The Gallery (Contemporary Reverse Harem 4)

And they were gone.

When I finally looked at the time on my phone, I realized it was still only seven a.m. I had no appointments at the gallery that day, so I tossed my robe aside and slipped under the covers, pulling my down comforter up to my chin. The bed still smelled like my beautiful men—a mix of something spicy and sexy. It was as if they were still right there in bed with me. I balled myself up into a comfortable little knot and imagined their arms around me, wandering, exploring, and making me feel damn good.

I must have dozed off with a smile on my face because I woke up with one. My phone had buzzed long enough to drag me out of my extra snooze.

Christ, it was nearly ten a.m.

I swiped my phone open. “Hi,” I said.

“Jesus, are you still in fucking bed? Get up you lazy bones,” Blu shrieked.

I propped myself up on two pillows. “Hi. Yeah, I’m still in bed. I can’t believe it. I went back to sleep for a bit after Ash and Gio left—”

“Oh. My. God. You were with them both? You little whore!” He cackled so loudly, I had to pull the phone from my ear.

“Well, yeah. What did you think I was doing, asking them to take numbers and wait in the hall?”

That really got him. He was howling with laughter so hard, he couldn’t catch his breath. I could just picture his gap-toothed smile.

And you know what? It was funny. I mean, how in the hell did someone date men who wanted to share? What was the protocol? Did you rotate nights, like on that cable show, Big Love?

Yuck. I never liked that show.

Blu finally caught his breath from laughing. “Okay, ho-bag. Get dressed. Let’s have lunch in honor of Smith, and then we’ll going back to Barneys. Juan owes me a favor.”

Oh god. I could only imagine for what.

After lunch, Blu and I floated into our favorite store in the entire world. We wandered through, looking at all beautiful first floor merchandise—handbags, silk scarves, and a little Stella McCartney capsule collection. I didn’t dare buy anything, though. I had money in the bank now, thanks to the Kink Lab parties, but I had to make it last. If Devon had his way, I’d not get a penny of our assets after the divorce. I had to be ready for anything that might come my way.

Blu took my hand. “C’mon. I didn’t come here to look at Chloe handbags. Let’s go upstairs and find Juan. He said he’d hook you and me up the last time I sucked his—”

“STOP. I don’t need that much detail.”

Blu shrugged. “Suit yourself, sister. You better be glad I do what I do, because you are about to get some fabulous new dresses.”

Chapter 26

SUMNER

I hadn’t started that week expecting to be making funeral arrangements for one of my oldest friends.

But Smith’s parents were gone, and he’d been an only child. As far as I knew, he had no other family. I imagined that’s why I was his emergency contact.

The call I’d gotten from the police was one of the strangest ones in my life.

“Hello. Is this Mr. Sumner Larlaith?” a voice asked, when the Kink Lab party was in full swing.

I thought it might be someone calling having to do with my father. Occasionally, the press got ahold of my phone number and called me for a quote. Of course, I hung right up on them after an emphatic ‘no comment.’

“Yes, this is he,” I answered.

“Mr. Larlaith, this is the New York City Police Department.”

So it wasn’t a reporter.

Holy shit. Had someone made a complaint about Kink Lab? Or stolen my car?

“Is everything okay? What can I do for you?” I asked, my heart rate picking up. I was surprised by the hum of office sounds on the other end of the line, but then I guessed the police department was a twenty-four-seven operation.