Cardinal's Rule (17 page)

She laced her fingers through his. “I told you I’d take care of that for you.”

“I know, love. And this leaves us another free day to play before my biopsy.”

She didn’t miss the shadow that floated through his expression. It was easy to forget that hung over their heads.

She squeezed his hands. “We need to go pick up your suit, too.”

“Ah, yes, we do.” He kissed her, then lowered his lips to the base of her throat and gently

nibbled. “Perhaps I could take a few minutes to play first though.”

She wiggled her hips against him. “Now you’re talking.”

He nipped her. “I know I said I wouldn’t top you, but did I mention I have a thing for biting?”

She laughed. “Marking your territory?”

His low, throaty growl sent a wave of passion through her body. “Absolutely.” He lifted his

head, his eyes boring into hers. “I want to renegotiate one of our rules.”

Her heart raced. “Yeah?”

“Yes.” He nuzzled her neck again. “I promise I won’t top you, unless you specifically ask that of me. But I do want to be the only one in your life romantically. I don’t want to share you. I’m finding myself feeling extremely possessive of you.”

She had to swallow to speak, her voice even weaker than before. “What about last night at the club?”

“That was different. You only played with others. I don’t consider that sex. They were just your friends.” He lifted his head again to look into her eyes. “Is that a rule you can live with? Because the idea of another man making love to you doesn’t fill me with happy thoughts. I know when I first proposed this—”

“Yes.”

A slow, sultry smile painted his face. “Yes?”

“Yeah. I mean, not like it’d be a great sacrifice anyway. You’re fucking awesome in bed so far, 

and I haven’t had men beating down my door. Turnabout’s fair play, though. I’m the only one for you, too.”

He kissed her again and she had to stifle her moan. “What about Cris?” he asked.

She blinked. “What about him? I’m not doing him.”

He laughed. “No, love. Me and him.” His smile faded. “If you ask it of me, I won’t have sex

with him.”

“You said you wouldn’t release him.”

“I won’t, but if it would make you uncomfortable, I won’t use him like that.”

What a mixed bag. Part of her found the thought of seeing Cris being used like that exciting.

She’d always loved the thought of two guys together. “I don’t know,” she finally answered. “I don’t think it’ll bother me. As long as it’s him and only him, no other men or women. Can I reserve the right to change my mind about Cris later?”

“Absolutely.” He nibbled on her neck, this time behind her left ear. “As my wife, if you ever want to use him, feel free.”

Her stomach rolled, conflicting emotions struggling for control. “I don’t think I can do that.”

“Even if you just want to top him, love. God, that would be fucking sexy, sitting back and

watching you work him over with a singletail, watching his ass dance as you mark him.”

She swore she felt his cock throb, even through his slacks. “Now I know what to get you for our first anniversary.”

“If I’m around.”

She glared at him. “Stop it. What’s one of our rules?”

He lifted his head and smiled. “Sorry, love.”

“Hmph. Might have to take a cane to
your
ass, you do that again. I don’t want to hear you talking like that.”

He kissed her before sitting up and releasing her hands. “Does it bother you that I’m fifteen years older than you?”

“No. Should it?”

He shrugged. “You’ll be married to an old man.”

“Okay, another damn rule—”

He laughed, cutting her off. “Let me guess. No talking myself down?”

“Bingo.”

“On one condition.”

“What?”

He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers, tenderly, sensuously. “Tonight, we talk. Seriously. I feel badly that I could have easily done something yesterday that would have triggered bad memories and feelings for you. Cris didn’t talk to me about that aspect of your relationship. I want to get to know you like that.”

She took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay,” she softly said.

“Thank you, love.”

* * * *

He tried on the suit when they picked it up.

“Rwooar!” she growled.

He laughed and turned to her from the three-way mirror. “I take it that’s approval?”

“Hell yeah!” He filled it out well, had the perfect body for it, broad shoulders tapering to a firm waist and super-tight ass. Shorter than Cris by a couple of inches in height, slightly beefier build but still trim. He looked damn good.

