of things, her people love and fear her in equal measure. There’s no turning that tide.
It makes me want to shatter something.
I reach for the first piece of lingerie, a black lace bodysuit, intent on shredding it to ribbons, but stop myself before my fingers make contact. This isn’t the best option. I’ve come too far to let my chaotic impulses get the best of me. There’s a way forward; I just have to find it. I’ve never been so close to actually making progress before. I just need to be patient for a little while longer.
In the end, I don’t change out of the nightshirt I slept in. A quick check in the mirror shows that I look a bit rumpled and pretty low-key sexy. That’ll work.
As satisfied as I’m going to be, I head out of the room. The penthouse is eerily silent, or maybe that’s just my nerves threatening to get the best of me. I make a round quickly, walking through room after room to ensure I’m alone. Empty. All of them, empty. Good. There will be time to look in more detail later; I need to take advantage of this opportunity while Malone’s gone. With that in mind, I make my way back to the hallway with my room, the playroom, and Malone’s room. I consider the trio of doors. I highly doubt that she’s left anything useful out where I can find it, but it can’t hurt to check.
I take a step toward her bedroom and that’s when I hear it. A low yowling sound that raises the small hairs on the back of my neck. I turn slowly to find a white long-haired cat standing in the middle of the hallway behind me, its back arched and hair standing on end. It hisses.
It’s a gorgeous creature, but there’s no denying it’ll try to take a bite out of me if I approach. Figures. “She would have a feral fucking cat.”
“Rogue is simply a creature of habit. He doesn’t like change.”
I let out a surprised shriek and spin around. I’m distantly aware of the cat fleeing, but the majority of my attention is all on Malone. She’s wearing a black suit with a white silk shirt that’s just shy of being too sexy for corporate work. And she’s barefoot.
I don’t know why that detail sticks in my brain and derails every thought in my head, but I can’t quite drag my gaze from her pretty red-painted toes. She was barefoot last night, but somehow it didn’t register the same way it does while she’s in business clothing. “You have a cat.”
“Yes.”
“Where is your cat stuff? Cats have stuff, right? Like a litter box or whatever?”
“There’s a specially made cupboard in the laundry room.” Malone snaps her fingers, and I’m obeying without making a decision to move my body, walking to her side. She pivots easily and leads the way into her bedroom. “This way.”
I manage to stay silent despite the questions swirling through me. When she said she had work, I just assumed she’d left the apartment. That was careless of me. If she catches me snooping, I’m not sure what she’ll do. I’m still under Hades’s protection right now, so I doubt she’d toss me out a window, but there are a number of less lethal ways she could punish me. I have to be better than this. To be better than her.
A laptop and phone are sitting on the low table in front of the chairs arranged in a small sitting area. Malone stops in front of the one she was obviously using and turns to me. “I’m sitting in on a meeting with a new team giving their first report. My presence is more to lend additional heft to their manager, so it will be tedious.”
I manage to clamp my mouth shut before I press her for more information. She hasn’t asked a question, and she’s already proven to be a Domme who won’t put up with her submissive edging past the lines. Not that I’m hers, but the label applies for the next thirteen days.
She lifts an elegant brow. “Well? You’re wasting time.” When I still hesitate, Malone sighs. “With your experience, I didn’t think I’d have to spell it out for you.” She motions to the front of her slacks. “Keep me entertained, Aurora.”
Oh.
Oh.
I hit my knees, the soft rug cushioning me, and go for the front of her slacks. Even as I tell myself this is solely for