Declan manned the door and grinned at her. His smile faltered when I slid my arm around her waist, staring him down for the affront.
“Oh, come on, boss. Your woman is beautiful and charming. I know she’s yours,” he muttered.
Ginevra elbowed me in the side.What?Then she pulled away from me to give Declan those damn Italian air kisses. I kept my fists clenched at my sides. When she pulled back, she stepped into my side and waited.For what? Oh.I draped my arm around her shoulders as Declan let us into the club, Cormac and Rian trailing behind us.
The pounding base thumped as we made our way through the crowded dance floor. Ginevra’s eyes twinkled as she looked up at me. “Sure we don’t have time to dance?”
In that moment, more than anything else in the world, I wanted to wrap my fingers around her hips and move with her in time to the music. I imagined her on the dance floor, her gorgeous curves swaying as the three of us surrounded her, my hands roving over her back then under that sweet dress, palming her perfect breasts as Cormac lifted her leg and pressed her pussy into his cock and Rian shoved his tongue down her throat, listening to her whimpers and moans as partiers and dancers watched us play with her.
But I had to get things ready for the fight. My clubs were successful because I was hands on, not because I delegated. “Another night, baby, I promise.”
Another bouncer let us through the double doors at the back of the club. As soon as we hit the dark hallway, I pushed Ginevra face first into the wall. Tracing my fingers along the low back of her dress, I murmured, “This dress should be illegal.”
She huffed with amusement. “Take it up with Cormac and Rian,” both of whom stood right there, watching me paw her. I slipped my fingers through the deep back, sliding along her silky skin until I reached her stomach, then drew them upward until I cupped her breasts, just as I’d imagined a few moments ago. Her breath turned ragged as she arched her back, pushing her breasts into my hands.
I plucked at her nipples, ignoring the gasp of pain and the deep throated moan of pleasure that followed as I stretched and pulled at them. When I’d hurt her enough that she’d be sore for the evening, I palmed her breasts again, soothing the ache. She pushed back from the wall and leaned against my torso, looping her arms around my neck, soft and sweet, surrendering to me. Her luscious hips ground into me as she writhed in time to the dance music emanating faintly from the club.
“Sure we don’t have time to dance, Liam?” Ginevra’s voice was throaty and low. It shot straight to my groin.
With a huff of amusement, Cormac untwined her fingers from my neck and pulled her into him. “He doesn’t have time, darling.”
She grinned. “Worth a try.”
Cormac just smiled and tapped her on the ass, pushing her forward down the hall. Was that affection from our broody dominant?Wonders never cease.
I yanked our girl back under my arm, wrapping my fingers over her shoulder with possessiveness. She might be ours, but tonight she would sit bymyside.
Rian and Cormac continued downstairs to confirm security arrangements and greet the fighters, while I pulled Ginevra into my office. Keri, the club’s manager, was waiting for me there. She stood when we entered the room.
Keri was dressed in a suit, but didn’t appear to be wearing anything under her buttoned blazer. She’d pulled her red hair back in a severe ponytail, and kept her make-up minimal. Keri looked like a doll, but she’d spent years as a professional MMA fighter. She could take on anyone who gave her a hard time.
She and Ginevra eyed each other for half a second, the pause as we entered the room barely noticeable. Keri’s eyes flicked over Ginevra, wary about the woman we were bringing into the fold.
I needn’t have worried. Ginevra disengaged from my arm and walked forward to clasp Keri’s hands in her own. “Keri, I’m so glad to meet you. My name’s Ginevra.” Ginevra leaned to give her soft air kisses. “Liam tells me he couldn’t run this place without you.”
Keri’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly. “It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs.—” She paused and blinked several times. “What are we calling you?”
Ginevra laughed. Sweet and charming Ginevra was far more dangerous than angry and uncertain Ginevra.
“Just Ginevra, I think. We didn’t discuss changing my name. Wouldn’t that be complicated, with three of them?” Her grin was wide and easy as she dropped into one of the two chairs in front of my desk. “Don’t let me get in the way of your fight prep. My job tonight is to be distracting eye candy.”
Keri took the seat beside Ginevra, eyeing her up and down. “That you will be, Ginevra.” My manager’s eyes flicked back to me, seeking cues about how I wanted this conversation to continue.
I shook my head. “Ginevra’s a twenty-five percent owner now, same as Rian and Cormac. Go ahead and brief us both.”
Ginevra leaned in, listening intently, as we reviewed the night’s fighters and the security arrangements. We had VIPs from both the Costa family and the Zhangs, a Chinese-American triad who wanted to establish a presence in Yorkfield.
I was familiar with these details, but Keri ran through them with me anyway, to make sure neither of us forgot anything important.
“Did you say the Costas have a fighter in the octagon tonight?” Ginevra interrupted.
Keri nodded. “Sergio Accardi. He’s one of their captains, a strong fighter.”
Ginevra couldn’t hide the fury that flashed over her face. Keri and I waited patiently. “Sergio’s the bastard who knocked my sister up.”
Ah. I leaned back in my seat, steepling my fingers. “How do you want to handle this, Ginevra?”
She pressed her lips together in a grim line. “I don’t know.”