Bought For Love

“Are you sure?” My teeth scraped against my bottom lip as I waited for his answer.

Using his thumb, Miles pulled my lip free and gently caressed it. “There isn’t a single doubt in my mind, sweetheart.”

“You’re really that sure?”

“I am, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get you to the place where you are, too,” he promised.

“Okay.” I nodded, my decision made. I wasn’t going to let some ex of his ruin our night. Not when I was the one wearing his ring. “You can start by finding me a drink, and then reminding me again how I shouldn’t have been worried about coming tonight.”

“I’m willing to admit that your concerns about attending were warranted, albeit for a reason neither of us could have anticipated.” He dropped a quick kiss against my lips. “But not about coming, because you’re going to enjoy the fuck out of that when we get home. A drink might be the start to getting this night back on course, but the orgasms I’m going to give you later will help even more.”

Considering how I’d quickly become addicted to the pleasure Miles gave me, I couldn’t argue with that.

I just hoped that I didn’t have to go through any more run-ins like the one with his ex before he could fulfill his promise.

Chapter Seven

MILES

“Miles.”

I turned my head to the side and smiled as a familiar blond man stepped up next to me at the bar.

“Sullivan,” I greeted my friend. “How’s married life treating you?”

He grinned, and his eyes drifted away. “Amazing.” I followed his line of sight to see his tall, beautiful, dark-haired wife, Kinsley, talking with his mother while cradling their infant son.

A pang of longing hit me, and I turned back to the bar as the waiter put my drink order in front of me. I glanced at Sullivan, and he was once again staring at me, but this time with his brow raised. “I hear I should be asking you the same question.”

I nodded and suppressed my satisfied smile by taking a sip of my gin and tonic. “News travels fast.”

Sullivan smirked and leaned an elbow on the bar, glancing around the room. “Especially when news is that one of New York’s most eligible bachelors is off the market.”

“Well, well, if it isn’t the freckled ginger who just left a slew of broken hearts in his wake.” Kinsley laughed as she sidled up to Sullivan, who put his arm around her waist and pulled her in close, placing a kiss on her head and then Foster’s.

“Kinsley. It’s great to see you.” I leaned down and kissed her cheek, ignoring the possessive growl coming from Sullivan.

As I stood, Kinsley’s eyes drifted past my shoulder and her face lit up. “Is this your lovely bride?”

I turned, surprised to see Emma had left her seat at our table and joined me at the bar.

She gave me a sideways glance and a half smile. “I thought maybe you fell into the bottle.” Then she turned her curious attention to the couple standing with me.

Kinsley smiled brightly. “I’m Kinsley Bradford. You must be Emma. It’s so wonderful to meet you!”

I made formal introductions, and then our wives floated off to chat, leaving Sullivan and me alone again. He put a hand on my shoulder, drawing my attention away from the two stunning women.

“Miles, I got a call from a contact of yours the other day.” Sullivan’s dark expression indicated that he wasn’t pleased with the situation.

It was my turn to raise my brow in question.

“Patrick Banks.”

Fuck. When had that son of a bitch gotten out of prison?

The last thing I needed right now was my past intruding on my time with Emma. Revealing secrets I wasn’t ready for her to know.

“What the fuck was he doing calling you?”

Sullivan threw back the rest of his drink before scowling at the bartender, who rushed to refill it.

“You were on your honeymoon, and apparently he couldn’t get ahold of you. He obviously knew we were friends and thought I would be able to put him in touch.”

I shook my head in frustration. “Sorry you were dragged in the middle, man. Did he say what it was about?”

“He was being pretty cagey. But the timing seems awfully coincidental, considering you’re about to release new security software. Somehow, he knew my company had beta tested it, and he asked me a few questions. Thought he was trying to be subtle about it.”

“Damn it.” Patrick and I had parted ways long ago, before I’d even left the criminal world. Patrick was in it for himself and he didn’t give two shits who he hurt in the process. It had never been about that for me. My actions were fueled by a need to make things right for people who’d been victims of cybercrimes. I justified it by thinking of myself as Robin Hood.