Page 158 of The Sinner's Bargain

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

THORAN

I fucking love you, I thought as I watched Naya in her tiny flats, standing on a ladder dusting the books along the top shelf of her bookstore. Her long, suede skirt the colors of melted caramel swayed around her ankles. The satin blouse in shiny teal stretches and shifts across her breasts, the neat row of tiny, pearl buttons taunting me to undo.

It had been two weeks since I put my ring on her finger, and I hadn’t gone an hour without touching her.

Kissing her.

Fucking her.

Christ, I was stunned either of us could even walk. My birthday alone had been a twenty-four-hour blur of skin, teeth and Naya’s body obeying my every command, interrupted only by sleep, shower, and food. She was insatiable and I was ravenous for her. I couldn’t get enough.

“Thoran?” Vance’s annoyed tone pulled me away from my single-minded focus to join my advisor at the table Naya had arranged specifically for me when I made it clear that she wasn’t leaving my sights even if that meant moving my meetings to wherever she was.

But only meetings with Vance. I considered making the bookstore the official location where other members and leaders could find me. It would have been good for Naya’s business, too, but I didn’t want them to know her.

I didn’t want them to touch her with their eyes. Their thoughts. Eventually, they would meet her and there was nothing I could do to stop that but for now she was my little secret.

“Are you sure you want me to put the paperwork through?” Vance muttered louder, loud enough that Naya glanced over, her expression curious.

“Yes,” I said to him, but my eyes were on her and the timid smile she shot me. “The bookstore is hers. No stipulations.”

Vance tapped his pen on his desk. “This was your mother’s. Are you sure you don’t want to at least be a silent partner? Or just hire her to run it.”

I shook my head. “You didn’t see her face when she walked in the first time, Vance. Mom built this place for her, and people like her. It should belong to someone who will love it the way she did.”

Vance sighed. I could tell he didn’t understand, but I did, and Mom would agree.

“The girl doesn’t even have a bank account,” he pressed. “She has nothing. No contribution. No ties. No family. She’s like a stray you adopted off the street.”

He had my attention now. Fully and not in any way anyone ever wanted, but it was on him, fixing him to his seat. I knew the moment he realized his mistake, but it was too late.

“Careful,” I warned very slowly, letting power soak into the single threat.

The chair beneath him creaked with his anxious shifting. “You’re right. I went too far. I apologize.”

I understood his job. I knew he was very good at it. He’d been there for my father and had never steered me wrong after I took over. I respected his advice and normally, didn’t question his motives because they always aligned with my own thoughts. But his disrespect of Naya would not do, nor would I allow it.

“She is my wife,” I said evenly. “I’m her family and you will speak to her and about her with respect. Do you understand?”

He was silent for a long moment before he inclined his head once.

“Good.” I sat back, unclenching my fists. “Open her a joint account under my name but fully hers. I want no access or updates on it. I want money deposited into it every month. Elysium Plains has its own business account. Put her name on all the required documents and give her full access.”

I looked over to where Naya was still on the ladder but peering down at Ivelle who was holding up a thin, clear glass of something thick and yellow. A plastic straw jutted up and Naya took a sip. She blinked and I could see her struggling to swallow as the girl stared up at her hopefully.

Every muscle in her throat bobbed, but she worked hard not to make a face.

She said something to the girl. A lie judging from the excited little hop Ivelle did before hurrying back to the counter, leaving Naya with the drink she was still trying to swallow.

Must have been pretty awful because she never hesitated swallowing. The dirty thought teased a grin around my lips that Naya must have sensed because she glanced my way. I hid the quirk, by motioning her over.

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