Page 39 of Sweet Retribution

“It may come as a surprise to you, but I enjoy being bitchy. Especially to women. Women I feel threatened by.”

“I believe the bitchy part; I don’t believe you feel threatened by another woman. I can’t imagine it.”

“Well, sister, you’re a first. For Stone. For me.”

“I don’t follow.”

She lets out a dramatic sigh and finishes off her wine, then refills her glass. “Stone has never once looked at me the way he looks at you. Even when you’re trying his patience, there’s a sense of longing, of wanting behind those fucking gorgeous eyes.”

“He always wants sex. Doesn’t really matter with who.”

“Maybe before. Before you came into his life. Word on the street is he hasn’t fucked any of his regulars, present company included, since you showed up.”

I hide my shock but ask, “Why pretend you’ve been sleeping with him then?”

“I told you I’m a bitch.” She sips her wine. “I’ve never even eaten a meal with him before you made us dine together like a dysfunctional family. He’s never held my hand like I saw him do with you the other night when you returned from the art gala. He’s never allowed me into his gym, his pool, hell, his kitchen. Definitely not his life.”

“You are now.” He was furious at me for being inthatroom. His reasoning was because I didn’t belong. Maybe that’s his backhanded compliment that I do mean something more than the others.

“No. I’m not. He’s allowing it temporarily until I’m not in danger anymore.”

I sit up and my wine sloshes over the rim of my glass. “Your life is in danger too?”

“Honey, it’s the only reason I’m here. I called Stone up two weeks ago when some guy threatened to rape me. He mentioned Stone. Some sort of payback. Eye for an eye kind of deal. I really don’t know anything other than that. I escaped and stayed with a friend, then Marco and Stone showed up and brought me here for safe keeping. Once the threat is gone, I will be too.”

“Ditto.”

“Wait. What?” This time Sebastiana sits up. “I thought you two were married.”

“You knew we were married?” I gasp. “And you flaunted your and Stone’s sex life in front of me?”

“Short term memory, huh? B.I.T.C.H. That’s me.”

“You’ve been trying to get a rise out of me all along.”

“And not once did I flip your switch.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Call it boredom. And I really wanted to see if your marriage was real or not.”

“It’s not.”

Sebastiana laughs. “I don’t know the details behind it, I assume some business merger knowing who your father is, but there’s some fucking hot chemistry going on as well.”

“Past tense. Father was, and was chemistry. Past tense on both accounts”

“Papa’s dead?”

“Yeah.”

“Um. Sorry?”

“No. It’s a good thing.” I hold out my glass for a refill. We’ve reached the bottom of the bottle in very little time.

“The only deets I want are the ones concerning you and Stone. Why no more sex?”

“We...” I’m unsure how much to confide in her.

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