Page 51 of Balthazar's Fire

“Thank you.” Spinning on his heel, he found Cherie waiting in the cubicle, her finger poised over the button to hold the door.

“Which floor, sir?” Her lips curled as he joined her, his palm straying to the curve of her ass as he gave the command.

“Sixteen,” he whispered. “It has the best vista.”

“Sixteen, it is.” Reaching past him, she selected the floor without leaving the confines of his arms. “Who owns all the other apartments?”

“My family does.” He didn’t take his eyes from her as he replied.

“All of them?” Cherie’s gaze widened.

“Yes.”

By the gods, he wanted to fuck her again, and being in the elevator was only making it worse. The restricted silver space reminded him of the elevator ride down from Monroe’s office. It had been the first time he’d really had the chance to speak to Cherie, and despite its association with the fiend, Oliver, he recalled it fondly.

“Wow,” she repeated. “You guys are super rich, aren’t you?”

Balthazar grinned at her obvious innocence. It was true his family was wealthy, but the fact she measured that wealth by the number of floors in their building was as amusing as it was naïve. Like their rivals the Monroes, the Vaughns had accumulated most of the money by buying stocks cheaply and risking big. Balthazar’s father, Michael had enjoyed a smart head for business and his gambles had reaped the family rewards.

“We’re more than comfortable, yes.”

Aware of the doors sliding closed behind them and the cubicle starting to ascend, Balthazar swooped in for a kiss, taking his time as he breathed Cherie in. In a matter of days, she had become his everything. He’d been waiting for Cherie his entire life, and now that he’d found her, he didn’t ever intend to let her slip away.

“Balthazar.” Her voice was raspy when he finally straightened, her hand rising to her temple. “I already told you that I can’t think when you kiss me like that.”

“So, don’t think,” he instructed, smiling glibly as the elevator came to a halt.

“You’re awful, sir,” she chided as he turned to see the doors glide apart. “But I do so appreciate you.”

“It’s just as well,” he reminded her as they left and walked the short distance to the huge glossy front door of the apartment. “Because you’re not getting rid of me.”

Her chuckle filled the air as Balthazar lifted his hand and knocked twice on the black door. It was the same style of knock he used wherever he went, and he knew that Sebastian would know it was safe to answer the door.

He couldn’t wait to get Cherie back to bed, but first was the subject of Sebastian and who he’d been hiding away in their city penthouse. A peculiar mix of nerves and excitement simmered in his stomach. Sebastian had been loving and leaving ladies for years, so whoever he’d decided to hide away up here must be important. It was time Balthazar met this enigmatic woman for himself.

Chapter Eighteen

Sebastian

Agitated nerves tangled in Sebastian’s stomach as he sat by the fireplace. It was preposterous to feel so apprehensive about his brother’s imminent arrival, but Sebastian couldn’t deny the swell of his trepidation.

He’d managed to keep Rebecca’s identity a secret for the last few days, rescuing her from the clutches of her abusive family and enjoying the time with her at the apartment, but he was also no fool. Sebastian had always known this moment would come—the time when she would have to be introduced to his siblings, but Sebastian had hoped he’d have the opportunity to address the matter with Balthazar before his brother swept into the penthouse with his new woman in tow.

“Sebastian?” Rebecca’s voice was uncertain as she returned from the bathroom. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, little girl,” he assured her, opening his arms to receive her as she closed the distance between them. Curling up on his lap, her dazzling blue eyes drilled into him.

“Are you sure, sir?” she probed. “You seem tense.”

He smiled at the ease with which she read him. They might not have known each other long, but there was no doubt in his mind that they belonged together. Rebecca was the missing piece of Sebastian’s life—the answer to every riddle that had stumped him since his father had compelled him to sign the family contract that ensured Michael’s bloodline survived him.

“My brother, Balthazar, is on his way.” He released the words in one long sigh, stroking her flame-colored hair from her face.

“Here?” She stiffened, her gaze darting around the enormous expanse of living space.

“Yes.”

“Does he know about us?” she asked. “Because I remember you told me you wanted to talk to him and iron out his concerns about Oliver, and—"