Page 36 of Forbidden Cravings

“Don’t ask, just do it.”

I disconnected, running a shower and washing the remains of Casey’s touch from my skin. By the time I met Riley in theliving room, I was back in control, but thoughts of Casey lingered like uninvited ghosts. Breck had texted an encrypted note saying she was safely on the plane, and I let Tyson know, asking him to text me when she landed. With each mile further she flew from me, the acceptance that she was gone sank further into my being, leaving only the hollow sensation in my chest to remind me of what I’d lost.

Tyson returnedat the end of the week. I had Riley learning self-defense from Breck and Leo while I assessed her moves. She was quick, and I could see she’d been doing more than playing with dolls when I’d been improving my fighting skills with Tyson all those years. Breck knocked her from her feet, and she fell hard on her ass.

“Don’t bruise her, Breck. If I send her back to Tides bruised, he’ll start a fucking war with me.”

She threw me a dirty look.

“He’s right, Ri.”

I looked over at Tyson as he rounded the corner. My heart dropped, the guilt I’d stored away resurfacing.

“Why so moody, Mace?” he asked, grasping my shoulder.

I shook off my reaction, saying, “Just didn’t expect you here. How was the flight home?”

“Eh, uneventful. You know that sexy flight attendant Chill hired?”

“The one with the long legs?” I asked, knowing exactly who he was talking about. She’d flirted with me the entire time I’d been on the plane last. I’d considered fucking her just to shut her up, but I drew a line with employees, a line Tyson never heeded.

“Fuck, yeah. I let her ride me this time, but she’s not worth the fuck. Barely worth the condom I wasted.”

I was hoping he could feel the daggers in my eyes. “No screwing around with the women who work for us, Tyson. What part of that rule do you find so hard to follow?”

“All of it, especially when you hire beauties like that.”

“I don’t do the hiring,” I grumbled. “Keep your hands off the flight attendant and all the girls at the club. Damn, I can’t wait until you find a woman who can tame you.”

He laughed, gesturing to his crotch and saying, “I told you, Mace, there is no woman worthy of taming this.”

Shaking my head, I turned my attention back to Riley. Exhaustion was showing in her delayed reactions, and I’d have to end her training soon.

“How was your time with Casey?” I asked, hoping my voice was calm because saying her name sent palpitations through my chest.

“Good. She was a little less spirted than she usually is, though. You know how she usually annoys the shit out of me with her gibbering and that damned cheery personality?”

“Yeah.” He often returned from his trips complaining about it, but I’d never thought much of it. This time I wanted to shake him because I missed that cheerfulness and the witty comebacks.

“She was off. Did something happen while I was gone?”

I swallowed, nerves tumbling through me. This was my chance to come clean, to admit what I’d done and what I was feeling, but I couldn’t do it. Fear was something I rarely acknowledged, but it was hounding me not to confess because I knew what it would cost me. I would lose Tyson and with him, Casey. He was too protective, and what he would see as betrayal would be my undoing.

“Not that I know of,” I lied, hating myself for it. “Maybe she was worried about Riley. You know she’s returning to Tides, right?”

“Casey told me. That’s a nightmare. How are you going to handle that?”

Glad the conversation had shifted, I answered, “I’ll have to wait and see. If he wants my sister that badly, I want something in return.”

“A bargaining chip?”

“Exactly.”

Riley huffed as she hit the mat again.

“I think that’s enough, guys. My sister needs a hot shower and some time with her feet propped up.”

She gave me a thank you with her smile and waved to Tyson.

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