They arrived at Loren’s right on time. Loren threw the door open for them before they even

made it up the walk.

“Wait’ll you see what I came up with!” she squealed, waving them in.

“Oh, boy,” Tilly muttered under her breath.

Landry softly chuckled as he squeezed her hand. “Steady, love. At least it’s only one day.”

“Thank god! I couldn’t handle weeks or months of her plans.” Loren led them to her dining

room table, which was already covered with paperwork and brochures. “Holy crap, Lor! What the hell have you been doing?”

“Planning, duh. You think I’m letting you skate on this and doing nothing but a bowl of chips and dip and a box of cookies for refreshments, think again!”

Landry slid into a chair, amusement on his face. “I’ll stand by with my credit cards ready.”

Tilly glared at him. “Not helping. Besides, I’ll go dutch with you on it.”

He arched an eyebrow at her. She’d noticed that seemed to be a favorite facial expression of his.

“No, you won’t. I told you, I’m paying for all of this.”

She turned to face him, hands planted firmly on her hips. “I sense our first lover’s spat coming on.”

“I asked
you
to marry
me
. I sprang this on you. Trust me, caring for me while I’m puking my guts up from chemo is not a pretty picture. You’ll wish I’d paid for it all if you don’t let me do this.”

Loren punched her shoulder. “Listen to the guy, would you?”

She rubbed her shoulder. “Okay, again,
ow
! Would you
please
stop doing that? Why the hell are you punching me all of a sudden?”

“Want me to kiss it and make it better?” Landry chimed in.

She glared at him. “Sooo not helping.”

Loren laughed. “Tilly, as crazy as this is, I have to say I really do like this guy.”

“You just like him because he beats the crap out of Cris.”

“‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend,’” Loren quoted. “Am I right, Landry?”

He nodded. “‘If Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons.’ Winston Churchill.”

Loren grinned. “Oooh, he’s rich, cute and smart!”

“
Oui
, Madame.”

Loren sighed. “And he speaks French. Fuuuck me, girlie, you landed a keeper and he’s gay.

What kind of luck do you have?”

“He
is
French, not just fluent in it. He’s also decided he’s homoflexible where I’m concerned.”

She winked at Landry. “By the way, just so you know,
darling
,” she told him, “Loren and I are BFFs, meaning she’ll be pounding on our front door Monday morning and wanting a status report from me about you in bed.”

Loren pretended to be offended. “No, I wouldn’t do that! I’d wait until after lunch, duh. Let you sleep in.”

Landry smiled, leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms. “Would it be easier to give you a demonstration with her right here and now?”

Tilly glared at him again. “I feel a new rule coming on, dude.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “I know, I know. Sit there, shut up, and keep the plastic 

handy.”

Loren happily sighed again. “And he’s a ‘yes, dear’ Dom. Fuck me, you lucky bitch. And yes, I do want a status report on Monday.”

“He’s not my Dom, he’s my fiancé.”

Loren waved her off. “Yeah, whatever, we need to decide this stuff
now
so I can get everything ordered ASAP. Butter cream or cream cheese frosting on your cake?”

* * * *

Tilly wondered how many people ran up a two thousand dollar tab with Publix for last-minute

wedding and reception plans. Loren rode with them to the store close to her house and they went over everything with the bakery and deli managers, who were more than happy to oblige when Landry produced his American Express Centurion card to pay for everything.

Loren grabbed his hand, her jaw gaping. “Holy fuck!” she said, awestruck, then looked at Tilly.

She held his hand, which still held the Amex card. She shook his hand at Tilly. “Do you know what the fuck this is?”

“It’s a credit card.”

Landry looked amused but remained quiet. Tilly didn’t fail to notice he never so much as

blinked in shock when the total was announced.

“It’s a
black
Amex, babe. That’s what they call them.” She stared at Landry. “How the hell did you get one of these? This is a fucking
Centurion
!”

“I know. I do work for some very elite and wealthy clients. I charge well for my services.”

“Lor, let go of his hand. You’re drooling on the man.”

