Page 109 of Stolen Hearts

“It’sjust sex, Castle,” she says flatly. “No emotional stuff. I swear, I won’t even kiss you goodbye or anything when you leave for the day. Okay?”

I frown even more deeply. She sighs.

“Marriage is built on trust, isn’t that what they say?”

I smirk, shaking my head. “Point taken. Okay.”

She grins, a sultry heat burning in her eyes. “Yeah?”

I chuckle. “I mean, I can’t right thissecond.”

She blushes fiercely.

“But when I get home tonight…”

She sucks that damned bottom lip between her teeth, which is a move I’ve realized is my kryptonite.

“Shall I have the roast and acocktailready for you, dear?”

My cock pulses.

“You can definitely havesomethingready for me…”

“See you tonight then,dear.”

She leans up. I open my mouth to say something, but at the last second, she darts her head to the side and kisses my cheek instead.

“What? On the cheek doesn’t count,” she shrugs, smirking at me as she steps away. “It’s good luck.”

I eye her as she skips past me to the bathroom.

“Don’t worry, Castle. I won’t give you cooties.”

* * *

Ares was right.Diplomacycanwork much better than threats of violence and loss of life.

Unfortunately, four minutes into my meeting with Ken Aoki, it’s clear diplomacy isnotgoing to work here. Which is how it comes to pass that after being smirked at, taunted, and stonewalled by this fucking dipshit, I’ve got him by the throat and shoved halfway over the balcony of his Upper West Side condo.

I’d like to say it’s because he may have facilitated the scenario that led to someone shooting at me in the house I’ve called home for ten years. But I’ve been shot at plenty of times, and I know damn well that’s not where the rage is coming from.

It’s because Callie was there, too.

“C’mon, man!!” Ken squeals like a stuck pig as his feet leave the ground and his back arches dangerously over the railing of his balcony. “Are you fuckingstupid?!”

“What Iam, Ken,” I snarl, “is impatient. And if we’re being honest, I’m also a little fucking insulted.”

He trembles.

“Ken—I’m sure by now you’ve heard through the grapevine about certain…administrative changes within my organization.”

Ken’s lips curl into a sneer. “Yeah, I heard you’re playing substitute teacher for that psycho Cillian—”

He screams when I reach around, yank the gun from the back of my pants, and press the barrel against the underside his chin.

“I’m sure you’d agree that insulting my family while you’re in this particular position is asupremelyfucking stupid decision, Ken.”

His face pales. “Look, man. I don’t know who you talked to, but I didn’t have shit to do with—”

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