Page 36

Scowling, she shoved my hand away, clamping her thighs together. “Asshole.”
I smirked, sucking her juices from my fingers. Fuck, she tasted so good. “I don’t need Rook’s permission to be with you Tatiana. You just admitted how you felt about me.”
“I just wanted to come.”
“Lie.”
After a few moments passed of staring each other down, she adjusted her clothing and turned away from me to stare out the window. Disappointment coiled through me, and I adjusted my dick, which was so swollen, it was going to break my fucking zipper. “Tati. We need to make things right again.” I tried for lightness. “I miss those innocent, blushing smiles.”
"You lost the privilege of seeing those a long time ago.”
“And the privilege of protecting you?"
“You long since broke the solemn promise you made to me." Her voice was low and soft and she stared at the garden beyond us, instead of looking at me. "What makes you think I would ever trust you again?"
She wasn’t defiant anymore, or angry or even annoyed. She’d accepted that I’d walked away from her, given up. Just like so many other people in her life. I’d never forgive myself for that.
"I may have broken my promise to you," I adjusted the sleeve of my suit coat, pulling it upwards, and her eyes fell to my exposed wrist, "but I never stopped caring."
She froze, her eyes caught on the red ribbon tied around my wrist.
“Yes, Tati. I kept it. And I always remembered you. Always wished that I was a better person, that I lived in a better place, a safer world, where I could bring you to me.”
Her fingers went to her own wrist, clutching it tight, and a red blush crawled up her chest. Her eyes didn’t move away from my wrist, but she released a halting breath, shaking her head. “Why haven’t I seen you wear it before?”
“Because I took it off when I knew I was going to see you.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Believe it,polva.”
“How?”
I showed her how I could easily slip it on and off. She huffed, not answering, staring out the window again. I reached forward, gripping her chin to force her gaze up to meet mine. “You will come to my house.”
“But—”
“I don’t care about Rook or your fucking contract with him. Come to my house, stay with me, just until things are settled with the cartel.” My voice softened. “You know how bad things can get. Let me prove to you that you can trust me again.”
She faltered, her tongue swiping over the freckle by her upper lip, and a wave of warmth washed over me, memories of her doing that when we were kids assaulting me. She was still that same girl, deep down inside. The girl who could love me again. I only had to prove it to her.
I brushed my thumb over her wrist, caressing it gently and, once again, she looked down at my wrist, where the red ribbon was peeking out of my sleeve. “Okay,” she gave in, and the heat inside me billowed and swelled. “Let me work out arrangements tonight, and tomorrow I’ll come to your house.”
My heart was pounding, my nerves eager, but I didn’t want to scare her off. I brushed her wrist again. “You won’t regret it. I swear.”
Her hand went to the door. “I need to go.”
I released her wrist. “Okay.”
She didn’t say anything else, and I watched her leave my car, my eyes locked on that perfect ass before she disappeared into her Mercedes. After fixing her hair and makeup, she pulled away, speeding off down the street without a backwards glance.
I watched her until she was out of sight, then started the Rover and pulled up into Poppy's driveway.
By now, Poppy would know I was here; there was no need to be subtle.
I opened the door without knocking, only to have a gun shoved into my head.
It took me two seconds to disarm Poppy, and she stepped back in surprise as I raised her own gun at her. I gave her a moment to understand that I could've killed her in a second, then lowered the gun, tucking it away.