Page 17 of Mastered by Them (Rose and Dagger #2)

Edmund

S he gasps and turns to look at me over her shoulder. I love the way her eyes widen in shock, then darken in lust as she tips over the edge into her orgasm. “Daddy!”

“Good girl.” I keep pumping my hips, thrusting through her tight, hot cunt while she spasms around me. I grip her hair to keep her face angled toward me. I crash my mouth against hers, craving the claim, the extra connection.

Pleasure slices through me, then detonates as I come hard, spilling into the condom.

“Fuck.” I kiss her again. We’re both panting, quaking from the force of what we’ve done. “We needed this. You all right, baby?”

“Yeah.” She sounds dreamy, sated.

I puff up with pride. I made her feel that way. I helped cheer her up...or rather, we both helped each other. Things aren’t okay yet, and they won’t be. Not until we get Troy back. But in the meantime, I helped remove the weight on her conscience.

As if she’s reading my mind, she whispers, “I miss him.”

“I do, too.” I wrap my arms around her and hold her.

My father accuses me of feeling too much…but right now, I don’t care. If the feelings are for Danica, there’s no too much .

I think of the invitation sitting in my father’s office, unanswered. “I have an idea.”

* * *

Danica

Edmund shared his plan with me last night after my “punishment.” I’m eager to get back to him, but I have an errand to run to Fair Heights, first. Mom called, saying she has something for me.

A smile spreads across my face at the sight of a familiar black sports car parked in my parents’ driveway. Malcolm is here.

I hurry into the house, no longer dreading my errand. “Hello?”

“In the kitchen,” my dad calls.

I walk in to find my dad, Malcolm, and a woman I don’t recognize all standing around with drinks in their hands.

“Dani!” Malcolm exclaims.

It’s been a couple of years since I last saw him, but his receding hairline must have hit a point where he gave up, because his hair is buzzed close to his scalp. He’s grown a well-trimmed, dark-gray beard to compensate for the lost hair, and it looks good on him.

“You’re all grown up.” He smiles and accepts my hug. “I heard you’re engaged!”

“Yep!” I inject false cheer into the response. Just because I’m starting to like Edmund doesn’t mean I’m ready to marry the guy. “Deep in wedding prep, you know how it goes.”

“Well, not yet.” He steps back with an even bigger smile on his face. “But who knows? This is my girlfriend, Zora.”

I turn to shake the woman’s hand. She looks a little younger than him, in her mid- to late-forties. Her deep green dress is cute but conservative, and her dark brown hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail. She gives me a warm smile. “I’ve heard so much about you!”

“It’s really nice to meet you.” I smile back.

“Danica, is that you?” My mom’s voice is faint from the other side of the house.

“I better go.” I give Malcolm and Zora an apologetic wave and hustle in the direction of my mom’s voice. “I’m here, yeah.”

“Oh, good.” She steps out of her bedroom, holding a large velvet box. “I found my mother’s diamonds.”

I smile, but it must look forced, because Mom’s lips twist in disapproval.

“It’s time you accept this marriage and decide to make the best of it. He’s a good boy from a good family.”

I want to laugh at the idea of Edmund being a “boy.” He’s eleven years older than I am. Also, he’s from a “good family”—seriously? They’re criminals.

Just like us.

“Thanks for lending me the necklace.” I opt to keep my other thoughts to myself for now.

She passes over the box. I ease open the lid, stunned anew at the sight of the sparkling necklace.

Diamonds upon diamonds upon diamonds, culminating in a large teardrop that will hit just between my collarbones.

My grandmother wore the necklace at her wedding to Granddad.

Mom wore it when marrying Dad. Aunt Milana wore it in both of her weddings.

And now here it is. For me.

Mom throws her arms around me. “You’ll be the most beautiful bride, Danica. I’m very proud of you for doing this.”

It’s the first acknowledgment she’s given of how this engagement is a sacrifice on my part. It’s a subtle acknowledgment, yeah, but it’s probably the most I’ll get.

“Anyway.” She steps back and clears her throat. Her pale blue eyes are watery with emotion. “You can wear it next time you try on gowns. Let me know when and I’ll be there for you.”

“Yes, of course.” I didn’t think I wanted her there, but seeing her now…maybe. “I’ll let you know.”

She walks me back to the kitchen. I say my goodbyes to everyone. I wish I could stay and chat with Malcolm and Zora, but I have a party to get ready for.

