“Yeah, she claims me,” he chuckles.
“Great. Is she here by chance? Because you see, my husband here said she would go shopping for me today, and well,” I look down at the t-shirt that has now fallen off my shoulders, baring a lot of skin. “I kind of need some clothes.”
“Calla?” Cain growls my name.
“Yes, dear?” I respond without looking at him, tossing a wink at Bronzer.
“Here.”
A cup of black coffee appears in front of me. The rich aroma sets my nose twitching.
“Thank you,” I say pleasantly.
Manny chuckles. Cain swears and I feel everyone’s eyes on my backside when I leave the room to try and find some paper and pencil to spend a hell of a lot of my darling hubby’s money.
“Have you ever been spanked?”
I cock my head and glare at Cain, who is standing on the threshold of the bedroom. I’m sitting cross-legged on the bed finishing up with my list. I glance at it one more time before I answer him to make sure I have all my sizes down. There’s a big star next to the lingerie shop in Birmingham Hills that I know carries my favorite bras. I stick the pen behind my ear out of habit.
“Are you cross examining me?”
“Cut the smart ass lawyer bullshit. I thought I made myself clear when I told you to respect me in front of others. It’s a shame Bronzer is one of the cool guys and doesn’t treat his wife like shit, because I want nothing better than to turn you over my knee and crack that ass.”
I grind my teeth and shake my head at this fool.
“Look, respect goes both ways. I apologize. Give me a break, would you? I mean, how was I supposed to know you would be having some man meeting in the middle of your kitchen early in the morning?”
“You didn’t, and that’s on me, but you prancing around with nothing covering your ass in front of my buddies really pisses me off.”
His muscles are tense as I stand and approach him.
“Whatever.” I wave him off.
“Goddamnit. I don’t care if it’s the pope who’s in this house. I do not want anyone else seeing what’s mine.”
Now it’s my turn to shout. I’m livid as hell.
“Don’t you dare raise your voice at me! I didn’t do a damn thing wrong. It’s you. All of it is you! The way I see it, this t-shirt covers more of my body than the clothes some of those women had on last night at that party. And I am not yours. I can show my ass to whomever I want.”
“Fuck. You are so stubborn. Those women’s asses weren’t hanging out. I’m having Priscilla buy a gunny sack, granny panties, and a damn muzzle for your mouth.”
I roll my eyes.
“Yeah, good luck with that one, buddy. You’d be better off spanking me.”
“Oh, you’re going to get spanked, all right.”
“Ha! We’ll see about that,” I sneer.
“We sure the hell will!”
Ugh. This man infuriates the living shit out of me. I don’t know whether to love him or hate him. Bitch slap him or kiss him. I’m not done with him yet, though. I want him to admit he’s jealous. It may be childish of me to pull it out of him, but I don’t care. I just want to hear him say it. I’ll prod on with my so-called interrogation and then when I’m done, I’ll be dropping a bomb right on top of his head. He’d better be ready for a big explosion if he lies to me.
“So which one is it? Are you mad because I went back out there and asked for some coffee, or are you really mad because they saw my ass?”
His gaze stays glued to my mouth until I climb off of the bed and stand directly in front of him.
“I’m not mad, baby. I just don’t want anyone else to see what’s rightfully mine. Whether you believe me or not, you are mine. There is nothing in this world that will ever change that.”
Cain reaches for my face, his fingers gliding down my cheek. His eyes become soft.
“You have a slight bruise right here from last night.”
I know he’s talking about my run-in with Emerald. I noticed it this morning, too, when I looked in the mirror. I lean into his touch.
“It doesn’t hurt.”
“I’m glad. So are we good?”
“We will be if you get me another cup of coffee.”
“That I can do.”
His fingers slide to my throat, down my shoulder and arm until he reaches my hand, and clasps it with his. Even though he didn’t tell me directly he’s jealous, it’s written all over his beautiful face, dark with scruff. I hate to put a spoke in his wheel, but it has to be done.
“By the way, here’s my list for Priscilla.” I hand it to him with a flourish. “I’m a woman who has expensive taste. I hope you don’t mind. If you don’t want to spend the money, I’m sure Manny can go back to my apartment to get some of my stuff, you know,” I add, suddenly feeling guilty.
“He can’t. I would bet anything Kryder knows you’re here. I’m not taking any chances where you’re concerned at all. And as far as the money goes, what I have is yours. It makes me feel good to be able to spend it on you.”
“You know,” I say, twining my fingers around his neck. “You’re not as hard-ass as you think you are.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, pretty lady. I am as hard and as badass as I think I am. Now is there anything else?” he smirks.
His amusement amuses me. The minute my words come out of my mouth it will be gone.
“Tell me what the three of you were talking about when I walked in the kitchen. What are you hiding from me, Cain?”
Chapter Eleven
Cain
“What are you talking about?”
Her face falls. Along with mine.
“I overheard you three in there talking before I came in. Please don’t lie. If it’s something I need to know, or something I can help with, then tell me. Don’t leave me in the dark anymore.”
She looks hurt. Lost. Uncomfortable, even.
“Please, Cain. Let me help.”
I loosen her arms from around my neck and she retreats to the bed. She deserves to know everything. For the first time since the day she left, I feel the pain again. If I tell her, will she hate me? Of course she will. She’s on the good side of the law, while her husband breaks it every time his feet hit the damn ground.
“I’ll tell you the truth, but I need you to promise me you will keep an open mind.”
She looks down to the floor then back up at me again.
“Now you’re scaring me. You’re in some kind of trouble, aren’t you?” she whispers.
Someone has sucky ass timing. My phone rings and I pull it out of my vest pocket. Seeing that it’s Priscilla, I answer.
“Yeah. I got it. I’ll be right out.”
Disconnecting, I shove my phone back in my vest, my eyes never leaving hers.
“Priscilla’s outside. Let me give this to her and I’ll be right back.”
I don’t stick around in the room after that. I need a moment to myself, to decide if I tell her everything or just enough to hope like hell it pacifies her enough so I can get on with my day.
By the time I’m finished giving the list and a wad full of cash to Priscilla, my mind is made up. I need for her to trust me and know I’m serious about the two of us. She’s going to flip her shit when she finds out just how deep I am into being a first class law-breaking criminal.
“Let’s go in the other room and talk. And here, put these on. You’re distracting the hell out of me knowing you have nothing on underneath my t-shirt.”
The air is crackling with a thick cable of tension. I hand her a pair of my shorts. She doesn’t even look at me when she takes them out of my hand. My gut twists in a damn knot so tight, I’m afraid it will never come undone, like a shoelace you can’t seem to undo no matter what, so you cut it. That’s how I feel right now. Like I’m about to cut my own damn heart out.
I stand there and watch her slide my way-too-big-for-her shorts up her long legs, catching a glimpse of her bare pussy when she pulls them up and ties the string.