And he didn’t.

Nineteen minutes later, I saw his dark head appear as he climbed the curving staircase. It was dark in the loft, exactly the way I wanted it. Over the balcony’s edge, guests mingled with each other and the champagne was flowing freely. I’d left Reese in charge, with a conspiratorial smile, and climbed up here to wait. Chase had arrived right on cue.

I shivered with excitement as he took me in his arms. I wanted to take this chance all for ourselves… I wanted to give in to the desire that was building in my veins, pulsing between my legs. I felt the excitement of the game, knew the thrill of getting caught. It heated my blood until I thought, when he kissed me, I might come just from that…

“Wait,” I whispered against his mouth, forcing down my rising excitement, pushing against his chest with my palms. “We aren’t alone… I need you to wait, and listen…”

My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could see the question in his eyes. But a second later, we both turned, watching from our shadowed doorway as another couple reached the top of the stairs. Sutton emerged first, his breathing giving away his excitement. He sucked air through his teeth as he caught the girl’s hand and pulled her hard, into his arms. His hands groped at her body as he buried his face in her neck, in her cleavage. His voice was ragged as he spoke, and I felt Chase’s hand tighten painfully on mine.

“Lean over the balcony, sweetheart,” he whispered harshly, “and spread those baby-sweet thighs for me.” The distinct sound of a zipper cut the air. “We can watch the others from here… while I fuck you against the railing.” He let his pants fall and focused on positioning her. She let him push her forward and move her legs apart. Then he pushed the back of her black skirt up and pulled at her underthings.

“It’s been a fucking long time since I’ve had me a virgin taste of sweet fifteen, baby,” he growled, his hand moving roughly on his cock. “No high school prick for your first time, honey. You’re gonna get a real man.” He poised himself behind her, bracing his legs. “You have no idea what I can do for you…”

“You’re the one with no fucking clue, you twisted shit…” Chase let go of my hand and was next to Sutton in three long strides. He jerked him by the arm, spinning him, as Sutton struggled to cover himself. Amelia was ready at the switch, flooding the loft with light. Tam turned around gracefully, poised, smoothing her rumpled clothes back into place. But Chase saw only Sutton. He had gripped the man’s jacket so tightly around his throat, that his face was turning purple. Sutton had lost his grip on his pants and they slipped down, exposing his now limp dick.

“You goddamned worthless little prick,” Chase ground out. I lunged forward to grab at his arm, as he balled one huge hand into a fist. “So help me, one fucking word out of you and I’ll turn you into something no woman will ever…”

“Stop, Chase… please,” I pleaded, pulling at his arm. His muscles were rock hard under my hands. “He isn’t worth it, I promise you,” I said softly, feeling his grip begin to loosen. “And this isn’t exactly what you think.”

He let go abruptly, disgust evident on his face. Sutton wasted no time pulling his clothes up to cover himself. He stood hunched, his eyes darting. I pulled Chase a few steps back, still holding onto him.

“Tam looks young but she’s legal age, I promise you,” I explained fast. “Sutton just assumed like everyone does, that she wasn’t.” I felt half the tension in Chase’s arm let go as I went on. “He hit on her once before, the night we met… at that very first party. She just walked away from him that night, without ever bothering to set him straight.” I glanced around, catching the looks around the room. “We just wondered what might happen… if he thought he had a second chance…”

“You fucking set me up…,” Sutton said, his mouth hanging slack.

“And you thought you were about to steal the virginity of a fucking fifteen year old kid,” Chase shot back furiously. “Even I didn’t think you were capable of shit like this.”

“And it’s a crime, Sutton,” Amelia said coolly. “A very punishable one.

It doesn’t matter who she is, or how old. It only matters that you believed she was too young to consent, and you were willing and ready to take her anyway. And I’m afraid we’re all witnesses…”

She picked up a file folder from the chair behind her and waved it gently back and forth. “Not to mention I’ve got over a dozen signatures right here. Women you used and then tried to pay off. They all did a little investigating on their own… and they found out about the wagers, Sutton… that you were at the heart of it. They’re willing to let the others off the hook, just not you.” She looked at him and smiled darkly, clearly enjoying herself. “Secrets never stay secret… and there’s a hell of a lot of strength in numbers…”

“You did set him up,” Chase said, turning to look down at me. I didn’t breathe until I saw the corners of his mouth twitch. His dark eyes glittered and I could feel his pleasure. “Were you so sure my methods were going to fail?”

“I couldn’t be more proud to be your sister, Chris, but backup never hurts,” Amelia interjected. Tam went over to her and they linked arms. “And I’ll be getting an A in my journalism class,” she quipped. “No names… of course.”

“And I couldn’t let you walk away from your half of the company,” I added. “Not without trying to do something. I wanted you to have another option.”

“I always did,” he said smoothly, looking at Sutton’s stricken face. “Only one contract had me signing away my interest in Envisager. The lawyers drew up another set as well, because I suspected all along that you’d never meet my demands. And even if you’d tried, I knew it would never last. I’ve decided I’m not walking away from anything. And I won’t share a company with a man I can’t trust.” He stared hard, his gaze unwavering. Although they were almost the same height, Sutton looked smaller, almost fragile next to Chase. “The second set is for you to sign.

All ties between us will be legally broken. Maybe you’ll stay out of jail… but only at a price. You’ll donate the vast majority of your settlement,” he said calmly. “I’ll make fucking sure that you do.

What you make of your life from here is your own choice and your own responsibility. But it’s over, Sutton. Our partnership in the company, the game, the competition… It’s all over, once and for all.

I know what I want, for the rest of my life,” he said, reaching out to me, pulling me close.

“And she’s right here.”