Page 79 of Barristers & Bones

Misty grinned happily. “Congratulations! That’s so wonderful.” She studied my face and her smile faded. “Right?”

Samuel took Misty’s hand and kissed it. “It’s smart, is what it is, he’ll keep her safe. Let’s go get some food.”

Sasha studied the large ring on my finger. “My ex-boyfriend is a jeweler, and I picked up a few things. That ring is worth a fuck-ton. And that emerald? It’s at least three karats, and it matches your eyes perfectly.” She took another sip. “I don’t think he’s just keeping you safe. Did Roman also give you that collar, and what’s that hanging next to the lock?”

I let out a long breath. “Yes, and it’s a tracking device in case the Stracks come after me again.”

She leaned forward and studied it. “Do you know what the collar means?”

“Kind of. Not really.” Turning to her, I drained half my mimosa. “Honestly? I don’t know what the hell is going on. He’s been cold then hot, cruel, and then kind. He dumped me as his intern last Saturday, kissed me on Tuesday, married me the next day, and we had sex–” I stopped talking abruptly.

Sasha’s eyes widened. She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “First, I have to know. How was it?”

My cheeks warmed so fast it felt like I had a second-degree sunburn. “So good,” I whispered.

Her eyes glazed over. “I fuckingknewit. With some men, you can just tell.” She seemed to shake herself. “Look, my advice is from sad personal experience. You two need to communicate. Figure out what you want and what’s best for you, then tell him and make sure he listens.” She pointed to my neck. “And ask him exactly what that means.”

Setting my cards down, I blew out a breath. “I’m so confused. Sometimes I’m so flaming mad at him I want to rage, and the next minute he’s being thoughtful and sweet, and I want to crawl in his lap and wrap him around me.”

Roman and Drakos walked in as if I’d somehow conjured up the devil himself just by thinking of him. Roman met Milo at the door and stopped to talk to him while Drakos looked around, found Sylvie, and strode over to her.

When Roman made it to our table, he leaned over and kissed the side of my neck. “Hello, Sweetness. What’s the buy-in?”

Several hours and three mimosas later, we walked up to my apartment together. I felt fuzzy but content. The poker tournament had taken on a life of its own once Fenn and Roman won their tables and advanced to the next round. But Alexa had methodically and coldly beaten them both, been deemed this month’s funeral parlor poker champ, and gone home with over a thousand dollars. Good for her. I knew she could use the money way more than either of those two.

Drakos and Sylvie disappeared not long after Drakos arrived, and I noticed Ezra’s prized chess set sitting on the kitchen table. I’d have to ask her about that.

I wanted to grab a swimsuit and a few other things since half my belongings were still here. It felt strange being at the apartment but realizing I wasn’t living here at the moment.

Carl meowed loudly, wound himself around my legs, and then jumped up on the bed next to Roman to watch me pack.

“He sounds like a muscle car without a muffler.” Roman didn’t try to pet him this time.

“It’s part of his charm.”

I pulled a couple of bikinis out of my drawer, but Roman shook his head. “You don’t need those. I’ll just peel them off right after you put them on.”

A blush crawled up my neck, and I picked up a modest one-piece and put it in my bag while staring at him. Roman’s lip twitched, and he raised an eyebrow. I also opened my nightstand drawer and pulled out the lotion and lip balm I kept there, but Roman leaned over and looked inside before I could close it. He pulled out my small vibrator and nipple clamps before I could slam the drawer on his hand.

“Hey! Get out of there.”

“What are these?” he asked innocently as he held my little pink Cherry Box vibrator out of reach as I tried to grab it. Then he dangled the clamps.

“None of your business! Now give them here.” My face flushed hot as we wrestled.

When he kept teasing me, I pushed him back on the bed and crawled over his body. He chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist, then rolled me underneath him, shoving his hips between my thighs.

My knit dress rode up, and he dropped my toys on the bed and slipped a hand underneath, running it up my leg. I stilled and my thighs fell open as he reached my panties. He’d just slid a finger across my damp slit when the front door opened.

“Anyone home?” Alexa called.

“Fuck,” Roman sighed as he pulled his hand out and rolled onto his back.

“We’re in my room,” I croaked out.

I pushed my dress back down and sat up seconds before Alexa came to the doorway. When she saw us, she smirked. “Sorry to interrupt. Sylvie has disappeared, but do you want to eat dinner with Ezra, Kilian, and me later?”

My knee-jerk reaction was to say yes, but I lived with Roman now.

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