Keiran
P RESENT TIME
He'd made a fucking mistake.
The thought became clear to as soon as he saw his wife's eyes light up. The last time he saw that, she had tried climbing another tree for another "rare" fruit. And of course it had also ended in mishap, since that was the story of her life.
That last time, he had managed to save her, but it had also resulted in him spraining his wrist, which he had barely managed to hide from her. This time, however...
"Are you ready?" asked, his voice deliberately cool despite the heat coursing through him at the sight of Cadence in the midnight blue gown.
"Ready."
Her fingers shook as he held her hand. He gazed at her for a moment, seeing the way her gown left her shoulders bare, its bodice gently hugging the curve of her breasts before cascading silkily to the floor.
The diamond choker he gave her sparkled under all the lights like a chain of ice.
His chain.
His claim.
Because she was his.
And he would always want her to be his, whether or not he learned to trust her again.
"I don't know how to be a proper mistress," she confided to him as they began walking.
"I don't think you're supposed to be proper for one," he pointed out dryly.
"I..." Her expression turned sheepish. "I didn't think of it that way."
"As expected."
She sputtered, and 's lips pressed together in a straight line. Biggest fucking mistake ever , he found himself thinking again. Everything she said and did right now was just too damn adorable, and he had a feeling it would be a lot worse once they arrived at the ball.
Once inside the limo, she immediately plopped herself on his lap, catching him off guard completely. But all she did was smile at him. "Just doing what mistresses do."
His gaze narrowed at her. "You're up to no good, aren't you?"
She peered up at him from under her lashes. "I have no idea what you're implying."
"Think twice before you start playing with fire," he advised silkily.
"If it means the two of us burning together—-" Cadence's tone was somber. "I don't think I'd mind at all."
was starting to feel on edge. "Cadence—-"
"Oh, look, we're here."
The car had already cruised to a stop, and a valet was promptly opening the door for them.
Fuck.
reluctantly stepped out and as he took her hand to help her out, he then heard her whisper, "Thank you...Master."
almost lost his footing at that.
Fuck.
And so it began, with Cadence doing her best to do what she believed mistresses did best, and that was to stare up adoringly into his eyes, stay by his side every moment, with her breasts pressed tantalizingly against his arm.
"I'm going to punish you for this," he growled under his breath as he swept her onto the dance floor.
The words only made her eyes twinkle mischievously. "Promise?"
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Nothing seemed to faze her, not even when they danced beside a couple who seemed to take pleasure in talking about women who didn't see anything wrong in selling their bodies for financial gain.
Hearing this had stiffening, but it was Cadence herself who had asked him to ignore them.
"It's alright," she said softly.
No, dammit.
It was not fucking alright.
But it should be.
And that was what was killing him.
Because wasn't this what he wanted in the first place?
What he had planned from the start?
Hadn't he asked her to be his mistress so he could punish her?
And now that the whole damn world did see Cadence as his mistress, all he wanted was to kill everyone who was thinking what he meant them to think.
"It's really okay, ." Cadence's voice drew his attention back to her. "I really don't mind being talked about."
He could tell she wasn't lying, and yet...
"Something's still bothering you."
Her gaze turned uncertain.
"Speak," he ordered.
"I just hate that they have to talk about you, too," she admitted. "Three years ago, it was my dad who wanted to shame you and had everyone talking. And now, it's happening—-"
He pulled her close, his mouth claiming hers in a hard and possessive kiss, one hand tangling in Cadence's hair as the other pressed against the small of her back.
When he lifted his head, Cadence was clutching his dress shirt, her gaze clouded with desire. "W-Why did you do that?"
"To prove to you how bothered I am about public opinion."
"O-Oh."
"Do you need more proof?" drawled.
Three seconds passed.
I'm fucked.
Because he had seen her eyes lit up, and he didn't even have time to step back. She was already pulling him close and raising herself on her toes—-
FUCK.
She had pulled his lower lip between her teeth to give it a bite, and it was all could do not to fuck her then and there.
When Cadence pulled away, all eyes immediately zeroed in on the impressive evidence of his arousal.
"Dammit, Cadence."
She was about to laugh when she belatedly noticed what had practically every woman in the room staring, and she ended up gulping instead.
bit back a groan. Seeing that only made him think of what else Cadence could be gulping down her sweet throat.
"K-Keir—-"
"I'm going to take a walk," he bit out.
"Oh, should I—-"
He glared at her, and Cadence said meekly, "Enjoy your walk."
stalked off, needing air and distance from the temptation he had only himself to thank for. The balcony was mercifully empty, the cool night air helping to calm his body if not his mind.
What the hell was wrong with him?
This night was supposed to be about making her pay. So why the hell—-are you fucking kidding me?
had just turned back toward the ballroom, and the first thing he saw were both James Preston and Grant Poorly taking advantage of his absence by swarming around Cadence like starving flies.
Assholes.
He was about to return to the ballroom when the doors to the balcony swung open again, and a man in his late thirties walked out to join him.
Giancarlo Marchetti.
's face turned impassive as he came face to face with Boston's most powerful mafia billionaire.
"You're a hard man to get a hold of, de Laigny."
"I wouldn't have attended tonight if I hadn't met you," he said evenly.
"I had a feeling that much was the case."
"What do you want, Marchetti?"
Giancarlo leaned against the railing, his posture deceptively casual, but wasn't fooled at all. Most people thought Giancarlo's rise from the dead was an urban legend to turn him into a more terrifying boogeyman than he already was. But 's trusted sources had told him otherwise.
Everything he heard about Giancarlo Marchetti was true...for better or for worse.
"I thought it was time we were formally acquainted, all things considered."
"Don't beat around the bush."
"You are not the only one who has a blood debt to pay," Giancarlo murmured, "and just like you, it is one I intend to keep, even if it costs me my life."
What the fuck was this man playing at?
stared at the other man, saying grimly, "You're the last person to be seen alive with Viktor Biancardi."
"Indeed." Giancarlo's smile was razor-sharp. "And I could say the same for him almost three years ago...when he attempted to kill me."
had heard of this, but it was a completely different thing to have it confirmed. And to cross a Marchetti, well...it could only mean one thing, even for men like Viktor Biancardi, whom everyone knew was once a close friend of Giancarlo himself.
"Are we going to be enemies, Marchetti?"
"I'm hoping we won't be, but it remains to be seen." Giancarlo's eyes were calculating. "Because contrary to what you obviously assume I'm here for, I'm on your side. I will go as far as thinking of myself as your ally even...whether you want it or not."
"But there's a catch, of course," mocked.
Giancarlo shrugged. "It would not be a deal in our world if there is none, si?" His gaze turned back to the ballroom. "But perhaps it should be something we can talk about later. I believe you have more pressing things to attend to."
Through the glass doors, could see it was just Cadence and Poorly now, and how the hell did she not notice the way the other man was staring hungrily at her breasts?
"You should do something about that, don't you think?" Giancarlo suggested.
wanted to do exactly that, but what was it to Marchetti if he did or not?
Giancarlo smiled. "Have I been remiss in telling you something? We've sworn to protect the same person, de Laigny. And so I shall be your faithful ally...until our objectives no longer align. But I hope that day won't come."