CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Balor
I n my arms, Ella nods tightly, agreeing to go home with me. My cock swells so hard and so fast, I might bust a nut in these tuxedo pants.
I take her hand and steer her off the dancefloor. Reality slams into me seeing my family at the two reserved tables filled with powerful people my brother, Kieran, wants to impress.
The one thing shared by every one of my brothers’ wives was the look of sheer terror in their eyes taking us all in for the first time.
Ella stands tall, composed, showing no signs of being frightened.
But right now, Ella isn’t my wife or fiancée, not even my girlfriend. She’s a woman I fucked who’s now my employee and that’s what they’ll see. My staff is my business. I don’t follow rules anyway.
While Ella doesn’t appear afraid, I decide to pass on introductions to the members of my family she hasn’t met.
“Wait here, please,” I say, stopping at the edge of the dancefloor near the lobby doors.
Her eyes stray over my shoulder. Nodding, she gets that I’m saying goodbye to my brothers without her, but she doesn’t call me out on it.
“I need to get my purse from Dad’s table and use the ladies’ restroom,” she says, light and breezy.
Nodding, I lean in and kiss her cheek. “I will come find you, if—”
“Balor,” she breathes, sounding desperate for me. “I want this more than you know.”
That stiffens my cock like iron.
I squeeze her hand. “Good, because I’m fucking you all night until you beg me to stop. ”
Her jaw drops at my blunt words. “Not face down this time?”
“No. Go get your things.” I wink at her.
When she turns and struts away, I stride across the dancefloor, heading straight for Kieran.
He’s the only man I feel any obligation to explain myself.
“A word,” I utter to him, his eyes locked on me when I approach him.
“Of course.” He shows his unwavering respect for me, given my contribution to our empire.
“I’m leaving. I’m taking a woman home with me.” I raise my chin. “Snow’s daughter. The assistant who works for me.”
His right eyebrow raises. “Does her father know?”
“I don’t care.”
“You should care if you think he’s dangerous.”
“I’m not worried what he can do. I’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt us. Trust me.”
“I trust you with everything we have, Balor. You know that, right?” Kieran’s trust weighs heavily on me.
“And if we take down Snow, I want Ella with me, at my side. No prejudices.” I glare at him.
“You won’t have any from me.” He stands at his full height.
“I don’t care for long drawn-out goodbyes.”
“You do the Irish exit better than any of us.” He grips the back of my neck. “Have yourself a good night.”
“I plan to.”
After tossing nods to anyone at the tables looking my way, my eyes search for Ella. I stop, seeing her speaking to Jillian and Eoghan near the bar.
Eoghan fists a whiskey, and it’s the first time his hands have been on anything except Jillian’s ass. She’s pregnant and sips from a tumbler of sparkling water .
Without any tension from the day they met, it pleases me the way Ella smiles and laughs with them. Whatever the hell they’re talking about.
Joining them, I immediately slide my hand around Ella’s waist, catching Jillian’s eyes.
“Our wedding celebration invites go out next week. Am I putting you down as a plus-one, Balor?” she cheerfully asks me, referring to the big party they’re having because they already got married in a Vegas wedding chapel last month.
“Absolutely,” I give my response about bringing Ella with no hesitation.
“And bring her out to Shea’s house for the bridal shower,” Eoghan says, sounding all-in on these wedding plans.
“Send me the date again so we can look at our schedules.” Turning to Ella, her jaw hanging I open, I say, “Ready?”
“Uh-huh.” Ella smiles, squeezing my hand.
“Have a good night,” I say to Eoghan and Jillian.
Ella stops at the coat check and picks up her calf-length wool coat. I help her into it and lead her toward the exit. The valet brings around my Rivian, which I drove myself.
I lift Ella into the passenger seat, snagging her dress so it doesn’t catch on the door. “Let’s stop by your apartment to pack a bag.”
“A bag?” she chirps the question.
“You’re staying with me until Monday.”
“I am?”
“Aye. That’s what I want. Don’t you?”
“My dad...”
I check my phone. “He’s already on the West Side Highway.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m tracking his phone,” I say, staring at her .
“Are you tracking mine?”
“Aye. You work for me.”
Nodding, she sits back. “I’m okay with that because I have nothing to hide.”
“Good girl.”
We stop at her building, and I offer to walk her up to the apartment, but she waves me off. Her building is secure. Snow assured that because he’s got enemies.
She returns less than twenty minutes later with a stylish white leather tote bag, but still in her dress and those heels I want wrapped around my head as soon as possible.
After she gets in, I lean in and breathe against her neck. “That gown looks beautiful on you.”
“You bought it.”
That gets me so fucking hard, I can’t control myself.
“And I’m glad you left it on because now I get to be the one who tears it off your body.”