Page 205 of Eternal Craving

“I expect you back by ten.” I squinted her way. “With the deeds to his house.”

Sunaria’s hand rested on the doorknob, her back to the room. “And if I’m not?”

“I’ve seen your dark side. I know what you’re capable of.” I reached into my jacket and withdrew my pocket watch. “And I know you like it.” I flipped open the hunter-case to check the time.

She twisted the knob slowly. “I won’t do it.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

From Marcus’ expression, he’d picked up that the silence was due to me berating Sunaria with unspoken words.

She spun around and, in a flash, grabbed the book off the floor and threw it at me. My laughter followed her out.

For the next few hours, I lost myself in work. All else felt hollow, except the forging of an empire destined to endure the ages. In that alone, there was the semblance of purpose. As long as I didn’t think about him, my beloved son...

I was so engrossed in reading, I hardly noticed Sunaria standing before me with the folded parchment in her hand. She’d just returned from her visit to see Mr. Lewis.

“Put it there.” I pointed to the desk.

She’d donned her favorite dress, a red silk gown. I liked her in it, the daring color a refreshing change from her usual black.

“Aren’t you going to ask me what happened?” Her gaze met mine.

“Did he sign it?”

“He did.”

I shrugged.

She dropped the paper onto the desk, and I slid it beside the others. Her lips quivered, a welcome sign that she was nearing her breaking point. Taking my time, I admired her low neckline, the curve of her breasts pushing against the taut luster of the material, the silk clinging to her small waist, emphasizing her slenderness.

Pushing back my chair, I joined Sunaria on the other side of the desk. Standing close, I traced her spine, running my fingers up and down it, and then nestled into her nape, kissing her tenderly.

Sunaria responded.

My left arm wrapped around her waist, my right pushed her forward, bending her over the desk with her arms extended. Sunaria’s dark locks cascaded over her bare shoulders and face. My hand slid up, under her gown, running along her silky thigh.

She sighed.

I pulled back my hand and grabbed her dark locks, whispering, “How did you get him to sign it?”

“I’ve always been loyal to you.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I told him that another orphanage would be built on his land and that something wonderful would come of him selling his property,” she said.

“And then you paid him one hundred pounds?”

Sunaria spun around. “You now own more property than any other businessman in London.”

“That wasn’t the sum we discussed.”

“Long term, it was worth it.”

“Orphanage? That’ll be the fifth.”

“The only good thing you’ve ever done,” she snapped.