Page 37 of Billionaire's Promise
"Since," his throat moves as he swallows, "since I made the decision to come home."
Home.This city is his home. The Seven are his family and Edward is his friend… And me? What am I in all this? Who am I to Edward? To him? Why do I feel so torn between them when, really, neither of them has done anything to stake his claim on me, or said anything to make me feel that I am special? Well, Edward had. Both when he’d fucked me and in my dreams. And Baron… He’s shown through his actions that he feels something for me. But none of that is enough, is it? I need more. I deserve to be shown that I matter… That I am special and important enough for them to change things for me. That they want me more than anything in the world. And until then… I belong to neither. I belong to myself, first and foremost. I can do anything I want, and fuck what either of them thinks about it.
"So, you are here to take care of me, right?"
"Right."
"And watch over me?"
"Mmm…hmmm." He yawns.
"And ensure nothing happens to me?"
He nods slowly.
"And you are not going to touch me because you feel like you owe Edward something?"
A line appears between his eyebrows. "Your point being?"
"Just setting the parameters, that’s all." I pivot on my heel and walk toward my bedroom, aware that he’s watching my every step.
I give an extra twitch of my butt and hear his sharp inhale. Good. Two can play this game… Or three… Doesn’t matter. What’s clear is that I am not going to let either of them fuck around with me. I am my own woman. I am strong and independent and worked my ass off to get where I am. It’s time I behave like one.
I reach the doorway to my bedroom, then turn. "Goodnight, Baron."
He glares back.
Jerk!Seriously, someone needs to remove that stick, or whatever it is, stuck up his arse.
I step through the door, close it gently, then show him the finger.
"I saw that."
His voice reaches me and I glower at him.Ass.I stick out my tongue, then pivot and head for my bed. I fling myself on it. I must have been more tired than I thought because the next thing I know, it’s morning.
I roll out of bed, shrug on my pajamas, then stumble out into the living room. The couch is empty, the cover folded neatly and placed across the pillow. Apparently, that military training is good for something. I walk into the kitchen and the scent of coffee greets me. I go to the coffee maker, pour myself a cup and take a sip. Yum! The man knows how to make coffee.
I walk toward it, place my cup of coffee on the counter and pick up the folded note next to it. The words leap off the paper.
Don’t skip your breakfast.
Gah! What the hell? That’s it? He didn’t even sign it. I mean, there isn’t anyone else here who could have left it. But still. I crumple up the paper and am about to throw it away. Instead, I sink down into the chair, smooth it out and stare at the words as I eat.
He’d cooked me an omelet… Still warm. Which means he hadn’t left too long ago. How had I not heard him leave? Though, to be fair, once I fall asleep, it’s always difficult to wake me up. Had he peeked in on me before he left? Shit, I have to stop that particular fantasy of mine. It’s creepy if someone watches you as you sleep. Even more so if it’s a man… A hot, sexy, deliciously yummy man with a lot of issues. Boy, does he have issues. Is that why I am attracted to him?
First Edward, now Baron. Between the number of issues, the two of them have, they could keep all the psychologists in London busy. At least, one of them could cook. I finish off the omelet, then drain my cup of coffee. And it isn’t because he commanded me to eat. Nope… Nah… I stare at the paper again. Will he return again to use the couch this evening? I hope so. It’s the only way I can put the plan I have into action.
Rising, I wash my dishes at the sink, then head for my bedroom. Picking up my phone, I dial Isla’s number.
13
Baron
I’d followed Ava as she’d headed from the tube station to her dance studio. Across from me, a couple of boys walked by, smoking. As I watched, one of them kicked the door that led to the dance studio. I pushed open the car door, but by the time I’d rounded the car, they’d already taken off. I’d glanced up and down the road and found no other cars or people. Which isn’t unusual in this part of London. Not that London isn’t a safe place, in general, but this is one of the shabby chic parts of the East End. It is up and coming, but still rough in parts. Many of the buildings have been converted to either offices or the kind of loft apartments that sell for millions. The remaining apartments are low-cost council housing. There’s nothing in between. The extremes are what makes it dangerous.
It's why I'd asked Ava, once again, to move her studio somewhere safer, but she'd declined. Serves me right. I had insulted her pride when I'd criticized her studio, and in front of her friend. Of course, she’s not going to back down about it now. Woman is stubborn. It leaves me no choice but to ensure I watch over her as closely as possible to secure her safety. But she is inside the building now. Which means she won’t emerge until late evening, once her classes are completed. Luckily, Ava is a creature of habit. I could set my clock by her.
Is she as habitual when it comes to men? Is she as loyal? Does she still have feelings for Edward? Shit. I drag my fingers through my hair. Standing in the middle of the road, contemplating their relationship isn’t helping me at all. Nor had the filthy words that I’d spoken to her last night—which, as she’d guessed, I’d done for effect…in the hope of scaring her off. Not that it had worked. It had only served to get her back up. She’d marched into her bedroom, leaving me with a raging boner… One which I’d been sporting since I’d made her come. Fuck. When she’d come apart on my tongue… I swear, I could taste her cum through the fabric of her leggings…and her panties. Assuming she’d been wearing panties… Were they the same ones she’d been wearing when I’d sprung up from my sleep and taken her down?
