Pearl stays at my side as we enter. Several staff members step forward, smiling friendly smiles and offering the beverage of my choice, everything from champagne to aged whiskey. I decline. Must keep a clear head.
No other customers occupy the lobby. Guess Pearl rented out the entire place.
There’s a tiered waterfall just like the one I saw in Myriad, with a mermaid perched on top. There are seating areas scattered throughout with leather couches and plush chairs. The concierge booth is framed by two ginormous sculptures, one of a woman with a dragon tail wrapped around her to conceal her breasts and the space between her legs, the other of a muscled man holding a globe of the world. The walls are painted a lovely shade of gold, and the air smells of lavender and lilac.
“Don’t think,” Pearl says. “Just enjoy.”
Until I see Killian, I’ll have to play along, so I nod. The girls who offered me a drink usher me to a private room in back, with two cushioned massage tables, two tubs filled with steaming water—Killian would be thrilled, if he were here. Soft music plays in the background.
Both Pearl and I are stripped. I hate that I’m weaponless and surrounded by strangers, but I keep my mouth shut. I hate that Pearl can change her mind about waiting and strike at me at any second. I remain on high alert as I’m bathed, waxed, oiled and massaged. And in a way, it’s nice. After all the running I’ve done, as many accidents as I’ve endured, I’m sore.
Pearl watches me expectantly. I think she believes a rush of Ashley’s memories will flood me, I’ll open my arms and shout, “Momma!”
Sorry. Never going to happen.
My nails are painted girlie pink. My hair is trimmed and curled, the sides pulled back. Makeup is applied to my face. I’m given a beautiful sheath dress, Grecian in style, white with pleats that begin just under my breasts and fall to the floor. The spaghetti straps reveal my pale skin from neck to finger.
“Your favorite,” Pearl says from behind me. “Look.”
I actually twirl in front of the full-length mirror and gasp.
“You are breathtaking.” She twines our fingers. “I’ve put together a party in your honor. The kind you used to love.”
I’m in no mood to celebrate my greatness, but I offer no protest as we return to the limo. We travel the same roads, going back the way we came—are we going to my house? Where my mother and brother just died?
Oh, yes. We are.
Keep it together.
As the limo parks in the driveway, I stare at Pearl. “Now you’re just being needlessly cruel.” Before she can deny it, I demand, “Is my dad still here?”
“No. I’ve had him moved.”
That’s something in my favor, at least. “And Killian?”
“He’s inside, waiting for you.” She smiles at me. “Perhaps you’ll see someone else you missed a little more...”
What’s she planning now?
The answer presents itself as I emerge from the vehicle and climb the porch steps. The front door opens, and James steps onto the porch. Beautiful James, who must have been waiting for me. James, who protected me from Vans, bringing me extra food and making plans to escape with me.
James, who lied to me every day of our association.
He’s tall, but not as tall as Killian, with dark blond hair and big brown eyes. His black-as-night suit hugs his muscled frame lovingly, the dark color making the blues and greens in his tie pop. Blue and green, like my eyes. A romantic gesture? Barf. He’s romanterexic.
He grins at me, as if he’s happy to see me.
“He grew far too attached to you,” Pearl says, coming up beside me, “so I removed him from your case.”
Liar! He didn’t grow fond of me. He failed to do his job.
“My mistake,” she adds.
“What makes you think I want him?” I lift the hem of my dress and scale the porch steps.
“Tenley.” James holds out his hand, expecting me to accept, probably melt. “I missed you so much.” His smile begins to fade as I continue to stare at him. “I hated to leave you, but I had no choice.”
“Really? Tell me. How do my tits look in this dress?” As he gapes at me, I say, “Excuse me,” and sail past him. I enter the foyer.
People are everywhere, but there’s enough free space to maneuver into the living room. Laughter abounds, and perfumes clash. I wrinkle my nose as I scan the sea of faces, searching for Killian.
James comes up beside me, clasps my arm. “Ten, please. You have to listen to me.”
She likes ’em big.
I yank from his hold. “I don’t have to do anything.”
“Yes, you were an assignment. At first. But I fell in love with you and—”
“You never loved me. If you had, you would have told me the truth.”
