Page 58 of When Sinners Fall
Jeans pulled on, boots laced, and I pack my bag. Don’t know how this is going to work going forward, but this time, and because of the timing, Abel will deal with her for me. Maybe she’ll need to stay up at the main house after this, where there’s security to deal with shit that might dare trying something. But until I’m ready to introduce her to Mother, she’s not going anywhere near the place.
I sit on the edge of the bed and run my hand over her hair when I’m ready to go, finger trailing her jaw and the other hand tugging my t-shirt on. She mumbles something and smiles, slowly peeling her eyes open to stare up at me. We stay like that for a few minutes. Just us, watching each other. Shame it can’t be longer, considering we're bedding in, but it can’t. “I need to go. I’ll be back tomorrow, late afternoon.”
She frowns and starts pulling herself upright. “You’re going? Where?”
“Tijuana.”
“What? Why?” My head tilts, mouth staying closed. I’m not lying, but I don’t need to tell her the truth about it either. “Oh. I see.” She looks back into the room as if trying to get rid of all those thoughts in her head about what I’m doing out there. “What do I do about work while you’re gone?”
“Stay here. Do it from home.”
She nods a little and looks at me as I get up, then follows me as I walk out into the main rooms. “I can’t go out at all?”
I grab my keys and look back at her, taking in the robe she’s pulling around her. “What do you need to go out for?”
“Work. Or have you forgotten that? I could work from here today to appease you, but I’ll still need to do things. I haven’t been back here long, and I’m using my free time to look around the place and source my own vendors. Plus, there are flowers to look in on, venues to contact. I need to meet people, Dante.”
My eyes narrow, and I huff at the thought of that. She doesn’t need to work at all as far as I’m concerned. She walks over and gets herself in real close, rubbing those bare legs of hers all over me and wrapping her arms around my neck. “Iamdoing my job, Dante,” she says, kissing me and then pulling back. “I’ll work with you on this, but you’re not taking everything from me.”
“I'm not?”
“No.”
“What have you got to make me think I shouldn't?”
Her hand goes straight to my dick, firm fingers trying to wind me into staying longer. “Well. There's this for a start.” She starts undoing my belt. “Maybe you should stay, and I'll make it worth your while to let me have some free rein.” Nothing I'd like more than her trying that angle on me, but no. “We haven't been on the terrace yet. Could be fun.”
“At this time of day? Thought you liked the dark.”
“I like you. Wherever I can get you.”
I chuckle and pick her up, driving us back to the wall. “Good answer, and tempting, but no. I've got to go.” She pouts. Fucking pouts like she’s trying to tease me into action. Her hands go to my hair, tongue rolling over her lips. I lean in and kiss her briefly before putting her back down, squeezing her ass, and moving for my bag. “Stay here until I tell you differently. I’ll put something in place for after today.”
“Right here?” she asks, pointing at the floor. She moves left about four feet. “What about here?” Six steps the other way. “Here, okay?” My brow arches, mouth smiling, as she goes over to the terrace doors and rolls that sexy ass around. “Is here good?”
“Anywhere in here is good. Do I need to say anything else, Wren Bird?”
“No. I get it. Not leaving. I promise. Until tomorrow morning anyway. Work.” She crosses her heart like she’s in church. “I'll behave.” Her fingers caress their way down to her thighs. “Guess I'll have to entertain myself somehow.”
I chuckle at the thought and turn for the door but look back at her. “Send me the images of that.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes. Really. Make them good and you might get to go out.”
I leave at that with a smile on my face. Fuck knows what she’ll get up to other than the obvious, and I don’t care as long as she stays exactly where she’s told to. Guess I could come up with something that lets her go do what she wants to, though. Don’t suppose I can make her stay locked up permanently when I’m not here. Still, for now, it will have to be as it is.
I’ve got my own job to go do.
~
The sight of Mariana in the jet is as unwelcome as Shaw being in it, but I sit and wait for the damn thing to take off. She perches herself in the chair opposite me and smiles, all sweetness and light, as if she’s not here to get in my thoughts.
I chuckle at her and shake my head. She won’t get a damn thing out of me unless I want to give it. “You shouldn’t be here, Bella,” I murmur, as I finish my text to Abel.
“Why? I’m as much part of it as you are.”
“You gonna hold them down for me? Watch it?” I look over her choice of clothes, amused at the tight-fitting dress she’s chosen and the long, fine arms on display. “Or maybe you could talk with Carmen about being a bitch. You two get on well like that.”
