Page 28 of The Tempo of Truth (The Monsters Duet #3)
He hung up without a goodbye. I caught the server’s eye and gave her a wink.
I finished my martini with a flourish and walked back to the bar so I could witness the bartender’s defeat up close and personal.
The blonde he’d called Delilah slipped me a cocktail napkin when he wasn’t looking that had “He went up to five hundred” hastily scribbled on it.
For me, that amount was infinitesimal, but I knew it was enough to make the server’s life easier for a few days.
I made a mental note to have my assistant arrange for a hefty tip for the entire staff to compensate them for playing along.
It’d been a minute since I’d had so much fun, and they definitely livened up the dull-as-dirt party.
By the time I secured another drink, the noisy bar suddenly dropped into a heavy silence.
I turned my head and froze at the sight of Ky walking through the sea of suits and ties toward me.
I asked him for a show, and he provided just that.
His dark hair was slicked away from his face, showing off his flawless bone structure.
Gone was the old workout wear; in its place was a leather jacket and tight black jeans that were strategically torn in all the right places.
He had on black boots and a studded belt.
A silver chain hung from his pocket, and a diamond one that was probably fake looped around his neck.
The only thing missing was a shirt of any kind.
His bare chest was on display, and so were the various tattoo designs that dotted his skin.
He looked every bit like he’d just stepped off the set of a music video or was on his way to a title fight in Vegas.
This version of Ky was all flash and no substance.
This was the Kyser Kent who dominated the European sports news for years, both during and after his career.
He looked like a celebrity—one who didn’t belong anywhere in this room of affluent businesspeople.
I noticed almost every single woman in the bar was looking at him with a mixture of fascination and fear. The cocktail server was correct. A clever woman would always pick the guy who seemed attainable for only a few seconds over a man who was a sure thing. A stupid woman would, as well.
“Holy shit. I would’ve paid five hundred dollars to see this.” I heard the server cackle as she taunted her coworker.
Ky threaded his way through the crowd to reach where I was leaning and watching him come toward me with a huge smile on my face.
I was sure that if I could see my expression at that moment, my eyes would be sparkling with pure delight.
When Ky stopped in front of me, he took the martini glass from my hand and slammed the remaining liquor back in one gulp.
He poked an olive between my lips and asked with a lifted eyebrow, “Ready to go, rich girl?”
I couldn’t hold back a hysterical laugh.
I knew this little display was going to be the talk of the town for the next couple of weeks because it was all so ridiculous and entertaining.
Leave it to Ky to take putting on a show to heart.
He’d always been the type of guy who could make a splash when he wanted to.
I wrapped my hand around Ky’s elbow and told him, “I was ready as soon as I got here.”
He guided me toward the exit. I saw Oliver moving to intercept us, but Ky smoothly sidestepped everyone who got in his way.
His aura was intimidating enough to make others clear the way.
That, mixed with the ingrained fear of causing a scene that was rampant within the elite, made our escape unhindered.
I knew my uncles were bound to hear about the commotion as soon as I stepped out of the room.
I tossed my head back and laughed until my lungs hurt, not noticing that Ky stopped in the lobby and pulled me around to face him until I ran out of breath.
Before I could ask what he was doing, his head dropped, and his lips covered mine.
One of his hands lifted to hold my jaw in an unforgiving grip while the other wrapped around my waist and pulled me against him.
I felt the heat from his bare chest radiate through my clothing.
It wasn’t a polite, chaste kiss that would be acceptable to share in a public place.
Ky kissed me like we were the only two people in the building, and he couldn’t wait to take my clothes off and crawl all over my naked body.
I gasped in surprise and put my hands against his well-developed pecs to push him away out of reflex.
I wanted to make a scene but didn’t expect him to ravish me in front of a legion of business associates.
When he tried to shove his tongue into my mouth, I forcefully pushed him back a step and stared at him in shock.
Ky wiped his wet mouth with the back of his hand and arched an eyebrow.
The hand resting on my hip moved so that he was grabbing my ass in a totally inappropriate way.
“Isn’t this the easiest way to trash your reputation and give those guys ammunition against you?
Do you have a room in this fancy-ass hotel? Let’s go. I’ve gotta earn my keep.”
I stumbled as Ky tried to drag me to the elevators. I tugged on the death grip he had on my hand. He wouldn’t stop until I kicked him in the ankle. The impact hurt my toes and had me hopping on one foot as I swore at him.
“I didn’t offer you money to sleep with me, Ky. I don’t expect you to sell yourself to me. I was just having a bit of innocent fun. You’re taking the joke too far.”
The complaint was swallowed up by his mouth, once again settling over mine.
He held my cheeks between his rough palms and squeezed until I had to open my mouth under the pressure.
The kiss was wet and deep. I felt my rationality start to wander, and I forgot we were in a public place.
Ky’s tongue swirled aggressively around mine.
My heart pounded in my ears, and my breath caught in my lungs.
It was so easy to forget everything when he touched me.
I always surrendered part of myself around him.
I pushed him away again when I heard the elevator ding. This time, he fell back a step, and I could see the anger in his dark gaze.
“I’m cheap.” Ky used the tip of his finger to wipe the curve under the bottom of my lip where he’d smudged my lipstick. “I’ll give you a great deal, Winnie.”
He smirked at me, but it wasn’t a pleasant or sexy expression. I cocked my head to the side and asked him, “Do you want to have sex with me, Ky? Are you attracted to me at all?”
Panic assaulted me and made my voice shake.
I never asked the fundamental questions.
I wanted him so much and had only him in my heart for such a long time; I never wanted to consider that I might actually repulse him.
I had a terrible habit of putting him in an uncompromising position.
Many men found obsession to be a major turnoff.
Even Ky indicated that he found me following him around the world bothersome, and he never acknowledged my unwavering dedication.
I was in the middle of an existential crisis when I felt strong arms wrap around me. I was surrounded by heat and leather and felt a soft kiss land on the top of my head.
“Would I have put this much effort into your ridiculous charade if I didn’t want you, Winnie? I’ve never allowed anyone to make me their show pony before. If you want to play, let’s play. But you need to remember that with any game, there will be a winner and a loser.”
I rubbed my cheek against the firm muscles on his chest like a content cat. “What about a tie? Can’t we both win?”
He scoffed. “Impossible.” He set me away from him and asked, “What about the hotel room? If we spend a couple of hours doing some damage between the sheets, you get the spectacle you were after, and the guy in the Italian suit you keep getting photographed with will get the message that you aren’t available at the moment. I don’t like the way he looks at you.”
I wiggled my hand free so I could message Helio that my security detail could switch to discreet mode for a few hours.
I told Ky, “That’s the way everyone who is motivated by money and the need to expand their family’s power and reach looks.
It’s a kind of excessive hunger most people can’t relate to.
No matter how badly you aspired to be a professional football player, it doesn’t touch how desperate a guy like Oliver Byrd is to have his name engraved at the top of his family’s accomplishments. ”
I tapped the corner of my phone against his collarbone and reminded him, “I have to be home in time to put our kid to bed. If you’re going to blow my mind, you have to be quick about it.”
He gave me a look that clearly said, “Challenge accepted.”