Giorgio (Vigilance #1) - Silvia Violet Page 0,18

time to make more.”

“I’m not going to harm your art.”

“You may not realize how fragile some of these pieces are. The windows in here are all locked, and none of them lead to the fire escape, so I don’t think—”

“Lane, I know this is important to you. I may be here as your security, but I’m not some dumb jock with more muscles than brains who’s going to bust through here like a bull and knock everything over.”

He sighed and started to run his hand through his hair just like he had back at the office. Once again, he stopped himself when he touched his perfectly styled coif. His hand fell back to his side.

“I’m sorry. I’m a little tense about the show, and I never let anyone in here. I don’t like anyone to see my pieces ahead of a showing. When I came home and realized Alan had been here… It was horrible, knowing he could have destroyed my art, seeing threats written on canvases I’d laid out to use on new pieces.” Lane shuddered and looked close to tears. I had a strong urge to pull him into my arms. Knowing that wasn’t an option, I tried for distraction.

“Your work is very impressive.”

His eyes widened, and he stared at me. Why had I said that? I was supposed to be making him not like me. I could’ve bumped into an easel or… No, I would never do anything to potentially damage his hard work. But I could have continued to let him assume I wasn’t capable of taking care of his belongings.

Instead, I was complimenting him.

“You like my work?”

I glanced around the room taking in several of the pieces more carefully. “I do. It’s not something I would’ve expected to like, but I can see all the thought you put into it.”

“Thank you. I… Just do what you need to do. I’m going to go pack.”

Lane seemed younger and much less sure of himself. I’d assumed some of his swagger was an act, but seeing him like that, looking more vulnerable than he had when he was pinned under me, didn’t do a damn thing to squash my protective urges.

What could I do to get rid of this… crush? No, I wasn’t some kid. Obsession? Fuck, I wasn’t some creeper either. Whatever the hell hold he had on me, I was never going to be able to get over it if he kept looking at me like that.

Movement behind him caught my eye. I tensed until I realized it was a small gray cat with white paws.

“Meow,” the creature said as it twined around Lane’s legs. Lane smiled up at me as he bent and scratched the cat’s ears.

“The brief didn’t mention you had a cat.”

“This is Mittens.” He scooped the cat up in his arms. “Mittens, meet Giorgio.”

I started to say hi, then stopped myself. “Where was Mittens the other night?”

He smirked. “So you do remember?”

“Of course I fucking remember, but I didn’t see a cat that night.”

“She was hiding. She doesn’t like noise or chaos.”

There had certainly been plenty of noise. He’d made such gorgeous sounds as I’d fucked him. I wanted to hear them again. What would he do if I shooed the cat away and told him to get on his knees right there in his studio? He looked up, and our eyes locked. I was sure he knew what I was thinking, and that he’d do whatever I ordered him to—get on his knees or give me his ass—as long as it was sexual and didn’t have to do with keeping him safe.

“Have you arranged for someone to watch Mittens while you’re gone?”

Lane frowned and shook his head. “I’m not leaving her here.”

“So you’re boarding her somewhere?”

“No, she’s coming with us.”

I shook my head. “That’s not an option.”

“I’m not leaving her. If I would be in danger here, that means she would be too.”

“Hendon is not after your cat.”

“If he wants to punish me for ignoring him, he might hurt her.”

Lane had a point. “Find someone who will keep her for you. Maybe your mother?”

“No. My mother doesn’t do pets.”

I could easily see that. “What about your vet? Do they board?”

“I’m not having her stay in a kennel for days. How long will we be gone?”

I sighed. “I don’t know exactly. A couple of weeks?”

He huffed. “No way is she staying in a cage that long. She’s coming with us.”

“My focus has to be on protecting you. I don’t need a distraction.”

“I’m