Page 100 of Torched

I take the mugs from her hands, putting them back on the counter before slipping my hands under the fabric and pulling her toward me. Her lips quickly find mine while her arms circle around my neck, and I moan at the warmth of her body.

We’ve been living together since the moment we arrived in New York and instantly the house felt like home. She took over my bathroom with stuff that I have no clue what it’s for, and my simple but large gray couch suddenly has all these pastel pillows, my closet now half hers, but the best thing? My bed smells like her twenty-four-seven.

“How was your day?” I stare into the lazy look in her eyes.

“It was good! The renovation is almost done,” she shares, referring to the Upper East Side mansion we bought as a location for our business. She decided she didn’t just want an escort service. She also wanted a location where her girls can go to relax, hang out, and work on everything else they have going on. A safe haven where they are not judged. Imogen’s office will be on the top floor, and I can’t wait to stroll in and fuck her on the desk when I’m in the neighborhood.

She asked me to be more than a silent partner, but I told her no, knowing it’s important for her to have something of her own. Instead, Kane and I are focusing on real estate while Callie is pushing us to open our own gym. Kane is hesitant, but I like the idea she has of starting a nonprofit to help kids learn how to defend themselves. She wants to offer free classes to schools, motivated by the fact that she’s producing a tiny person herself.

“I wouldn’t have been a victim of Junior when I was younger if I knew how to defend myself from an early age. I want our daughter to be able to hold her own,”she said.

Kane flipped when he found out they were having a daughter. He was excited until he realized all the shit that had happened to his wife. Callie had to stop him from hiring a small army to protect their kid as soon as she’s born, but it did make him warm up to the idea of creating a place where kids can learn how to fight and stand up for themselves. He just hasn’t given Callie the green light yet because I have the feeling he’s just a bit scared in general for kids.

“That’s great, baby. Do you need me to do anything before the opening next week?” I brush my nose against hers.

“Nope, just put on a tux and look handsome.”

“I look handsome every day.”

“Cocky much?”

“Just stating facts.”

“Right.” She rolls her eyes with a smile. “Look what we got?”

She grabs an envelope from the counter, holding it in front of my face.

“What’s that?” I take it from her fingers, inspecting the gray envelope before I flip it over and find a wolf embedded in a wax seal. I open it, tearing a bit of the corner, then pull out the card.

“You are cordially invited to the wedding of Franklin Wolfe and Kendall Ryan.”

“Oh, yay!” Gen claps her hands. “A wedding! A Wolfe wedding! I can’t wait to meet Reign’s brothers.”

I give her a dull look. “Why?”

“Why? Are you kidding me? They are rumored to be just as handsome as Reign. I think Killian is even more handsome!”

A burning feeling runs up my chest. “You think Reign is handsome?”

“Don’t you?”

I keep staring at her for a few seconds, until I finally see the taunt slipping through her smile. She likes it when I get riled up, always finding a way to keep me on my toes.

“You testing me, Blondie?”

A laugh bubbles from her chest as she circles my waist with her arms again. “You’re such a jealous man, Liam Carrillo.”

“I am,” I admit. Completely caught under her spell and jealous as fuck. Imogen Payne does weird things to me, but I’ve come to accept it. It is what it is, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. “But I’m also a very vengeful man.”

“Oh, shit.” She chuckles, pushing herself out of my grip. “You can’t torture me. I made hot cocoa.” She brings the mug to my nose, and I softly pull it from her grip. With my tongue darting out to lick my lips, I run my fingers through the whipped cream, then wipe it on her collarbone.

Her eyes widen, her lips parting at the slightest touch before I swipe the residue off her skin with my tongue. The cream hits my taste buds with that hint of cherry that is the epitome of Imogen, before I moan in satisfaction.

“I know,” I start, holding her in place with my palm cupping the front of her neck, “and I know this hot cocoa will taste even better when I’m licking it from your body.”

I feel her swallow, before I put my lips close to her ear. “Take off your clothes and get on the counter.”

“Liam?” she breathes, her chest heaving. “Is this a bad time to tell you we are having dinner with Callie and Kane in an hour?”

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