I hurry to untie my belt and shuck my coat since it’s probably my fault Andre kept him up so late. I pass it off to him with a smile. “Thank you.”
Victor’s focus immediately moves to where Andre is watching us, his jaw tight. When his attention comes back my way Victor’s gaze is a little different. He reaches out to take my coat, dragging his fingers over the skin of my hand. “I’m always happy to offer my assistance.”
The interaction almost seems suggestive. Suggestive enough that I’m worried I’m in a much different situation than I initially thought.
“Go.” Andre’s sharp command stops any worry I had that these men might be considering passing me around. “I can handle everything from here.”
Everything? Everything is a lot. More than enough to drag back the worry settled in my gut.
At least I’m choosing to believe the twist in my belly and the race of my pulse is because of worry.
Andre’s sharp eyes snap to me. “Come.”
I give Victor one final glance before following Andre as he moves through the dark penthouse. There’s not a single light on in the place, making it impossible to get a good look at anything around me. I was hoping at least this time I’d get to see some of his home, but it’s just as shadowy and hidden as last time I was here, making it seem less like a home and more like a lair, which actually seems pretty fitting.
Andre is still dressed in the same suit he wore when he came into Platinum. It’s still crisp and fresh-looking even though it’s well past the middle of the night, which is annoying since I currently look rumpled and worn out. Definitely not the best way to appear when I’m hoping for an opportunity that might net me the rest of the money I need.
He pushes open the door to his office and motions to one of the wingback chairs angled beside the chess board I stared at while I waited for him the night of the auction, trying to convince myself I could handle what was coming my way. “Sit.”
My feet are killing me so I do what he tells me, sinking down into the buttery leather and letting out a sigh as the ache in my toes subsides.
I expect him to go drop into the chair behind his desk, but instead he comes close, holding out one hand. “Give me your phone.”
Is he worried I’m going to take pictures of his fortress of solitude? “I don’t have it with me.”
Andre full on scowls at me. “Why not?”
“It doesn’t work.” I sit a little taller, hoping Victor knows what he’s talking about. “It’s shut off, remember?”
“Oh, I remember, Duchess.” Andre’s voice is dark and deadly as he comes closer, looming over me as he leans down to rest his hands on the arms of the chair. “And if you’ll remember, I told you to get it turned back on today.”
Is that what this is all about? Me not getting my phone turned on? “I was busy.” I lift my chin, trying to fake the kind of confidence Madison oozes. “I had more important things to deal with.”
“What’s more important than doing what I told you to do?” There’s a hint of challenge in his question. Like he doesn’t believe it’s possible for me to answer.
“Lots of things.” And I’m not willing to tell him about a single one of them. It’s none of his business that I shuttled my mother to three different doctors today, spending hours of my time and more than a few of my dollars trying to keep her as healthy as possible so she can survive long enough to make it to the drug trial I will get her into.
I know how people look at my mother. The things they say about her.
And I’m not sure I could do what I need to if Andre said those kinds of things.
“Interesting answer.” Andre’s body comes closer, filling every bit of the space around me until all I can see is him. “And if you really believe it then you don’t understand exactly who I am.”
I know exactly who he is. Madison spilled all she knew yesterday after she came in ready to hit him over the head with a champagne bottle. “I don’t really care who you are.”
Andre is so close I can feel the heat of his body and count the tiny flecks of brown dotting his eyes, breaking up the black with a hint of warmth. His scent surrounds me, bringing along the memory of the last time I was this close to him.
I can’t help but shift around a little as I think about the way his body pressed into mine and his hand wrapped around my neck, carefully pinning me in place without ever hurting me.
And the way his dick dug into my hip, long and hard.
I wonder if he’s hard right now.
I wonder if he wants me to do what I did last time we were here.
I lick my lips, like the image in my brain requires them to be lubricated. The move drags Andre’s eyes to my mouth, where it stays for many silent seconds and I take full advantage, straining to get a glimpse at his crotch without moving, but it’s impossible for me to tell what might be happening down there.
“Tell me, Duchess…” His gaze slowly lifts to mine in a languid sweep. “Have you thought about the feel of my cock in your throat?”