Page 18 of Gilded Caresses

Her face scrunches at the sight of mine doing the same.

In a low voice, she says, “Would you seriously pass up the chance to have something with those three if you had a chance? C’mon. You can tell me.”

I take her hand in mine. “The problem with that is I owe Harlon. You know that. It doesn’t matter what I want.” I release her fingers and sit back.

“I know he stuck up for you when no one else did. We both did. You did the same when every dickhead in the family wanted to bury him alive for the foursome marriage he had. And now here you are as my rock when I am about to get my freak on in front of a room full of Chicago’s elite. That sounds like tit for tat, babe. You deserve to be happy too and if they do that for you, you should walk over there and offer to buy them a drink.”

“Not happening. Isn’t it almost time for your show?”

Around us, the room is starting to fill with members. There are not many areas left from the looks of it. Belle has attracted quite the audience, the little minx.

“I wish I was as brave as you are. And I wish it was as simple in my head as it is in yours. You want something, you go after it.” I gesture to our surroundings. “Case in point. But for me? I am different. My future is murky at best. And what happened with your uncle?—”

“No.” Her voice is firm. “My uncle was killed because he was an asshole who conspired with your father, only he got caught. Their choices, their consequences. What happened to my uncle is not your fault. But it doesn’t matter what I think. You have to know in your heart of hearts what will make you happy.”

We’ve disagreed on the topic of her uncle for a long time. He was killed by the bounty holder for the money my father stole.

I open my mouth to reply, but she’s already standing, a look of pure joy on her face. “More later, okay?” She whisks me out of the booth and I turn to come face to face with three rugged Navy SEALs. Make that nose to chest.

“Hey sweetheart,” draws one. He’s a southern boy with the down-home charm and irresistible good looks. No wonder Belle is smitten.

He slips a thick arm around her waist while the other two come up on the other side.

Holy crap. Before now I’ve only seen parts of them from a distance. I didn’t actually try to watch the show. I always kept my head down.

Up close I’m stunned by their good looks.

“Ready for tonight, babe?” Comes one placing a slow kiss over my cousin’s exposed collar bone. You know what I’m talking about. The kind of kiss that says I know what we are about to do and it’s going to be hella kinky.

The third comes up behind her. An arm wound tight around her middle right above the others. This isn’t for show either. There’s possession in their touches.

“Mind if we take Belle for a little while? We promise to bring her back safe and sound.” Sexy man number three winks at me, all innocent and sweet.

Oh, God. They are all country boys. The miles of muscles and laid-back attitudes make sense now.

“Gentlemen,” I say with a knowing smile. My poor sweet cousin has no idea she’s playing with fire with these three. The quiet types are always the dangerous ones.

“Just a minute guys, please.” Belle places her hands on either of my shoulders.

How she thinks these three won’t want anything serious is beyond me. The signals are flashing brighter than the sun. Fear and doubt can make seeing difficult though, so I understand.

Brown eyes hook mine. “Belle. I don’t know how you do it.”

She knows what I mean. She smiles softly, looking cute with her sparkling eyes and sexy outfit. Belle’s style is more of agrab-and-go, anything goesand she manages to look like a million bucks.

I caress the palms of my hands over the glittery black mid-thigh dress that took me hours to decide on.

“It’s simple. Once we get going, their hands on me, their mouths doing wicked things…down there, it’s like magic. The audience fades to dull noise and it stops being about the show. It’s me with my men. I enjoy giving others pleasure and if I can help others find their balance in some way, how can I not explore that?”

She has a point.

She puts a hand over my heart. “You should do the same.”

I smooth out a few stray strands of hair near her cheek and give her a quick hug. “Go with your men, sweetie. I’ll be fine. Promise.”

“It looks like tonight might hold something good for the both of us.”

My brows draw together when I pull back from her. “Why?”

---