Page 90 of Illicit Temptation

I don’t want this on mine:Here lies a foolish woman who blew off Rina Lagerfeld.

“How’s this... I’m worried.” I dip my toe in the water.

He frowns. “About?”

“My brother might have let his power go to his head.” I clear my throat. “I never considered he’d arrange a marriage for me.”

Trace stiffens. “And?”

“If I get Rina Lagerfeld to agree to sell me her business, then I have power. I will show my brother, I can take care of myself.” I look away. “Kieran financed my business. I never felt like I built it on my own.”

“Is that what you want?” Trace’s eyelids flutter. “To take care of yourself. Alone?”

“You don’t want me, Trace,” I whisper, exhausted thatevery conversation circles back to this fantasy that we can have something real.

Seeing his mother and hearing the words come out of her mouth that she wants a grandchild sliced through me like a knife. My conscience has been bleeding ever since.

“Haven’t I said every fucking thing to the contrary since I’ve been here?” Trace’s lips practically brush against mine.

I’m so weak for him. All the time.

Pushing past the craving, I say, “Yes, you have. So much more than I thought possible, but you’re thinking one-dimensionally right now. The fact is anyone who marries me will not have children. Trace, it pains me that I can’t give you a child. It’s depressing and unnecessary. And I won’t put you through that.”

“Then we’ll have one if that’s what you want.” He holds my face. “There’s more than one way.”

“It’s late. We’ve had a long day. I need to be at that meeting tomorrow.”

“Did you not hear your brother?”

“Did you just meet me? I don’t always obey the rules.” I lower my hand to rub his cock over his trousers. “Please?”

He grips my hand. “You think you can control me with sex?”

“Control is an ugly word.” I lick my lips. “Persuade.”

Trace lets go of my hand and backs up a few feet from me. His eyes wander down the driveway, catching the headlights of our car service. A smile forms on his lips.

“Persuade, aye?”

A lump forms in my throat. Good Lord, he’s going to fuck me senseless to get me to agree to something.

Hehas that power over me.

I study Trace as a flurry of thoughts show on his ridiculously handsome face.

Staring right at me again, he says, “I want to show you something.”

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Trace

Iflag down the car service I called to bring me and Shea to East Hampton. “Wait here,” I tell her.

Showing the driver my piece, I reach in and snap a photo of his medallion. One he doesn’t want to lose. “Here’s two hundred dollars. If anyone asks, you dropped off two people at a nice house in East Hampton.”

He stares at me and then the money. Shrugging, he takes it. “I didn’t feel like trekking out there. Thanks, man.”

After he drives off. I get on my phone and callmycar service. “I need a lift from The Orchid to Manhattan. Ten minutes? Thank you.”

---