“I’ve only seen one of these before, when I worked at the Ritz Carlton. A movie star had one.”

Loren spent several years as a manager at that and other high-end resorts before Ross’ business took off and she could stay home full time. Her specialty was acting as a private concierge to the rich and famous who visited Sarasota, especially during the hectic film festival week. “Unbefuckinglievable.”

She let go of his hand and looked at Tilly. “Do you have any
clue
how much money you have to have to be offered one of those puppies?”

Tilly didn’t reply because she honestly didn’t know. Landry handed the card to the bakery

manager so she could get everything rung up. “Yes,” Landry said. “A lot.” He looked at Tilly and winked.

She stifled her laughter.

Landry offered to unload Tilly’s SUV at Loren’s house and sent the women inside while he did.

Loren snagged Tilly’s arm. “Three years, huh? Not a bad deal. I can see why you agreed. He’s a sweetheart.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, her stomach nervous. This wasn’t like her mother’s situation, where she

had no options and a child to care for. She had a job, a house, a considerable savings account. She could even go back to work as a nurse.

She wasn’t trapped. Not to mention she had legal protection in the form of the pre-nup.

“So how are you going to handle this shit with Cris?” Loren asked.

She shrugged. “I don’t want to think about that right now.” She’d desperately tried to
not
think about it all day.

* * * *

Landry had also bought fixings for their dinner, declaring he would cook for her. He proved to

be a damn good cook. She helped him clean up the kitchen before they retired to the bedroom to watch TV and talk. He stretched out, on his side, and held her close.

“Time for our promised talk, love.”

She closed her eyes. “Okay.”

“First of all, the easy part. Do I need to wear a condom?”

She bristled. “I’m clean. I told you, I haven’t been with anyone since Cris. I got tested after he left to make sure the son of a bitch didn’t give me something.”

He kissed the nape of her neck. “I meant for birth control. Unless you took them when I wasn’t with you, I never saw you do it, and there are no packs in your bathroom.”

Her face reddened. “It’s not an issue. Don’t worry about it.”

“Why?” he softly asked.

“Landry—”

“Please. I won’t force you. Can’t force you to tell. I do want to know.”

She rolled to face him and buried her face against his chest. “Because of what
he
did to me.”

“Not Cris.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Not Cris,” she agreed.

He stroked her back. “All right, love. You’re safe with me. Let it out. Please.”

She took a deep breath. “When he raped me, I had internal injuries. Bleeding and infection and scarring. They told me I can’t have kids.”

Landry held her more tightly and nuzzled the top of her head. “Talk to me,” he coaxed. “Tell me everything and I will never ask you to talk about it again if you don’t wish to.”

As stupid as it was, she did feel safe with him. They had a common bond, right or wrong. She told him the story, of the nightly visits that started when she was fourteen. Her step-father molested her, had her get him off, and it continued every night for several weeks until the night he brutally raped her.

“I couldn’t tell my mom,” she whispered. “He threatened to kill both of us if I told her or went to the cops. Said no one would believe me, that he’d tell people he’d caught me with booze and drugs, and that I was lying to get even. I never even drank in high school. He was a fucking bully. Abusive.

Used to beat the crap out of her. He ran when he realized how badly he’d hurt me, how bad I was bleeding. Took them three weeks to find him.”

“What happened to your mother?”

“She died before I met Cris. I was at work after school, and she had to go to the pharmacy to get her medicine refilled. She had asthma really bad, so bad she could only work part-time and was on partial disability and stuff too. That’s why she stayed married to the fucking asshole for as long as she did. She thought she had no options.” She took a deep breath to steady herself. “The pharmacy was only two blocks away from where we lived, so she walked because I wouldn’t be home for several hours and I had the only car. Hit and run driver got her when she was crossing the street.”

“Did they catch them?”

“Yep. Two days later. Little rich asshole. His buddies tried to lie for him and say his car was stolen, but they eventually proved he’d been out drinking before.” She tipped her head back to look into his eyes. “I fucking sued the pants off his goddamn family for it, too. My mom deserved better than that. I used the money to get me into college.”