "Doesn’t matter," I cut the air with my hand.
Her lips draw down, "Aww, and it was getting interesting, too."
"I’ll let you know when there’s something to talk about."
"Promise?"
"On the existence of a fifth Beatle." I hold up my hand.
She scowls. "There wasn’t one."
"I know." A smile twists my lip.
"Not fair, V."
I chuckle, "Let’s say, if he doesn’t call me, I am—"
My phone pings. I glance at it and freeze. Amelie jumps to her feet, crosses the floor to me. "It’s him, isn’t it?"
I show her the text.
Alphahole: Come down.
Jesus, is there a shortage of words in his vocabulary, or what?
"Alphahole?" She chuckles. "Quite complimentary of you to call him that."
"Not me," I choke out. "That’s the rat’s ass of a jerk keying his phone and ID into my phone."
"He did that?"
I throw up my hands. "I know, stalkerish much?"
A horn sounds from below and she darts to the window. "There’s a car there…all dark and shiny… OMG." She turns. "He’s here, waiting by the car for you." Her voice is breathless, "This is exciting. This is what you wanted, right?"
My fingers tremble. I swallow. Is it? Is this what I’d been hoping for? He’s opened the door. I only have to step through now. I firm my lips, look up at her, "I never keyed in his name…" I purse my lips.
The only time my purse had been out of my sight was when I had fallen asleep in his office. Had he hacked into it then? I wouldn't put it past him. He's infringed on my privacy… Which, is a positive sign, right? It means he is interested. I force my fingers to un-clutch from around the phone.
Walking to the center table, I pick up my mug of tea, then sink into my arm chair. My phone pings again. I glance down.
Alphahole: Don’t keep me waiting.
I set my jaw. The arrogance of the man. Of course, I’d had an inkling he’d want to get his own way, but this… Expecting me to drop everything and jump to his demands? No way.
My phone buzzes.
Alphahole: I know what you’re doing and it won’t work.
Alphahole: You sure you want to go down this path?
Alphahole: Don’t make me come up there. You’ll regret it.
My heart beat ratchets up. My pulse begins to race. Don’t give in to him. Don’t.
There’s a banging on the door. I jump.
13
Saint
The door opens. I glance down, then past the blonde who stands there, to the dark-haired woman who’s captured my imagination.
I tilt my head and she juts out her lower lip. Oh, I’d like to bite down on that glistening flesh and teach her who exactly calls the shots around here. I jerk my chin and she crosses arms.
"Saint."
I look down at the blonde haired woman, "How are you, Amelie?"
She looks me up and down, "you here for Victoria?"
I try to move past her, she plants an arm either side of the door frame. I pause, glance down at her, "Is there a problem?"
She frowns, "you tell me." She taps her foot on the floor, "Is there, Saint?"
Huh? "What do you mean?" I scowl.
"You treat her good." She lowers her voice. "You hear me?"
I meet her gaze, allow my features to take on an expression of sincerity. "Always." I raise my hand, "you can trust
