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“You have so much to learn. So much I want to teach you about yourself and how you deserve to be worshipped. A few fleeting hours or nights a week isn’t enough. I need you with me, so I can help you reach your full potential.”
“Serious question,” I preface. “Is this some ploy to lock me in your sex dungeon?”
Tristan laughs, his chest rattling against me with every hearty billow.
“I said it was serious.”
“I live in a penthouse. There is no basement.” He tries to hold his laughter. “I don’t need to lock you away; I can already have you as I see fit, mo cuishle.”
“Can I think about it?” My question comes out timidly.
“Of course.” He kisses my cheek. His phone rings softly from the other room, and he releases his hold on me to climb from the tub. Water cascades down his flawless body as he reaches for a towel. Wrapping it around his waist, he says, “I’m leaving in about twenty minutes.”
“Wait! What?” I call after him as he leaves the room.
Did this man really just give me twenty minutes to decide if I’m willing to go live with him?
Pulling the plug on the drain, I stand and grab a towel to follow after him. “We should talk about this. This shouldn’t be some rash decision. You can’t seriously expect me to make this decision this fast.” I storm down the hallway, my shocked statement hanging in the air.
Tristan has his phone wedged between his ear and shoulder as he hastily pulls on the clothes he discarded in the living room last night. Buttoning his shirt, he turns to face me, and our eyes meet. He stares at me with a look of worry as he finishes his call. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
Ending the call, he shoves his phone into his pocket and crosses the room to me. His large hands cup my face, and he stares down at me as he speaks. “We did talk about this, and I don’t make rash decisions. What I am asking is for your best. I can’t stand here and convince you right now.”
Stooping his head, his lips press to mine, and he kisses me slow and deep as though he may never get the opportunity again. He pulls back, and his words vibrate against my lips. “I have to go, mo cuishle.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
TRISTAN
As much as I don’t want to leave her, Conor already has men on the way here. Six of them should be arriving in the next five minutes to keep an eye on her until I get back. Men who would sooner die protecting her than be exposed to my rage if they fail me.
I might not have told her the whole truth, but I didn’t lie. What I’m asking of her is not entirely selfish.
This is for her best.
She isn’t safe without me. No one close to us is. The Bratva made that very fucking clear last night. Unable to get to Layla or Fiona, they went for the only other woman connected to us.
“Wait…” Layla quietly calls after me when I reach the door. Turning on my heel, tears well in her eyes, and her lower lip trembles as she tries to compose her thoughts.
“Oh, mo cuishle…” I cross the room and pull her tight. “I’m not leaving you. If you need time, I won’t be mad at you.”
I might drag you out of here over my shoulder later, but I won’t be mad.
“Can…can you wait ten minutes for me to get dressed?” she murmurs against my chest.
“I can give you five. I need to get to my family.” I release her from my embrace. “We can get your things later.”
She quickly throws on a flowing, blue sundress and a pair of strappy flat heels and nods. Fidgeting with her hair, Layla combs it with her fingers as we walk to the elevator before throwing it into a messy bun atop her head as we make our way to the lobby.
The guys Conor sent are arriving as we step onto the sidewalk. I silently wave them off, not wanting Layla to be aware of their presence. The lot of them continue past us. They’ll circle back when we’re gone to keep an eye on her building until I give the word to collect her things.
After helping Layla into the car, which Fred graciously didn’t tow from the loading zone, I take my phone out to send a quick text to my brothers.
Bringing Layla to the club.
She doesn’t know about us or what happened last night.
And she isn’t going to find out from the lot of you.
