Page 62 of Queen Of Dark Money

Ilistened toRafeout there still swearing and nodded. “That’dbe great.”Heglanced back in my direction, looking me up and down.Iknew what he was thinking–Ithought it, too, whenIpulled this getup out of the bag. “Don’tsay a fucking word.”

“Iwasn’t planning on it.”Hissmile was wide and somewhat clear-headed as he handed me a thick blanket and a giant t-shirt guaranteed to drown me whenIput it on.Theshirt slipped easily over my skirt and tube top, andIsighed in relief at the feeling of protection it brought me. “Forwhat it’s worth,Ithought the pink was really nice on you.”

“You’reawful amiable when you’re sloshed,”Ipointed out, hiding a grin behind my hand. “Ilike it.”

“Yeah?”Helooked like he’d swallowed a sour lemon as he contemplated something.Theconcentration in those deep green eyes was enough to make a girl swoon. “I’mtoo honest whenIdrink.”

“Honest?Nosuch thing as too honest.”

“Sure, you say that now,” he muttered, turning back away from me for a moment, “but when you hear the truths you don’t wanna hear, it changes things.”

“Ialways want the truth.Ihate a liar.”Iwatched as a frown formed on his face, those pretty, sculpted brows drawing together. “What?”

“Youdon’t like liars, but you’ve been lying about who you are since you got here.”Hesat down at the end of the couch, lifting my feet into his lap. “Itdoesn’t add up.”

“I’mnot going to argue the point anymore with you tonight.”Theblanket and shirt were warm, and his hands did wonderful things to the arches in my feet that made me wanna openmy mouth and moan in relief.Ikept my mouth shut, though.Couldn’tlet him think he had the upper hand. “You’llsee; when they get ahold ofEddy, he’ll explain everything.”

Hisshoulders lifted slightly, and he shuffled his position, turning into me. “Maybewe will, maybe we won’t.Idon’t run a gambling hall, princess.Irun a strip club.Severalof them.”

Isettled in and tried to sleep.Itwas long overdue, and though the adrenaline pumped through my body still,Icould use every minute of restIcould catch right now.

Butlike the perfect diamond, the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, or the scent of morning dew, sleep eluded me.Itossed and turned, my feet still inRiver’slap, trying desperately to get comfortable, to forget there was an angry man on the other side of that door just waiting for me to come back out.

IbelievedRiverwhen he said he’d protect me.

Thoughit took everything in me not to feel a certain type of way about that damsel in distress shit.

Ifell asleep with my arms wrapped around my midriff, holding myself together as best asIcould for being locked in an office with a man who’d as much as admitted he wanted me but refused to touch me, with a man on the other side of that door who wanted me but didn’t take no for an answer.

Arock and a hard place.

Iwas glad to be whereIwas, though.Theother side of that door was a monsterIdidn’t want to analyze just yet.

Mostlybecause something about running for my life from a man determined to fuck me had turned me on more thanIcared to admit.

Ishifted my legs and whined, gladRiverhad started snoring a few minutes ago.Ididn’t need a witness to my sheer and utter embarrassment.Iwas witness enough for that.

River’shands gripped my heels and forced my legs to stop moving.Ifroze like a deer in the headlights, unsure ifIshouldgo forward or back.Theair in the room suddenly grew to stifling levels, andIcould practically feel the sexual charge in the air, dragging over my skin like shockwaves.

“Ifyou don’t want to faceRafe, you’d better stop squirming and sounding like that, you got me, sweetheart?”

“Igot you,”Iwhispered, sitting upright on the couch to keep myself from squirming again. “MaybeIshould sleep on the floor.”

“Comehere, dammit,” he growled, yanking me over into his lap.Hestretched out on the couch, tugging the blanket over the both of us with ease. “Justsit still, okay?We’llboth stay warm this way and get some sleep.Andnobody’s on the floor, catching a cold or whatever.Noneed to be stubborn.”

Irefused to point out he could just turn up his thermostats to keep us warm.DrunkRiverseemed determined to rough it, even inside his posh and well-equipped club space.Itwas kinda cute, whenIstopped to think about it.

“Okay, okay,I’llbehave,”Iagreed, settling into his arms with a sense of rightness.Iwanted to be here more thanI’dexpected to, liked it more thanIprobably should.

“Goodgirl,” he whispered in my ear, andIshivered again as his chin came down to rest on my shoulder, effectively tucking me into his body.Icouldn’t have moved even ifI’dwanted to.Andfor the first time since being kidnapped,Ididn’t want to.

Iwas right whereIought to be.

AndIdidn’t want to be anywhere else.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

RIVER

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