Boxed Set: Traitorous Heart Volumes 1-6 (The Traitorous Heart Series) (22 page)

“So that’s why you became a lawyer? To make a difference?”

Cage stood. “That’s another story for another day. It’s late and I’ve already talked too much.” He glanced at his watch. “Actually, it’s really fucking early. We should get you home.”

CHAPTER 2

Katie

I stood
,
but I wasn’t ready to leave. I didn’t want to stop talking to him. Cage tried to tug me toward the door, but I resisted.

“What?”   

It surprised me how intuitive he was. Should I tell him Birdy was my sister? Would it make a difference in the way he worked to help her? And what about Jonathan? He was Cage’s boss. How would he react if he found out he wasn’t her father? If he knew the truth, would he help her? Something told me the answer would be a resounding no. I couldn’t chance it, so I shook my head. “About those stubs I found, what kind of club is Revelry?”

Cage cleared his throat. “You sure you want to go there now?”

I shrugged. “Why not.”

He glanced away. “Before I tell you, I just want to make it clear that I’ve never been. Some of the guys from the firm have gone. I’ve heard stories.”

I moved closer to him. “Okay.” It made me nervous. I couldn’t even imagine what would make a big, strong man like Cage embarrassed.

“Revelry is a sex club,” he said, meeting my eyes.

“What, like everyone who goes is sure to get laid?”

He shook his head, squeezing my hand. “No, like you go with a premeditated plan to fuck random strangers in whatever ways your twisted mind can come up with.”

“What?” I was confused. Most people went to clubs to get laid. That was what they were there for, hook ups. “Maybe you should explain this to me?”

“Sex?” he chuckled.

“No.” I laughed, releasing a big gust of tension. “How does the club work? Exactly?”

“I only know what I’ve heard. But the club promises to make all your fantasies come true.”

“Whatever they are?”

“That’s what I’ve heard. One of the guys I overheard was talking on the phone. He wanted to hook up with another man. He’s married with three children.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I didn’t hear what the person on the other line said, but he said he would supply a clean bill of health when he came to the club for his appointment.”

“Whoa.” I was shocked—not because such a place existed. But surprised that Birdy had gone to that type of place on more than one occasion. “I called the number on the ticket stub and they wouldn’t tell me anything about it.”

“From the information I’ve gathered, you have to be brought in by someone who vouches for you.”

“Damn. The only person I know who’s been there is in jail.”

“I’m sure the guy from the firm would vouch for me.”

I ran my gaze over Cage’s face, admiring his strong jaw, the slight crook of his nose, and his beautiful eyes. They were clear. He was sober. “Are you into that sort of thing?”

He shrugged. “It sounds like the club will provide whatever sort of thing you are in to. I’m sure I could come up with something I’d like to try.” He winked. “What about you? Want to come with me?”

I forced myself not to act embarrassed. “Do you think the stubs I found are really that important? Maybe they don’t mean anything.” The idea of going to a place like that… well, I wasn’t a prude, but I didn’t know what to expect, which made me nervous.

Cage patted my hand. “Birdy’s trial is in four weeks. If I can’t find something quick, Birdy will go to jail for a long time. I need to turn over every stone, no matter how remote it seems.”

I looked away, stood, walked over to his dresser, and picked up a small glass paperweight. It had a silver dollar in it. “Do you need me to go with you?” I faced him. 

“I guess not. If you don’t want to, I’m sure I can come up with a single-guy’s fantasy.” He ran his hands over his short hair, an obvious nervous habit.

It surprised me he was single. I mean, he was hot, talented, and motivated: Three things ninety-nine percent of all women look for in a man.

Cage continued, “But it would probably be easier if we went in as a couple. People are more likely to open up to a woman. Plus, haven’t you heard the saying, two heads are better than one?”

I laughed nervously. “Yeah, but I don’t know.” I turned back to his dresser, perusing the stuff in his men’s valet. There was some lip balm, a couple of receipts, and some change. I just needed some time to debate what Cage was asking. Like, would we actually have to go through with whatever fantasy we asked for? Did Cage expect that? Or did he plan on just getting us in and then we’d ask questions? The whole idea of going to Revelry set me on edge.

Cage came up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” He turned me around. His gorgeous eyes were intense. “You have my word, Dandelion. You won’t do anything you don’t want to do. I promise.”

His sincerity warmed my insides. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he meant every word. “I believe you.” I stepped into his arms, allowing him to hold me. It was good. Relaxing.

Cage caressed my back slowly, his hands swirling with just a touch of pressure.

I took a deep breath. His shirt was opened at the neck in a V and I turned my face into his skin, running the tip of my nose against his chest. He stopped caressing me and pulled back so that he could see my face.

“I want to kiss you, Dandelion. You up for that?” His blue eyes searched mine.

His deep voice seemed to reach down and stroke the spot between my legs. I swallowed. I needed Cage. Not sexually—although I was sure being with him would be great—but he was Birdy’s only hope. If Cage and I kissed and things got weird between us…

He leaned down.

My lips parted. “You’re not married, are you?”

His lips brushed mine softly. A jolt of lust shot directly between my legs. Good God!

“If I were married I wouldn’t be kissing you in the bedroom of my bachelor pad.” He ran his tongue along my bottom lip.

I heard myself groan. “What about engaged? Do you have a fiancée?” He’d just told me he understood about the pain of a failed relationship, but I needed to hear the words anyway.

Cage chuckled. “No, Dandelion. I’m completely free of attachments.” His lips landed on mine in a passionate caress. My body begged me to fling myself at him.

His tongue took my mouth, roaming, exploring.

I wanted to tear off his clothes and let him do whatever he wanted. Let him use that magical tongue of his on my pussy. It was crazy. And amazing.