Irritation flares in his eyes. Irritation he quickly masks with faux hurt. “If I told you the truth, I would have lost you.”
“You lost me anyway.” I did love this boy, but only a mirage of him.
Feminine twitters draw my attention to the stairs. Killian stands at the top. He—is—gorgeous. Our gaze meet, and oh, the blood in my veins heats, sizzles and melts me. He’s here. He’s unharmed.
Slowly he descends the staircase, every female he passes stopping whatever she’s doing to watch him. Some even try to gain his attention. A few reach out to touch him, but he’s focused only on me.
“Him?” James snarls at me. “You want him?”
I’d forgotten he was standing next to me. I yank from his clasp once again, my heart pound, pound, pounding. Like James, Killian is wearing a suit: black, pin-striped and perfectly tailored to his Shell. When he’s right in front of me, his heated gaze sweeps over me, making me shiver.
“You look...” His gaze slowly works its way back up. “There are no words good enough.”
“Thank you.” I smooth my hand down the sides of my dress. I decide not to tell him about Pearl’s threat. I’m not putting him in a position to fight on my behalf and perhaps be returned to the Kennel. “And you...wow. Only three words are good enough. Delicious man-meat.”
The warmth of his chuckle strokes my skin. “That’s my favorite compliment ever.”
James puffs out his chest. “Killian.”
His amusement fades as he meets the boy’s gaze. “You’ll want to move. Now.”
James sputters. Killian cants his head—that’s it—and James backs a few feet away.
A girl I’ve never met sidles up and wraps an arm around Killian’s waist. He stiffens and flicks her off, but she doesn’t seem to mind the negative reaction, returning to rest her head on the crook of his shoulder.
She looks me over. “Is she your flavor of the week? Well, I approve. Those mismatched eyes are striking, aren’t they?”
He wraps an arm around my waist. “Excuse us.” As she stares in astonishment, he leads me away.
“Another conquest of yours?” I ask.
“There’s nowhere in the world you can go and not find one. I told you I was very good at my job, and I meant it. But...”
I’m teetering on the edge of anticipation as I await his words. “But?”
“You aren’t just a job.” He stops to cup my jaw, peer deep, deep into my eyes. “I didn’t like being parted from you today.”
No other customers occupy the lobby. Guess Pearl rented out the entire place.
There’s a tiered waterfall just like the one I saw in Myriad, with a mermaid perched on top. There are seating areas scattered throughout with leather couches and plush chairs. The concierge booth is framed by two ginormous sculptures, one of a woman with a dragon tail wrapped around her to conceal her breasts and the space between her legs, the other of a muscled man holding a globe of the world. The walls are painted a lovely shade of gold, and the air smells of lavender and lilac.
“Don’t think,” Pearl says. “Just enjoy.”
Until I see Killian, I’ll have to play along, so I nod. The girls who offered me a drink usher me to a private room in back, with two cushioned massage tables, two tubs filled with steaming water—Killian would be thrilled, if he were here. Soft music plays in the background.
Both Pearl and I are stripped. I hate that I’m weaponless and surrounded by strangers, but I keep my mouth shut. I hate that Pearl can change her mind about waiting and strike at me at any second. I remain on high alert as I’m bathed, waxed, oiled and massaged. And in a way, it’s nice. After all the running I’ve done, as many accidents as I’ve endured, I’m sore.
Pearl watches me expectantly. I think she believes a rush of Ashley’s memories will flood me, I’ll open my arms and shout, “Momma!”
Sorry. Never going to happen.
My nails are painted girlie pink. My hair is trimmed and curled, the sides pulled back. Makeup is applied to my face. I’m given a beautiful sheath dress, Grecian in style, white with pleats that begin just under my breasts and fall to the floor. The spaghetti straps reveal my pale skin from neck to finger.
“Your favorite,” Pearl says from behind me. “Look.”
I actually twirl in front of the full-length mirror and gasp.
“You are breathtaking.” She twines our fingers. “I’ve put together a party in your honor. The kind you used to love.”
I’m in no mood to celebrate my greatness, but I offer no protest as we return to the limo. We travel the same roads, going back the way we came—are we going to my house? Where my mother and brother just died?
Oh, yes. We are.
Keep it together.
