Chapter 13
thirteen
Scotlyn.
When I made it to the living room Christian was arranging takeout containers on the table in front of the sofa. He was out of his suit and back in joggers but this time had on a T-shirt looking sexy and relaxed.
"Smells good. What did you get?"
"Mediterranean. Wasn't sure what you liked, so I got a variety."
He ordered enough for half the city but all of it looked amazing. Hummus, pitas, kebabs, salads, and at least three dishes I couldn't identify.
"Planning on feeding an army?"
"Planning on learning your preferences. Makes future meals easier." He lifted a plate and handed me one.
The casual way he noted future meals made my stomach flip. He made it sound like this, and us, could be normal.
"How's your jaw?" I picked up a skewer of grilled chicken and bit the end. Ohh, that’s good…
He rubbed the spot where I’d hit him, grinning. "I'll live but next time I’ll be ready to block."
"There won't be a next time if you announce yourself instead of sneaking up on me."
He started filling his plate. "I didn't want to interrupt the performance."
"It wasn't a performance."
"It was definitely a performance and I enjoyed it.”
I took a bite from one of the dishes I didn’t recognize and my stomach did a happy dance. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. "This is delicious."
“It’s from Elias’ restaurant. I’m still trying to figure out how the two things connect but he makes it work.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s not the restaurant type but when you meet him, you’ll understand.”
“That’s your sister’s husband, right?”
He nodded. “You did a full background on me.”
I paused the skewer I was about to devour and my eyes shot over to his. He chuckled and let me off the hook. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. I know a little bit about your family too.”
“I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”
“Neither, just expected on both sides. How was the rest of your day? Looks like you’re getting settled."
"Getting there. Pretty much boring. Reviewed some contracts, unpacked, spoke with Giselle."
His eyes locked on mine. "About?"
"The amendments. She wanted to make sure I was okay with them. She sounded concerned."
"Giselle takes her responsibilities at the club seriously."
"She also talked about you like the two of you are really close."
Christian's expression didn’t give anything away, which bothered me a little. "We've done business together."
"Just business?"
"Mostly but she also helped me navigate Erogenous when I first joined."
That explained his comfort level with the place. He was close to the owner…
“Are you friends?”
He smiled smugly. “Yes, but a little more than friends considering I’ve seen her naked, she’s seen me naked, but we’ve never gone beyond that.”
“I wasn’t…”
“You were and that’s okay. A release for me hasn’t been intimate in years. I know it’s hard to process that but she and I have no feelings for each other and won’t. I will never have feelings for any of the women I spend time with at the club. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Any of the women meant me too. How could I not worry about that?
Because this is an exchange, Scot. How many times does he have to tell you that…
Once again I couldn’t read him, so I moved on.
"I also called my friend."
"Checking in?"
"She wanted to make sure I wasn't being held hostage."
He smiled sexily. "And your verdict?"
"The accommodations are acceptable." I gestured to the spread laid out on the table. "And this definitely helps."
"Glad to know I’m meeting your standards."
"Some standards haven’t been met yet?"
Whoa, where the hell did that come from?
You know exactly where. Giselle has seen him naked and you want to see him naked…
"Soon enough."
My pussy pulsed in approval.
"What about you? What have you been up to today?"
"Meeting. My brother-in-law."
"He’s Elias’ brother, right? Are you all close?”
“We’re a lot better than we used to be.”
“So no?”
“We’re close. Things were complicated with all of us. Cress wasn’t originally supposed to marry Elias. The arrangement was for him to marry our younger sister Jona…”
“Jona?” I frowned. “But she’s…”
“Much younger but things worked out like they were supposed to, and considering our history, I consider where we are now a good thing.”
“What’s your history?”
He stared at me for a minute, and I thought he wouldn’t tell me. After he did, I kind of wished he hadn’t…
“My brother killed theirs and I’m pretty sure Elias retaliated and killed Cole.”
I choked on my food and it took a minute to get things under control by clearing my throat.
“Your brothers killed each other?”
His eyes locked on mine and he added, “Cole had a drug problem. He made a lot of questionable choices. I’m not justifying what happened because it was hard on all of us.