The intellectual part of me wanted to debate the differences between kissing Cage and kissing Griffin. There were differences. Obviously. They were two different people. Griffin attacked with aggression, while Cage liked to build, stoke the fires of lust. My body kept telling my mind to shut the hell up and just enjoy the moment.

So I did.

His hands went to my waist and pulled me tightly against him as his lips made their way to my jaw and then to that sensitive place behind the ear. He bit and kissed softly, continuing a path to my collarbones. I clung to him, my body singing with sexual need.

“Cage.”

His eyes caught and held mine. There was hunger in them, but hesitation too. He wouldn’t go any further unless I encouraged it. And holy fuck I wanted him to keep going. But part of me hesitated. Cage seemed like a nice guy. He was smart, clean cut, witty, had a thing for those fucking minty Life Savers, and was so damn sexy.   

He leaned in a kissed me on the forehead. “Come on.”

My lusty haze had me confused. “Where are we going?”

“I’m going to take you home. You need your sleep.” He took my hand and led me out of the bedroom.

“But….” Maybe I’d done something wrong. Or worse, our kiss hadn’t affected him the same way.

Cage called for his limo, then came over and took my hand. “What’s wrong now, Dandelion?”

I shook my head, working to force away the sudden overwhelming need to break down and cry into a bowl of cookies-and-cream ice cream. I needed to tell him what I wanted, share my thoughts, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. “Nothing. I’m just tired and ready to go.” I started from the couch.

“Hey, I haven’t known you that long, but I’m really good at reading people, and I can tell there’s something wrong.” Cage pulled me onto his lap. The first thing I noticed was the bulge in his pants.

He had enjoyed our kissing. I was relieved and confused. Why had he stopped, then?

I turned around, hiking my denim dress up and then straddling Cage’s thighs. The front of his pants moved as I slid into him.

“What are you doing, Dandelion?” 

It occurred to me that Cage was a man of extreme control. “I thought you hadn’t enjoyed our kissing. But this—” I slid further into his erection. His cock pressed against the front of my pussy. In a moment of worry I wondered if I was being too forward or slutty. I quickly pushed that away. I’d been with two men in all my twenty-six years.  I leaned in, giving myself permission to enjoy the gorgeous man whose lap I sat on.

“Dandelion, I enjoyed our kissing very much. But you’ve had a rough day. Fuck, you’ve had a rough few weeks. I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of that.”

I bit my lip, moving his hands to my hips. If ever there was a time to speak my mind with a man, it was now. “I want you.” I leaned down to kiss him.

“You’re serious?”

I nodded. “Very. And I’m soaking wet.”

“Then we aren’t starting in here.” Cage lifted me and carried me back into his bedroom.

He climbed onto the bed while I held on, then dragged us up to the pillows. One hand trailed from my ankle, up my calf, and to the inner part of my thigh. I let my legs fall open for him.

Cage climbed off the bed.

“Where you going?”

He turned on the light over the bed and then dimmed it. So nineteen eighty-eight. I didn’t say that.

“I don’t want to miss a thing.” He climbed back on the bed, taking his place between my legs.

“Are we going to do this with our clothes on?” I asked before he kissed me. His lips collided with mine and I forgot about the clothes and even forgot about Birdy and Reid and Griffin.

Cage’s mouth held mine captive. There was only our mingling breath, the way our tongues entwined. His soft urgent lips claimed mine. The kiss was so fucking hot.

“I want to make love to you, Dandelion.”

I wanted that too, and was about to tell him so when the buzzer on the door sounded.

“Fuck,” Cage whispered.

“Yes, please.” But the mood was broken. There was lots to do.

“Thank you,” he said, pulling me off the bed and helping me adjust my clothes. I couldn’t help but stare at the huge tent in his pants. The man was obviously endowed.

“For what?” I asked, adjusting the collar on his shirt.

“Listening to me go on about my past.”

Cage took my hand and we walked to the door. He picked up my bag on the way and held it out.

“I actually enjoyed that. I would love to hear more.”

“Well, if we’re going to do Revelry, it would be good to talk some more. Trust is the biggest part of making any fantasy a reality.”

“Oh?”

“Or so I’ve heard.”

“I think there’s a story there as well.”

“Dandelion, I have so many stories you’ll be a beautiful old woman before I get through them all.”

I liked the sound of that: Him still telling me stories, even when we were old. “Can’t wait to hear them.”.

He nodded. “Let’s go over Birdy’s journals in the morning. I’ll bring coffee and we’ll figure out a plan together, deal?”

“Deal.”

***

We rode through the streets of New York without speaking. The city lights blended together in reds, blues, and yellows. Horns honked around us. It was nearly three in the morning, but the city was still alive, congested even. We stopped at a light. I watched a homeless man hold out his old coffee cup; strangers dropped coins into it before crossing the street. New Yorkers are called cold and unfeeling, but we get a bad rap.

“One thing. If we take this any further, I need to know you aren’t going to freak out by any secrets you might discover.”

“What do you mean? What secrets?” I asked as the light changed and the limo began to move again.

“Things about your ex fiancé. Secrets about Birdy. Are you prepared for that?”

I doubted Reid had ever set foot in Revelry. “From the information I gathered on my ex, Reid preferred places more low class and shady.”

Reid caught my gaze and held it. “Still, promise me.”

“Do we know the club is safe? That if we go into the place we won’t disappear or catch something?”

“It’s a very well-known and highly sought after club, if you’re into that sort of thing. If its business practices were too shady it wouldn’t still be open.” Cage smiled. “I’ve texted the guy from the firm. He said he’d vouch for us, but that it would cost twenty-five hundred dollars just to get a meeting.”