Page 4 of Lesson In Trust

He’d given Elias his card on his way out, told him that there were nicer people to work for. Jobs that didn’t suck out the soul.

A week later, Elias showed up at the office with several other people, begging for a chance to get their dignity back—and Evander had obliged. One of his hotels in Tucson had gained a new housekeeping manager, maids, and room service staff, while the small team of gardeners had voluntarily relocated to one of his casinos in Louisiana, where the landscaping crews needed them most.

The only one who hadn’t moved away was Elias, and he’d become Evander’s right-hand man quickly—personal assistant, flight steward, majordomo, and best friend.

“I think,” Evander mused, stroking his thumb across Callie’s pale cheek, “someone’s exhausted, stressed, and was ridden a bit too hard this morning.” He kissed her forehead, releasing her seatbelt, then his own. “The flight is long enough for a nap, sweetness.”

“No.” Her lip popped in an adorable pout. “Not sleepy.”

“Naughty girls who lie go for a nap with a sore bottom,” he warned, arching his eyebrow. “Do I need to find my spanking hand or are you going to bed quietly?”

She was so fucking tired, her eyes sparked with childlike defiance even as the lids drooped. “Don’t need a nap. Don’t want a spanking.”

Taking the decision out of her hands, Evander rose and awkwardly scooped her out of her seat. “You’ll have one or both. Spanking your ass after you’ve been sick isn’t whatIwant, Callie.”

As soon as she was cradled in his arms, all resistance faded. She brought her thumb to her mouth—something she only did when her defenses wereallthe way down—and sucked on it as her head rested against his shoulder.

Stepping into the aisle, he cocked his head at Elias as his friend approached with a tray, the requested drinks lined in a precise row. “Leave the scotch here, Elias. Callie’s drinks need to go to the bedroom.”

“Is she all right?”

“Overwhelmed. It’s been a…” How to describe the past four days since they met? “Rollercoaster.”

Elias gave him a knowing look. “Were you your usual intense self?”

“Oddly, no. Callie tends to bring out the softer side of me.” Evander rubbed his chin over her hair, pleased by her murmur of acquiescence. He thought of the scars her ex had left behind and scowled. “She deserves to be coddled. Her first and last Dom was an absolute asshole who caned her bloody.”

Elias’s blue eyes darkened with turbulent violence. “Is he dead?”

“No, more’s the pity.”

“Would you like me to find him and correct that oversight, sir?”

A chuckle escaped despite the topic at hand. His friend appeared calm and collected ninety-nine percent of the time, always exuding patience. The lines on his face were evidence of deep thought and laughter; the few silver strands peppered through his dark hair came from his age, not excessive worrying.

Yet a few years ago, Evander had seen him wade into a bar fight of a half-dozen drunken idiots and walk out damn near unscathed. The Brit was scarily unflappable, and while his general demeanor was much like how he was now, he possessed an edge ofdon’t fuck with methat came in handy.

“We’ll table that option for now.”

“Very well, sir.” His tone indicated that he thought Evander’s choice was the wrong one. “Might I suggest, if that option becomes available again, that I cane the fucker before I dispose of him?”

“Trust me, if it becomes available, you can do what you like to him.” When Callie whimpered around her thumb, he soothed her. “All right, sweetness. Quick trip to brush your teeth, then naptime.”

“Would you like some of the provisions you purchased placing in the bedroom?” Elias asked. “Or any of our other…guests?”

“Just the elephant, please,” Evander decided. She seemed fond of all her stuffies, but her attachment to that particular one was strong.

“Excellent choice, sir.” Smirking, Elias inclined his head.

“Can you please drop thesirbullshit?”

“Not during work hours, I’m afraid. That would be most unprofessional.”

“Unprofessional, my ass.” Grumbling under his breath, Evander turned and carried his armful of woman in the opposite direction. “Bet you wouldn’t call me sir if I fired you.”

“On the contrary, sir. I’d just upgrade you to Sir Fuckwit for the considerable future.”

When a laugh broke free unexpectedly, Callie’s eyes fluttered open briefly. The gray was unfocused and dark. She sucked on her thumb in slow, soothing pulls, but by all accounts, her brain was in hibernation mode.

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