Page 17 of Broken Saint

6

Rock

Islipped into the back of the stage where rehearsals were happening for Nova's upcoming fashion show. The Sinclair had evidently arranged for her to showcase her next line of couture fashions exclusively with them. I shook my head. Normally, I didn't know shit about this kind of thing, but my job required a lot of research, and in this case, my team had dug into her background as thoroughly as possible.

Hence, how I had come to be an amateur fashion aficionado.

If only my obsession with the woman had ended there.

In fact, my big plan to start putting some distance between us had gone up in smoke the minute I walked through the gold revolving door to this damned casino. I couldn't shake the feeling that something had been off when I'd left her the morning after our last encounter, and I wanted to know what the hell had happened.

The fact I'd been unable to get back here for over a week and had spent the last few days running scenarios through my head while trying to focus on work had driven me mad. My body was wound so tight I was about to explode.

Never mind my insatiable need for her had driven me here during the day instead of waiting for the cloak of night to protect our privacy. Privacy that had turned out to be a joke, as Gabe had made crystal clear. The comings and goings in the high-tech world of Vegas were more transparent than a cheap hooker trolling the streets at night for her next john.

Although at this point what difference did it make? I had already committed the sin. Some might think because I carry a badge and enjoy fucking up criminals and their illegal plans, I am a saint, but that couldn't be further from the truth. After you've grown up inside of a motorcycle club run by tyrants, there was only so much that could be washed away by good.

I learned how to shoot a gun before I knew how to ride a bike, and I saw more death than most people see in a lifetime by the time I hit puberty. So, while I did my best these days to live on the right side of the law, I also understood there were gray areas, and sometimes, it took sliding into those when it came to helping the greater good.

My bosses would never approve, but my track record spoke for itself and they didn’t question my tactics as long as I got the job done.

"Excuse me. But I don't think anyone is supposed to be back here except Nova employees."

I turned in the direction of the feminine voice behind me and found a knockout (albeit far too skinny) redhead standing there with her hands on her hips, doing her best to level me with an evil eyed stare. Under different circumstances I might have been amused, laughed even. But at the moment, I had far too important topics on my mind for jokes and I didn't need the hassle.

"Trust me. I'm allowed to be here."

She narrowed her eyes. "Oh yeah, and why is that? You security or something?"

"Or something," I answered gruffly. I had no intention of pulling out my badge, but I also wasn't about to be deterred by a woman who probably didn't weigh a buck-oh-five.

"That's not exactly an answer. I'm going to have to go check in with the boss and see what she says..."

"She says it's fine."

My head jerked up at the sultry sound of Nova's voice as she stepped out of the shadows and into the light. And the moment she did I realized that the other woman couldn't hold a candle to Nova's unconventional beauty. Beyond the glossy, dark hair she'd pinned back from her face and the warm color of her skin, or even the green dress that skimmed and hugged her body in all the right places. God, that was enough to make my cock stand up and take notice, though. She exuded a strength that called to me to break it down. Not break her, I would never want to take her spirit away, but watching a strong woman like her obey...

Fuck.

For a man like me it was a definite lure and a challenge.

That strength and independence made her seem so much older than her age and made her submission to my demands all that much sweeter. And now, I wanted to push those boundaries we had established. I wanted—no, needed—to pull her outside of her comfort zone once again.

Despite the bullshit going on in the outside world.

She stood staring at me, looking every bit the calm, cool, collected businesswoman. Her face gave away no signs of whether she was happy to see me or not.

I had definitely broken our rules by showing up here, although I generally didn't give a fuck about rules. I also had no desire to trample all over her buttoned-up work facade, but I did need to find out what was in her head, and this seemed like the best place to get the answers I wanted.

"Sky, why don't you go back to the dressing room, and let me handle this? The seamstress is ready for your final fitting now."

"You sure?" Sky eyed me warily. "I don't mind calling security for you."

A soft chuckle came from Nova, and I swear I felt it in my balls.

"Yes. I can handle one man without assistance."

If I was a betting man, I would bet that was a true statement and she could handle any other man on her own. I, however, would not be as easily tamed. Not when it came to her.

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