I wasn’t a fan of cities, and I doubted that would ever change, but I was here because my family had asked me. I would stifle my complaints and do whatever was needed to ensure Jess and Cal were as happy as Jinx and I.

I’d also agreed to take Eleanor sightseeing. I would ignore my dislike of people and do the touristy thing until we both snapped and needed space. At least we wouldn’t be staying the night. We’d return to Calypso and be able to breathe away from society.

As for the business idea of handing Calypso over to Rapture to use for marriage counselling, that was now discarded. All of us had enjoyed our voyage too much to give it up.

Calypso was ours.

Therefore, Elder Prest had received two additional commissions last week. One, another yacht—smaller than Calypso but just as luxurious for the booming business on Rapture, and two, a more modern, sexy vessel for the offshoot of our virtual reality business that Cal had joked about.

I’d once catered to rich bastards who’d gotten their kink by paying for goddesses high on elixir. My wife had dismantled that illegal enterprise and conjured a highly successful business that helped broken couples find their way back to each other.

Now, it was time to siphon some coin from the younger generation. The frisky, flirty, and downright filthy twenty-something’s who wanted to play before conforming to society’s rules.

Euphoria would give them more than just a sexual fantasy; it would open their eyes to a life that didn’t need to be mundane and moronic. They could fuck and fondle complete strangers, indulge in every wicked and wet desire they’d ever had, and not fear for their privacy or judgment.

Eleanor had already begun designing the suites and bar areas that our guests would mingle in, and we’d spent a highly enjoyable night last week coding a few erotic fantasies that made even my kinky wife blush.

Last night, Prest had sent through the schematics based on our requests, suggesting a ship called Idyllic. Along with a few amendments for sex harness anchor points, Euphoria playrooms, and spaces large enough for all manner of indulgences, we’d placed the order.

In one year, we’d have yet another offshoot to our VR empire, and Jinx and I would happily test drive the fantasies we’d have on offer.

Leaning on the balustrade, I let my mind switch from future businesses to what today entailed.

Jess and Cal had arranged a meeting with Q and his wife, Tess. We were to meet them at Moineau Holdings this morning. I’d wanted to bring Radcliffe and a team of security, but Cal had forbidden that idea, not wanting to scare Q off when that was precisely my intention.

I owed him for the shitty email he’d sent, threatening to kill me.

My hands curled.

Today will be...interesting.

I knew more about the French meddler thanks to Cal finding out Q’s company name. While Jinx slept beside me, I’d thoroughly researched the bastard.

I’d learned he dabbled with property, and, on paper, he had every police and politician fawning over him thanks to his philanthropy and wholesome deeds in the community.

He had them completely hoodwinked.

If I hadn’t had the pleasure of receiving his threats, I’d be suckered in too. However, I knew the type of man he was beneath the specially cultivated persona. I knew him better than I probably should because, unfortunately, we seemed to be fairly similar.

I couldn’t lie and say I was looking forward to the meeting. In fact, I’d asked Cal and Jess if they’d rather go alone. To have a private meeting about their adoption potential without us there to ruin their chances.

However, Cal had pulled me aside and asked if I’d be there. Not just for safety—because even though he’d banned me from bringing Radcliffe, he was just as untrusting as me and had no intention of meeting Q on his own turf without some security measures in place—but also as his friend.

He didn’t come out and say it, but he needed me and Eleanor, just in case the meeting didn’t go well. Just in case Q decided, for whatever fucking reason, that he didn’t like them and left them with shattered dreams to patch up.

Of course, I wouldn’t let Q fucking say no to them.

What my friends wanted, they would have. They were the best people I knew. And no goddamn way would I let a French bastard stand in their way.

Despite my reservations of the meeting, Eleanor was full of anticipation. After all, she had her own ulterior motives. She’d once met Q’s wife while sitting in a cell, waiting for traffickers to wash, tattoo, and sell them.

Their meeting had only been brief but they’d made an impression on each other, and her eyes lit up at the thought of seeing her again. Of seeing her happiness being married to a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Of showing off her own happiness being married to a monster in scientist camouflage.

I could already tell it would be a long day amongst dreaded humans.

But if it went well, there would be another person sailing home with us.

Someone tiny and unsure.

Someone who would become a part of our family on Goddess Isles.

Pika fluttered to my shoulder, chirping at the busy port.

I smiled, shedding my temper. “Can’t take you with us, Pika. Immigration’s stupid rules.”

He squawked.

“I know. Sucks. I’m sure you would’ve enjoyed a croissant from some cholesterol-saturated French bakery.”

“I know someone else who would enjoy that,” Eleanor said softly, coming to my side wearing a crimson dress that set off her chocolate hair and gorgeous smoky eyes. Skittles sat on her shoulder, a shot of bright green.

I froze.

Fuck, she’s stunning.

I drank in the moment.

I reached out and held the hand of the woman who’d toppled my dynasty, came to rescue me on death’s door, and made my every waking moment sublime.

Without her, I was nothing.

With her, all my dreams had come true. Including the dark ones, the sinful ones, and the ones we’d yet to code in Euphoria.

Pulling her into a kiss, I tasted melon on her tongue and smelled sunshine in her hair. “Have I told you I love you today?”

“Nope.” She kissed me back, her tongue slow and sensual. “But if you do, I’ll let you ravish me later.”

I grinned against her mouth. “Ravish, huh? That sounds like a word a Scottish Highwayman might use.” I nipped my way along her jaw, licking her ear. “I could be persuaded to enjoy another Jacobite-era fantasy.”

“Will you sully me for marriage to a highland lord?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely.”

She laughed, her hand drifting down the front of my charcoal suit. I’d traded the casual seafaring outfits for one of my old business apparels. Suits were armour, and I was going into battle with Q fully armed.

“In that case, I will gladly let you ravish me, you dirty lusty cur.”

“Rake, if you don’t mind.”

She laughed again as we kissed, dislodging Pika and Skittles until they flew around our heads.

Her face fell for a second as she narrowed her eyes at another ship as it floated toward port.

I knew that look.

She’s worried about something.

“What is it?” I cupped her cheek, bringing her attention back to me.

She huffed. “You’re going to think I’m stupid.”

“Never.” I kissed her. “Annoying, demanding, salacious, and entirely fucking amazing, but never stupid.”