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“Wait!”
The panic in her voice froze me in place.
“Why?”
“James, I’m nervous, okay?” She huffed out a breath before continuing. “I’ll explain, but first...we need to clear up a few things before we move forward.”
“Before moving forward with what?” I demanded.
She hesitated, then replied quietly. “Us.”
“You said we should keep our distance,” I bit off.
“And you told me not to give a fuck about my family’s opinion,” she replied in a level tone. “Did you mean that?”
Closing my eyes, I lifted my face to the sky. “No. Look, I can be a giant ass sometimes.”
“My family’s important to me, James. Okay?”
“I know that.” I knew from the first time I’d met her. When she’d helped Dina at the rehearsal dinner, anybody who saw the two sisters together could spot their bond.
I envied them—their loyalty to each other.
I hadn’t done shit to earn that kind of loyalty from Tina.
But I wanted it anyway.
“Okay,” Tina said. “Can we maybe discuss all of that…later?”
“Yes. I’m on my way to the front door now.”
“Um. Well, okay, but…that’s not where I am,” she said.
A square of light fell across me from the windows on the second floor.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
Tina stood there in the window. I couldn’t make out her features, not with the nimbus of light framing her, but I’d recognize her figure anywhere.
And the room she was in…
My mind hazed over.
I strode but had no memory of doing so, leaving the patio, climbing the back staircase, and walking down the hall to the private bedroom, outfitted to my satisfaction.
Until recently, there had been nobody I’d wanted in that room.
The night I’d brought Tina to the mansion, we’d slept in a room most would assume was the master bedroom. However, this room was hidden deep in the private part of the mansion because it had so much of me, and I didn’t share myself that easily. It was my actual bedroom. Nobody knew about it except Gianni. I owned the house—I owned several. Out of all my processions, this room was the only one that felt truly mine. It was more than just my bedroom.
Here, I would let my guard down.
I would let my fantasies play out. It was the place I’d imagined bringing a sub I trusted.
Tina.
But did I trust her? Could I let my guard down for her? I hoped.
I pushed the door open and watched as she slowly turned to face me. The neurons in my brain exploded one by one.