Cruel Infatuation (Underground Kings 3)

A sudden cool lotion is rubbed along the hot cheeks, and it yanks me back to the present instead of some fantasy world I’ve been floating in for the last few minutes. I moan in appreciation when the cold seeps into my welted skin, and I nearly become one with the bed with how my body melts into complete goo.

I’m useless.

“Are you okay, baby?” he asks, rubbing the lotion up my back and kneading my shoulder. My weekly ass rub just turned into a massage, and it feels marvelous.

“I’m so good,” I slur, sounding like I drank an entire body of whiskey. “So good. You’re good.” I chuckle. “So many goods.”

He kisses my nape and playfully nibbles my shoulder. “I’m glad. God, you’re sexy. I’m going to go drawl us a bath, okay? I spanked you harder than usual, and the welts, while sexy because it’s my handprint on your succulent ass, worries me. I’m afraid I hurt you.”

“No.” I reach for his hand and lay it on my heart. “You’ve put me back together, Grayson.”

I’m no longer lost in this world. Not as long as I belong to him. He knows who I am and what I need more than I do. And it feels good not to have to fight for my life anymore when I have someone who puts me first every day.

It’s like I can finally breathe after drowning for so many years, only coming up for air when I was allowed.

I’m free.

And the air, oh, the air, it’s fucking fantastic here.

Chapter Twenty-Three

GRAYSON

“That’s the plan?” I ask Jaxon, open-mouthed and doubtful. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Do you have a better one? What do you want us to do? We need to be smart. The job has never been like this before. I have a feeling you don’t want to leave Dillon alone for a minute. What do you want us to do?”

“You’re wanting to use Finley as bait. I don’t want to put her in harm’s way.”

“But you’re okay with pretending to lure Kendall here under false pretenses and think you two are going to hook up? I’m not okay with that,” Finley says, crossing her arms in defiance. “What if she comes here looking smoking hot? The mother of your child and she’s your age.”

Jaxon, Sebastian, and I look at her in disbelief. Every now and then her age peeks through, and the insecurity is shown because she hasn’t had as much experience in life. “You’re wearing my ring after only being here a month. I was with her for years and never once dropped to my knee.”

“You didn’t drop to your knee for me either,” she points out.

I get off the stool, drop to a knee, take her hand, and slide the ring off her finger. “You should have kicked my ass for that. Finley, will you marry me? I love you.”

She squeals as if it’s the first time I asked her, and she throws her arms around me. “Yes! I’ll marry you. I love you.” She gives me a big smack on the lips, and I put the ring back in place, shaking my head from how silly she’s being. “Hey…” I take her face in my hands as we sit on the new rug covering the floor. “There is nothing that woman can do that can take me away from you. Nothing. She doesn’t compare. Plus, she’s a raging bitch that I want dead.” I ruin the moment by making us stand, and Finley grins, happy with what I said.

Well, I like that she’s happy. Who am I to keep my mouth shut?

“What plan is happening first, guys?” Finley asks.

“Kendall. Because Dillon needs the marrow,” Jaxon clarifies. “It’s happening”—he looks at his watch—“in about two hours. We sent her flowers and a card saying she had a secret admirer and gave her the address.”

“Women don’t fall for the secret admirer crap,” Finley says.

“This one does. She’s already bought a new dress. She’s eager,” Sebastian claps his hands together and laughs venomously. “Stupid,” he snorts.

“Well, who am I to keep a lady waiting? I need to get dressed. Set the mood or whatever,” I say, feeling sick to my stomach having to see her again after so many years. There is so much hate built up in my heart for her that I’ve dreamed of killing her for so long; it will be hard to hold myself back.

“It’s already set up, downstairs. Away from the girls and Dillon. It’s the best and safest way, plus the doctor will be there for the marrow, and the medical supplies and everything he needs is down there. Candles are at the ready, champagne i

s chilled, and I will be your butler for the evening,” Owen says, walking in on us in a tuxedo. He gives us a spin and then finger guns us.

Finley catcalls him, and I grumble in displeasure, holding a hand over her eyes. She slaps my arm away and blows me a kiss.

“Damn, look at you. I had no idea you could clean up like that, Owen,” Jaxon kids.