Page 55 of Lord of Vice

“Open your mouth, Penny.”

She pursed her lips instead just like I knew she’d do.

“Do not make me tell you again.” Of course she wanted to continue testing me.

“Bastard,” she whispered all over again. Could she have any idea that all she was doing was tossing gasoline on the fire that she’d started the second she’d walked into Giuseppe’s? With a pouty face, she followed my orders.

I jammed my fingers into her mouth for a few seconds before pulling them out, shoving them into my mouth. As she stared at me with a mixture of amusement and disgust, I sucked loudly.

The taste of her was like snacking on a peach in the middle of a sunny summer afternoon. Wasn’t I getting sappy as fuck?

“Come on, Red Penny. Let’s get back to our day.”

“Bastard.”

I couldn’t help but notice a gleam in her eyes.

CHAPTER 18

Kraven

Threats.

They were a part of my life, both legal and illegal organizations trying to destroy what hard work and elements of blackmail and extortion had brought me. I’d taken every warning and attempt at ruining my life with a grain of salt. How could I complain given I was considered in the top one percent of the wealthiest people in the world?

Hell, I’d even made fun of some of the people who’d made attempts, calling them fools and worthless, considering their actions delicious war games to be played and won. As I’d grown older, and some would hope wiser, I’d become more annoyed with the antics, doing everything I could to eliminate the situation and the person quickly.

But there was something about the recent series of events that bothered me more than normal. One of the many things my father had told me early on was that my life expectancy would never be the standard given I’d always have one or more targetson my back. But that wasn’t it. I wasn’t fearing death, at least for me.

It was all about the fact that in a couple of days’ time, I’d allowed someone truly innocent into my world. Not only did she also have a target on her back, she presented more than just a complication. With Penny in my life, sharing my bed, a disaster was waiting to happen. Yet I was getting to the point I didn’t give a shit.

Other than becoming determined to keep her out of harm’s way, slaughtering anyone who dared try to interfere. Even now, I was on edge, enraged by the events. Relaxing wasn’t possible.

“Nothing at all?” I asked Konstantin as I sat on the bench, watching Penny’s interactions with Remington. She was laughing every time she threw the Frisbee, enjoying the day out. She was also terrible at trying to land a toss the pup could catch. Everything about her was endearing, so much so I loathed sitting here doing business but it was a necessity.

I’d watched her earlier as she’d danced to some music coming from an unknown source, allowing me to see just how talented she truly was. She was also extremely graceful, something that seemed to come naturally for her even if she acted more like a tomboy at times. But I’d observed her expressions, had paid close attention to her hand gestures as well as the long line of her legs. She was magnificent.

And my cock continued to stir, my balls far too tight.

When she glanced in my direction, I was shaking my head. Somehow, the girl had convinced me to play a round of miniature golf in the middle of the heated afternoon with thesun beating down on us. I’d sweated like some fucking pig while she’d shimmered appropriately.

At least the earlier ice cream indulgence had cooled us both off, including the licks for Remington.

My God. If I wasn’t careful, I’d turn into boyfriend material.

“Nah, boss. I went all the way back to her high school yearbook. She was valedictorian and that was after graduating a year early. The girl was sixteen. Shit, man. She was also on the pep squad. A cheerleader. And on the dance team. She went to college double majoring in business administration and dance at the University of Richmond. The girl is smart as shit, Summa Cum Laude graduate. She moved out here six months ago. Her dad is alive, but her mom died not too many months before she took the big plunge, heading to Sin City.”

“Okay. I wanted to be certain.” I’d needed confirmation before I could shove aside any concerns about her sudden appearance. Many a man had been caught with his pants down, something I’d made certain over the years would never happen.

“Yeah, but here’s something odd. She has no social media presence whatsoever. None.”

“Perhaps you’re not looking in the right place.”

He snorted. “You forget who you’re talking to, boss man. I checked and rechecked every derivative of her name, using a picture I took of her and uploading it into our system to try facial recognition as well.”

My most trusted man was just doing his job, but I felt a twinge of anger and perhaps jealousy he’d taken her photograph without me knowing. “Every social media platform?” In this day and ageand considering how young she was, that was unusual. But not if she’d been running from something.

Or someone.

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