Page 37 of Balthazar's Fire

Frustration swirled inside Balthazar as he watched Cherie eat. She was being polite, just as he’d expected her to be, but the truth was the croissants had been baked for too long. His impeccable breakfast idea was wrecked.

“No, sir!” Her reply was emphatic, despite its deference. “It’s lovely. I enjoy them well-done.”

“Hmmm.”

He remained unconvinced, certain that she was only being courteous as the sound of a new message on his phone drew his attention from her.

“Excuse me,” he told her, rising to collect it. “That was my phone.”

“Did I leave mine in your living room, sir?”

He paused at the question, glancing back to see her stuffing another mouthful between her lips. Balthazar had never yearned to be food so much in his life.

Maybe she does like them burned, after all?

“Yes,” he told her. “You left it charging, but I’ll collect it for you on my way back.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Peering up from under her lashes, she offered him the coy smile of a much younger girl, but her wonderful assets assured him that was not the case. Cherie was all woman. He had clarified that much for himself last night.

Emboldened at the thought, he turned and strolled back to the staircase. His cock swelled at the memory of devouring her sweet pussy, his desire obvious as it rose between his legs.

“Not now,” he muttered as he ran up the steps and back to the bedroom.

Throwing open the blinds, he found a pair of joggers, which he pulled on to conceal his growing arousal before he grabbed his phone and opened the new message.

Good morning, Balthazar.

Balthazar’s brow rose as he realized it was from Sebastian, the familiar echo of guilt tingling in his chest. His brother had wanted to tell him something when they’d met at Berrunti’s, but Balthazar had been too focused on Cherie to offer him the time.

Do you have time to talk today?

There’s something important I want to tell you.

Important? Balthazar pulled in a breath at the puzzling statement, wondering what was on his brother’s mind. Perhaps his feeling had been right yesterday, Maybe Seb had a new woman, too?

Heading for the door, he started a reply to Sebastian.

Hi Seb, sure.

Hesitating at the head of the stairs, Balthazar’s thoughts returned to Cherie. As much as he wanted to make amends and be there to listen to his brother, Balthazar had her welfare to consider as well. The threat Monroe posed was as clear as it was dangerous, and having lost her once, he’d never do anything to put her in peril again.

I’d love to meet, but I’ll have Cherie with me.

I can’t risk leaving her alone until Monroe is dealt with.

He tensed at what Sebastian might make of his answer but concluded it didn’t matter. Cherie was in Balthazar’s life now and she was a priority. His family would have to come to grips with what that meant, and there was no one better to introduce the idea of Cherie being with him than Sebastian. Calmer and generally more reasonable than the younger two of their brothers, Sebastian was the other dependable Vaughn. If anyone could be trusted with Cherie’s situation, it was him.

Starting down the stairs, Balthazar turned into the living room, his gaze settling over the expensive rug where Cherie had squirmed as he ravished her. Striding to her phone, he disconnected the device and carried it to the kitchen. Walking through the door, he noticed Cherie had polished off two of the croissants he’d baked.

“Your phone.” He placed the device down by her head, leaning to kiss her crown.

“Thank you again.” She looked up with a smile. “You really are looking after me.”

“Get used to it.” Collecting her hair in one palm, he swept it to one side and lowered to kiss her nape just as his phone registered another incoming missive. “I said I’d take care of you and I’m a man of my word.”

Glancing at his phone, Balthazar perched on the neighboring stool and read Sebastian’s reply.