Page 74 of Vengeful King

I can see as much. They’re bent close in conversation over something on the coffee table; they don’t even seem to notice me.

I realize Rose and Willow are giving me curious looks, glancing over at Lachlan, too. I wonder what they’re thinking. Do they know something I don’t about Lachlan? Do they know if this is normal for him, if this thing that we have is momentary?

I try to tell myself I don’t care. If it doesn’t last, it doesn’t matter.

That’s a lie, but I’m pulled out my thoughts when Rose and Willow pick up the conversation they must have started before I arrived.

“Are you getting sick yet?” Rose asks Willow, smiling as she tips a cup of tea to her lips.

Willow presses a hand to her stomach, an almost subconscious move. “No, thank God. It’s been…surprisingly uneventful.”

“Well, no big news is good,” Rose says, glancing at her own stomach.

I realize for the first time that Rose is pregnant—more visibly than Willow, who is apparently also pregnant. I don’t know why it surprises me, but it does. Rose drums her fingers on her stomach, thoughtful, and I try not to stare and wonder how far along she is.

“How’s the decorating?” Rose nods at the men, grinning. “Connor letting you move anything?”

“He didn’t at first,” Willow says, rolling her eyes, but her expression is fond. “He said to wait until after the baby. But I told him what the doctor said, so he gave in.”

Rose glances at me and whispers, “Connor didn’t know pregnant women could exert energy. You know, picking paint colors.”

They both laugh and I can’t help smiling. I know I’m not one of them, exactly, but their inclusion is welcome. It’s been so long since I’ve had friends, since I’ve been around women like this.

I didn’t realize how much I missed having friends, having people to laugh with. Looking at Rose and Willow, I know their lives aren’t easy. They’re married to men in the mafia. They must worry any time their husbands are late; they must live with the knowledge that terrible things could happen.

But they obviously care about each other and support each other. Rose and Willow laugh, and it reminds me that strength in friendship is incredible.

I wish I had something like they do. I want that support, that happiness. It’s been so long since I felt like I had anyone to lean on.

Willow sighs. “I think I should get back. I still have business to finish; the Syndicate has been busy. I have people keeping an eye out for Yuri, and I want to make sure they’re safe while they do that.”

“I’ll head out with you,” Rose says, patting her hand. “I think I need a nap. I’ve been tired lately.”

I watch them get up and as soon as they do, Connor and Aiden look up. It’s almost supernatural the way they seem to recognize their wives preparing to leave; there’s a flurry of jokes and goodbyes thrown around before they all leave, heading out the door in a slow-moving mass.

They keep talking and laughing as they go. They sound like joy—like a family, like something I’ve never really been able to have. It makes my heart ache.

When they’re gone, I realize I’m alone again with Lachlan. He’s leaning against his desk, watching me. I can’t help pushing my hair back, suddenly self-conscious of how underdressed I’ve been.

“I’m kind of embarrassed,” I say, the words jumping out before I can stop them.

He stares at me, something burning in his eyes. “Why?”

“I didn’t mean to meet them like this. I mean…”

I want to say,I’d rather have been dressed.But if I think about it more, I realize that I had an idea in my mind of how I’d meet them, as if it was going to be a big deal. As if meeting them was going to happen in the future.

Like this is a real relationship.

That scares me. I still don’t know what Lachlan wants from me; I still don’t know if this will last. I shouldn’t be imagining any kind of future.

“They liked you,” Lachlan says, bringing me back to reality. There’s something dark in his eyes that makes my stomach flip. “It doesn’t matter.”

He crosses the room in the blink of an eye. I gasp when he lifts me up, kissing me deeply. I moan into his mouth, melting at his touch. I can’t help responding to him; I can’t fight it.

He steps forward and then suddenly, he tosses me onto the couch. I feel my heart beat two times faster, excitement flooding my veins. There’s heat in his gaze when he looks down at me. He unbuttons his pants and I feel my mouth go dry.

“Touch yourself,” he says.

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