until he lost all control. Fourth exchange, here we come.
Kyros’s eyes flashed. “The Indebted stay until the threat against you is cleared.”
We both knew that was a lie. Unless I was in his tower, the Indebted would stay. His jerk ass couldn’t handle anything less.
But that worked in with my plans.
I shook my head. “They’ll have to act more like my friends and less like guards. People talk, I’m sure you can see how that’s a bad thing.”
The back of the chair cracked in his grip.
I continued. “Glad we could come to an agreement. I’ll come by after my shift ends to pick up my stuff from Level 61.”
Desperation curled around my heart, none of it mine. What was it that Laurel said? The desperate weren’t known for their 20/20 vision?
Yeah, I was counting on that.
“I have no issue with you moving off Level 61,” Kyros stated, slipping a hand into his trouser pocket as he approached me. “Reconsider taking your possessions from the tower.”
My back pressed into the door frame as he leaned over me.
Lust. Anger. Hurt.
“Why’s that?”
Kyros pressed a kiss to my forehead, so unexpectedly gentle that I felt it to my very core.
“You’re angry because you’re hurting,” he spoke low, our eyes locked. “You wouldn’t be hurt if you didn’t care.”
My chest heaved as we remained caught in the net of his making.
I turned my head away to break the contact. “What does that have to do with my things?”
“I’ll fix what I broke, my beauty. Believe that. If you take your possessions away, you’ll just have to bring them back. Save yourself the work.”
His arrogance was fucking incredible, and my body loved every bit of it.
Shit. Was I seducing him or the other way around?
Finding my voice, I slipped out of the cage of his arms. “Do us both a favour, Kyros. Quit acting like the exchanges mean or meant anything.”
Just come out, girl <3
I sent the message to Tommy and had barely blinked when her reply chimed.
There are too many of them.
Fifty Indebted hung around my pool and outside entertainment area in various states of undress.
I conceded the point with a text of heart emojis. Pretty sure I almost peed myself when I met a room filled with Vissimo for the first time.
It was Saturday, and I’d declared a pool party. A day lounging by the water under the hot sun served two purposes: a distraction from thinking of Kyros’s body all the damn time. And gifting most of the Indebted with a new experience.
Plus, waking up to go through my shave, cleanse, and hydrate routine before donning my tiniest white bikini had felt good. Normal. My blonde hair gleamed under the hot sun. My skin was silken smooth. I looked and felt amazing.
“Is anyone getting in the water?” I called, scanning the Indebted strewn about the area over the tops of my sunglasses.
Not having swimsuits, they’d shucked their black leathers to lounge around in their underwear. Fifty gorgeous vampires surrounded me. Like, shit, they were unbelievably beautiful. In a scary will I have the best night of my life or will I die way. Which was probably why none of my staff had ventured out here—except my stoic butler.
“I thought we were sunbathing for this part of the day,” Kelsea answered from next to me. “I’m just following your lead.”
I scanned the Indebted. Oh.
“Sunbathing is one thing you do at a pool party,” I said, knowing the others would listen in. “There’s usually swimming and jumping in the pool and splashing and music.” I cocked an ear. “Well there’s our first problem.”
Swiping up my phone, I opened my Sunday Session playlist and connected it to the outside speakers.
Josie sat up as the pool speakers blared to life. “I love George Ezra.”
I threw her an approving nod. “Modern-day Johnny Cash, right?”
None of the Indebted budged toward the pool.
Cracking my knuckles, I tossed my sunglasses down and hauled my sexy ass off the sunchair and to the deep end of the pool. I lined up with where Laurel reclined in her red lacy underwear surrounded by male Indebted.
Was that her harem? I was totally asking later because while 49 percent of me was scared of knowing the gory details and being unable to forget, 51 percent wanted the logistics.
Without fanfare, I leaped out over the water surface, pulling my legs close to form a ball.
I shattered the pool’s calm, carving an uncontrolled path through the water before kicking upward for air.
I grinned over the pool edge