Surrender To Me

I shrugged. I’d like to see her resist Bane when he gets that look in his eye. “I made a decision when we were at dinner. I told him I accepted his offer of two weeks with me, and in exchange Hawk’s debt is gone.” “Just like that?”

“Just like that.” I let out a sigh. “Last night, we went to dinner, and afterward, he brought one of my fantasies to life.” “Threesome?”

“Sex swing,” I corrected. “And it was fucking amazing. Seriously, Dee, you and Baron have to get one.”

She tapped her chin in thought. “I’ll just get one and surprise him,” she said with a chuckle. “His poor uptight accountant pants wouldn’t know what hit them.”

She looked around the bar for a moment. “What’s going to happen at the end of two weeks? Will you be able to walk away from him?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. I feel like the more time I spend with him, the more I get to know him, the more I want to stay. Is that messed up? I mean, he’s a drug dealer and runs a strip club. How can I move past that? It’s hardly an honest living.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“The drug dealing is not an honest living, but the club is legit. Men love sex, and if women can get paid to dance for them, I say more power to them. Do you know if he’s slept with any of them?”

“I asked him last night.”

“What did he say?”

Smoothing my hair back with my fingers. “He said he didn’t have penetrative sex with any of them.”

“Penetrative?” She screwed up her face. “So, that means…”

“Oral. I guess he gets blowjobs?”

My best friend pursed her lips. “And this is something he’ll continue to do while he has you in his bed?” I could hear every single ounce of disapproval in her tone.

“No. He said he won’t see any other woman while I’m sleeping with him.”

“Well, at least he’s not a complete asshole,” she muttered. “Fuck, I love you, Wren, and want to hang out longer, but I need to go home to Baron. All this sex-deal talk has got me all hot and bothered.

Want to share an Uber?”

I laughed at my friend’s impulsivity but nodded. “I’m sure Baron will be very happy to hear that. I should probably go too… work tomorrow and everything.”

Darcy navigated her way through the rideshare app, booking us a lift. “When do you see Bane again?”

“Probably tomorrow night.”

With a nod, she glanced at her phone. “Our ride is around the corner,” she announced, turning off her phone and sliding it back into her purse. Darcy slid from the seat, and I followed her out, and together we walked out of The Nightingale. As we stepped onto the sidewalk, a car pulled up. “This is us.”

We both got in, declining the offer of water and mints.

“How’s the baby-making going?” I asked once we were on our way.

She was silent for a moment, then said, “Our first round of IVF is next week.”

Reaching across the dark back seat, I took her hand in mine. I didn’t need to ask her how she felt about that because I knew. She was terrified. She was terrified of it not working. She was terrified that for whatever reason she was unable to have children naturally would interfere with the artificial process too.

“Have you spoken to Baron about how you’re feeling?”

She tightened her grip on my hand. “A bit. He wants this so badly, but… what if-” “It’ll take. I know it.”

Bobbing her head, she sucked in a breath, then let it out. “We only have enough cash for two rounds. If this doesn’t happen, I don’t know what we’ll do.”

“You could adopt? There are loads of children out there who need loving parents. Or you could foster?” If I’d had a mom like her when Hawk and I were going through the foster system, I wouldn’t have run away as much. I would’ve been happy to stay. Been happy to have the love of someone who loved me back, instead of the government check they received for the inconvenience.

Darcy sniffled, wiping the tears from her cheeks. I opened my mouth to say something more, but the car slowed to a stop at the curb. Peering out of my window, I saw we were at my apartment.

“Stay safe, babe,” Darcy told me with a smile. “I’m looking forward to hearing more of your sexcapades with Bane.”

I huffed as I opened my door. “We don’t have sexscapades.”

“Um, yeah, you do. You guys are having that hot, dirty sex I wish I were having.” Kissing my cheek, Darcy waved goodbye, and I got out, walking inside my building.

As I unlocked my apartment door, I paused when I stepped inside. I didn’t know how else to explain it other than it felt like the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end. Moving quickly and quietly, I went into my bedroom and grabbed my nine-millimeter, taking off the safety and holding it down by my thigh.

After checking all the windows and the locks on the front door, I began looking around. But I found nothing.

Nothing was missing, but Bane’s angry words from earlier bounced around my head.

Anyone could get into my apartment at any time. I’d never felt unsafe, but my instincts never lied.

Picking up the phone, I dialed Bane’s number.

“Little Bird,” he answered on the second ring. “What’s wrong? I thought you were out with

Darcy.”

“I was. I’m home now, but…” Was I being crazy here?

Was I overreacting because Bane had pointed out the busted lock on my window?

Was I psychosomatic?

“What is it, Wren?” he demanded in a low voice.

“I’m sure it’s nothing-”

“What?” I heard him slam his fist onto the desk.

Swallowing, I said, “I think someone’s been in my apartment.” I pulled the phone away from my ear when Bane cursed viciously.

“I’m sending Andy. Keep your gun with you and lock yourself in the bathroom until he gets there.”

I wanted to rail against him, scream that I was not a helpless woman who needed the help of a man, but…

… I had called him because I knew he would make everything all right again.

I nodded, my body already kicking in with adrenaline. “Okay. Okay.” “I’ll keep you safe, Little Bird.”