Breaking Her Rules (18 page)

as if he was choking on his own blood. “Keibler knew…nothing. This was all me, you fucking thief.

Think you can steal deals that belong…to me…” He trailed off into a hacking cough.

Once he was silent Wyatt tried again. “You don’t sound so good. Why don’t you come out here and

we’ll work things out?” And get the hell out of this place.

Thorton started half-laughing, half-coughing. “Neither of us…are getting out of here.” The way he

said it, so sure of himself made all the hair on the back of Wyatt’s neck stand up.

Shit.
“Vincent, Harrison, get the fuck out of here now. The place is rigged.” The two men uttered curses, but gave him an affirmative that they were moving out.

He couldn’t be sure, but after the way Keibler had died, his gut told him to run. For all Wyatt knew this was a scare tactic, but he wouldn’t bet his life on it and more importantly, he wouldn’t bet anyone else’s on it either. He sprinted toward the nearest open door and dove through one of the windows.

Pain pierced his upper arm as a piece of serrated glass caught him, but he ignored it as he rolled onto the hard ground. Shoving up, he ran toward the street, his legs and lungs straining as he pushed

himself to haul ass.

Once he’d cleared the street and was almost to the other building parallel to the one Thorton was

in, he finally slowed and turned. “You guys clear?”

“Yeah, you sure—”

A fireball of orange and red ripped through the night air, lighting up the bleak surroundings like

fireworks. For one moment everything was illuminated before debris rained down across the street.

Thankfully Wyatt was far enough away out of the blast range. Something slammed into the windshield

of his SUV, setting the car alarm off, but he didn’t care as long as Thorton was dead. He didn’t even give a shit about his money that had just been incinerated in the explosion—it was insured anyway.

He tucked his weapon into the back of his pants as he let a thread of relief slide through him.

“Wyatt?” Harrison asked.

“Yeah, I’m good. How about you guys?” he asked, looking around for them.

“We’re good, look to your left.”

When he did, he spotted both men crouched behind a dead tree stump one building over. As he

started to head toward them, an SUV turned the corner, tires squealing as it raced down the street. It jerked to a sudden stop and before he could move, Iris jumped out and ran toward him.

Wyatt didn’t remember moving, but seconds later Iris launched herself at him, wrapping her legs

and arms around him in a tight embrace. His throat was so tight he couldn’t squeeze any words out.

All he could do was hold her. Iris buried her face against his neck, her tears soaking him as shudders wracked her body. He hated that anything could make his strong, beautiful wife cry. “I love you,” he finally rasped out into her shoulder. “I should have told you sooner, but I do. More than anything.” If she didn’t return his feelings, he’d deal with it, but there was no way in hell he was going another second without telling her.

She pulled back, her eyes red-rimmed and wet as a smile spread across her face. “I love you too.”

A weight he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying—probably for his whole damn life—lifted at those

words. No matter what the future held, he was going to spend the rest of his life showing Iris how

much she meant to him. No holding back anymore.

Chapter 16

Two weeks later

Already in a dark mood, Wyatt glared at the buttons of the elevator. As if that would make the thing go faster. He’d already put his master key in and was heading to the tenth floor of the fifty floor hotel, where his office at this particular hotel was. He’d been called down to the security room for bullshit reasons and now all he wanted to do was wrap up the rest of his paperwork and head back to Miami.

After spending the last two weeks there he’d managed to do everything long-distance, but had been

forced to come to Vegas yesterday because he’d needed to do some things in person.

Like meet with the head of the construction team about to break ground on another hotel/casino.

The Serafina was going to have six pools, elaborate gardens, imported Russian sculptures, and one of the most exclusive spas on the west coast. It had been one of his favorite projects for the past six months, but today he didn’t care about any of that. He simply wanted to get back to Iris.

She’d been fine with him leaving last night. Too fine, in fact. After all that shit with Thorton had been figured out by the police—and his dead body forensically identified from the scene of the blast

—the last two weeks he’d spent wrapped up with Iris. Mostly naked when he hadn’t been working. It

had been pure heaven. She’d taken some time off work too, but she had a job coming up and hadn’t

been able to come to Vegas with him while she prepared for it.

Wyatt understood, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. He wanted Iris near him always. After

what felt like an eternity, the cylindrical shaped elevator dinged and opened onto the correct floor that was exclusively employee offices. Ellie was waiting there as he stepped out.

“It’s after seven, go home,” he practically barked, even though it was clear she was doing just that.

She shook her head as she stepped into the waiting car, her heels clicking against the shiny tile.

