Page 137 of Sinning for Santa

So many times. So, so many times.

But this isn’t Cloud 9. This is Woodall Ridge. The gated community run by criminal businessmen.

This is Devon’s home.

Clearing my throat, with more than ten sets of eyes on me, I force words past my lips.

“As tempting as that offer is, Mr Marx,” I try to keep my tone formal, just like he did when he made the offer, “I dutifully decline.”

There are some low chuckles that float around the table, but I keep my eyes trained on Devon, as I stand, pushing my chair back to make my escape before slipping it back into position.

“Where are you going, little mouse?” Devon asks, looking a little disappointed that I didn’t take him up on his offer.

“It’s Friday afternoon, isn’t it?”

He nods, his brow furrowing.

“I believe there are cocktails at Miss Barber’s.” I spin before he can say anything else, but only get a few steps before his hand engulfs mine and pulls me up short.

“Jax, you shouldn’t have cocktails after being drugged yesterday and this morning.”

He’s right of course. I half expected I’d be passed out for days, but I obviously didn’t get as much forced into me as Dr Xavier had hoped.

“I’ll have a mocktail.” I smile fakely at him, trying to pull my hand free of his but he holds strong.

“I’ll walk you there.”

Giving in, I let him do that, partially happy that he’s with me, and partially certain I need to breathe, which is hard when he’s offering me up as a visual feast for his men so he can fill my belly with his child.

We are quiet as we walk through the Palace and out onto the street, the warm December afternoon reminding me how close Christmas is, and how it’s unlikely I’ll be spending it with my sister.

My sister, who was taken away by my mother so I couldn’t see her when I arrived at her apartment.

My sister, who was used as a pawn to try and trick me at first.

She must be so upset.

“I took that too far, didn’t I?” Devon’s deep rasp gains my attention, and I glance up at him as we stroll up the path, hand in hand like boyfriend and girlfriend. “I’m sorry, little mouse. I shouldn’t have done that after what you just went through.”

I frown. “I’m not annoyed because of that. I have a feeling anything you do to or with me just helps me forget that nightmare.”

My admission has his dark brows quirking up. “Something about what I did has made you quiet.”

I mull over what I should say, because I doubt he’ll give up unless I tell him something, and he has a damn good bullshit radar, so lying is out of the question.

So I go with a naked truth. “I think I got scared of how much I wanted to take you up on the offer.”

Feet halting, Devon spins me to face him. “What scared you about it?”

I scoff and laugh at the same time, the sound more like a snort. “Where do I start?” I shrug. “I shouldn’t want people to watch that, Devon. Let alone your men. And there’s a part of me that is a little annoyed that you’d want them to see me like that.”

He nods, not looking insulted by my admission. “You watch at Cloud 9, but it’s natural to want to be the one everyone iswatching and getting off on seeing. I imagine you’ve thought about that when you went to the club.”

I nod, not even ashamed to admit that, which is weird in itself. Normally I would be very ashamed.

“And while I am very fucking possessive over you, as long as no one touches you, and you’re okay with being watched, I would share that with my men, but it wouldn’t be for them, little mouse. It’d be all for you.”

His dark eyes roam over my face, locking in on my lips before they travel lower to where his free hand glides down my side and comes to settle on my stomach.

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