Page 59 of Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 1)

“Mr. Volkov, how was your trip?” He holds out his hand for my bag.

“Boring,” I hand my bag over. “Do you know where Lilith is?”

“The last time I saw her she was in the gym.”

“Thank you, Edward. Have a good night.” I manage to keep a casual pace. When I’m five feet from the door I hear the beating of punching bags under K. Flay’s Blood in the Cut blasting through the bluetooth speaker. It’s loud enough to cover my entrance into the gym. She’s got several dummies set up in the boxing ring. She flies around throwing jabs, hooks, kicks, and elbows at her would be assailants. Her blonde ponytail swinging around her face. Some people exude grace through dance, Lilith exudes it through her strength and fighting ability.

“Remind me never to sneak up on you in a dark alley,” I say when the song ends.

She turns around, startled. “Hi,” a slow smile forms for me. “Just get home?”

“Yes,” I stalk toward her.

“What are you doing?” She stutters as I step between the ropes of the ring.

“Coming to say hello properly.” I cross the final few feet between us and grab her waist. She’s just wearing a sports bra and shorts, sweat running down her face and chest.

“I’m all sweaty and gro-” she says right before I slam my lips down on hers. Her skin is hot but her mouth is cool from the water she just drank. She hesitantly opens her lips for me when I bit her plump lower lip.

As soon as I deepen the kiss and back her up into the ropes she groans against my mouth and drags her nails across my scalp. “I don’t care how sweaty you are.” I smile against her lips. “Watching you beat the shit out those dummies is hot as fuck.”

“Yeah, but you’re still in your fancy suit and I’m getting sweat on it.” She runs her hand down my tie.

“That’s what dry cleaners are for. You almost done here?”

“Yeah, just need to clean up and put the dummies away.” She raises an eyebrow. “Someone once made a point to tell me I have disinfect everything I touch in here.”

I’m such a dick.

“Must have been a real asshole,” I grin.

“The fucking worst.” Her eyes sparkle.

“How about this, I’ll clean up in here and you can go shower. Then I’ll meet you in your room and we can watch TV or a movie or something.”

“Junior’s going to lower himself to clean up after his peasant?” She mock gasps and my dick jumps at the thought of her calling herself my anything.

“Hit the showers, stinky.” I smack her ass and smile at the squeal that she makes.

I watch her leave and then start putting everything away. I grab some paper towels and the disinfectant spray to spot clean the few drops of sweat I notice. It only takes a few minutes so I figure I have time to run and grab a quick shower before I meet her.

I get to my room and pull my tie and watch off, putting them both away in my closet. Strip down and toss my suit in the dry cleaning basket. I turn on the rain shower head and the side heads as well. I’m so glad Claire helped me talk mom and dad into renovating our rooms before the shit hit the fan. Claire picked everything out for our rooms and did so much better than I ever could.

Not that she’s here to enjoy it.

I shake thoughts of my dysfunctional family out of my head. I don’t need to show up to Lilith’s room with a chip on my shoulder. If I dwell on things that’s exactly what will happen. I pull on a pair of sweat pants and an undershirt. I don’t want Delores seeing me walk into Lilith’s room half naked and reporting back to one of our dads. Actually, just reporting it back to Michael. I don’t give a fuck if Victor finds out.

I walk down the darkened hall, all the servants have retired for the night so the lights are off. I stop on the landing in front of the foyer and look down. Sometimes I forget how big our house really is, going into the city and being in my penthouse at VI always brings things somewhat in perspective. Obviously being 18 and having my own penthouse apartment in New York City means my perspective is skewed but still, I don’t know how many rooms this mansion has. My place at VI is much smaller.

I hesitate for a second trying to decide which door to knock on for Lilith. I pick her bedroom door, hoping that we’ll be able to watch a movie in her bed. Or do other things in her bed. I’m sticking to my guns about sex though. She is still a virgin and I’m not taking that from her unless I know she is in this with me. I refuse to be a regret.

I give a warning knock before trying the door and letting myself in when I find it unlocked. I poke my head in and say her name. The bathroom door is still closed so I close the door behind me and sit down on her bed. I look through the books on her bookshelf pulling out a few to read the blurbs on the backs. She seems to have a penchant for romances with alpha male type heroes. I smirk thinking about myself. I’m pretty fucking alpha.

“What are you doing?” Lilith steps out of the bathroom. “And please, make yourself comfortable.” She rolls her eyes.

“Thanks, I have no problem doing so.” I hold a book up against my chest. It’s a male/female/male menage novel. “Who would you want a threesome with me and Lev or Griff?”

“Maybe I’d want one with Lev and Griff. Pretty presumptuous to think I’d want you involved,” she taunts.

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