Page 56 of Captured Solace

“And you.” I dipped my head.

“Are we too late for supper? I’m starving,” Sienna said as we stepped into the warm hallway.

“I’ll have our housekeeper send some food up to your room. Lucien is in the living room with Olivia if you want to see him.”

“Let’s freshen up,” I suggested. “And then we’ll be down for a drink. Alright?”

Duran nodded and we followed him as he brought us upstairs to one of the guest bedrooms. It was a large space with an enormous bed draped in red velvet and two full windows that looked out over the front yard. Sienna sat down and kicked off her shoes, arching her back as she stretched.

“Let’s clean up and dress in something nicer,” I said, pulling her to her feet and kissing her mouth. “I think Lucien likes to keep things a little fancier than we’re used to out in the marshlands.”

“He flaunts his wealth,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Lucien isn’t particularly materialistic compared to some,” I said lightly. “But he does like to keep his wife in expensive things, so I don’t want you to feel out of place.”

I opened one of the suitcases I’d packed for her and she leaned in to run her fingers over the dresses and shoes inside. Leaving her to choose from the assortments of clothes and jewelry, I went into the bathroom to change into a fresh suit.

When I returned, she wore a green wrap dress that left her shoulders and the rise of her cleavage bare. The skirt draped down to her calves and on her delicate feet were a pair of black heels. Instead of putting the diamond tennis bracelet around her wrist, she’d fastened it around her ankle. I took one look at her and wished desperately that I had time to bend her over the edge of the bed and fuck her.

“You’re so sexy, baby girl,” I murmured into her neck, pulling her against me. I’d hoped not to get an erection, but it was too late for that.

“So are you,” she said breathlessly.

“God, I wish I could have you. It was hard seeing you in the car next to me all day and not be able to fuck your pretty, little pussy. I should have just pulled off and taken you over the hood.”

Her pupils dilated and she flushed. Her fingers skimmed up my chest, playing with the lapels of my jacket. “I’d have let you,” she said, her soft voice husky.

“Well, there’s always the drive home,” I said. “Now, let’s go downstairs.”

When we stepped into the living room, Sienna’s hand tightened in mine. Lucien rose from the couch where he’d sat in his svelte sport coat and shook my hand with a firm grip. Behind him, Olivia sat curled on the edge of the couch in a slinky red dress. Lucien’s gaze traveled over Sienna and she frowned up at him, jutting her chin, but thank God she kept quiet.

“You both look good,” he said. “How’s married life?”

The memory of our weekend in Charleston erupted in my mind. “Blissful,” I said crisply.

Lucien laughed as he sauntered to the bar and poured a vodka and a glass of red wine. Sienna took a seat on the couch across from Lucien and Olivia. As we sat down, there was a faint giggle from the other side of the door and Iris appeared, tugging Duran along with her. When she saw me, she quieted and waved in greeting, taking her husband’s hand.

“Hey, Sienna,” she said softly.

Sienna smiled back at her. Iris’ brows drew together in concern as she studied my wife. I hadn’t spoken with Iris before, but she gave off strong motherly energy and I could tell she was studying Sienna for signs of distress. The same way Duran had.

They clearly didn’t trust me.

“Duran, Viktor,” Lucien said, tilting his head to the bar. “A word.”

I left Sienna with the other women and joined them at the bar on the far side of the room. Lucien passed me a vodka and I swirled it, watching the ice clink. For some reason, the only thing I could think about was how I’d bent Sienna over the sink in the bathroom of the Charleston hotel and fucked her until she was limp. Perhaps it was because she was Lucien’s cousin, his former ward, and the more I learned about him, the less I liked him.

“What’s up?” Duran said, leaning on the counter. He dipped two fingers in his whiskey and stirred idly.

Lucien glanced between us, his icy eyes bright. “How was Cairo, Viktor?”

“Illuminating,” I said. “You have quite an operation.”

Duran bolted his whiskey. “All thanks to Ahmed and I.”

“Have you ever thought of bringing the trade here? Keeping it domestic?” I asked.

Lucien shook his head. “We considered it. Too much heat with both guns and drugs. It’s better to split them up, that way if one goes down, we still have the other.”

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