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When I’d finally wrung the last of my pleasure out, I caressed Rachel’s mouth. “You give good head.”
“Thank you,” she blushed.
“If you ever want to come out from behind the bar, let me know.”
16
Wren
“Areyou sure there’s nothing you can do?” I hated how desperate my voice sounded. But I was. Desperate. This was my last chance to help Hawk out, even though the financial ramifications would leave me living hand to mouth for the next decade or two.
The loan manager shook his head and gave me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Ms. Montana, but I can’t approve a loan of that amount.” He flicked through the application in front of him, frowning at the dire straits of my finances. “And given the state of your revenue stream with your business, I can’t see how I can loan you anything at all.”
My heart fell to my feet, although I wasn’t truly surprised. I knew getting a loan was going to be near impossible. I nodded. “Of course. Thank you for your time, Mr. Kahn.” I stood and walked from the bank, now truly left without another option. As I stepped out into the baking afternoon sun, I began the walk home.
As I dodged people on the clogged sidewalks, I thought about what else Bane was going to cost me. Because I only had one choice now.
When I got back to my apartment, I showered and changed, taking extra time on my makeup and picking out an outfit. I settled on a knee-length navy blue dress and wedges, then piled my hair into a messy bun at the top of my head. I’d just completed putting the finishing touches on my makeup when there was a knock on my apartment door.
I was suddenly breathless.
“Little Bird, I can hear you on the other side of this door.” Bane’s timbre voice rumbled through the hollow wood. “Let me in.”
Unlocking the bolts, I twisted the knob and opened it. I edged back a step when I saw the heated look in his eyes, the hunger that burned there. His gaze drifted down my body, taking in my dress and the heels. When they finally returned to my face, I felt a shift in the air. He took a step toward me, then halted. I looked down to find his hands balled into fists at his sides.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong with you?”
“You’re what’s wrong with me.” He looked down my body again. “How am I supposed to keep my hands off you tonight?” It seemed strange that he would. At my cocked head, he added, “I won’t touch you again until you agree to our arrangement.”
Huffing out a laugh, I shook my head. Bane Rivera was a tough man to pigeonhole. Grabbing my purse, I asked, “Are you ready?”
As I walked past him, I felt the heat of his body. It was like my soul prickled with awareness. Shaking myself a little, I stopped just outside the door and locked it behind him. Together, we walked to the bank of elevators.
“What’s your sister’s name?” I asked a little hesitantly.
“Bianca.”
“Is she older or younger?”
He gave me a sideways glance. “Older.”
“Who looks after who?”
“I look after her. Always have, even when I was a kid.”
For some reason, that answer lit me up on the inside, warming the hollow in my chest. He was just like me, only in reverse.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “Where does she live?”
He spun toward me a moment later, walking me backward until I felt the wall at my back. The hard, unforgiving surface didn’t yield as I pressed myself against it. Bane filled my vision, my nose, my ears. The only sense he hadn’t tortured yet was touch. And with the heat that filled his eyes, I wanted him to touch me.
He ghosted his fingers over my cheek, his gaze burning. “I don’t know why I spill my truths to you all the time.” His words were a gruff whisper. “But I do.” His entire body tensed right before he pulled himself away. Holding out his hand, he said, “Come.”
I let my fingers slip into his, and he pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my waist.
“I can’t resist you, Wren,” he muttered. “No matter what I do, no matter what I say, you keep drawing me back. I know I said I wouldn’t touch you, but if this is going to be the last time I can… goddammit, I’m going to touch you until I erase the touches of every other man before me.”
