Page 48 of Stick to the Deal
“Oh, yea?”
“He’s different, not like one of your usual puppies.”
I turn to her, keeping my face carefully blank. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She turns to me, brow raised as she continues her sway. “Come on, Nic. You collect men in every city like postcards. Each one absolutely mesmerized by you as they let you walk all over them.”
A pang goes through me. “Wow, did you seriously just call me a slut?”
“No. That’s not what I mean at all.” Bree sighs. “You have this gift of attracting people to you. You see through them and change yourself to best blend in or influence them to do what you want—like a chameleon. It’s not a bad thing, Nic, it’s what makes you so good at your job. But sometimes I think you use it to keep people from seeing the real you.”
I do tend to take the easier path. If I give them what they want, they’ll leave me alone. If I distract someone with some glitter, they can’t get close enough to hurt me.
Bree absently kisses Nora’s head as she studies me. “What I’m trying to say, badly, is that I see why you picked him. He lets you be you without all the extra stuff. The fact he came to help today tells me he cares.” She holds up her hand as I open my mouth. “As a partner and friend. I like him.” She grabs a bottle of water and walks off to the corner where her husband is studying his handiwork. As she comes abreast of him, his face splits into the same goofy smile he gets every time he sees her. Colin drops a kiss to the sleeping baby, then wraps his arm around his wife as they talk.
Napkins forgotten, I continue to watch the guys as my mind wanders. So much of my time is spent alone in hotel rooms or flitting from party to party. These in-between moments are rare, and I miss them more and more. It wasn’t even two years ago that Bree introduced Colin to our lives. He, in turn, brought Johnson around more often. Then David showed up at the beginning of the summer, and now Reginald has rounded out the group.
I love my girl-time, but the guys bring a different dynamic. Laughter. Banter. Competition. Both of my best friends are lighter now. Happy. Confident. Chasing their dreams, all while cheered on by men who adore them.
Reginald approaches me, smiling. I hand him my water bottle and he guzzles half of it down in one go. “Thanks. Who knew painting was such good exercise?” My eyes sweep his glistening body again as I make a noncommittal noise. “When are you opening?”
“New Year’s Eve. We’re throwing a big party as our official opening.”
He nods and scans the room. “We’ll have to fly in right after Christmas. That gives a few days for final preparations.”
“We?”
“Of course. You need to be here, and I’m not spending New Year’s without my wife.”
A warmth spreads through my chest at the word wife. It still feels so foreign. I know it’s on paper only, but I can’t help it when his voice rumbles over the term.
My eyes lift to a shock of pink in his dark hair. Unthinking, my hand lifts as I finger the hard lump in the otherwise silky strands. His grin heats as a firm arm bands around my back, pulling me closer to his naked chest.
“You have paint in your hair,” I explain.
“You’ll have to wash it out for me. That shower of yours is big enough for two.”
“Oh, is that so?” I strive for aloof, but my lady bits are definitely not opposed to the suggestion.
“Do you have any idea how amazing your ass looks in those pants? I’ve been hard for hours watching you bend over that box.” His fingers glide down, grabbing a handful and pulling me to him.
I gasp as the proof of his statement presses against my clit. My thighs press together, trying to ease the ache, but only squeeze his cock harder into me.
Reginald groans in my ear. “Keep that up, Princess, and you’ll end up dragged into the supply closet. I’ll fuck you hard and leave my handprint on your ass as a reminder not to tease me.”
Heat floods my body at his words. No one’s talked to me before the way he does. Bree’s right, I easily dominate every man I meet. It’s thrilling to be on the other side for once—not that I’ll admit it to him.
Mistaking my stillness for compliance, he chuckles darkly. “That’s my good girl.” I struggle not to shudder as my core clenches. “Hurry up and finish this. Then I’ll take you home, rip these pants off you, and make you cum until you beg me to stop.”
With one last squeeze, he heads over to where Asher and Johnson are hanging glass shelves, as if nothing happened. As I catch my breath, I enjoy the confident swagger of his hips.
The remaining three boxes of napkins are sorted and counted in record time. Which has absolutely nothing to do with the dark promises of my husband.
Nope, nothing at all.
December
Well, love appears to be back in the air. After weeks apart, our viscount charming flew off to Florida to reunite with his blushing bride. Am I the only one disappointed at not seeing a steamy reunion at the airport? Lord Ravenscourt arrived alone and took a cab to his wife’s penthouse apartment in central Florida. Sources spotted the newlyweds out and about, dining at the popular restaurant, Pop, owned by the former Miss A’s longtime friend.
