Playing with Fire: A Standalone Dark Romance

Chapter Thirty

There’s no barrier in the middle of the bed when I get home though I definitely expected there to be. The way she glared at me this morning suggested there would be, if not poison in my coffee but no. There she is, curled in a ball on her side of the bed, facing the windows as she sleeps soundly.

A soft light kisses the side of her face, but the sting of her words still rests upon my skin.

I was likely being a prick about it, but I didn’t give a shit.

Showering, I clean off the day of meetings I’ve had. Stuffy offices are my least favorite places to meet but buying out big corporations and blackmailing CEOs can only be done in certain environments.

Today I won one of the city’s biggest financial corporations, purely using blackmail. That’s a feat on its own, most of the wealthiest in this city truly believe their money can buy them out of anything, but I had proof in black and white of the extracurricular activities that not only would have lost them every penny in their vaults, it would have landed him a hefty prison sentence too. No amount of money he had would have got him out of it, I would have made sure of it.

Now the company is mine and an extra route for me to clean the money made through the assassins under my roster.

The bed is warm when I climb in beside Olivia, leaning across to inhale that scent of hers. She may have pissed me off but there’s something about the way she smells that eases the tension in me.

I can’t put my finger on what it is or why, but it’s as addictive as any drug.

She’s out of bed and in the kitchen by the time I get up and dress for the day. And to my surprise so are my men.

Sebastian leans on the counter chatting with Olivia, his grin wide. I know that fucking grin and it makes me want to wipe the damn thing off his face. The man can’t not flirt. Olivia giggles – fucking giggles – at something he says while Killian and Dean scoff down the food Louis provides.

“I didn’t realize I extended an invitation for breakfast to you fuckers,” I grumble, drawing the attention of the whole room.

Olivia rolls her eyes and plucks up her coffee, averting her eyes from me while Sebastian smiles at me. He knows what he’s doing and the next time we’re in the fucking gym I’m going to slip with a dumbbell.

Prick.

“We have shit to do today,” Dean says past a mouthful of bacon, “Figured it’ll be easier for us to come here.”

All the legal and technical shit needed to be done for the company I gained yesterday.

“Tell me more about your dress, Olivia,” Sebastian goes back to the conversation with Olivia. My ears perk at the conversation.

“I haven’t got it yet,” She tells him eagerly, “I only saw it in the window. I’m going back today!”

“Is this for the event?” Killian asks her.

She nods, “I’ve been working on the color scheme, we are going white, black and red so take note, you’ll need your tuxes fitted in one of these colors.”

“There was no color requirement,” I say.

She flicks her eyes to me and instantly dismisses me again, “There is now.”

“Where was my approval in this?” I’m being a dick and we all know it.

“I don’t need your approval.” She picks up a piece of crispy bacon and takes a bite, smiling at me sweetly. If only I could fuck that attitude right out of her.

She wouldn’t be able to give me that little devil smile with a mouthful of my cock.

How pretty she would be choking on it, tears on her cheeks and her hair in my fist.

“The fuck you don’t.”

She scoffs, “Get over yourself, Malakai. All this egotistical shit really makes you appear small.” To really hammer in her words, she lifts her hand and holds her finger and thumb close together while her eyes drop to my crotch.

Killian chokes on a piece of fruit while Dean clears his throat and Sebastian laughs.

“Since you’re so interested in my size, kitten,” I rasp, kicking out a leg, “Why don’t you come check it yourself. See if it’ll fit.”

Her eyes widen and she snaps her head around, grabbing her coffee to drain it.

“It’s my hotel.” She continues, clearing her throat as if I didn’t say anything at all. “I’ll do whatever the fuck I want with the event I am now planning.”

Wiping her mouth on a napkin, she hops down from the stool, “See you guys later,” She smiles at the guys and then her face morphs into a scowl as her eyes drop down my body and then drag back up. “Nice socks.” Is all she says to me.

“If you’re going shopping for a dress,” I reach into my pocket for my wallet, “You can buy it on my card.”

Her lip curls, “No.”

“Let me buy you a fucking dress.” I growl.

“I don’t want nor need your money, Malakai. I don’t owe you anything. You’re my husband in title only, nothing more. You have no other rights to me.”

“By being your husband gives me every right to buy you a damn dress.”

She smirks as my temper flares as if she gets off on pissing me off. The smile only gets me hard as I think about everything I’ll do to her as punishment for this damn attitude.

“Olivia,” My voice is all growl, gravelly and rough.

“Malakai,” she says as she plucks up her coat and purse. “I’m going shopping. Don’t wait up…” She licks her teeth, “Darling.”

The word is said so sweetly it could rot teeth and then she’s breezing out of the room while the four of us stare after her.

“You are so fucked, man,” Dean whistles, “I want one.”

“Empty it.” I snap, my voice carrying alongside the clip of her heels as she exits the house, her smug, saccharine smile playing behind my eyes.

“Sorry?” One of the guys says, which one I don’t know, and I don’t fucking care.

“Empty it. Empty her bank account. Now.”

“Kai,” Sebastian hesitates, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

I snap my eyes to him, “Good thing I didn’t fucking ask for your opinion on handling my wife.”

If its war she wants, it’s war she’s going to fucking get.

“Empty it now.” I order, “Now.”

“I’ll get on it,” Dean says, grabbing his laptop.

“You do that,” I grit. “Now give me the files for the company.” I tell Sebastian.

He provides them quickly, sensing my mood is not to be fucked with right now. When his arm is close enough, I grab his wrist and tug him closer, “Flirt with my wife again, Bast, and I’ll hurt you, understand?”

He quirks a brow and smirks, “Sure thing, boss.”

“It’s done,” Dean tells me, “Empty.”

“Good. Let’s see how she survives without my money now.”

“Don’t you think that’s maybe a little bit too far?” Killian advises.

Probably. “She’s my wife, what’s hers is mine and what’s mine is hers.”

I see their glances at each other, silently agreeing that I’m a prick right now for doing what I just did, but I am already looking forward to the fiery argument to come from her. I just know it’ll be damn explosive.