Page 43 of Wallflower

But…

I’m near beaming at the possibility of seeing Rose again. One quick stop to end things with Cynthia, then Rose’s pussy isn’t going to know what hit it. I’m going to tongue-fuck that pretty cunt until it drowns me.

The double doors don’t make a sound as Rylan and Karson open them for us. Secretly armed to the teeth, they guard the door. Not a trace of the arsenal they carry on them is evident. They nod as we pass through, though I swear a scowl contorts Karson’s face as Brad enters. They’ve never really gotten along, so I’m not surprised.

The guts of Bleakcrest are empty—silent. There’s a charge in the air I’ve never felt before. Something happened while we were gone, but there isn’t a thing out of place.

Reid, the butler, escorts us to Maximus’s office where we wait uncomfortably outside. The seconds drag on, accumulating into a handful of torturous minutes.

Reid is a dutiful soldier, guarding the entrance to Maximus’s villainous lair. Sometimes I wonder if they’re more than boss and employee. There’s a familiarity between them I haven’t seen Maximus share with anyone else.

My mind races back to Rose as we wait. I can’t help it, she’s found the vacant part of my heart and curled up within it. Infusing her light into the darkness that sleeps there, chasing away the demons. Her laugh echoes around the cavernous space, filling it with the warmth in her eyes.

“Come in.” The boss’s tone is sharp, clipped, it makes me startle. He’s in a bad mood, and that doesn’t bode well for either of us.

Reid swings open the door, allowing us to enter first. His towering form lingers in the threshold, blocking our exit.

Not good.

Not fucking good.

The tension mounts as we stand there, waiting for instruction or permission to sit. Sweat trickles down my spine, sliding into my ass crack, and I fight the need to shift uncomfortably. Maximus lets the silence eat away at our sanity as he’s locked in on the screen of his cell phone.

“Leave us, Reid,” he snips without glancing up from the device. Our escort nods, backing out of the room and closing the door behind him. He won’t go far though. I guarantee when we’re dismissed,ifwe get dismissed, Reid will be waiting just outside the door to lead us away from Mr. Smythe’s office.

Raising his glare to us, Maximus sucks all the energy out of the room. “You two have been compromised. From this point on, you’re on lockdown. You are not to leave Bleakcrest. If you so much as step a foot outside, you’ll be terminated.”

On house arrest with Rose? Sounds like fucking paradise to me.

“What about our job?” Brad interjects.

“Consider yourself relieved of the position. Extraction is complete. I’d say the hardest part of your job is done.”

Maximus isn’t wrong, but knowing Brad, he’s pissed about missing out on the rest of the trip. The part where he gets to flirt, and fuck, and actually enjoy the cruise.

I couldn’t care less, more time here is what I’ve wanted since I laid eyes on Rose as she crossed the gangway.

“What about our position on the ship? Surely it will be too suspicious if we don’t return?”

Why won’t he shut the fuck up? It’s almost like he doesn’t want me to have time with Rose. What’s his angle? He liked Chelsea enough that I’m sure he could work in some time with her. She seems to fit his desires very well.

“Your replacements are being prepped as we speak.”

“But—“

It’s fucking agony, holding my tongue. But Brad is only digging his own fucking grave. I won’t go down with the ship because I don’t give a flying fuck about the vacation.

“Dismissed,” Maximus says, curt and final.

Every rigid muscle in my body loosens as relief flows through me.

Brad’s pissed. He turns, quickly moving to the door and flinging it open without waiting for Reid. He storms off down the hallway before I can follow.

“Samuel,” Maximus barks.

Slowly, I turn back to him, locking eyes.

“Miss Rose is not to be disturbed. Her purchase has been arranged, and she has some…recovering to do before then.”