Page 64 of Secrets & Lies

“It’s the music, and maybe the wine.” She shrugged her little shoulders.

If this was what music did to her, I’d pump that shit in her ears with the best set of headphones I could find. Unfortunately, the moment was short-lived.

The minute Marcus stopped the car, she instantly went back to being reserved. She drew in a deep breath and squared her shoulders like she was going into battle. I opened the door and helped her out, thanking Marcus.

“No problem, Boss,” he said, not even trying to hide the mile-wide grin on his face.

Taking her trembling hand in mine, I could feel waves of apprehension coming from the beautiful woman in front of me. Her eyes were taking in the hotel’s opulence and the people milling about.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” She peered up at me with wide eyes, and the pulse at her neck was throbbing.

“You look amazing. Why wouldn’t I? All you’ve got to do is flash that smile of yours, and everyone will be eating out of the palm of your hand. Plus, there will be plenty of music playing.” I winked, trying to calm her.

Bringing her hand to my lips, I turned it around and placed a soft kiss on the inside of her wrist. Yes, her heart was frantically beating. I let my fingers linger, counting 127 beats a minute. Definitely elevated.

“Breathe with me,” I spoke calmly, then groaned when I noticed Nik and Jenna walking over.

“Do you need some help, Brother? You know calming women is my specialty.” Nik’s voice reached her ears, and she turned toward him and smiled.

His eyes grew wide, and he hissed, “Fuck me.”

Chapter 24

Kinsley

Dancing With The Reaper

“Alek doesn’t like that word,” I said sweetly as I looked into Nikolai’s dancing green eyes.

He had a tall brunette woman draped on his arm. She looked stunning, like a fashion model. There was a comfortability between them. Something told me they were definitely close. Lovers, for sure.

I tore my eyes from his probing ones, warmth flushing my cheeks and heating my veins. His eyes roamed my entire body, lingering on my breasts. He shouldn’t be looking at me like that, especially with his girlfriend there. She must have agreed with my sentiments because she whispered something in his ear.

“Jenna, you’re forgetting yourself,” he warned the woman, raising an eyebrow at her. She immediately lowered her eyes, and her body responded to his words.

“Yes, Sir,” she replied almost instantly.

Even without her response, my submissive training instantly recognized the subtle signals of their bodies. My face flamed with heat like I was witnessing something I shouldn’t. I looked away and spotted Ivan getting out of a car. He held his hand out, and I squealed.

“Surprise,” Alek whispered in my ear.

I clapped my hands together. Walking toward us, clinging to the mountain of a man, was Sarah. Her hair, the color of sun-ripened wheat, fell in gentle waves around her shoulders. I leaned in to hug her.

“Can you believe this?” Sarah whispered in my ear. Knowing her as I did, I knew she wanted to squeal but refrained.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I exclaimed, letting her go before stepping back.

As excited as I was to see her, my eyes couldn’t help but take in her date. Ivan King was breathtakingly massive. Bigger than both Alek and Nik, he stood at least six feet four inches tall and was easily over two hundred pounds of pure muscle.

I tried to imagine him as a baby and kept coming up empty. He had dark hair like Nik, but his eyes were a mesmerizing oceanic, blue-green color. I’d never seen eyes like his before. His beard was fuller than Alek’s, and warmth spread through me as he studied me.

He cocked his head to the side, nodding. I was momentarily transfixed and froze as his eyes slowly traveled down my body. My stomach fluttered at the attention.

It was as if his eyes were undressing me in front of everyone, and I squeezed my thighs together. Heat rose to my cheeks and spread down my chest as he chuckled.

“Hand it over, Ivan. I told you my boy would pull it off,” Nikolai spoke, breaking the stare down between Ivan and me.

Ivan dug into his pocket and handed a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill to Nik. Aleksandr laughed, and he and Nik did some secret handshake like children.

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