We lost family members we love but actions have consequences.
We’ve found a mutual place of understanding.
It wasn’t easy but we’re all in a good place.
Cress loves Elias. I love my sister and their children.
Life is complicated that way sometimes. Good things are born from horrible situations. ”
I understood that but not in the way he might think. Me being here was born from my husband lying to me for ten years.
“I’m glad you all are in a good place.”
He nodded. “Are you close to your family?”
My smile surfaced quickly. “Yes, but people don’t assume we are.”
“Why not?”
“Emotions aren’t tolerated in the Whitney household.
It was the one place my parents disagreed.
Well that and my mother believed women should be allowed the same respect and privilege the Whitney men are granted.
” I rolled my eyes and he chuckled. “My mother hugged us all the time, told us she loved us. Made sure my siblings and I did that also but my father hated it and criticized her, saying she was making us weak. Families with strong legacies were business minded and not emotional. Pretty much heartless robots. Kill or be killed.”
“You and your siblings didn’t adapt to that mindset?”
I smiled again, shaking my head. “No, we’re very close but mostly in private. To the world the Whitney clan is structured and detached. We show up for each other, support each other, and my father hates it. I’m closer to my brother than my sister but we’re all truly connected.”
“Cress and I are close now. It used to be me and Jona but she’s been floating since the thing with Cress and Elias.”
He sounded hurt by the void. “You miss her?”
“I miss the person she used to be and the woman she is now who she won’t let us get to know, but as long as she’s okay, then I’m okay.”
“Is she okay?”
“With the way she’s blowing through money, yes.” He laughed but I could tell he wasn’t completely sure.
We finished our food with more casual conversation. I half expected him to ask about my marriage but he didn’t. I was grateful because I wasn’t sure I was ready to travel down that road with Christian right now, or ever…
We barely made a dent in the food but I was stuffed, and when I reached for my wine to finish the meal off, Christian shook his head. His hand covered mine on the glass.
"You've had enough for tonight."
I frowned. "Excuse me?"
"We'll be spending time in the playroom later." His voice deepened. "I want you completely aware. No alcohol influencing your decisions."
My pulse went crazy and so did the flutters in my stomach. "Tonight?"
"Unless you object."
I probably needed time to adjust to living here before adding that layer of complexity but my body had other ideas and was already throbbing with anticipation at the thought of being in that room with him.
"No objections.”
"Good, let me get this taken care of." He began clearing the containers.
I was nervous. This was different. More intimate because we weren’t in a club setting and there wasn’t a blindfold to hide behind.
Just us, in his home, in a room that felt like it was for me.
I knew that wasn’t the case but I would be the first. So wouldn’t he always remember that and think about me no matter who he was with?
The thought of him being with others after me gut punched but it would happen, whether I liked it or not. This. Is. Temporary.
I kept saying that in my head but still…
I was anxious, but more than anything, I was ready to see if the fantasies that had been playing in my mind since last night would match the reality of what was about to happen.
I stood in the bathroom staring at my reflection with my stomach in knots. For the next month I would belong to Christian. It felt strange even having that thought.
I exhaled slowly and stepped into the shower. The hot water helped. It gave me something to focus on. We discussed how things would go and the only thing he gave me was that he would take care of me.
"No expectations. Just trust."
"Let me guide you."
My body responded before my thoughts could catch up. For the past hour all I could think about was his mouth and hands on me and how far I would let things go.
I stepped out of the shower, dried off, and reached for the white silk robe I placed on the counter earlier.
I tied the belt and brushed my palms down the front before I looked in the mirror one last time.
You got this, Scot.
Even if your pulse says otherwise.
I laughed nervously before I walked barefoot down the hall.
The house was so damn quiet that every single sound was amplified.
Christian’s eyes were on me as soon as I stepped into the hallway, and the minute I stopped in front of the door, my stomach dipped.
His presence was so damn loud right now but he looked relaxed and completely in control.
He looked at me for a long moment then his eyes dropped to the robe. A cocky smile eased onto his handsome face and my stomach dipped again.
“Take it off.”