Dirty Little Secrets (Kings of Bolten 1)

“Then I guess you’d best hope I never learn his name, huh, wasp?” I said dangerously. “And you’d better hope you uphold your end of the bargain.”

“Fine.” She glared at me. “But you can’t beat me with your belt anymore either.”

I nodded. “Unfortunately, I cannot agree to that.”

She looked alarmed as her mouth fell open. “Why?”

I cocked my head at her. “Because I think you secretly like a little pain with your pleasure. And I

happen to enjoy listening to you scream. Had it been any other time, I would’ve buried myself inside you afterward. Instead, I put my fist through a wall. We were both punished that day, don’t you think?”

She took a moment to answer but finally let out a grunt of acknowledgement.

“Promise no more public humiliations?”

“Cross my heart, wasp, as long as you swear you’ll be a better charge.”

“Agreed.” She held her hand out to me.

I eased forward on the edge of my seat and took her delicate hand in mine. I hauled her between my legs.

Leaning in, I whispered in her ear, “Don’t make me regret this. I never negotiate. Promise me.”

“I promise, Dominic,” she answered, her hand moving to rest over my heart.

I locked gazes with my friends behind her. Vincent nodded at me. Levin simply stared back, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat.

That was all I needed to see. We had a truce. I hoped it lasted.

“Let’s put this mess behind us and relax tonight, OK?” I pulled away and released her.

I thought she’d move away from me. When she didn’t, I thumbed her bottom lip, enjoying how her lips parted for me.

“Levin, lock my door.”

Her eyes widened, but I shifted away from her, sinking back into the leather chair.

We all needed a night away from the bullshit. I hoped we got it. I hoped. . . well, I hoped for a lot of fucking things, but deep down inside, I hoped Bianca could forgive me for the monster I was.

Because I was only going to get worse if she went back on her word.

One cannot blame a monster for doing monster things, and I was the scariest monster of all.

Thirty-Three

Bianca

After my evening in Dominic’s room and our new arrangement, things were better. I didn’t feel so suffocated or nervous. We were talking again—at least Vincent, Dominic, and I were. Levin was still his sulking, angry self, but I didn’t expect him to really be on board with anything. Not a damn thing transpired with the guys that night. I simply sat on the floor as Dominic ran his fingers through my hair while the guys all talked and played video games like normal humans.

“Hey, girl,” Aubrey greeted me as I walked.

I was alone for once, or as alone as I could be with a future mob enforcer trailing behind me as he stared down at his phone. I was surprised Vincent could walk and text as much as he did. If it were me, I’d have run into someone already. I supposed it was easier when people just dove out of their way to avoid getting too close though.

“Hey,” I said, smiling at her.

“Did you take your trig test?” She let out a groan and let her head fall back. “If I passed that then I’ll be surprised.”

“I’m sure you did great,” I said.