Traded for Love (38 page)

(Emily)

“So, what do you think of this whole campaign?” Joanna asked over her frosty glass.

“I think it's going well, though it's a lot of work,” I answered.

We'd been talking for hours about Katherine, how much New York City had changed since Joanna's last visit, and about life in general. I figured it was about time to get to bed, but I wanted to answer all of Joanna's questions, however endless they might seem.

Joanna crossed one long leg over the other. “What do you hope to accomplish as a politician's wife?”

“I haven't really thought about it.” I stared into my teacup. “I suppose I'd try to help people like my sister does.”

“An admirable motivation,” Joanna commented. “I can tell you, I know my son, and there's nothing honorable about why he's running for office.” She smirked. “Tell me, what made you fall in love with my son?

That
was a hard one to answer. “Well, he's smart, capable, ambitious.”

“I wouldn't have pegged him for being a particularly
warm
person. Has he learned how to show affection properly yet?”

She was making me nervous with her questions. “He's nice.”

“Nice? That's an awfully tepid term to use for your husband.” She finished off her drink in a single shot.

“I'm sorry. I must be getting tired.” I set down my cup. “I think I'll be going to bed.”

She nodded. “Sleep well.”

“You too,” I said with a smile.

She chuckled and refilled her glass. “Oh, I've got another appointment.”

“Another?” I checked the clock on the wall. “It's almost midnight.”

She gave me a sly smile, one I'd seen many times before on Jack's face. “You might as well learn now that important women never sleep.” Her incisors looked like pointy fangs over the top of her high-ball glass.

I swallowed hard. When she wanted to she could be terrifying. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, my dear.”

I let myself out of her room and couldn't suppress a shiver. She conducted business at night? I wondered why she felt it necessary.

Yawning, I walked the corridors back to our room and opened the door quietly just in case Jack was already asleep.

I took off my slippers and left them by the door, then changed into my nightgown. I heard the sound of steady, soft breathing from the bed and took special care not to make any noise.

My satin gown dragged on the carpet as I tip-toed to the bed.

Then I froze in place.

The window had been opened, allowing the wind to tousle the sheer curtains. Moonlight streamed onto the bed where Jack lay sleeping … with Chastity in his arms.

My heart fell into my feet.

I must have stood paralyzed at the foot of the bed for an hour, just staring at them.

A whole host of emotions washed over me.

Shock, anger, sadness … but worst of all was the jealousy, the bitter raging jealousy.

I blinked as tears fell over my cheeks.

Should I wake them up?
I wondered.
Should I even bother claiming my place beside my husband?

Is that even my place anymore?

I clutched the halves of my satin robe over my gown and soundlessly left the room. I sniffed and wept all the way back to Joanna's room.

I rapped softly on the door. She didn't answer. I tried again, but there was nothing but silence on the other side.

Anxiety overpowered me. I couldn't sleep in my own bed. In this giant mansion, I had nowhere to sleep … nowhere to go.

I returned to our side of the house and tried the library door. It opened, so I went in.

I'd never seen the room before, but I managed to find the light switch. Two lamps came on when I flipped it. The drapes had been drawn. In an effort to preserve privacy, I pulled them closed.

Wounded and exhausted, I curled up on the largest sofa by the empty hearth and tried to fall asleep.

The image of Jack and Chastity's sleeping, naked bodies entwined lingered in my thoughts, as if it'd been burned on the inside of my eyelids.

The tears came until I had no more, and eventually, I drifted off to sleep.

(Drake)

I lay in my bed, fidgeting with restlessness. I knew full well that most of the reason I couldn't sleep was because Emily was in the same house I was. She was so close and yet so far. The idea of Duncan's disgusting hands touching her made me sick.

Unable to handle the silence of the house anymore, I got up and threw on a pair of pants and a shirt. I left my room, passing Chastity's, and continuing down the hall. Chastity had gone to bed early, which was good because we had to start baking for breakfast at four the next morning. I'd be fucked, but at least she'd be rested.

I examined the paintings on the walls as I wandered, careful not to make any noise. I came to a room at the end of a long hall. The door was half open and a light was on. Glass-front bookshelves were visible through the opening and I assumed it was a library.

The prospect of a lonely library full of books ready to be consumed was too juicy an opportunity to pass up, so I went
right
in.

I went straight to the nearest shelf and began browsing the titles.

From behind me, I heard a soft moan.

When I turned, I was floored at what I saw.

Emily was sleeping on the couch, her face bathed in the glow of the lamplight.

But why is she here and not with Duncan? Did that bastard make her sleep in here?

I went over and set my hand on her shoulder. “Emily,” I whispered.

“Jack … ” she murmured in her sleep. “I knew you'd come for me.”

“It's me, Drake.”

“Drake,” she groaned. “Jack … ” she said drowsily.

“Wake up, honey. Why are you in here?” I tipped her chin up.

Her eyes slid open a crack. “Hm?”

“It's me. Wake up.” I shook her gently.

She opened her eyes all the way and looked at me. “Oh. Drake.”

“Why are you in here and not in your bed?”

I noticed her eyes were beet red. “You've been crying.” I swept her hair out of her face. “What did he do to you?”

She sniffed and erupted in tears.

“Hey, hey, hey.” I folded her in my arms without a second thought. She clung to me tightly.

“He's with her. They're together … in our bed. I don't have a place to sleep,” she sobbed. “He's with her,” she repeated, soaking my shoulder with tears. “He's with her.”

“The bastard,” I growled. It took several breaths to calm me down enough to tend to her. I had every mind to go in there, yank the covers off of them and rip Jack's dick off. “You've got a place to sleep,” I assured her, tucking an arm under her legs. “You're sleeping in my bed tonight.”

