Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53862 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“I’ll set some on the counter in the kitchen for you.”
“Thank you, Phoenix. I appreciate you showing me the information you received. It’s not a pleasant feeling to think everything about you has been revealed to someone else,” Lyra said, wrapping her arms around herself. “It’s kind of scary. I mean, I don’t understand why your boss has me on his radar. I’ve never heard of anyone named Baldwin Kingsley.”
“Kingsley has come to the rescue of every one of us, all six men and all four women. None of us knows how he discovered we needed him or why he chose to rescue us. The man seems omniscient. Sometimes, it’s downright eerie, but he’s always right.”
“Did he rescue all of you from anything serious?”
“Yes, Little one. Very dangerous situations,” Phoenix told her gently, not wanting her to panic.
She chewed on the corner of her lower lip, thinking for a moment before releasing it. “Then I guess he truly believes I’m in some kind of serious danger.”
“That is my assumption, Crash.” Phoenix walked forward to enclose her in his embrace. “You’re my Little girl, Lyra. I’m always going to have your back.”
“There’s something else I want to talk about,” she whispered.
“Okay. What’s up?” He crossed his fingers, afraid of losing her.
“I don’t want to use condoms with you. I’m on birth control, and I was tested last month at my annual exam,” she blurted out, totally changing the subject.
Rocked by her request, Phoenix leaned back to look at her face. “That’s a big step, Crash. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”
“Yes. Is it safe with you?”
“I was tested recently, too, Little girl.”
“And you’re okay with not using them?” she asked, watching his face.
“I can’t imagine anything more intense than feeling your body around mine, Little girl. Your body, Lyra. My Little girl’s wrapped around my cock.”
She stared at him. “You’re making my practicing hard right now.”
He knew nothing interfered with her rehearsal schedule. A grin curved his lips. “How about if I get out of here so you can concentrate?”
“Good idea.”
Not wanting her to wipe him out of her mind as soon as he disappeared, Phoenix wooed her with a soft and sexy kiss before stepping away.
“No fair, Daddy,” she protested as he released her and headed for the elevator.
“I’ll make it up to you,” he promised, loving the aroused look on her face. Her resigned sigh reached his ears as he closed the door to their apartment. Hopefully, she’d choose some relaxing music to soothe her thoughts.
Leaving the fifth floor, Phoenix headed for the lobby. He needed to see the man who’d taken charge of Lyra’s career and had captured her heart for a short time. As he stepped out of the elevator, he passed a man standing impatiently at the door. Polished, with not a hair out of place, he instantly made Phoenix’s skin crawl.
A motion at the desk caught his attention. Sadie lowered her hand to rest on the desk, and she nodded. Phoenix turned to watch the man lean against the rear wall of the elevator. He consulted his phone before typing a rapid reply. His expression was a determined sneer that turned dismissive when he looked up to see the doors closing and Phoenix watching him.
As the panels sealed together, Phoenix clenched his fists, feeling the anger brewing inside him. He was going to make that son of a bitch pay. Moreover, he intended to solve the mystery of what could be more important than his Little girl. Something had pulled him away from his relationship as Lyra’s boyfriend while he’d still maintained his control over Lyra’s career. Phoenix wouldn’t rest until he figured out that mystery.
“Hey, Phoenix. Thank you for coming to look at the outlets behind the reception desk,” Sadie said cheerfully.
He shifted his attention to her smiling face. Her widening eyes warned him that he was attracting the attention and concern of the guests. A big guy like him standing with a glower on his face was bound to create a disturbance. He forced a rueful grin onto his face.
“Hey, Sadie. I left my to-do list back at my desk. I knew there was something I was going to do in this area. Thanks for putting me back on track.”
Chapter Seven
Drawing the bow across the strings, Lyra watched the curiosity on people’s faces become interest and concentration. Sadie and Phoenix had helped her settle in a chair at the side of the large open gathering space to the side of the reception desk. Dressed in a simple black dress, Lyra knew she looked poised and elegant—not from vanity but from years of finetuning her social persona. Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, swaying to each beat as she lured in anyone who paused to listen.
My own siren song.
The chairs quickly filled, and people leaned against the walls to watch. A child she estimated to be about five years old approached to sit cross-legged on the floor about five feet away. His fascination made her smile. She noted his left hand tried to echo her chord changes. This was a child who loved an instrument. A violin, she decided.