Page 88 of His Rules

We held each other, her arms wrapped around my shoulders, her body nestled against mine. I stroked her hair, brushing the stray strands from her face as I headed toward the stairs.

Kacey remained quiet, lifting her head as I walked up the stairs. Her eyes were dilated, her body still trembling. I headed toward the rack where the robes had been placed, gently lowering her to the patio.

She didn’t move as I yanked one of the heavy terrycloth pieces from the hook, never blinking as I eased her arms into the sleeves. She looked even more vulnerable, so young that I was reminded once again just how innocent she seemed.

I shouldn’t care. Maybe I honestly didn’t. But it was a stark reminder of how much we had to lose.

She backed away, a sly smile on her face as she grabbed a glass of champagne. Even the way she sipped the bubbly was thrilling, a sweet treat still waiting to be discovered. I jerked on the robe, tying her sash before mine.

Our fingers collided when she handed me the second glass and I brushed the tip of my index finger across her knuckles. We said nothing as we sipped our drinks, merely basking in the ebbing effects of such rare ecstasy.

But I was an insatiable man, one taste never enough.

Only a few seconds later, I gathered her into my arms and she giggled, immediately reaching for the bottle of bubbly.

There was no reason to hurry as I headed into the room, taking my time to move into the bedroom of the suite. The single light I’d requested was on, the staff preparing the bed exactly as I’d requested. There were hundreds of rose petals on the bed. A fitting presentation for my little queen.

And that’s exactly what she was, a woman who could rule beside me.

She gripped my arm, laughing nervously when she noticed the lengths I’d gone to. “You are more of a romantic than you give yourself credit for.”

“I might be able to surprise you,” I told her, placing her onto the bed.

“No, I don’t think you can. While you’re unexpected, I found the soft center.” She slowly untied the sash, lifting her head and using only her eyes to beckon to me once again.

This was going to be a very special night.

One neither of us would forget.

The sharp pounding of sound jarred me from sleep. I opened my eyes, immediately turning my head toward the noise. My goddamn phone was ringing. I didn’t even remember grabbing it from the pocket of my trousers. Fuck. I was sleepy and far too comfortable, but I reached over, snatching it while on the third ring.

“What?”

The laugh on the other end of the line curdled my blood. “What a way to answer a call from your wife.”

Fuck this. “Ex-wife, Ashley. What in the hell do you want?”

“I knew you were fucking me. But screwing that little girl in your office? I can’t believe how low you’ve sunk,” she spouted.

I sat up, glancing over at the still sleeping Kacey. “What are you getting at? My personal life is my personal life. We’re no longer married. Remember?”

“It’s no longer personal, Seby darling.”

She’d called me that during the heated rounds of our divorce when she believed she could do far better than the offer on the table.

“Stop being cryptic. What are you getting at?”

“Fucking her this morning? Haven’t had a chance to glance at the morning papers? I must admit, you look better than during all the times I was forced to act like I was enjoying your limp dick. Did you start working out?”

My entire frame bristled. “What do you want, Ashley?”

“Along with your newfound fame, I heard your stocks tanked this morning. I guess your company isn’t the great creation you believed it to be. Just like I warned you.”

“Warned me?” I threw back the covers. “You acted as if my dreams meant nothing. They certainly meant nothing to you.”

“It no longer matters. What does is you breached our divorce agreement. Now, you can either pay me the difference, which at my estimate is almost eight million dollars, or I’ll see youin court. I’ll give you until Friday afternoon at five to decide. Meanwhile, enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame.”

She ended the call abruptly and I resisted tossing the phone across the room.

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