Page 72 of Under Her Protection

"I agree to work with you and Avery on her."

"Copy."

"Put her in a cell."

"Copy."

"I mean it."

"I know you do."

She breathed out.

She had not, in twenty-five years, in any room, agreed out loud to work on anything with a person she did not own. Avery Cole, whom she had seen once on a screen for eleven seconds, was about to have access to the Strauss internal files, which was a sentence the Vivienne of twelve weeks ago would have blown up a floor to prevent. It was a sentence this Vivienne, in this bed, with this woman's hand over hers on her own stomach, could speak without flinching.

She permitted herself, privately, to understand that this was the price of Leo's hand on her stomach.

She understood that she was paying it willingly.

Leo's thumb moved against her wrist.

"All right," Leo said, low.

"Mm."

"Are we done with business?”

Vivienne nodded.

Vivienne permitted herself a small private smile, half a breath long, in the grey linen.

"Mademoiselle Cole."

"Yes."

"I would like an orgasm now.”

"Would you indeed?” Leo’s face was in a half smirk. She was so attractive Vivienne thought she might combust.

"I would."

Leo’s hair was falling over her face and she was so devastatingly handsome.

"Now please, Mademoiselle Cole.”

"To start the day. And you, I think, had better provide it by fucking me.”

“Is that true?”

"Yes."

"Or."

"Or it will reflect in your ongoing engagement."

"I see."

"Yes, I thought you would."