His Mistress by Blackmail

He glanced over his shoulder, one eyebrow quirked. ‘Are you asking me if I have a lover stashed away, Sage? One who is open-minded enough not to object when I kiss another woman in public?’

She shrugged. ‘I know exclusivity is optional among some couples these days.’

His face hardened. ‘It’s not optional for me. I don’t have a lover. And if you had a lover, I would object. Very strongly. Have you forgotten that I don’t share?’

The pulse of anger and possessiveness in his voice made something tighten inside her. She pushed it away. She couldn’t afford to be waylaid by superfluous emotions right now. Especially when another important thought impinged.

He gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Something else on your mind?’

‘Yes. I’ve spent the better part of two days without rehearsing. I’d like to find a dance studio somewhere in the city and practise my routines.’

He remained silent for a second. ‘There’s no need to leave the penthouse to do that,’ he said.

Surprise widened her eyes. ‘What?’

‘The big bad ogre has thought of everything. Come.’

The command, like before, was domineering, demanding her immediate obedience. Her curiosity was stronger this time, so she followed.

He took her down the same corridor that led to her bedroom but stopped at the first door and threw it open.

The space was as big as her bedroom suite, but this room was bare, with polished wood floors. It faced the east, and sunlight slanted through the windows, bathing the room in brilliant light.

In one corner a state-of-the-art music system had been set up on a steel pedestal. Next to it was a sofa, a coffee table and a pile of magazines. Everything she needed to keep her training on schedule was right here.

She watched, a little stunned, as Xandro walked to the music station, picked up a remote and hit a button. Familiar music by the artist she used to practise and perform her auditions with filtered into the room. Sage wasn’t sure why the discovery that he knew her preferred music should cause her heartbeat to accelerate, but it did.

Accepting in that moment that Xandro Christofides was the most mercurial and dynamic man she’d ever met, she watched him prowl, shirtless and magnificent and totally dangerous to her senses, back to her.

‘Now I won’t worry that you’ll attempt to strangle yourself with the wire from your headphones while you dance,’ he drawled. ‘Will that be all?’

It was barely six a.m. but she supposed powerful, drop dead gorgeous tyrants, like sharks, needed to keep moving, seeking out their next target

.

She nodded, unable to get her vocal cords to work in that moment. He stared down at her for a beat before he nodded and left the room. She looked around, still unable to take in what he’d done for her. Like sharing the sunrise with her, this gift seemed at variance with the ruthless persona Xandro exhibited.

More than a little confused, Sage gave up trying to decrypt this new facet of Xandro, and went to her room to change before returning to the music room. She practised until she heard a knock on the door. ‘Come in.’

James entered with a silver breakfast trolley piled with domed dishes. ‘Good morning, miss. Mr Christofides asked me to bring you breakfast at nine.’

He lifted the dishes to reveal bacon, eggs, bagels and a selection of muesli and fruit. He waited for her to serve herself and sit on the sofa, then set a sterling silver tray on her lap. He returned her smile of thanks with one of his own.

‘Mr Christofides asked me inform you that you’ll be dining out tonight. And he’s also arranged for a stylist to deliver a few items of clothing for you.’

‘Um...what?’

James opened his mouth. Sage shook her head. ‘Sorry, I heard you. I just...’ She stopped. ‘It’s fine. I’ll talk to...’ She stopped again, realising that she had no means of reaching Xandro. And that even if she did, he’d never returned her phone!

‘Can I contact him?’ she asked.

‘No, I believe he’s in meetings for most of the day.’

The distinct feeling that Xandro had done that deliberately stayed with her, right up until James knocked on the door again after lunch to inform her the clothes had arrived. Except a few items turned out to be three clothes racks packed with at least three dozen outfits and countless boxes of shoes and accessories.

‘I can’t accept all this!’

The butler and maid both stilled. ‘Um...would you like me to send them back, miss?’ James asked.