Page 108 of Carnal Wagers

Cillian’s body was a glowing study of the male specimen. All strong lines. Lean muscles carved under smooth skin. A canvas of tattoos, quotes, and designs, each one to be studied and catalogued. Topped with a perfect, firm ass begging for teeth marks and my tongue licking at the dimples on each side. Then there was his cock, still half hard like he hadn’t quite convinced himself there wasn’t going to be another round. When he swaggered toward me, wet cloth in hand, I licked my lips.

“Keep that up, and I’ll forget you’re sore.”

He reached between my legs, and I reflexively flinched and hissed at the unfortunate prickling. One of his brows arched as if saying, “See.”

When he brushed the cloth over my sensitive bits, I sighed into its warmth and the intimacy of letting him clean me up, especially under the captive hold of his gaze.

I caressed his cheek. “How are you feeling?”

He pulled the cloth away and settled up against me. “Perfect. Best night’s sleep in ages.”

“Are you certain? You didn’t look fine before.”

His nostrils twitched.

“’Course I did. I’d been watching you sleep for the last hour.” He pecked my mouth. “Second best part of my morning.”

“Cillian.” Unease coated my voice. That hadn’t been the look of someone enjoying anything at all. “You were crying.”

“I don’t cry, woman. I never do.” His jaw ticked under my fingers.

“It’s completely normal to need to let go sometimes.”

“I said I fucking wasn’t,” he snapped and knocked my arm aside.

Static hummed between us, tense and foreboding, ready to crackle at the first wrong word. We stood at a precipice of our own making, our one-night truce teetering toward its end.

My phone buzzed against the nightstand closest to us both, and the ringtone burst out with Rihanna singing the chorus for “Love The Way You Lie” by Eminem. I groaned internally. I must have butt-dialed the volume level last night.

We dove for the phone at the same time, only for me to get squashed under a mass of tight muscles and a heady potion of natural, salty musk. One whiff, and the tension swept out of me.

“Who is La Reine?”

I stiffened again, and not because he butchered the nickname. La reine, French for “the queen,” was exactly the attitude my mother ruled my life with, no matter how old I got. I ripped the phone out of his grip, picked my top off the floor, and scurried off the bed and into the bathroom. Once the door closed, I crumpled onto the toilet seat, head between my legs, and answered the call, pantiless.

“Alo, Maman.” Hi, Mom, I drudged out.

“Darling, what are you wearing to the Richemont’s soiree? I just put a fantastic gown on hold for you at our favorite boutique. Just enough décolletage to draw the attention before your silver tongue charms their pocketbooks.”

“Ma—”

“You must come try it on immediately. I’ll have Adrien send over the helicopter to pick you up. And Tessa. Bring her with you.”

“Maman, I—”

“I have a dress for her to try on as well, but we’ll have to see. She’s been putting on some weight lately. Honestly, I don’t know what she’s eating at that school of hers, but I told Adrien he needs to be careful. She’s already at a disadvantage. It wouldn’t do for her to also—”

“Stop, enough,” I lashed out. I sucked air through my teeth and rubbed at my forehead to shove some calm down my veins before a headache bloomed. “Where do you think I am?”

“Darling.” She forced a chuckle. “Where else would you be but home?”

Typical.

“I told you I was in the States the last time you called. I’m not doing any soirees, galas, or benefit dinners for now. I told you that.”

“That was ages ago. How have you still not settled things with that husband of yours? Honestly, Alizé, try harder, or you’ll never get what you want.”

That was always what I did. I reached higher than anyone. I learned more than anyone and taught myself what school didn’t. I always wore the latest fashions so that I never looked out of place anywhere I went. I earned the family financial conglomerate more business partners and investors across different financial sectors than all my siblings combined at any point. It was never enough. It never would be.