Page 65 of Break Me Not

It was a happy ending for me and the paintings, but not so much for Stefan. I knew I would probably be getting a call, which made me even more excited to try to forget it all and relax tonight.

We had gotten closer over the last few weeks, but the guilt hadn’t left. It was bandaged by the fact that my daughter told me she would be happy with the person I chose.

I wanted to be a little selfish. I wanted to let myself live, even if it was just for a moment.

I would have to come clean to Claire at some point, though. It didn't feel right to keep this from her. I might have made the conscious decision to hide the truth about my relationship with her father, but I hated to lie to her. We'd always been so close that something like this felt like a huge betrayal.

And yet here I am, still doing it.

I tried not to think too hard about it.

“Jax and I can almost be considered best friends,” she said with a wave of her brows. I brought my wine close to my lips but didn’t drink.

I'd been waiting for this moment so I could get to the bottom of what had happened at the auction.

“So you knew she was my daughter’s best friend.” I took a slow sip as the color drained from Sloan’s face. She gave Lillian a panicked look but merely got a sweet smile back. She was letting me have fun.

“Well… Uh… I mean⁠—”

“What if I told you I never want to sell to your club again?” I asked. “Or maybe I can get you blacklisted from all the other galleries as well? I think I heard a rumor about you opening a new club somewhere? I guess you won’t be needing any more art.”

Her face had twisted into full-blown fear, and it had Lillian giggling behind her hand.

“No, don't say that! If Ax hears⁠—”

“But you kind of deserve it, don't you?” Lillian asked her.

“You're supposed to be on my side!”

“She has nothing to lose here,” I added. “She will always be a faithful client and artist. You, on the other hand…”

“It’s my fault,” Jax said, appearing from behind me and wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “She told me to tell you right away, but I…”

“Had a lapse in judgment?” I asked, turning to look up at her blue eyes.

My breath caught in my throat.

Every time I saw her, it was the same. Those eyes. They felt like they could see right through me.

“I had something I just couldn’t bear to let go of,” she whispered.

Sloan let out a low whistle. If I were inside my body, I might turn to glare at her, but in that moment, as Jax held my gaze and whispered those simple yet so touching words, I felt like I was floating.

My heart raced in my chest. My skin heated.

Perfect. She’s so perfect. And everything I’d ever wanted.

“Are you ready for your punishment?” I whispered back and watched as she swallowed thickly. But instead of fear showing on her face, her lips quirked into a smile.

“More than ready.” She leaned closer. “I’ve been dreaming about it.”

“See? She's totally not mad at me,” Sloan said, drawing my attention, and sent me a smile. “I knew there was something deep down inside you that needed to be let out.”

“You're not off the hook,” I warned. “Not completely. The only reason I'm not⁠—”

“Is because you're so forgiving,” Jax finished for me, her teeth coming to nibble at my ear.

“Okay! Get to your room already,” Lillian said with a giggle.