Page 35 of King of Desire

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Triston

I takeHoneyeh to my next meeting as well, at least the first part of it. Here, I’m meeting with the board of trustees for Dimitri’s casino, Shimmer.

This meeting, held in the dining room, is far larger, and there is a lot more schmoozing.

She stays by my side, her hip brushing mine as she charms every man she meets.

Even I was shocked by how much Matteo Andriani warmed to her. The man is ice. But I watched him melt, the ice leaving his eyes his gaze drank her in, dancing with fire. I barely controlled the jealousy, especially when he suggested she ought to marry her way out of her financial hardships. It was an offer, I’m sure of it.

I’m glad to do business with Matteo, now head of the Italian Mafia here in Vegas. But if he tries to touch Honeyeh…

A fresh wave of possessive anger pulses through me, and I push it back down.

This meeting is easier though. Charmed as they all are, not one of these blowhards has what it takes to woo Honeyeh out of my house and into theirs.

By the time we get to signing contracts, I send Honeyeh not back to the party, which is winding down, but upstairs to change. “This won’t take long and then I can drive you home.”

Killian is next to me, and he lifts his hand. “We’re driving back into the city if you’d like me?—”

I glare until he shuts the fuck up.

No one else is driving Honeyeh. First, I want a few quiet moments with her and as much time in her company as I can get.

Second, I’m still debating where I’m taking things with Honeyeh next.

She’s been perfect tonight. An asset in every way. Charming, beautiful, always sweet, I have found her company beyond enjoyable this evening in addition to being damn helpful.

For the first time in my adult life, I actually see the appeal of marriage.

I’m sure my father saw it too, though. I’m sure my mother was nothing but an asset in the beginning. Polished, attractive, she gave him six sons. All while he fucked his way through England and beyond.

Not that I’d do that…but still…it doesn’t make a man trust in matrimony to see such a deplorable example.

Honeyeh slips from my side and starts for the door, catching my eye over her shoulder before she disappears.

It takes everything in me not to chase after her.

But this hostile takeover, coupled with the deal that we just made with the Italians, are the nails in the coffin that are going to close down the Russians in their casino business.

They’ve neglected their casinos. Mostly, I’d guess they use them to wash money for their other businesses, which is why they don’t care.

But that doesn’t keep the board happy. And their casino is in the way of me connecting two more of mine to Mason’s tunnel.

So as the papers are signed—saying that the board will vote out Dimitri and allow me to assume control—it’s a big moment. One I’ve been waiting for and working toward for the past few years at least.

And yet, all I can think of is Honeyeh upstairs taking off her clothes.

We all sign, and it takes everything in me not to race out of the room. Instead, whisky is poured, and I pretend to drink, far more interested in using my energy for other pursuits.

When I can finally leave, I’m sprinting up the stairs, pulling off my tie and undoing the top button as I shrug off the jacket and knock on the guest room door.

“Come in,” Honeyeh calls.

Something inside me unwinds to hear her voice. I push open the door to find her still in her dress, sitting on the end of the bed. “You didn’t change.”

She looks over her shoulder again and my breath stalls in my lungs, she’s so incredible. “I can’t reach the zipper.” And then she points over her shoulder.

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