Page 21 of Gilded Desires

“Landed as in?” Her mouth drops open as the puzzle pieces start clicking together. “You hussy! You’re killing me here.”

Since Sapphire’s “office” lacks walls and is more of a table pushed into the back corner of the death-dealing floor Polaris spots us and comes over.

“What are we gossiping about?”

“Our friend here has hooked up with three guys.”

“Navy men,” I correct. “SEALs I suspect but I still need confirmation on that.”

Curiosity piques in Polaris’ expression and she slides half her cute, little ass over the edge of the table between us. Both she and Sapphire are glued to my next words.

“This stays between us.”

“Always,” they both assure me.

I lean forward. “They are looking for a girl to take the stage with them and I think they are going to pick me.”

Sapphire sits up straighter and I can tell she is stunned from the way her mouth goes back to hanging open. Polaris mirrors her.

“You what?” Polaris starts and Sapphire picks up right after that.

“You can’t do this. If anyone finds out who you are it could come back to the men. Harlon’s enemies would hurt you and use it to blackmail him the second they see you on that stage. It’s like handing them a live grenade with laser tracking aimed at your brother.”

My heart falls and I can’t hold back my frown. “I thought you two would be happy for me.”

Sapphire shares a look with Polaris. “We are, but?—”

“—I’ve had enough people telling me what I should and should not do,” I cut in. “You both should know I am doing this. I can’t sit in this fucking place another day, hour or minute wondering when I get to live my life. I want this. I want to feel a man’s touch. I want to know what it is like to have someone orsomeonestouching me and making me feel alive.”

There’s no calming music piping through the overhead speakers. That doesn’t happen until business hours start. So the dead silence between all three of us is deafening.

“You sound unhappy.”

I bristle. “I guess I am, Sapph. I didn’t realize just how unhappy until right now. That’s why I have to do this. I need you guysto understand I won’t put myself in harm’s way. These men...” I look off over Sapphire’s shoulder gathering my thoughts for a moment. “There’s something about them,” I finally say. “They are intense for sure. But between them, I felt protected, not in danger. The way they touched me. Kissed me. Made me feel.”

I look between my two friends.

“Please don’t judge me, but I want to see what happens. If all goes well, tonight’s plan is to tell them I’m a virgin. See where it goes from there. They could kick me out and this conversation is moot at that point anyway.”

“Tonight’s plan? Are you seeing them again?”

The ringer on my phone goes off and I stand up. “They are sending a cab for me tonight. We are having dinner. They want to see how compatible we are before any of us sign and so do I.” I grab the newspaper and my Birkin.

Polaris smirks. “And your security detail? How do you plan on getting around them? The second they see what you are up to they will end it. Who knows what orders your brother has given them.”

“They are downstairs getting their asses chewed out for losing me in traffic today.”

We share a cringe. I hurry to the back elevator. “Cover for me tonight?”

“Do we have a choice?”

Six

Belle

Adriver drops me off outside a large luxury cabin. It’s backed up against the water with towering trees on either side. Private, quiet, and beautiful. The closest neighbor is barely waving distance from where I stand on the front porch. I fix the curls of long hair swaying against my arms in the gentle breeze. I took the last couple of hours to toss aside my dark locks, shave everything, and put enough lotion on so that there was not a dry part left on my body. Instead of the revealing black dress, I opted for an emerald skirt with a slit up the side and a silk top with a bodice wrap complete with zig-zagging ties. Jeweled sandals catch the fading sunlight. A swipe of mascara, a little wing-tip cat eye, and lip gloss complete my casual look.

I reach out to press the doorbell but my finger freezes. All this preparation and now I get cold feet? What am I doing?

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