Page 22 of Wicked Christmas Eve
This time the normal heat of embarrassment did not make its way through the darkness washing over me. So many of my nerve endings tingled I thought my body might be on fire. Black spots hovered in my vision until I closed my eyes and succumbed.
Sometime later I opened my eyes and realized that Cyrus had untied me and was now gently massaging my wrists and arms. When he realized I was awake, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to a nearby couch. He sank down into the plush cushions and cradled me on his lap.
“That was quite incredible, Megan. Although I have to be honest and tell you that I didn’t think you had that in you.”
“How long was I—” I struggled to sit, but Cyrus merely pushed me back down.
“You need more rest.”
“Wait. There were people. What happened?”
“I sent them away so we could be alone.”
“You sent them?”
He nodded. “Yes, my sweet little elf, my party, my rules.”
“Your party?” I struggled to sit up again, but he kept me pinned against his chest.
“In a manner of speaking. I absorb the cost for the rental of the room at these events and make sure the bar is closed to the public for the night.”
“Wait. This isn’t a sex club?”
He laughed, a deep rumble I felt all the way to my bones.
“No, Megan. Wicked Grounds is still just a bar. Most nights. We just happen to accommodate groups like this one when no one else will. Then I get the added perk of attending if I so choose. Which I usually don’t. But damn, if I’d known women like you were going to wander in when I least expected it, maybe I would have come in more often.”
My head was beginning to spin. It sounded a lot like he was saying this was his bar.
“This is your bar? I thought you were a lawyer?”
“I have a variety of interests and investments in this town. When I came back from the military, I realized how much I loved it here and decided to put my money where my mouth was and start doing my part to improve things.”
“I had no idea.”
“I guess if you came home more often and stayed more than a day…”
“Is there anything you don’t already know about me?”
He lifted his shoulders. “Not much. With your mom dating my dad, I hear a lot.”
“Excuse me?” This time I pushed against his chest and scrambled until he let me sit up. “Did you just say?”
He smiled, his mouth curving into a sexy smirk that was so not fair in the way it distracted me.
“Yeah. They’ve been dating a while. Although for some reason they still keep it on the down low. Not sure why, but I do try to stay out of their business.”
“So this whole interview today was a set up. Your dad going home sick and all that.”
He grabbed my hand and squeezed. “I’d say so. Although I’m going to have to give dad hell for not giving me a head’s up. That whole scene you walked in on could have been awkward as hell if it scared you away.”
“I’m going to kill my—”
“No, you’re not. If not for her meddling I might have missed my second chance. For that I owe her. So don’t even think about giving her hell over it. Although…” He paused as if that made him think about something. “It would be a good way for you to earn a punishment.”
My stupid traitorous body jerked at that idea and he knew it because next thing I knew I was flat on my back on the couch with him looming over me.
“I was wondering how long I would have to give you before we went for round two.”
