Page 6 of Sinister Devotion

We ride the elevator down to the parking garage in silence, where Edward greets us as soon as the doors open.

"Good morning, Miss Anderson," he dips his head with a grin.

"Good morning, Eddie," I reply with my eyes wide, knowing he despises that moniker as much as I despise him calling me Miss Anderson.

"Claire," Julian admonishes me as we walk to the car. "You two behave like children sometimes."

"He started it," I tell Julian with a sideways glance to Edward. Julian's right. We've been picking at each other for as long as I can remember. Edward's was one of Dad's friends, too. However, even when we fuss at one another, I know I'm never in danger when he's around.

Bonnie opens the rear door for us as she keeps her eyes scanning our surroundings. There isn't anyone in the garage but us. My pulse quickens and settles as I climb into the back seat, but their presence calms my anxiety. Yet, we can't ignore our proximity to the Tenderloin District of downtown. Money doesn't make us immune to criminal activity, especially in one of the more dangerous parts of town. I know that better than anyone.

Once we're inside the SUV and Edward hops behind the wheel, he sighs. We're in the privacy of each other's company, where any objections to Julian's instructions can be voiced without being seen as insubordinate.

"They don't have valet or underground parking, so Bonnie will go with you into the offices. I'll stay with the car," Edward tells us as he pulls out into the morning traffic.

Julian nods. "That works. Once the meeting starts, you can find me another matcha latte, Claire. Have Bonnie go with you."

"Yes, sir, Boss-well."

Julian shakes his head and ignores me as I eye him, but I can't stop my glance from dipping down to his lap. The bulge under those pants deserves my touch, my tongue, my hands, everything a woman is supposed to want to do. Shit. What if I do it wrong?

"Are you okay, Claire?" Julian's voice sends heat racing across my chest. Did he catch me staring at his cock? Fuck.

"Um, yeah, just jitters about today. I want to be sure I'm doing everything right," I tell him honestly.

Julian reaches over to tap my thigh. "You're doing fine."

My pulse quickens for completely different reasons. I don't want him to move his hand. Bonnie and Edward are none the wiser in the front seats. I lay my bag across my lap, putting my hand firmly on top of his to encourage him to keep it there.

I imagine he'll snatch it away, but he doesn't. Julian keeps his eyes on his phone held in one hand while the other inches its way between my thighs. I swallow hard, my gaze stuck on the window and the scenery passing by.

Damn pants. My breathing comes in heavier with anticipation as Julian's firm fingers press against the center between my thighs. I can feel him expertly unzipping my pants and dipping his finger inside.

Julian moves my panties to the side and causes me to spread my legs wider to give him more room, but I do it quietly so as not to draw the attention of Edward and Bonnie. The minute he slips his finger over my clit, I close my eyes and clamp my mouth shut. The pressure of him sliding his finger between my folds and around my entrance has me on edge.

However, he never dips inside. Instead, he teases me and pulls his hand away gently with a grin of mischief etching across his face. He sucks his finger like there's a stray drop of matcha on it with a glance over at me.

The way he winks before returning his attention to his phone has every nerve-ending in my body firing off signals to finish.

"Claire, please make sure you're prepared," Julian says, with a shift in his gaze to my pants that reminds me to zip them up.

When we arrive at the client's building, I'm just about to get out of the SUV when the phone rings. I have to answer this.

"Julian Blackwell's office. How can I help you?" I answer the call. Julian nods as he helps me out with a sturdy hand while Bonnie and Edward do their security thing.

"This is Eileen, honey." A woman replies with a voice so raspy it sounds like she gargles sand. "We got a problem with the fitting. The sizes you sent in aren't making sense to the tailor. I'm telling you, Cecile, that the girl needs to come in."

"Oh, I'm sorry, this is Claire. Cecile's no longer working for Mr. Blackwell. Is there anything I can do?"

"Yeah, tell the birthday girl to get her spoiled little tush down here to try on these gowns. If she doesn't, they won't be ready by the 5th."

"The 15th is what you mean, right?" I ask her.

Eileen grumbles on the other end. "No, I mean the 5th. The night of the party is the 15th, and I'm sure you don't want to wait until the last minute to have the dresses ready."

"Oh, right, I'm sorry, give me a second," I tell her, putting the woman on hold. Bonnie, Edward, and Julian are all waiting because it sounds like I'm about to change everyone's itinerary. I don't disappoint, telling them, "That was Eileen, the event planner. She says that the birthday girl's measurements aren't right and she needs to go to the designer to get fitted."

Julian nods. "Okay, that's fine. Actually, I have a pretty easy day ahead. Bonnie, take the SUV and escort Claire to the fitting. Claire, tell Eileen give you the address to wherever the fitting is and I'll see you at home later. Edward, you're with me. Have someone bring my car from the office."

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