Page 56 of Vicious Intentions

How long had it been since I’d allowed my mind to go off the deep end? It was impractical to think she could be mine for anything other than a single taste.

Or was it?

“Yes, I do. We’ll be right back,” Hunter told her, the smug look on his face forcing a smile. He’d sensed the level of irritation seeing the two of them together had created. He knew my mood swings better than Cristiano, something I doubted he’d ever let me forget. I’d been a very bad boy during my time at the City of Hope.

“There’s a good chance I won’t be here,” Rose retorted, giving the three of us a playful but heated glare.

He bent over, placing his hands on either side of the armrests of her chair. “Then I guess I’ll need to live up to my name, but I wouldn’t just use my sharp teeth in order to catch you.”

While it was only brief, the flash of mischief in her eyes shifted to an unrecognizable emotion that I couldn’t read. After blinking twice, she obviously shook off whatever had troubled her, pushing his chest gently. “You boys obviously don’t know what I’m made of. Perhaps it’s time for you to find out.”

Cristiano issued a low, husky growl, which further amused her. Her laugh was spectacular, just throaty enough to make a man weak in his knees.

And in my case, my cock hard as a rock.

Hunter added his own growl as he returned to his full height, lifting his eyebrows as he tossed me a look. When one side of his mouth quirked, I knew exactly what he was thinking.

That she could be another conquest. It had been his way of making a suggestion back in our arrogant-as-fuck days.

We headed towards the bar located on the second floor. I’d been curious as to why a special request had been made to block off the most prestigious area for outside dining. Now, I knew why. Hunter had paid a pretty penny to ensure his request was filled.

“I’m sorry to hear about your father, Cris,” Hunter said first.

Cristiano laughed. “Don’t be, my friend. I killed him with my bare hands. It was time for him to die.”

I watched as Hunter’s face became clouded, which meant the man had changed significantly. He’d once enjoyed the chase and the kill as much as I did. Or maybe he simply didn’t have it in him to commit patricide.

“We all have our crosses to bear.” Hunter’s answer amused the hell out of me, but Cristiano seemed to reflect on the words.

We’d all changed significantly over the years, no longer the eager kids who were certain they could conquer anything tossed in front of them. While I was no shrink, I’d venture a guess that loneliness had taken a toll. When on top of any industry, trusting anyone enough to allow them into our world was dangerous.

A quiet tension settled between us, the three of us occupying the moment of silence by staring at our lovely companion.

“God. The woman is a tease. It’s obvious why she sells millions of CDs, sold out concerts everywhere.” Cristiano shook his head.

“She certainly doesn’t mince words,” I told them. My cock was still aching, the desire for her keeping a wave of electricity coursing through me.

“You were right about Rose, Cain. Her performance last night was spectacular,” Hunter said as he started the conversation.

“Do you mean before or after you took her to bed?” Perhaps I was more irritated than I thought.

“Here we go. Why is it that every time we get together, you two fight like fucking brothers?” Cristiano asked.

“Because we are brothers,” I snapped. “She is beautiful, and she’s a challenging woman.”

“She is, but well worth getting to know.”

Cristiano sighed. “Those days are over. Besides, we have business to discuss.”

“He’s right, but I didn’t mean to jump on you, Hunter. She doesn’t belong to me. This crap with the rise of The Iceman from the dead and good ole Theodore’s father igniting his lynch mob again has obviously gotten under my skin. We need to figure out what the hell is going on. If The Iceman has returned to active status, then he’s just getting started.”

“You were almost killed?” Cristiano asked as he nodded toward Hunter.

“Yeah. I don’t have any doubts it was The Iceman.”

“By my calculations, that would make him somewhere around seventy-five years old,” Cristiano offered as he glanced back and forth between us.

“How do you know this?”

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