Page 12 of Secrets & Desires
Nox grinned wickedly. “Anticipation,remember?”
She wriggled against his groin, feeling his cock harden almost instantly, and hegroaned.
“You are a very bad girl, Livia Chatelaine. The moment I’m inside you can’t come—excuse the pun—soonenough.”
She hopped off his lap and smirked. “Anticipation…”
“Devil woman.” And they bothlaughed.
Amber sighedas she saw Odelle approaching her. It was late afternoon at the salon and Amber had just had a blissful massage. The last thing she wanted was for Odelle to ruin her buzz. The blonde woman smiled tentatively at her but it didn’t reach her eyes. That wasn’t anything new withOdelle
“Always good to see you, Odelle,” Amber said smoothly, and indicated the tea tray in front of her. “Won’t youjoinme?”
Odelle nodded. “Thank you.” She sat and Amber poured her someherbaltea.
“Did you enjoy Nox’s party this year?” Amber was being facetious—she knew Odelle hated public gatherings. Odelle, despite her beauty, didn’t mingle well with people and Amber had always wondered why. Odelle’s famed iciness aside, she rarely made the effort to get to know other people, almost as if she were protecting herself from something. Odelle, Amber, Nox, and Roan had known each other since they were teenagers, but still Amber felt as if she had never really known Odelle. All she knew was that Roan had pursued the blonde woman, and that Odelle had only ever opened up to Nox, who she regarded as an olderbrother.
She studied Odelle now. The other woman looked tired. “Is everything okay with you,Odelle?”
“Of course. Roan and I are thinking of gettingengaged.”
Amber tried not to spit out her tea. “Really?” She couldn’t help the tone of cynicism that crept into her voice, but she regretted it when Odelle flushed red withannoyance.
“Is it so hard tobelieve?”
“No, of course not, I’m sorry. It’s just Roan never mentioned it. Are you sure you want to be tied to, let’s just say, to amanwho…”
“Can’t keep it in his trousers?” Odelle’s smile was bitter. “You think I don’t know about his other women, Amber? Of course I do. Maybe notallof them, but I have my suspicions.” She looked hard at Amber, who met her gazesteadily.
“Then why would you marry him? Why not set your sights on someone else? Nox, for example. You adore him and he thinks very highlyofyou.”
“You think of our group as a revolving door of bedhopping and casual hookups, Amber. Nox is myfamily. Roan may have his peccadillos but I assure you, it’s me who he comeshometo.”
Suddenly Amber realized why Odelle had sought her out. She was warning her off. She wanted to marry Roan—Roan,of all people—and was making sure that his friends knew he belonged to her. Amber gave a sad smile. Poor, deludedOdelle.
“I believe you.” Amber causally sipped her tea and they sat in silence for a while. When Odelle left, Amber pulled out her cellphone. She listened to the buzz at the other end of the line and when he answered, she didn’t let him speak. “Roan, just how long has Odelle known about you and me? When did she find out we werefucking?”
Roan hungup the phone and rubbed his eyes.Fuck.He and Amber had been so careful, but now Odelle knew he’d broken her one rule.Don’t shit where you sleep.“I don’t care about random hookups,” she’d told him the night he’d first mentioned marriage. “I do care about you fucking around in our socialcircle.”
And he had been careless.Shit.Marrying Odelle would secure his future—her father was richer than even Nox—and besides, he liked fucking her. He’d liked seeing behind the icyfaçade.
Fuck it.Now he would have to lose all his other girls and make nice with Odelle. He should never have started up with Amber again—Amber, who had nothing to lose by admitting their affair. And that was the allure of the redhead—she simply didn’t give a crap about anyone. Except Nox, of course. Roan couldn’t help the jealousy he felt towards his friend sometimes; Nox was just so damnedgood, it wasinfuriating.
Roan sighed and grabbed his cellphone. He would forget the crap with the women in his life and just focus on getting his shot together for the meeting with Nox and Sandor. He wanted in on their company. He was ready to grow up and he needed to focus, because there was one glaring problem in Roan’s otherwiseperfectlife.
He was stone-coldbroke.
ChapterSix
After eatingthey had wandered the streets, enjoying the atmosphere. Later in the evening, they found themselves atThe Spotted Cat, a jazz venue that was jumping with music and crammed with people. Livia and Nox found standing room by the bar and ordered drinks. Livia looked excited. “I keep meaning to come here but never foundthetime.”
Nox grinned at her. “Out of interest, how do you manage? I mean, I know you have the scholarship, but working at the café can’t pay for everything. Actually, scratch that, it’s none of mybusiness.”
She laughed. “It’s okay. I get by. I’ve always had to fight for the basics so it’s become second-nature. Sharing with Morry helps and I don’t need a lot. Thank god for the scholarship,though.”
Nox smiled at her openness. She really didn’t care about money, and that was refreshing. He could imagine her happy with just a book and a sandwich—this wasn’t a woman who needed diamonds and pearls. Of all the things he could give her, what she seemed to want was his time. He swept his hand into her hair and pulled her lips to his. “You’re gorgeous,” he murmured against her lips, “and Iadoreyou.”
Livia chuckled. “You barely know me but I’ll take that. You’re not so bad yourself,richboy.”
