Page 106 of Sin & Sapphire

“Perfect obedience, speak only when spoken to, and my orgasms are yours,maître.”

Embarrassment snaked through my veins at the thought of all of Yorkfield knowing I was a sexual toy, submissive and obedient, eager to suck the cocks of her masters, a whore in public and in private.

“You belong to Angelo and me,” Valentin said finally. “But the nature of our relationship is no one’s business but our own. You will avoid putting yourself in a situation where we must command you in public, and we won’t punish you for speaking when you must.”

A weight lifted from my shoulders. So full of gratitude for this basic, human decency, I lunged up on my toes so I could kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you,maître.”

His fond smile surprised me. “If you brat, you’ll regret it.”

“I won’t,maître, I promise.”

Angelo wrapped an arm around my waist. “I’ll believe that when I see it. Any other questions, angel?”

I shook my head, ebullient with excitement and joy.Infantile, a voice screamed from the back of my brain. I shut it up and leaned my head against Angelo’s chest. “I’m ready, sir.”

Angelo kissed the top of my head, and the butterflies in my stomach returned with a vengeance.

A large SUV waited for us outside of the apartment building—we would travel in a convoy, like the fucking president.

“Where do you want to go, angel?” Angelo asked, once we were safely ensconced in the vehicle.

“Is Valentin not coming with us?” He’d hopped into another vehicle and driven off.

“Valentin is hunting for some of the names you gave us last night, angel.”

“The widows?”

He shook his head and hauled me up against him with an arm around my shoulders so I could snuggle into his warmth. Because he was comfortable, not because I needed affirmation that he still wanted me after last night, and definitely not because I was disappointed that Valentin wouldn’t be coming along today.

“Soldiers who should have reported for duty when your father was killed but didn’t.”

“May I—” I took a deep breath, and decided to ask my questions, hoping that today wouldn’t end in disaster. “How does this work? Doesn’t he have a business to run in France?”

“He’s wanted to establish an American branch for a long time. This is as good an excuse as any.”

“You know my first public excursion in Yorkfield since my father’s death is going to cause a stir.”

“I know.”

Angelo smiled down at me, then kissed the top of my head and pulled me closer, until I laid my head on his chest.

“We need to draw the last of Gio’s men out of hiding, so we can bring them back into the fold or get rid of them. And we need to determine who’s really an ally.”

“I’m bait,” I realized, my heart sinking. Today was still about my pussy—my marriageability.

“And you can’t wrangle what’s left of your father’s empire naked,” Angelo teased, stroking his fingers over my hip. “Although I’d certainly enjoy watching it.”

“You’d murder anyone who looked at me,” I muttered.

“You’re mine, and I don’t share with anyone except Valentin.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I said nothing and allowed myself the pleasure of enjoying the physical security and comfort of snuggling up to him in the car.

Our first stop was an exclusive boutique I’d never shopped at before. My entire childhood was spent pretending we had money, holding up the illusion of power, while doing everything we could to live as inexpensively as possible.

Angelo hopped out first, and when I moved to do the same, his glare froze me in my tracks. He walked around to open the door for me and offered his hand so I could climb down from the tall vehicle with elegance.

“When you’re with me, you don’t fucking open doors for yourself.”

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