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“Not all of them. There were twelve.”

Anvil’s thunderous look is intimidating, except to Trick.

“Relax. I set up her books.”

“When did you come over to use her computer?”

“I didn’t. I hacked in. She needs better security. I’ll fix it if you ever invite me over.” Trick stands. “C’mon, card shark, your future husband wants to manage you in a different type of game.”

Chapter 16

Trick

We’re in a small private dining room at the Wolfram hotel in Manhattan. ‘Vil is bringing the girls down because Zoe is doing their makeup. While C and I made the rounds for meetings, the girls shopped and got spa treatments, which I like. I don’t make money so I can sit on a pile of it. And with Zoe as a shopping companion, Laurel’s clothes will be sexy.

C’s still talking meetings as we have a drink. I wouldn’t make a deal with anyone based on what we’ve heard, but he’s deliberating. If we’re going to choose anyone for a serious partnership, I’m leaning toward Sullivan in Boston since the word is he knows how to collaborate without trying to force other people to take orders from him. He’s also stayed out of things that are none of his business.

Voices make me turn my head, and my eyes lock on Laurelyn. She’s dressed in a pink and gold dress with a snug top that wraps around her breasts and attaches to a tight skirt by a gold ring. The ring lies over a bare expanse of skin from her lower ribs to just below her belly button. Her hair’s up in a high ponytail, and the flawless makeup looks like she’s stepped out of a 1960s photo shoot. Around her neck there’s a delicate gold collar necklace.

“Look at this,” I murmur. “Come to Daddy.”

C’s gaze follows mine, and he grins. “Worth the wait.”

She comes to me with a smile. “Hello. Happy birthday.” The kiss is feathery light against my mouth and adds one more layer of temptation.

“Come with me,” I say, closing my fingers around her wrist. “Don’t wait for us, C.” If he replies, I don’t hear it because I’m already pulling her across the room.

Laurel laughs softly when we get on the elevator. “No dinner?”

“Presents first.”

She licks her lips, which are stained a pale pink. Then her gaze goes lower to her clasped hands. She’s nervous because she knows what I expect tonight. She fills the silence with a little meaningless conversation about their day.

Upstairs, the terrace suite is full of fresh flowers and gift baskets. I remove my suit jacket and holster, then my shirt.

“That dress is perfect. You’ll put it back on for me later.” By later, I mean tomorrow since we won’t leave the room again tonight.

She shivers. “If my makeup gets smudged, I won’t be able to recreate it. Should we—?”

“It’ll be fine.”

Her fingers clutch each other, and her voice is soft as she concedes. “It’s your birthday.”

When I don’t answer, she finally shimmies out of the dress. She’s left standing in a sheer bra and panties and even before I take them off her I can tell she’s been waxed.

Dropping the dress over a hanger, my eyes go to her belly. There’s finally a slight fullness below her navel. My cock strains, wanting to re-stake its claim on her body.

I take my weapon with us into the bedroom and set it on the nightstand. I’m not expecting company, but there are enemies who are unaccounted for.

“Turn around.”

She turns as ordered. I unhook the bra’s clasp.

“Set it on the chair and come back to me.”

Her breathing is audible, and goosebumps cover her arms. When she’s back in front of me and facing away, I bend her arms at the elbows and cross them over each other, then secure them with a pair of lined straps. Turning her toward me, my eyes feast on her round tits. Cupping them and squeezing until she shudders, my hunger burns.

I put clamps on her nipples, and she sucks in a small breath and bites the corner of her mouth, but doesn’t try to escape. Watching her face, I appreciate the blush rising in her cheeks and the downward cast of her stunning eyes.