As the limo parks in the driveway, I stare at Pearl. “Now you’re just being needlessly cruel.” Before she can deny it, I demand, “Is my dad still here?”
“No. I’ve had him moved.”
That’s something in my favor, at least. “And Killian?”
“He’s inside, waiting for you.” She smiles at me. “Perhaps you’ll see someone else you missed a little more...”
What’s she planning now?
The answer presents itself as I emerge from the vehicle and climb the porch steps. The front door opens, and James steps onto the porch. Beautiful James, who must have been waiting for me. James, who protected me from Vans, bringing me extra food and making plans to escape with me.
James, who lied to me every day of our association.
He’s tall, but not as tall as Killian, with dark blond hair and big brown eyes. His black-as-night suit hugs his muscled frame lovingly, the dark color making the blues and greens in his tie pop. Blue and green, like my eyes. A romantic gesture? Barf. He’s romanterexic.
He grins at me, as if he’s happy to see me.
“He grew far too attached to you,” Pearl says, coming up beside me, “so I removed him from your case.”
Liar! He didn’t grow fond of me. He failed to do his job.
“My mistake,” she adds.
“What makes you think I want him?” I lift the hem of my dress and scale the porch steps.
“Tenley.” James holds out his hand, expecting me to accept, probably melt. “I missed you so much.” His smile begins to fade as I continue to stare at him. “I hated to leave you, but I had no choice.”
“Really? Tell me. How do my tits look in this dress?” As he gapes at me, I say, “Excuse me,” and sail past him. I enter the foyer.
People are everywhere, but there’s enough free space to maneuver into the living room. Laughter abounds, and perfumes clash. I wrinkle my nose as I scan the sea of faces, searching for Killian.
James comes up beside me, clasps my arm. “Ten, please. You have to listen to me.”
She likes ’em big.
I yank from his hold. “I don’t have to do anything.”
“Yes, you were an assignment. At first. But I fell in love with you and—”
“You never loved me. If you had, you would have told me the truth.”
Irritation flares in his eyes. Irritation he quickly masks with faux hurt. “If I told you the truth, I would have lost you.”
“You lost me anyway.” I did love this boy, but only a mirage of him.
Feminine twitters draw my attention to the stairs. Killian stands at the top. He—is—gorgeous. Our gaze meet, and oh, the blood in my veins heats, sizzles and melts me. He’s here. He’s unharmed.
Slowly he descends the staircase, every female he passes stopping whatever she’s doing to watch him. Some even try to gain his attention. A few reach out to touch him, but he’s focused only on me.
“Him?” James snarls at me. “You want him?”
I’d forgotten he was standing next to me. I yank from his clasp once again, my heart pound, pound, pounding. Like James, Killian is wearing a suit: black, pin-striped and perfectly tailored to his Shell. When he’s right in front of me, his heated gaze sweeps over me, making me shiver.
“You look...” His gaze slowly works its way back up. “There are no words good enough.”
“Thank you.” I smooth my hand down the sides of my dress. I decide not to tell him about Pearl’s threat. I’m not putting him in a position to fight on my behalf and perhaps be returned to the Kennel. “And you...wow. Only three words are good enough. Delicious man-meat.”
The warmth of his chuckle strokes my skin. “That’s my favorite compliment ever.”
James puffs out his chest. “Killian.”
His amusement fades as he meets the boy’s gaze. “You’ll want to move. Now.”
James sputters. Killian cants his head—that’s it—and James backs a few feet away.
A girl I’ve never met sidles up and wraps an arm around Killian’s waist. He stiffens and flicks her off, but she doesn’t seem to mind the negative reaction, returning to rest her head on the crook of his shoulder.
She looks me over. “Is she your flavor of the week? Well, I approve. Those mismatched eyes are striking, aren’t they?”
He wraps an arm around my waist. “Excuse us.” As she stares in astonishment, he leads me away.
“Another conquest of yours?” I ask.
“There’s nowhere in the world you can go and not find one. I told you I was very good at my job, and I meant it. But...”
I’m teetering on the edge of anticipation as I await his words. “But?”
“You aren’t just a job.” He stops to cup my jaw, peer deep, deep into my eyes. “I didn’t like being parted from you today.”
