Page 63 of Queen Of Dark Money

Thefirst thingInoticed whenIslowly came to was the absence of my usual post-binge hangover headache.

Thesecond?

Iwasn’t alone.

I’dmade it a habit never to let a woman stay the night, not even when drunk, so the fact that this bitch had the audacity to stick around really rubbed me the wrong way.

WherewasSeven?Candy?Theywere supposed to make sure these things didn’t happen.

Igroaned asIworked my eyes open, testing the muscles in my body to see if anything hurt.WhenIgot to my arms,Iremembered the woman lying in them and sighed, preparing myself for an awkward conversationI’ddone my best over the years to avoid.

Andblinked in surprise whenIrealized whoIhad wrapped up under this blanket with me.

“Sinclair,”Iwhispered, watching her sleep like a creeper.Herlashes rested on those pretty, full cheeks, her lips plump and kissable.Theway they parted just barely as she breathed, the warmth of it fanning against my arm where she’d pillowed her head, set my toes to tingling.Shelooked so innocent when shewas unconscious.Soat odds with the hellcat she turned into when awake.

“Mmmm.”Sheshifted her position and rolled over, her hand sliding up my chest as a smile spread over her face. “Fivemore minutes.”

Shecouldn’t possibly be awake.

Butthis was one timeIcould honor her request without any hardship on my end. “Okay, you got your five minutes.”

Ileaned my head back, closed my eyes again, and let the anger in me melt away.

Ididn’t suffer a woman to linger, didn’t like the feeling of restriction that rose in me whenIwoke in a woman’s arms, or with one in mine.Butsomething about this woman, in particular, felt almost different.Thecringiness that built beneath my skin didn’t raise its ugly head this time.Instead,Ifelt nearly. . . protective of her.

Butwhy wouldIfeel a thing like that?

Shestirred again, nuzzling the buttons of my dress shirt, her fingers tangling in the curls of my chest hair.Hersoft sigh told me this time,I’dget more than just a plea for five minutes more of sleep.

Slowly, she blinked those beautiful blue eyes open, staring at the center of my pecs like she didn’t know where she was.Therealization was fun to watch as it hit her in stages, piece by piece falling into place with each millimeter her eyes widened.Whenthe whole gravity of her position sank in, she physically recoiled, falling to the floor in a heap, a little yep of pain punctuating the impact.

Ipopped the second eye open, trying not to laugh as she rubbed at her hip and groaned.

“You, uh, alright down there?”

Arare blush climbed the length of her throat, tinting her pretty cheeks a rosy pink. “Fine.Justfucking peachy.”Hergazedarted to the door of the office, then back at me, and finally fell on the wall clockI’dkept around for shits and giggles.Everythingwas digital now, but the wall clock meantIdidn’t have to scramble for my phone every time, so it had been given an honorary place above my desk.

Mybrows drew together, confusion tainting my otherwise clear mind. “Whatare we doing sleeping on the couch in my office?”Inoticed her lack of decent clothes but decided now wasnotthe time to discuss attire.

Shegazed at the door again with an almost troubled expression and sighed, letting her face fall into her hands. “Rafe,” was all she said, the tone of her voice hesitant, almost–

No.Couldn’tbe.

Wasshe afraid of him?

“Didhe hurt you?”EvenasIsaid it,Iwas working to convince myself there was no possible way the answer would be yes.Rafewas a womanizer, sure, but nothing out of the ordinary, and he’d never done anything untoward with any of my girls.Surelyhe wouldn’t dare to fuck with the one girl we’d been told to keep our hands off of.

Exceptmaybe he hadn’t been told.

Butstill–consent.

Sheshook her head, her eyes never leaving that door, asIset her concerns aside and stood, heading for the door with a purpose.

“Wait!Don’t–”

“Hush,”Icommanded, holding a hand up to hold off her pleas. “Justget on the couch and sit still for a minute whileIsort this out.”

Afterunbolting it,Iyanked the door open and marched up the stairs, heading straight for my apartment, whereIexpected to find him.Sureenough, he was passed out facedown on my couch, snoring away like a fucking lumberjack.

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