The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries #2)(41)

She turned, Adam’s hand on her shoulder. He leaned in, his lips close to her ear. “Give us a chance, baby. We can show you a whole new world.”

It was the right thing to say. It was exactly what she needed to hear. The world she was in was hard. It would be nice to have some place to sink into.

“Say yes.”

She nodded. She didn’t have anything better to do.

Jake turned back, a box in his hand. “It was a courier. Were you expecting some books?”

She shook her head. “No. I have to order prints. I haven’t ordered any. I have a signing coming up, but Lara ordered those and they went straight to the bookstore.”

“There’s a return address.” He carefully pulled off the label and started to open the box. He pulled out a book. She recognized it immediately. There was a sweet-looking blonde, her head turned submissively to the side, a hot Dom, and the cool as sin beta hero in a cowboy hat. Sweetheart in Chains.

“It’s just your books,” Jake said, passing it to her.

Serena picked it up. It was her book in trade paperback. Nothing out of the ordinary. She had a closet full of them. She flipped through and saw the difference.

Every dirty word, every *, cock, dick, f*ck, and others, had been marked through. Someone had taken an enormous amount of time to mark through every part of the book that could be considered slightly controversial.

She flipped to the front.

Stop writing filth or my wrath will come down on you

“Someone sent you a copy of every book you’ve got in print.” Adam held up a copy of Two Men to Love. He started to flip through it, and his skin flushed. She knew they were all the same.

Someone hated her. It was all too f*cking much. Between Storm’s criticism and this, she felt the tears begin. Too much. She’d just wanted to find a place, and she’d found so much rejection.

Jake put his arms around her. She was hauled to his chest as the sobs began.





Chapter Ten


Jake stood beside Adam, the soft throb of industrial music thudding in from the dungeon. He watched the women’s locker room, waiting for the moment Serena walked out with Eve. He’d been damn happy Eve was around. He worried that if he’d sent Serena in there alone, she might never have come out.

“She’s taking her time.” Adam watched, too.

“She’s nervous.” And afraid. And a little heartsick. He’d held her while she’d cried, and most of his damn defenses were sorely in need of shoring up. The last several days with Serena had been hard. It had been hard to keep his distance, hard to not like her, hard to just be hard every minute of the day. His cock had made its decision. His cock didn’t give a shit that this was a bad idea. His cock just knew that she was exactly his type and that her soft heart matched her curvy body. It was a dangerous combination.

“I went easy on her.” Adam’s mouth turned down. “I didn’t leave her completely naked.”

Jake turned. “Maybe I shouldn’t have left you in charge of her clothes.”

“Give me a little credit. I didn’t want to scare her away. I left her a miniskirt and a corset.”

Just like that Jake’s dick jumped. His leathers suddenly felt too confining. Fuck. How the hell was he supposed to keep his hands off her? He had a hard time when she was fully dressed. What the f*ck was he going to do when she walked out wearing next to nothing and looking like his wet dream?

Adam put a hand on his shoulder. He was still in street clothes. He had a job to do. “You can handle this. It’s one very curious woman who is likely to also be deeply shy. You’ll probably stand at the edge of the crowd the whole time.”

Jake threw his partner a look. Serena could be deeply shy, but Jake had the feeling that once she got in the dungeon, her shyness would battle with curiosity, and there was no way shy won. Serena was too interested in everything. He’d watched her corner a waiter who’d mentioned he’d spent some time in Iraq. She’d had a million questions. She hadn’t been too shy to talk to him.

“So, where’s the client who no one here is f*cking?” Ian stepped beside Jake, his massive body crowding the space. Ian was dressed for play in motorcycle boots and his leathers.

“She’s in the locker room with Eve. I’m pretty sure Eve’s not f*cking her, either.” Adam just had to push it with Ian.

Ian just smiled and one eyebrow cocked up. “Let’s not be hasty. I might actually watch that show.” He sighed. “So, I heard from Liam there was some movement today. I got a frantic call from Lara. She’s really worried about this. She also said she got a call from a local TV station. It seems someone’s smelling blood in the water, and they think it might make a good story.”

A hard knot formed in the pit of Jake’s stomach. This was what he’d been worried about. Serena didn’t seem to want the publicity. She hadn’t called the press. So who had?

“Cool it, Dean. Don’t you know reporters routinely pump police for interesting cases?” Ian always could read his mind.

Adam jumped on that little fact like it was a lifeline. “Of course. It’s an interesting story. Writer’s private life mirrors her books. I can see a reporter wanting a piece of that. And I’ve checked her phone. The only people she’s talked to are her friends and her agent. She’s practically a damn nun.”