Page 61 of Judgment

I should have expected this.

Should have known Frederick would hunt down what I took from him.

It’s technically a good thing. Frederick was there to witness what ended up being a very public display of the plan I’ve put into action.

But I didn’t want him close to Paisley just yet. Not until everything was in place.

Not until I’d be able to keep her from him.

The light in my room slowly brightens as we walk in, bathing the space in the calm glow that usually relaxes me.

Not tonight.

I yank at the collar of my shirt, loosening the buttons as I go into the closet and grab a pair of sleep pants and a t-shirt. I bring them out and hand them to Paisley. “Put these on.”

She frowns down at the pajamas. “Whose clothes are these?”

“They’re mine.” I fight one cuff open. “Who else’s would they be?”

She holds them closer to her chest, watching as I fight with the other sleeve. “I guess I just didn’t think about you wearing anything besides,” she waves one hand in my direction, “that.”

“I can’t sleep in suits, Duchess.” I finally free my other wrist and go back to the buttons down the front.

“I didn’t really think about you sleeping either.” Her focus follows my hands as I move down my chest.

“So I don’t sleep, I only wear suits, and I kill anyone who pisses me off.” I finish unbuttoning my shirt and pull it open, watching her watch me. “I’m not sure why you’re here with me. I don’t sound like much fun.”

“You know why I’m here.” Paisley’s gaze doesn’t move from my bare chest.

“Do I?” I toss my shirt onto the bed.

Paisley nods, rubbing her lips together as her blue eyes drift lower. “I’m here because we have a deal.” Her fingers tighten on the clothes she still holds tight. “And it sounds like you’ve decided to collect on it after all.”

I step closer to her. “We have more than one deal, Paisley.”

“I can’t stay here with you, Andre.” There’s regret in her voice but all her attention is still focused on my bare skin.

So I move in more, stopping when she won’t have to do more than lift a finger to touch me.

Making Paisley comfortable with me is going to be the most difficult part of this. I need her to appear to be just as wrapped up in me as I am her.

But I don’t think that’s something this woman can fake, so I have to make it real.

“I’m not asking you to stay with me right now, remember?” I inch in a little more. “All I want right now is for you to act like you like me.”

Her pale brows knit together. “You want me to like you?”

“I want you to act like you like me.” I reach out to run my hands down the lapels of my jacket. “I want people to think you like being around me.” I slide the back of my pointer over the smooth fabric of the front, dragging it across where her nipple presses it from the other side, pulling a soft gasp from her lungs. “I want people to believe we know each other intimately.”

“Is that why you want to—” Her voice breaks off as I stroke back across her nipple. “To fuck me?”

I lean into her ear as I replace my finger with my thumb, making another pass over the tight pucker beading under my jacket. “Did you hear what you just said, Duchess?” I pluck at her, twisting her flesh through the fabric.

She sucks in a sharp breath as I slide my hand into the open front, my fingers immediately going back to work. “No.”

“I’ll tell you about it later.” I nip at the skin along the side of her neck as I grip the clothes I brought her with the best of intentions and take them back, tossing them to one side.

I should have realized good intentions aren’t my strong suit.

---