Page 64 of A Shade of Evil

He raises his eyes and I attempt to push him away.

“I am washed and wearing an amazing outfit and I don’t have a change of underwear. I need to keep a cool head and a dry set of panties for the day ahead, so if you don’t mind, can you ruin me later when I don’t have to face the disapproving stare of Evangeline Solomon while I explain I have done fuck all about your campaign.”

It makes him laugh out loud and as he releases me, I suffer the loss already, causing me to sigh heavily.

“Let’s eat to distract my mind. You really shouldn’t look so hot in the morning, Shade, it’s just not fair.”

He reaches for my hand and twists my fingers in his and says with a wicked smile.

“Then prepare to be ruined later when I fuck you in that dress bent over my desk.”

He winks. “I will fantasize about that all day so don’t be late home. Six thirty on the dot, or I’ll punish you.”

The fact that turns me on even more makes me wonder if I need therapy. I’m guessing I probably do because this can’t be normal. Surely.

CHAPTER34

SHADE

It was strange waking up with someone in my bed. What was even stranger was how much I liked it. Having someone to hold at night is a pleasure I never realized I’d enjoy and now as we head toward The Queen, I feel a strange sense of loss, knowing we will be apart for the entire day. I don’t like it and I don’t like not having eyes on her. Until the bastard responsible for blackmailing her is caught, she’s not safe.

“I really could have taken a cab.”

She squeezes my fingers, that have been firmly entwined with hers for the duration of the journey, and I say irritably, “And risk your safety. I don’t think so.”

“They’re not that bad at driving.” She laughs and I say roughly, “I’m not sure you’ve grasped how serious this is, Ally.”

Her hold tightens on me, and I snap, “I live with threats to me twenty-four seven and I take steps to minimize them. Do you think I enjoy traveling with a dark army surrounding me? Do you think I enjoy watching my back and hoping the men I pay do a good job of protecting me? All my life I’ve lived not knowing if I’ll see the sunrise and now I have twice the worry because you are now part of this world whether you like it or not. Someone is blackmailing you for Christ’s sake, and you are now an attractive target for my enemies, so forgive me if I’m a little overprotective but deal with it.”

Her silence tells me my words scored a direct hit and then she says with a sigh, “I’m sorry, Shade. I never really thought of it before.”

“That’s why I’m doing the thinking for both of us. Do me a favor and stay inside that office. Don’t venture out for lunch, coffee, or any shit shopping you may need. Just do your job while I do mine.”

I turn and hate the worry that now fills her expression and, grasping her face in my hands, I say with a groan. “I hate how much I want you, princess. I wish I didn’t care, but I do. If I’m a bastard, it’s because I must be, just to keep you safe.”

“I know.” She kisses me lightly on the lips and then sighs. “Make it go away, Shade. Tell me what I can do to help. I hate seeing you like this.”

If anything, I’m shocked at how simple words hold so much power. The concern in her eyes and the soft, loving look she gives me makes me want to hold on to her and never let go. Nobody has ever feared for me before outside of family. Nobody really cares. They just want what I can give them. They don’t see me as a person, not really, and it’s only now I realize how incredibly lonely I’ve been until I met her.

Until I met my little spitfire. My princess. The woman I set out to ruin but has ruined me instead. I’m a different man around her, a better man perhaps, and so as I crush my lips to hers, I don’t care if I’ve messed up her lipstick. I don’t care that I mess up her hair and I hope to God I’ve messed up her panties.

* * *

Ten minutes later,I watch her run into The Queen’s building with a flushed face and lipstick smeared all over it. I’m in no doubt at all she will head straight for the restroom to repair the damage of the ride over. I couldn’t stop if I tried and a quick fuck on the way to work is to be recommended.

I watch my guard follow her in and know he is in for the day from hell babysitting my woman, because if she attempts to leave this building, he will stop her.

Kyle steps into the car from the passenger seat up front and only when she is inside the building does the car move away from the kerb, sandwiched between two similar ones.

“What’s the plan?” he wastes no time in asking.

“I’m going to pay my brother a visit.”

“Chicago?” Kyle doesn’t sound shocked about that because we fly between states like we’re taking a cab and I shake my head. “Not this time. He’s in New York on business and I’m interested in how it went.”

“The Judge?”

I nod. “He requested a meeting with him last night. I’m guessing it has a lot to do with Allegra.”

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