Chapter 44
WREN
“ARE you sure there’s nothing you can do?” I hated how desperate my voice sounded. But I was. Desperate. This was my last chance to help Hawk out, even though the financial ramifications would leave me living hand to mouth for the next decade or two.
The loan manager shook his head and gave me a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Ms. Montana, but I can’t approve a loan of that amount.” He flicked through the application in front of him, frowning at the dire straits of my finances. “And given the state of your revenue stream with your business, I can’t see how I can loan you anything at all.”
My heart fell to my feet, although I wasn’t truly surprised. I knew getting a loan was going to be nearly impossible. I nodded. “Of course. Thank you for your time, Mr. Kahn.” I stood and walked from the bank, now truly left without another option. As I stepped out into the baking afternoon sun, I began the walk home.All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.
As I dodged people on the clogged sidewalks, I thought about what else Bane was going to cost me. Because I only had one choice now.
When I got back to my apartment, I showered and changed, taking extra time on my makeup and picking out an outfit. I settled on a knee-length navy blue dress and wedges, then piled my hair into a messy bun at the top of my head. I’d just completed putting the finishing touches on my makeup when there was a knock on my apartment door.
I was suddenly breathless.
“Little Bird, I can hear you on the other side of this door.” Bane’s timbre voice rumbled through the hollow wood. “Let me in.”
Unlocking the bolts, I twisted the knob and opened it. I edged back a step when I saw the heated look in his eyes, the hunger that burned there. His gaze drifted down my body, taking in my dress and the heels. When they finally returned to my face, I felt a shift in the air. He took a step toward me, then halted. I looked down to find his hands balled into fists at his sides.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah. What’s wrong with you?”
“You’re what’s wrong with me.” He looked down at my body again. “How am I supposed to keep my hands off you tonight?” It seemed strange that he would. At my cocked head, he added, “I won’t touch you again until you agree to our arrangement.”
Huffing out a laugh, I shook my head. Bane Rivera was a tough man to pigeonhole. Grabbing my purse, I asked, “Are you ready?”
As I walked past him, I felt the heat of his body. It was like my soul prickled with awareness.
Shaking myself a little, I stopped just outside the door and locked it behind him. Together, we walked to the bank of elevators.
“What’s your sister’s name?” I asked a little hesitantly.
“Bianca.”
“Is she older or younger?”
He gave me a sideways glance. “Older.”
“Who looks after who?”
“I look after her. Always have, even when I was a kid.”
For some reason, that answer lit me up on the inside, warming the hollow in my chest. He was just like me, only in reverse.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “Where does she live?”
He spun toward me a moment later, walking me backward until I felt the wall at my back. The hard, unforgiving surface didn’t yield as I pressed myself against it. Bane filled my vision, my nose, my ears. The only sense he hadn’t tortured yet was touch. And with the heat that filled his eyes, I wanted him to touch me.
He ghosted his fingers over my cheek, his gaze burning. “I don’t know why I spill my truths to you all the time.” His words were a gruff whisper. “But I do.” His entire body tensed right before he pulled himself away. Holding out his hand, he said, “Come.”
I let my fingers slip into his, and he pulled me close, wrapping his arm around my waist.
“I can’t resist you, Wren,” he muttered. “No matter what I do, no matter what I say, you keep drawing me back. I know I said I wouldn’t touch you, but if this is going to be the last time I can… goddammit, I’m going to touch you until I erase the touches of every other man before me.”
We rode down to the lobby in silence, his arm never unwrapping from my side. When we stepped out, he hustled me through the vestibule and out to his waiting town car.
“To Bianca’s, Andy,” he said to the driver, who stared at me like he’d never seen Bane with a woman before. Maybe it was because I was fully clothed that was so shocking. Whatever the reason, I didn’t need to worry myself over it now. Sliding into the cool leather interior, I let out a little sigh as Bane closed us in there together. His cologne filled the space, and I turned to look at him. That same hunger from before blazed, and I gasped as he dragged me onto his lap.
A small moan made its way out of my throat as I felt his erection pressing insistently at my ass. One arm was anchored around my waist, his free hand sliding through the hair at my nape. A bolt of lust hit me as he pulled back, creating a sting of pain that I was growing to like.
“I need to be inside you again, Wren. Tonight. If this is it, I need to have you one last time. Tell me I can taste your champagne cunt again.” He stroked my bottom lip, pulling it down like he was imagining every single illicit thought running through his head. “I need to experience your pretty mouth on my cock. I want to push to the back of your throat and fuck your face until you choke. Tell me I can fucking worship your body all night, make you scream my fucking name?”