* * *

Troy

I tug on the sleeves of my tux. This shit’s uncomfortable. I should be in the gear worn by the other security pros, but Amber wants me mingling. A part of the party. If I hadn’t known working for her was a mistake before, I’d know it now.

Hotel Rosa Roja has transformed its Spanish colonial aesthetic into a sleek, corporate wonderland. Everything is tasteful and elegant. Just like Amber.

She won’t let me out of her sight. This is a problem. I can already feel my throat closing, my lungs collapsing with the weight of her attention.

You chose to be here, Troy . I repeat it over and over. This was a choice. I couldn’t handle what she did to Dani, what she did to me. And so I found myself here, playing right into her manicured claws.

“Troy!” she trills, clicking smartly over in her expensive heels, two champagne flutes in her hands. She looks stunning in her shimmering yellow dress. It matches her hair, which is tucked up in a classy twist. “There you are. Have you tried the sparkling wine? It’s from a new winery in Napa?—”

“I’m not drinking tonight. I’m on the clock.”

She scoffs. “You can have a glass—it won’t hurt anything. I’m your boss and I say it’s okay. Besides, that’s why we hired all these other guys. So you don’t have to oversee security on your own.”

I accept her proffered glass, just to shut her up. I even take a sip. Smile. “It’s wonderful.”

I stare meaningfully at her, and her breath catches.

She quickly covers it up with a laugh. “Come with me, there are some people I want you to meet.”

When she links her arm with mine, I’m proud of myself because I don’t even flinch.

* * *

Edmund

“Danica, you’re stunning.”

She does a little twirl as she emerges from her room. Mouth-watering in a deep pink evening gown that shows off her curves. “You look good, too.”

Her appraising glance sends warm tingles through me. I’m feeling too much…and I couldn’t care less about feeling too much. I care. I do. Maybe our engagement is arranged, maybe it’s all for business.

But what if it wasn’t?

She opens her clutch purse and holds out a piece of paper.

“What’s this?” I reach for it.

“A reminder of what we’re fighting for. Do you think if I show it to Troy, it’ll help with my apology?”

I take the small paper and realize it’s a photograph.

It’s the three of us at the Mirarosa boardwalk in that little photo booth.

Our hands are all over each other, and it’s steamy as hell—but there’s also genuine affection in our expressions.

The way Danica looks directly into Troy’s eyes just before a kiss has my heart tightening in my chest.

That isn’t just affection in her gaze—that’s love. Does she know it? Troy doesn’t, not yet.

I want her to look at me that way. But this moment isn’t the time for jealousy.

I hand the photo back. “Yeah, angel. I think it’ll help.”

When we get to the venue, a large banner proclaims the grand opening of Pinton Environmental Consulting Solutions: San Esteban.

“You think he’ll be here?” Danica hesitates at the bottom of the hotel steps.

“Pretty sure.” I lead her up, craning my neck to look for Troy. I’m also hoping to avoid Amber. I haven’t seen her since Troy left with her the first time, and I have no desire to see her again.

“Edmund.” Danica slows her steps. “What aren’t you telling me about this?”

“About what?”

“Don’t bullshit me. You look nervous.”

Fuck. Why do I have to show my emotions like this? “I don’t want to talk to his new boss.”

She frowns, but she doesn’t ask any follow-up questions. Which is good, because she won’t like the answers.

I see several people I know through my family. Some crooks, some politicians, some CEOs and other business folks, even a B-list celebrity who blinks vapidly like he isn’t sure why he ended up at this party.

I’m still scanning the room when Danica freezes in place.

“Hey, what is it?” I tug on her hand.

She doesn’t answer. I follow her gaze.

And there’s Troy. His arm is linked with Amber’s. I squint. I can’t be seeing this—he would never touch her, not in a million years.

Yet there he is. They look like a couple. He’s in a nice tux, she’s in a gold gown.

“He’s on a date?” Danica whispers. “He’s on a date ?”

I wish I could soften this, but there’s no refuting what we see in front of us. “I don’t think it’s a real date.”

But how can it not be? We’re seeing it right in front of us. Amber laughs at something a man in front of them says, and Troy looks easy and unruffled. Like he was born to stand next to her. Like he wants to be there.

The lights flicker and Amber makes her way to the front of the room, her arm hooked in Troy’s. When she reaches the edge of the stage, she takes a step up, then turns around.

Faces Troy.

Kisses him.