Page 44 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

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W e end up in Fiona’s bedroom and make full and creative use of the four-poster bed. The next morning, I wake up when the sun streams into the room. “No,” Fiona grumbles sleepily. “It’s too early.”

I roll over and glance at the clock. “It’s nine, sweetheart.” Adrian’s nowhere to be seen. Good. I need to talk to Fiona alone.

“Go away.” She pulls a sheet over her head and curls up into a ball.

I survey her fondly. It’s been less than two weeks, but she’s become really important to me. “Not a morning person then.”

“Mmm.”

As much as I want to let her sleep, Adrian could be back any minute. “Fiona. This is important. Wake up.”

“Okay.” She sits up, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. “Is something wrong?”

“You talked to Downing’s submissive in the bathroom last night, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” She gives me a cautious look. “I said I’d stay away from Raymond, and I did.”

“Did you try to convince his submissive to leave him?”

“Yes,” she admits. “Of course I did.”

I exhale in exasperation. “Fiona. What if she tells him? Did you ever consider that he might come after you?” A sudden suspicion strikes me. “Is that what you’re trying to do?” I demand. “You’re deliberately provoking him?”

She immediately shakes her head. “I swear, that thought never crossed my mind. I just saw Katya, and she reminded me so much of myself. I acted on instinct.”

“Stay clear of him, Fiona.” I lace my fingers in hers. “I’m not ordering you as your dominant. I have no desire to control you. I’m asking as someone who would be shattered if anything were to happen to you.”

Her eyes soften. “I promise, I’m not helpless.

I have a black belt in taekwondo. My parents were cops.

They taught me how to defend myself.” She bats her eyelashes at me, the little minx, as if that’s going to soothe my worries about her safety.

“I appreciate you taking care of me,” she says, her voice gentle.

“But can you understand how I feel like I have to help Katya?”

“Sandy died in a ski accident,” I tell her. “Adrian suggested the trip. To this day, he blames himself for her death. He thinks he’s responsible.”

Her expression turns shocked. “He does?” she whispers.

I nod. “Please leave Downing alone, Fiona. If something were to happen to you at Club M, Adrian would carry his guilt to his grave. It would wreck him. It would wreck me.”

She leans forward and kisses me on the lips. “I understand,” she says quietly. “I won’t confront Raymond. I promise. ”

“Thank you.”

But my fears aren’t entirely eased.

If I had my way, we would leave Club M immediately, and I would deal with Downing privately, without Fiona being anywhere nearby.

I have a very bad feeling about this.

The three of us head downstairs to eat breakfast on the back patio. “This is so good,” Fiona says, digging into her spinach and feta omelet with gusto. “I guess Xavier wasn’t kidding about the place being a resort.”

“It’s pretty nice,” I agree.

Kiera comes over with a pot of coffee in her hand. “Refill?”

Fiona looks up at her. “Hey Kiera,” she greets the bartender. “I didn’t realize you worked at the resort too.”

“Not usually,” Kiera answers. “But one of the waitresses called in sick, so I’m pitching in.” She pours me a cup of coffee. “I’m not looking forward to tonight,” she says conversationally. “It’s going to be a zoo.”

“Why?” Adrian asks, puzzled.

“It’s Open Night tonight.”

I groan. “What’s open night?” Fiona asks when Kiera departs.

“One night every three months, members can bring in up to two guests,” I reply. “The place turns into something of a nightclub.”

“And you’re not a fan of it?”

“It’s a security nightmare,” Adrian says grimly. “It’s a masked ball. Too many masked people on the dance floor, tipsy, giggling… Anything can happen.”

“I love to dance.”

I glance up at her. “You do?” That doesn’t quite fit in the mental image I have of her. It’s ironic, really. I know exactly how hard to finger her to make her come, but I have no clue what she does when she’s not working.

“I do.” She smiles at us. “Can we stay?”

“Of course.” My phone rings and Dix Ketchum’s number flashes across the screen. Fuck. For Dix to be calling me on a Saturday… I pick up the call. “What’s wrong?”

