His Father

“Depends on what you want.”

His warm hand stiffens, gripping my thigh with near pain as he looks at his cards again. “I want out of our contract.”

Stone’s eyes turn… well… stony. “Scuse me?”

What sort of contract does he have with this kind of person? Stone oozes danger. He terrifies me.

“I lose, you get a bigger percentage,” Sargent continues, shrugging and downing the rest of his drink.

Devon eyes them both warily. I just want to be anywhere but here.

Stone grins, showing a slither of teeth beyond his parted lips. He too leans back and looks at me. “I’ll accept your deal, but you’ll have to sweeten it.” His eyes drag over me again, his tongue runs over his lip, making it shine in the soft light coming from the kitchen area. “If I win, I get thirty percent of your company, and a night with your girl.” The room stills and Sargent’s hand grips my thigh so hard it hurts.

My stomach is in knots. I feel sick. He can’t be serious?

“That’s only a ten percent increase, I’m being generous,” Stone adds, looking at me again.

“You can’t be fucking serious?” Devon laughs humorlessly, standing quickly. “We don’t trade women, especially unwilling women.”

“Only need a few seconds to work my magic and she’ll be as willing as a bitch in heat.”

I look at Sargent who has yet to talk. He’s staring at Stone, a vacant look in his eye.

“Are you considering it?” I hiss, pulling away so sharply I nearly fall from my chair.

“Just one night, can’t promise she won’t leave you for me though.” Stone winks at me as I look back and forth between them.

“I don’t want to sleep with you.”

He looks unphased by my words and simply stares down Sargent. “You called this for your freedom, didn’t you?”

“This game is over,” Sargent declares, standing and pulling me up beside him.

My body deflates, the fear leaving me as he pulls me into his side and kisses my hairline.

“Aww, man, I was just twisting your dick.” Stone grins, leaning back but his eyes linger on me. “Don’t end the game.”

“I think it’s prudent at this point.” Sargent’s arm remains firmly around my shoulders. “I need to look into who the fuck was in my yard looking at my woman in her room.”

Stone’s eyes become stony again. “I hear that. You need any help dealing with the creep you just let me know.”

Sargent nods his thanks and looks at Devon. “See them out, I need to check over the surveillance.” I look up at his profile and smile at him shakily. My body is still humming from the adrenaline of the night but even more from the fact he just ended the game for me. I know, from his earlier tone, how important this was to him, I hope he gets another chance to make the changes he needs.

“You figure out who it is, just call,” Stone insists, shaking Sargent’s hand and winking at me. “We’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again. You know you got our protection, Wolf. Use it.”

Sargent leads me to the stairs.

I let him guide me to his room which when I enter, I take in like it’s the first time seeing it. I’ve been in here a few times but I can’t help appreciate it with each visit. The dark wall on the left, the windows overlooking Malibu and the yard, the four-poster king bed with dark blue bedding and rather fluffy white pillows. It’s a nice room. A really nice room.

The rug is still in the corner of the two walls of glass that the bed rests opposite. I bite my lip at the sight of it. We haven’t touched it since the day of the photos. I imagine it still smells like the sweet, strawberry body oil.

“Are you alright?” he asks me softly when I stop in the space between his bed and the door. His fingers dig into my shoulders and arms, sliding up and down. It feels nice and helps alleviate some of the stress I feel. I’m not sure anything has kicked in yet. My mind keeps replaying the man at the window with the knife, then fast-forwarding to the moment Stone decided to enter me into the wager.

“I thought you were considering his offer,” I whisper, recalling Sargent’s face

He kisses my neck, which feels so good, and wraps his arms around my waist as we stare across the dark room together. I shiver in his embrace, always ready and willing to be touched by him. “Never.”

“You told him I’m yours.”

“You are,” he murmurs, trailing the tip of his nose along the edge of my hair. “I’d never hurt you.”

His words stop my breathing. “Don’t say things that will make me feel more for you than I should.”

He walks me to the rug and doesn’t stop until my bare toes are wriggling in the super soft faux fur. When his fingers find the hem of my dress and lift, I raise my arms and wet my lips.