I picked her up and carried her to my room. She clung to me and was still crying quietly by the time we reached our destination. I closed the door with my toe and carried her over to the bed where I eased her down onto the pillows.

She wouldn't let go of my neck, so I waited a moment. When I began to back up, she only held me closer. I slid my arms around her again.

“Don't go,” she begged.

“I'm going to sleep on the floor tonight. Tomorrow we'll get everything sorted out,” I promised.

“No. Stay. Stay with me.” When her gaze met mine I knew what she meant.

I shook my head. “I won't take advantage of you. I'm not him.”

“I don't care about that,” she insisted. “I don't care.” She tucked her head against my neck. “Just don't go.”

With her body pressed to mine, it was becoming harder and harder to say no to her. I could feel every one of her curves through her luxurious satin nightgown. “You've got to let me go, Emily. You don't know what you're asking.”

“I do,” she insisted. “When I saw them together, I realized that he wants her. He'll keep trading me. He'll keep using me.” She sniffed hard through the tears. “I'm his to give, Drake, but I'm yours to take.” She squeezed me tight, “I love you.”

I thought I might cry myself, out of both intense happiness and deep sadness. The reality of what she was saying set in quick. “But he won't ever let us be together, not if he finds out how you feel. You could lose everything because of me.”

“No I won't. As long as he can keep trading me, he'll be happy and we can be together,” she said. “He loves her.”

“Are you sure?”

“I saw the way they were together. Nobody's ever made him that mad before. She told me the truth, Drake. She told me he's been seeing her for months and I know. I just know … ” She trailed off and began sobbing again. “I know he loves her more than he's ever loved anybody else, even me.”

“I'm so sorry, Emily. I'm sorry things turned out this way.” I kissed her tenderly on the lips. “If I'd known things would turn out this way, I would never have let him into the club in the first place.”

“It's okay, Drake. I realize now that it had to happen this way. There was no other way for it to end, but I'm so glad.” Her head fell back against the pillows. “At least this way we can be together. If it weren't for the club, I'd never have known what it was like to be wanted and appreciated. I wouldn't know what true love was.” She wiped her eyes. “I know you probably don't love me back, but I don't even care anymore. I'm tired of running from it. I'm tired of being his puppet. I want this to mean something, even if it just means something to
me
.”

I looked into her eyes as mine misted over. “It means something to me, too.” I cupped her cheek. “I love you, too, Emily. Ever since that day you collapsed, I've wanted to protect you. I wanted to be with you. I wanted to love you.”

She smiled and tears of joy clouded her eyes. “I feel like my heart's going to explode.”

I chuckled and pulled her close to me again. “You don't have to run from it anymore, Emily. We'll find a way to be together. I promise.”

The words were gone between us. We lost ourselves in kissing and disrobing. When she lay on the coverlet naked, my heart was full. It was like after years of waiting, it was awake again.

“I love you, Emily,” I whispered as I held her in my arms.

“Make love to me, Drake. Make me forget everything except you.”

I rolled her onto her back and kissed her until my lips were sore.

Kneeling between her legs, I ran my hands over her body, taking time to savor every unappreciated curve, every neglected inch of her glowing skin.

“I want you inside me. I can't wait anymore,” she demanded.

Eager to answer her need, I leaned over and gave her one last kiss before entering her. Our bodies met and she sighed heavily.

As I began to move in and out of her, I couldn't keep from groaning. She felt so amazing.
She
was so amazing. I needed her. I needed this.

I'd been so blind. Being with her in any capacity had always felt good. And I'd been too stupid to realize it was because I loved her.

But I'd found the remedy for my foolishness. It was in her kiss, in the touch of her hand, in the way she held on to me.

I counted my lucky stars that she was mine now—to love … and to cherish.

I'd never let Jack hurt her again as long as I lived.

Plans

The Next Day

(Drake)

A few hours later, I sent Emily back to her room with a smile on her face. It was nice to see that she wasn't miserable anymore. I'd made sure of that—all night.

As far as I was concerned, this trading business was over. Emily wasn't currency, and neither was Chastity. It was time for Jack to realize that. How I could make him realize that was beyond me.

Chastity appeared at the mouth of the hall. She was wearing her dirty work uniform from the previous day.

She smiled when she saw me. “You look happy.”

“So do you,” I replied.

“How was your night?” she asked, going into her room.

“Eventful.” I crossed my arms and leaned against her doorpost.

“Come in and close the door, would you? I need to change.”

I stepped in and closed the door behind me. “You know Emily went back to her room last night and found you and Jack together.”

Chastity pulled off her smock and tank top. “So?”

“She was upset.”

“Was she?” She shimmied out of her pants.

“Don't you feel even the least bit of remorse? She had nowhere to sleep.”

She let her hair down and began going through her bag. “It looks like she found a place.”

“I found
her
, in the library, crying in her sleep.”

She shrugged. “So she's torn up. What do you want me to do about it?”

“I know Duncan is in love with you, but do you have to flaunt it in front of her face like that? Couldn't you have ducked out right after you were … done?”

Chastity heaved a sigh. “She knows what's happening. I explained it to her. I can't
fix
her life for her. I've got my own to live. On top of that, I told her to hang tight and things would pan out. She just has to be patient.”

“What are you planning? You said you were going to teach him a lesson. Aren't you done with him yet? Why don't you just let him go?”

Her gaze pierced mine. “I'm
not
done with him, in fact. And I hate that you keep bringing it up. Didn't you have a good time with her last night? What do you have to complain about?”