Her voice is somber. “I just got off the phone with Callie Weiss,” she says.

“She got fired this morning, and the bitch who owns the motel is refusing to pay her last two weeks of wages. She says that guests have complained about their belongings going missing. She’s accusing Callie of theft, and before you ask, Brody, it’s not true. ”

My grip on my coffee cup tightens, and I carefully set it down, afraid I’m going to shatter the handle. Pure, white-hot anger runs through me. The last few days have been idyllic and lost as I was in Fiona, I almost forgot my parents’ latest mess. Almost. “I wasn’t planning on asking.”

This has my mother’s hand all over it. Mary Lou Chaney is smearing Callie’s reputation, ensuring that the woman won’t easily find another job in the small town.

I don’t know if the other business owners will believe Mrs. Chaney’s accusations, but I do know that they won’t get involved.

Easier not to hire Callie and avoid the appearance of taking sides.

“Do whatever you need to do.”

“It’s not going to be cheap,” Dix warns.

I know. I just wrote a hundred-thousand-dollar check to Callie Weiss last week.

Because of Ted Downing’s interference, we’re a little cash-crunched.

Both Adrian and I had to dip into our personal funds to cover the cost of bringing the team back home.

In the long-term, my finances are in good shape. In the short-term, however?

None of that is Callie Weiss’ fault. She, and her daughter, the young woman that Eugene Payne assaulted, are the real victims here. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll make it work.”

Adrian’s caught enough of my conversation to guess what’s going on. Fiona, on the other hand, is staring at me with unabashed curiosity, mingled with concern. “Is everything alright, Brody?”

I think I’m falling in love with her.

“No,” I reply. “Everything isn’t alright.”

Then I tell her everything, every last sordid bit.

When I’m done, she has tears in her eyes. “Oh, Brody,” she says softly. “I’m so sorry.” She moves her chair closer to me and kisses my lips, and I hold her, breathing in her scent, clinging to her soft curves as if my life depended on it. “What can I do to help?”

“You already have.” I kiss her cheek, brushing my thumb over her lip. “I’ll sort it out. The timing’s a little awkward, but I’ll figure out a way.”

Her eyes narrow. “What do you mean, the timing’s a little awkward?”

Crap. I wasn’t really planning to tell her about Ted Downing’s power play. I give Adrian a glance of appeal. Bail me out here, buddy.

Adrian clears his throat. “Senator Theodore Downing has been applying some pressure on our clients. We’ve lost a few of them this week.”

She stares at us. “Because you confronted Raymond?” she asks. “Were you planning on telling me?”

I don’t want to lie to her. “No.” Her eyes flash with irritation, and I hold up my hand.

“Let me finish. Ted Downing didn’t pull this stunt because we confronted Raymond.

You know the senator has always wanted us to hire his son.

That was true two years ago, and it’s still true.

Early last week, he asked us to bid on a contract, more or less assuring us that we’d win. ”

“And?”

“We declined,” Adrian replies. “We have no interest in being beholden to Ted Downing. This isn’t about your history with Raymond, Fiona. This is the senator trying to control us.”

She bites her lip. “Okay,” she agrees. “You’re right. This isn’t about me. But…” Her voice trails off.

“But what?”

“Trust is a two-way street,” she says quietly.

She’s right. “We should have told you,” I admit. “I’m sorry.” I place my hand over hers. “We’re going to make mistakes. But you’re important to me, Fiona.”

“To us,” Adrian says.

I nod. “And I’ll do anything in my power to make you happy.” This isn’t about the pet play demo. It isn’t even about dominance and submission. It’s just about us. About the future.

There’s a sheen of tears in her eyes. She blinks them away, and then her expression clears. “I have an idea,” she says, her lips curving into a grin. “Xavier’s still feeling guilty about me, and he’s a romantic. Let’s get him to buy a motel in Mississippi.”

I consider the idea. I don’t know why I’ve never thought about it. Well, I do know. I’ve always thought of my father’s actions as a burden that I need to carry alone. But Fiona’s right. I can ask for help.

I’m definitely falling in love with this woman.