Page 109 of Devious Kingpin
I grinned. “Never.”
“Okay, then help me,” she caved. I came up behind her and leaned over her, my chest pressing up against her back. She hadn’t been successful sending any of the balls into the pockets so far. My hand guided Juliette’s as we sent her ball flying into the pocket.
For a second, Juliette’s eyes widened and she stared at the table as if she expected the ball to reappear. Then she squealed enthusiastically, turning her head and pressing a kiss to my cheek.
“Did you see that?” she gushed, glancing back at the pool table. “The ball went in.”
I smiled at her enthusiasm. “I did. Great job.”
“Okay, so now it’s your turn.” I nodded. “Do you want me to help you?”
I chuckled. “I’m okay.”
Positioning the cue tip of the pool stick on the table, I decided this game was best played if I saw a smile on my wife’s face. So I shot and missed. It was her turn again and I helped her. Needless to say, when we came to the end, my wife won.
“It seems I’ll be hanging up a movie poster fromGangs of New York,” I concluded, watching her wide smile and her sparkling eyes. She shifted her body around so she could face me and my gaze glided down her body slowly.
Her nipples pushed through the thin material of her silky camisole. Her bare legs tempted me to touch them and leave marks.
And I stared at those blue eyes that reminded me of the Ionian Sea, feeling peace wash over me.
For the first time in such a long time, I was happy.
CHAPTER45
Juliette
“Twas the night before Christmas,” I rhymed as I swung my bag, back and forth, “when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”
The words of the poem kept repeating in my head, over and over again.
Christmas was my favorite time of the year. Usually it was about the only time that we resembled a family. I had two bags of gifts, Killian trailing alongside me while handling something on the phone. He was in his first year of college, and suddenly he was very important. At least he thought so.
I rolled my eyes; he was more annoying than anything. At the tender age of thirteen, I thought myself to be the most important girl in the world. After all, I’d be going to high school soon.
“Wait here, Jules,” he ordered, stopping by Tiffany’s.
“Are you buying a gift from Tiffany’s for Wynter and me?” I squealed excitedly.
“Stay here,” he ordered. In typical brotherly fashion, he ignored me and entered the store. Curious and a bit nosy, I pressed my face against the cold glass, but couldn’t see anything apart from Killian’s broad shoulders.
The cold wind swept through, sending a chill through my bones. Winters in New York were frigid. I couldn’t wait until Killian, Dad, and I flew back to California.
Warm weather. Palm trees. That was heaven.
Glancing around, I took cover in the alley where I hoped the wind wouldn’t whip against my legs as badly. I felt the chill even through my jeans and heavy coat. It was just impossible to warm up, so I started jumping up and down, my ponytail whipping back and forth.
“Hurry up. Hurry up,” I muttered impatiently, my teeth chattering.
A kicked can echoed through the alley, startling me. Another kick and I mustered up the courage to turn around, only to come face-to-face with a man. A stranger. His features were obscured by a hoodie but his hands weren’t. Glinting in the light of the streetlamp, I could see he was holding a knife.
“What are you doing, little girl?” he drawled in a thick New York accent.
“N-nothing,” I stuttered, my eyes darting over his shoulder to the storefront where I should have been waiting for Killian.
He took a step forward, and I instinctively took one back. Except now, it put me even deeper into the dark alley. I knew I’d made a mistake. My little heart pounded against my chest, threatening to crack it open.
Another step toward me. Another mirrored step backward.
