Page 10 of Fierce Vows

“You have twenty-four hours.”

Eduardo’s smile fades as he holds my gaze for an unflinching moment.When he turns on his heel, his blank mask is restored, and my phone rests in my hand.

He might be entertaining, but a man like that needs two things—a woman in his bed to keep him from straying from my family, and a tail.

A good thing is I know someone who can cover both bases at once.

****

Willow runs her handalong the brothel’s luridly blue and gold painted banister and lets out a sigh.“We need something like this in that upstairs area, the one with Armand Gallo all over it.”

I snort, taking in the equally lurid velvet sofas and recliners of what used to be an opium den and hasn’t come up much in the world since the previous century.

“It was his house, my dear.It’s likely to hold his flair.”My mind flits back to the room I used to share her with Dom months ago.Hisroom.It didn’t suit me then and even less now.

“Now it’s yours.And mine,” she adds as an afterthought.

I wind an arm around her shoulders and draw her in for a long kiss she returns.“Paint it whatever color you want,” I say softly, brushing my mouth over hers, and frown.“It’s been too long since I had you alone.”

“Two days.”

“Two days too long.”

She laughs, all raven black hair fanning out as she swirls away from me.I let her go, holding the heavily made-up eyes of the woman dressed in a red teddy with strategic cut outs and nothing else who appears in a doorway just beyond the stairs.

“I don’t do couples.”She eyes me as Willow’s laughter dies.“But her I’ll do for free.”

The pretty noise my wife makes leaves us both smiling.“Let’s discuss that last later,” I murmur.“First, I want to talk to you about a man, and a job.It’s good to see you again, Bonita.”

Her brow dips as Willow casts a quizzical glance my way.I hadn’t decided how to explain my connections in Cyprus and figure a little show and tell is in order.

“Are you an old flame?”The faintest edge of insecurity wobbles my wife’s voice.

I hold out my arm and she slides into my side, nestling possessively there.“I fucking love you like this.Right now, I need to make a deal.I want you out of that dress.Sit on the sofa and work yourself into a frenzy for me.”I catch the tip of her chin with my fingers.“Can you do that and not come?I want you soaking.”

Her gaze glides to the whore in the doorway and back to me.A sinful smile curls her lips.“I can do that.”

“Good girl.”I kiss her temple and slide my hand over her breasts, squeezing lightly and tease her nipples.“Let me work.Then you can tell me how I fucked up while my head is between your legs as penance.”

Her eyes glow as she backs up, slipping the dress from her shoulders and standing naked before us.Her perfect rump settles on the sofa that matches the banister—why the fuck is everything blue?—and spreads her thighs.

My cock hardens as she moans for me discreetly, just enough to titillate and not interrupt, something she’s perfect at.I’ll hold to that promise later.After I work.

“What job?”Bonita snaps, her gaze still latched on me, though her fingers curl at her side when my wife moans.

I smile inside.The courtesan doesn’t like someone other than her running the show and Willow has command of us all, even if she doesn’t know it.

“I need you to seduce one of my lieutenants.”

Her flattened mouth curves up.“I can do that.”

“Information.Everything you can find.Good, bad.All of it.I want to know if he uses hand soap to wash his ass and all the ways he can be a liability.Weaknesses.Secrets.”I step forward and raise my hand.A wad of cash that could buy her brothel sits in my palm.

Ever the professional, Bonita ignores the temptation on display.And the cash.

“I can do that, too.More, for a long-term job.I need to close shop.You can pay my rent.”

“My dear, you can pay your own.I’ll cover the cost of your business and more.You’ll need a new name and identity.Can you make the act stick?”

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