Page 48 of Elicit (Decadence After Dark)

“Kayne, I don’t get the luxury of having a girlfriend.”

“Agirlfriend? No. Up until three months ago, you had seven girlfriends. Now, you have one.”

“What are you saying? I’m neglecting my girls?” I ask defensively.

“Not neglecting them per se. Just not fucking them the same way you used to.”

“So because I prefer to fuck one woman over seven that makes her my girlfriend?”

“For you, yes.”

“I find it funny you’re labeling my relationships when you’ve never been in one of your own. How can you make the connection on a subject you know nothing about?”

“Because I’m not an idiot and you’re defensive.”

“I’m not defensive,” I bite.

Kayne snickers. “I may not know a thing about relationships, but I sure as hell know you. And with her, you’re different.”

“I like her. So what?”

“I don’t give two shits if you marry her. Just don’t let your dick get in the way of the mission. Tomorrow, everything changes. The whole dynamic of our household. I don’t want anyone or anything to jeopardize what we’ve been planning. There are lives at stake, Jett.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. I know. I’m fully aware of what’s on the line.”

“I just want to be on the same page.”

“We’re always on the same page.”

“Then don’t let your emotions ruin another assignment.” He just had to slip my past mistakes in there.

“Hey.” I slam my hand on his chest. “That was a low fucking blow. I chose to jeopardize my career because I thought it was the right thing to do. Because a life was at stake. I protected a person I cared about.”

“And you ended up losing her anyway,” he painfully reminds me. “I don’t want to see the past repeat itself.”

“It won’t,” I assure him, annoyed.

Kayne and I drive the rest of the way in silence, with muted pop music and muffled laughter echoing in the background.

We pull up to Expo just past nine.

“Hey,” I call as Kayne slides out of the front seat.

“What?” He slips on a pair of brown aviators.

“Say hi to your sweetheart for me.”

“Fuck you.” He flicks me the finger and then slams the door.

He’s one to bring up girlfriends. He’s been silently stalking Marc’s assistant for a year. Scared shitless to even ask her out. He’s lucky if he can hold a five-minute conversation with her without pissing himself. The man needs to get over his women issues, stat.

I let the girls loose in Bloomingdales with a boatload of cash. That will keep them busy for a while and give me some down time. Not that I really need it. They aren’t half the headache they could be. Kayne alone drives me more crazy than eight vivacious women.

I pull the limo into a nearby lot, pay a small fortune to park, then climb into the backseat. I lay across the leather, close my eyes, and pick apart the past.

How a series of rash decisions brought me to where I am now.

I was a rookie field agent. I didn’t know she was a diplomat’s wife. What kind of high society woman hangs out in a dive bar at two a.m.? This one. She was beautiful, exotic, smart, sexy—everything a hot-blooded young male could ever want. We fell hard and fast, and there was no turning back after that. Even after I found out who she really was, I forgave her transgressions. We continued to sneak around, knowing the price we could both pay. I didn’t care about the costs. I was young and stupid and in love. She was older, worldly, and captivating.

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