Page 177 of Ruthless Creatures

Anger forming into a bitter little ball inside my stomach, I stare at him, standing there glaring at me in all his alpha-male glory. “You don’t have to be so bossy.”

“And you don’t have to be so stubborn. Go.”

He turns away and swaggers back to Stavros and the other two men, dragging a hand through his dark hair as he goes.

I want to go into the kitchen and get a vat of wine to guzzle, but I do as I’m told, muttering under my breath about bossy men.

When I get into his office, I head straight for the big oak desk. I pull open the middle drawer on top, but there’s nothing in there except a blank pad of lined paper, a roll of stamps, a few ballpoint pens, and an unmarked manila envelope.

I’m about to close the drawer when I pause and take another look at the envelope.

After David’s safety deposit box letter, every blank envelope looks suspicious. I’ll never be able to walk into an office supply store again without being traumatized.

Without taking the envelope out of the drawer, I gingerly lift the top flap and look at what’s inside.

It’s a glossy color brochure from the Mayo Clinic about vasectomy reversal.

Great minds think alike.

I set both hands flat on top of the desk, lean over and brace myself against it, and breathe deeply. After a moment, I start to softly laugh.

“What’s so funny, baby?”

Coming from behind me, Kage’s voice is warm, full of suppressed laughter. He runs his hand up my spine to my neck, which he starts to massage.

“Oh, nothing. Just wondering how many conversations exactly like this one are in my future.”

“You mean conversations where you owe me an apology for being so headstrong?”

“Headstrong? You’ve been reading your regency romance novels again.”

He pulls me upright and gathers me into his arms, smiling down at my flushed, happy face. I wrap my arms around his waist and lean into him.

He teases, “I have. It’s where I got the idea of putting your ring into the pocket of my sweats. Those romance novel heroes always have such creative ideas.”

“I wouldn’t know. I only read nonfiction.”

“Ah. Well, maybe I should tell you to look into my pocket again.”

“Um, honey, I don’t think it would be the greatest idea to get busy right now, with all the guys outside and whatnot.”

He shakes his head, chuckling, then kisses me. “I don’t want you to grab my dick, love.”

“Since when?”

“Just put your hand into my pocket.”

I look at his beautifully fitted suit and frown.

He says softly, “Coat. Left side.”

My heart starting to flutter, I slide my hand into his coat pocket, searching until my fingers close around something small, round, and metal.

Unlike the last round metal object I retrieved from a pocket of his, this one has a substantial square chunk of something smooth and cool on one side.

His voice rough, Kage says, “If ten carats aren’t enough, I’ll return it for a bigger one.”

I close my eyes and drop my head to his chest, curling my hand around the ring.