Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
Barrett
Ineed to make something clear to her and it isn’t something I can do in public, despite how we were passing the boredom through the speeches. I’d already heard everything I needed with the first few. Every single charity in this city relies on some portion of Campbell’s generosity.
With the warm season, the coat-room is unused and dim. I turn the lock after closing us in and Sage spins at the sound.
“You need to stop questioning every single move I make.” I take determined steps toward her, surprised when she doesn’t back away.
“Why shouldn’t I question everything? I don’t know the purpose behind this evening.”
“Getting in here, pet. That’s it. The rest is simply because I want to.”
“Want to? You wanted to dance?”
I had a purpose to the dance and to speaking with her coworkers, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to do it. That I didn’t enjoy having her body pressed against mine. If I’m honest with myself, I enjoyed it too much. “I did.”
Her breaths are slow as she casts her gaze to the floor, working her lip between her teeth in thought.
I hold myself still and wait, desperately wanting to know what’s going through her mind. So much so that I fear disturbing her.
“This is business,” she finally says. “And we should keep that in mind with every interaction.” She lifts her chin and swallows. I watch the ripple of her throat, noting the difficulty.
I spend the next few moments studying her, picking apart her dilated pupils and rising chest. She has the same forced confidence with which she entered my club.
The more I take her in, the more I don’t like her idea of this business transaction.
I didn’t demand her body as payment for killing her brother-in-law.
I could have, but I didn’t. It isn’t who I am.
However, after this, I’m debating it and curious how much she’d enjoy it.
“Barrett?” My name leaving her lips scatters my thoughts in a million directions.
“I’ll agree to your business-only declaration after.” Maybe. I shouldn’t have even brought her in here, but now that I have, now that I can clearly see her reaction and the fight she puts up against it, I need to know more.
“After what?”
I don’t answer her. Reaching forward, I slide my hand around her waist and steer her toward the door, but at the last moment I turn her around, shoving her back against the smooth, burgundy floral wall next to it.
“What are you doing?”
“If it makes you feel better, consider this part of the deal, but that isn’t why I’m doing this.” Cupping the side of her neck, I run my thumb along her jaw.
“This isn’t part of the deal,” she whispers. Her head rests against the wall and her lips part.
Fucking perfect.
One touch. One kiss. A test and a taste.
Leaning in, I take her mouth. Slow and measured movements of my lips isn’t enough. Her pulse jumps at the base of her throat and shivers run down her body, breaking any thoughts of this being a test or a taste. I want the fucking meal.
I press my body against hers, moving my hips suggestively while pinning her to the wall. This kiss is more than I bargained for and it’s doomed us both. There’s no going back to strictly business after this.
Her taste is like a drug I’ve inhaled—a potent shot bursting through my veins. Her soft lips are pliant beneath mine, allowing me to take all of her. The slit in her dress is inviting, but this isn’t the time or the place.
Fuck, but I want to know how wet she is. The way her body arches and her nails dig into my arms gives me no doubt that her cream is coating her lower lips. It’s mine. She’s responding to me, making every drop of it, every part of her mine.
With a groan, I break the kiss without lifting my head. “I take it back.” I’m panting and so is she, heating the inch of space between us.
“Take what back?” she breathes.
“I’m not agreeing to business only.” Before she can push me away and demand otherwise, I unlock the door beside us.
Straightening, I take in her appearance.
Other than gorgeously puffy lips, she’s perfect—not a hair or dress strap out of place.
I quite like the idea of her coworkers and her boss seeing those puffy lips and knowing I was the one to claim them.
They all seemed to have this dowdy, boring opinion of Sage.
I’m the only one to see this side of her. I’m certain. The little warrior, ready to protect no matter the cost to herself.
I might have fucked up by kissing her, but it’s too late now.
“Enjoy the night, pet,” I whisper in her ear while opening the door, cutting off her chance to respond. I’m not finished with this experiment. Leading her back to our table with a hand on the small of her back, I’m disappointed to still hear the speeches carrying on.
Madeline looks over as we take our seats, her widened eyes raking over Sage.
I cut the woman a glare, but soon turn my attention back to my little warrior.
She’s straightening her dress in her lap and tucking her hair behind her ear, somehow looking small with embarrassment from our return.
I’d rather see her chin high and defiance in her eyes, but I can’t deny that her meekness appeals to me all the same.
I let my hand rest on the back of her neck, drawing circles with my thumb while allowing the last of the speeches to keep my attention. As long as I’m touching her, I can concentrate on everything and everyone else around me.
Madeline wasn’t the only one to notice our absence. Willow, the office secretary, smirks behind her hand, and Morrison narrowed his eyes in our direction a few times before forcing his attention to the front.
The way Campbell and Morrison continue to lean toward each other in private conversation tells me what we need to do next. We need names, the names of the welcome casualties to keep any of them from rising in Campbell’s place. And we need a damn location to do the job. Campbell is never on his own.
If the mayor wants this done right, he’ll have to give us enough time. This isn’t a job we can rush. Not without being sloppy and getting caught.
The speeches are finally over and the clapping that ensues holds misinterpreted enthusiasm. The band returns to the stage and the fun of the evening begins. Guests crowd the bar and it isn’t long until they also take to the dance floor, which is exactly where I want to be with Sage.
I stand and pull her chair out, gesturing toward the dance floor.
Her wide eyes sway between me and the crowd filling the floor. “In case you didn’t notice earlier, I don’t like dancing.”
“I want to dance.”
“You don’t always get what you want.” She shakes her head.
“I do.”
“Not tonight.” Sage crosses her arms and straightens in her chair.
I move in behind her, bending forward to place my hands on the table in front of her.
My mouth lines up with her ear. “I’ve gotten everything I wanted tonight.
Dance with me, pet. Or, we could return to the coat-room.
” Where I’d force inconsolable pleasure on her until she’s begging me to take her home and finish the job properly.
“If I say no?” she whispers, tilting her head slightly toward me.
“To both?”
“To both.”
I swallow my disappointment so she doesn’t hear it in my voice. “Then we’ll make our way to the bar, mingle, talk.”
“Fine. No coat-room.” She pushes her chair back, forcing me to stand, and I take her to the dance floor.
Sage settles in my arms and allows me to lead. “My toes are oddly intact.”
Her lips pinch, tightening the smile breaking out as she falters in her next step. I’m successful holding back the groan with the crush of my big toe.
“That’s better,” I say through gritted teeth.
Sage relaxes and I’m able to let my gaze roam over her head, keeping track of the target moving back and forth between the dance floor and the bar, each time with a different woman on his arm. I’m not a bit shocked to see Madeline cling to his shoulder.
Sage and the real estate agency is an even better way to get to Dorian Campbell than we’d thought. I meet Fain’s gaze through the crowd while he works the bar. His position gives him a different perspective than mine and at the end of it, we’ll compare notes and report it all to Rafe.