Read Online Knots (Club Imperial Book 4) by Katherine Rhodes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katherine Rhodes
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breakfast?”
“Eggs, hashbrowns and linguica,” he said.
“Fancy,” she laughed. “Something wrong with Bob Evans?”
“Yes, actually,” he said. “Reminds me of her. ”
“Oh.” Cece grimaced.
“She loves cheap breakfast sausage. About the only cheap thing she actually likes.”
Cece didn't press the issue. “How's Imogene?”
“She's doing well.” His tone was only briefly light. “For as often as I see her.”
Cece put the mug down hard. “You're kidding.”
“She keeps her away from me.”
Cece shook her head. “Ev, that's court mandated. You have every right under the law to see your daughter on your appointed days. Don't let her do that to you and Genie.”
“I know when we get the final custody settlement it's going to be fair. Everyone has said so. She's showing her bitch to the world, so I know that's right. But in the meanwhile, the temp order says I get every other weekend and at her discretion.”
“She has no discretion.”
Everett snorted. “Isn't that the truth!” He laughed and scrambled the eggs a little more. “I wonder what I ever saw in her.”
Cece turned the mug in her hand once, twice. “You saw exactly what she wanted you to see. You know that. All of these women are taught to hide who they really are until they catch a man. It's part and parcel of the upper echelons.”
“Doesn't seem to apply to you.”
She shrugged and took a sip of coffee. “I don't play their crappy games. I don't have the desire to get caught up in what is displaced court intrigue. I'll stick to my books and my whips, thank you.”
He laughed, but there was sigh in the laughter as well. “Damn, Cece, there are days when I wish there was more between us.”
Cece smiled and shook her head. “We tried that, remember? We would be a terrible couple. The spark just isn't there. We're just incredibly sexually compatible and you know as well as I do, we can't base a relationship like that on sex.” She took a sip of coffee and smirked. “But a relationship like this one, yes.”
Everett laughed. “Yes, definitely this one.” He scooped the eggs on to a plate. “I cleaned up just about everything. Do you need me to do anything else?”
“You know you don't have to clean up. That's my part. I'm supposed to take care of you in the morning.”
“Eh.” He shrugged. “I wanted linguica. You wanted to sleep. It all works.”
“Do you need any more Arnica?”
“I'm fine. I was surprised I made it all day with the plug.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Did you like it?”
“Of course I did.” Everett sat down with the two plates.
“I knew you were ready for that, even if you didn't think so.”
“We're still on for Thursday night?”
“Of course,” she said. “I'll book the room when I check out. Just the evening, right?”
He nodded. “I have a lot of research to do and... well. I didn't get a lot done yesterday. I was, ah, distracted.”
“Happily so, I'd guess.”
“You know me better than I know myself, sometimes, Mistress.” He smiled.
“You never answered my question. Do you need me to put on more cream?”
“I'm fine.”
“You're sure?”
“You are such an enigma, Frances. He laughed. “I'm fine. You really do forget that I want this. I ask for it. If it hurts a little bit the next day, well... I just get to remember what went on.” He cut a piece of the sausage off and chewed thoughtfully. “I sought this for a long time, and you're so good at it. I think that even if I found someone else, I would want this to continue. With her permission of course. And yours.”
“We can cross that bridge when we come to it,” Cece said. “I would be sad if we had to part ways, but I will not interfere if you find someone who can take my place.” She looked up at him. “You really are a good friend, Ev. It’s more than just these scenes and the sex, which don’t get me wrong, is fantastic. I feel like you’re the only person who I grew up with who gets
“Eggs, hashbrowns and linguica,” he said.
“Fancy,” she laughed. “Something wrong with Bob Evans?”
“Yes, actually,” he said. “Reminds me of her. ”
“Oh.” Cece grimaced.
“She loves cheap breakfast sausage. About the only cheap thing she actually likes.”
Cece didn't press the issue. “How's Imogene?”
“She's doing well.” His tone was only briefly light. “For as often as I see her.”
Cece put the mug down hard. “You're kidding.”
“She keeps her away from me.”
Cece shook her head. “Ev, that's court mandated. You have every right under the law to see your daughter on your appointed days. Don't let her do that to you and Genie.”
“I know when we get the final custody settlement it's going to be fair. Everyone has said so. She's showing her bitch to the world, so I know that's right. But in the meanwhile, the temp order says I get every other weekend and at her discretion.”
“She has no discretion.”
Everett snorted. “Isn't that the truth!” He laughed and scrambled the eggs a little more. “I wonder what I ever saw in her.”
Cece turned the mug in her hand once, twice. “You saw exactly what she wanted you to see. You know that. All of these women are taught to hide who they really are until they catch a man. It's part and parcel of the upper echelons.”
“Doesn't seem to apply to you.”
She shrugged and took a sip of coffee. “I don't play their crappy games. I don't have the desire to get caught up in what is displaced court intrigue. I'll stick to my books and my whips, thank you.”
He laughed, but there was sigh in the laughter as well. “Damn, Cece, there are days when I wish there was more between us.”
Cece smiled and shook her head. “We tried that, remember? We would be a terrible couple. The spark just isn't there. We're just incredibly sexually compatible and you know as well as I do, we can't base a relationship like that on sex.” She took a sip of coffee and smirked. “But a relationship like this one, yes.”
Everett laughed. “Yes, definitely this one.” He scooped the eggs on to a plate. “I cleaned up just about everything. Do you need me to do anything else?”
“You know you don't have to clean up. That's my part. I'm supposed to take care of you in the morning.”
“Eh.” He shrugged. “I wanted linguica. You wanted to sleep. It all works.”
“Do you need any more Arnica?”
“I'm fine. I was surprised I made it all day with the plug.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Did you like it?”
“Of course I did.” Everett sat down with the two plates.
“I knew you were ready for that, even if you didn't think so.”
“We're still on for Thursday night?”
“Of course,” she said. “I'll book the room when I check out. Just the evening, right?”
He nodded. “I have a lot of research to do and... well. I didn't get a lot done yesterday. I was, ah, distracted.”
“Happily so, I'd guess.”
“You know me better than I know myself, sometimes, Mistress.” He smiled.
“You never answered my question. Do you need me to put on more cream?”
“I'm fine.”
“You're sure?”
“You are such an enigma, Frances. He laughed. “I'm fine. You really do forget that I want this. I ask for it. If it hurts a little bit the next day, well... I just get to remember what went on.” He cut a piece of the sausage off and chewed thoughtfully. “I sought this for a long time, and you're so good at it. I think that even if I found someone else, I would want this to continue. With her permission of course. And yours.”
“We can cross that bridge when we come to it,” Cece said. “I would be sad if we had to part ways, but I will not interfere if you find someone who can take my place.” She looked up at him. “You really are a good friend, Ev. It’s more than just these scenes and the sex, which don’t get me wrong, is fantastic. I feel like you’re the only person who I grew up with who gets
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