Kai leans across the table and pours himself a glass of orange juice, his hand steady as he raises it to his lips. “Nope. I’m not going anywhere.” Then he tosses back the juice in two big gulps and sets the glass on the table again.
Valentina makes a noise on the other side of him. “Please, help yourself.”
I smile and shake my head, happy for the bickering since it means we might be getting back to normal, at least in the family. Outside of it…well, they have a shitstorm coming that I don’t think they are prepared for.
“Since I’m not going anywhere, Boss,” Kai emphasizes, shoving his hands into his slacks pockets, “what do you want me to do around here to help prepare us?”
The way he says “us”…like he’s in this for the long haul makes me break out in a cold sweat. I can’t lose him any more than I could lose Valentina.
She saves me from having to give an immediate answer by drawing his attention. “Have you heard anything about my father’s disappearance, or his estates, his money? Any of it?”
Kai shakes his head, a soft look in his eyes as he gazes her way. It’s not sexual but sympathetic, and that’s the only reason I don’t shove him out of the dining room and slam the door in his face for it.
“Nothing so far. There are of course investigators looking into his death, a lot of rumors, but nothing that comes back to you or Adrian. And there hasn’t been any mention of transferring assets to you or anyone else. They have his will, though. Do you know what’s in it?”
She shrugs like she doesn’t care, but I see the rigid set of her shoulders as she does it. “No, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t want anything from him anyway. If he did leave me something, I’m going to give it to charity.”
Her eyes stay locked on her bowl as she shifts her remaining food around with her fork. The forlorn look on her face makes me want to gather her in my arms and comfort her all over again. No matter his betrayals and how things ended between them, I think she always hoped he might come around and love her. What little girl doesn’t want her father’s approval?
Kai glances at me, asking if he should say something, but I shake my head. “Keep an eye on the others and have someone on every single council member. I want to know if they breathe in our direction. Otherwise, stay on the task I gave you before.”
As if relieved to get an assignment, he shuffles out the door quickly. I watch him go, hoping this isn’t one of the last few times I’ll get to talk to him.
I stare at the top of her head from the way it’s ducked down, her curls a riot around her face today. “Are you ready for this, Angel? I’d just as soon put you on a plane to some beach island and leave you there until everything blows over.”
She huffs and then glares, setting her fork beside her bowl now. “Do we need to go over things again? I’m not going anywhere, especially not with you and the others in danger.”
It’s the answer I expect since she’s been giving it to me nonstop since I got the threat from the council. “Fine. But I’m going to keep asking in case you change your mind.”
She dips her head. “Fine. I’m going to keep saying no in case you change your mind.”
I lick my lips and shake my head at her. Mouthy little brat.
When I stand and come around the table, she tracks me all the way to her side. “Can I help you?”
I kneel on the carpet and shove her thighs open to make room for me. “I think you need a reminder of who is in charge here.”
She arches a perfect dark brow my way. “You’re the one on your knees.”
I lean down and deliver a bite to the inside of her thigh, right below her panty line. She shivers in my grasp, so I do the same to the other side. “I may be on my knees, but this isn’t submission. It’s authority.”
She leans back in the chair and settles her arms along the rests on either side of her. “Authority, huh? What’s that look like?”
I nibble her skin again, drawing a moan from her lips with each small nip. Even though she just showered, I can smell the soft musky scent of her arousal with her pussy so close to my face. I lean in and kiss her over the soft cotton of her panties.
Her breathy moan rocks through me, and my cock goes hard against my slacks. “Sit back, Angel. Let me show you how I own your sweet little pussy.”