“But I don’t remember, Ting. I told you. Shit, I told them. I know I had too much, but wouldn’t I remember something?”

“You’ve forgotten lots of things, Evelyn. Things like paying bills, going to work. Christmas, one year. And most of my birthdays…

“And I’m sorry for all that, baby. Really. But a crash like that. It’s got to be different… How would I have made it all the way home, if I’d been that far gone?”

* * *

I woke with a start, and fell back against my pillows. I was still in the Citadel, and I was alone again in the big bed. I dreamed about Evelyn pretty often, but she’d never called me Ting in any of them. The last time I’d heard that name was the day Gran died. I had been about five, and that was when everything had started to change between me and Evelyn. She’d always been irresponsible, but Gran had been there to smooth the edges. Without her… well, it had been very different.

I sat up, pulling the covers back and breathing in deep. I caught a glimpse of the bedpost and felt myself flush red from my head to my toes. I was shocked at myself. Shocked at Kaine…

But I sure as hell couldn’t deny that I’d liked it. I flashed to the climax I’d had. Like nothing I’d ever experienced before…

Last night had opened my eyes to a whole new world of experience. I’d known all along that would happen at La Laisse. I just hadn’t known it would be like this. That I’d be awakening to a new understanding of my feelings, my body. That I was even capable of the kind of desire and need I was feeling now. I’d thought that I’d be regretting the loss of my virginity by now. Instead, after two days in a brothel, I was still a virgin. And more and more eager not to be…

I wondered if Kaine had slept on the sofa again last night. For a moment I thought of going to find him, but the memory of seeing his scars…

I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window. I’d always thought I’d had it rough growing up with Evelyn, and my friends had certainly agreed. But if my instincts were right… if Kaine had been hurt like that when he was just a boy… What he’d gone through had been so much worse than I could even imagine.

The images had been grinding in my subconscious since yesterday. Those marks weren’t new. Not by a long shot. They’d had time to soften and fade. They were still clear, but they were pale and flat. Those cuts had healed up years ago.

And yet Kaine wouldn’t talk about it. And he wouldn’t let me touch him. He’d given me so much pleasure. So much feeling. But as far as I knew, he hadn’t taken anything for himself. He hadn’t asked me to do any of the things my friends had told me about. I didn’t know for sure if he’d even come yet. But one look at his face, one glance at his hard, thick cock and I knew he wanted me. Why hadn’t he just taken me?

I shook my hair back, suddenly tired of wondering. We still had five more nights together and my skin was tingling all over at the prospect. He wouldn’t hold out forever. It was going to happen. It just had to.

Twenty minutes later I was showered and dressed, still no Kaine in sight. I had no idea what to expect, no clue what the day would bring, but I couldn’t resist the soft, dark denim and crisp white cotton top hanging in the closet. I’d have to remember to thank Mrs. S later.

I took my time drying my hair and brushing it out. Then I made a thick braid and tossed it back over my shoulder. There was only so much time I could waste, waiting for Kaine. I had to go out into the living room sooner or later.

I opened the door and was halfway down the hall when I heard his voice. It wasn’t loud, but the intensity struck me. I stopped, listening.

“What kind of damage?” He was quiet then. I could tell he was on the phone.

“Did he say it was consistent with those types of injuries?” There was a long pause. “And what did you get on the Marks connection?” Another pause. “No, not now. But I want you to get it, Brian. There’s something about the name and my gut’s telling me that’s not the entire picture.”

I leaned back against the wall, feeling guilty for listening to something that was clearly none of my business. I was about to head back to the bedroom when I heard Kaine’s voice again.

“I’ve been hoping for something to break for months. Rance needs to be leveled and it can’t wait any longer. We’re too far behind now, and I want the whole street clear by the time I get back. I want it gone. I want all of it gone. This could be the leverage I need… No, not just for the company… it’s not just about the fucking house anymore.”

I wanted to walk right in and ask. There were so many questions just under the surface.

Whose injuries was he concerned with? And who, or what was Marks? Why did he want a whole street demolished… and why did his voice sound so cold, so vicious?