“One day without her and you’re a monster. It’s pathetic, boss.”

Wyatt grunted a non-response as he headed through her anterior office to his own. She was right.

He
was
pathetic. And he didn’t care. Deep down, he knew he wouldn’t be able to travel back and forth long-term. Which meant he’d definitely be selling some of his casinos. Probably the Serafina

once it was finished. Unless of course Iris accepted the job he had to offer her—but he hadn’t figured out a way to broach the subject yet. She was more than qualified for it, but he wasn’t sure what her reaction would be. He didn’t want her to feel like he was pushing her into something.

As he stepped into his office, he froze. Iris sat at his desk, the city illuminated behind her through his ceiling to floor windows. Even with the lights off, he could see her perfectly. Leaning back in his chair, she had her legs propped up on his desk and crossed at the ankles. And she was wearing four-inch fuck me heels and a skintight red dress that might as well have been painted on.

Like Pavlov’s dog, his mouth watered at the sight of her. Yeah, he was pathetic. “How’d you get in

here?” he blurted.

She raised a dark eyebrow, but didn’t move from her spot where she was clearly comfortable all

stretched out. All he could think about was taking her on his desk. “How do you think? Ellie. She

managed to get me a last minute flight out here on your jet. I’m pretty sure she threatened the pilot with bodily harm if he informed you I was coming.”

He leaned against the doorframe, enjoying the view of Iris looking relaxed and so very fuckable.

“That woman deserves a raise,” he muttered.

“I know.” Iris let her feet drop, then stood and walked around his desk only to lean against it,

stretching those sexy, lean legs in front of her.

For a moment, he forgot to breathe as he drank in the sight of her, all long limbs and…pure sex.

That’s what he thought of every time he saw her. Not that he was complaining that she was here,

but… “I thought you had a job.”

Her lips quirked up slightly. “I might have lied.”

He pushed up from his leaning position and quickly closed the distance between them. She spread

her legs so that he stood in between them as he grasped her hips. Her exotic scent wrapped around

him, grounding him in the way only she could. “Why would you do that?”

“I had some stuff to take care of without your interference. I…arrived this morning.”

His fingers tightened on her hips. “You’ve been here all day?” he rasped out. He’d been missing

her all day and she’d been in the same city?

“Mm hmm. I officially put in my notice to Harrison and I’ve had half a dozen job offers out here.

I’ve been interviewing all day.”

“You quit your job?” He couldn’t hide his disbelief.

“Yeah, but not to become Martha Stewart.”

“I don’t want that.” He never had. And the idea of Iris as a domestic diva made him laugh. Yeah,

he wanted her safe, but he knew there was no way he could protect her 24/7. That was impossible

and to attempt otherwise would be insanity. Besides, Iris was pretty damn good at looking after

herself. He frowned as another thought occurred to him. “Who’d you interview with?”

As she listed off six names—two who were his biggest competitors—he growled. Which just made

her laugh. “I haven’t taken any of them, but there are a lot of opportunities out here for me. More than in Miami.”

“Hold that thought,” he murmured before stepping away from her and around his desk. He pulled

out the file he’d been holding on to and handed it to her.

“What’s this?” Her pretty lips pulled into a thin line.

“Read it.”

She was silent as she flipped open the manila folder and began turning the pages. After a few

minutes of complete silence, she looked up, her eyes gleaming. “Head of security?”

He nodded, unable to think of a single person he’d rather have for the job. It was custom made for

her. “The job is yours if you want it. The Serafina won’t be completed for at least eight months—

probably closer to a year for the grand opening. I didn’t want to push you too hard and I never

expected you to quit your job. I hadn’t even decided if I was going to show you this or not.”

“Are you kidding me? This is an amazing opportunity.” Her dark eyes lit up as she set the file back on his desk. “I want it as long as you don’t try to micromanage and we keep our personal life

separate.”

“I won’t be working directly out of the Serafina. Yeah, I’ll have some hands-on dealings with the

opening, but security will be all you. I know I said it but I didn’t expect you to quit Red Stone…

Unless you take a temporary job out here until the grand opening, I’d like for you to work for the next eight months with the head of security here. Learn how casinos work. The transition will be easier

when—”

“Done. I can start in two weeks—once I’ve moved all my stuff out here and handle all sorts of

tedious things I need to take care of.”

Wyatt scrubbed a hand over his face, unable to believe this was happening. Still, guilt tugged at

him. “You love Miami.”

Iris gave him an incredulous look. “No, I love
you
. I moved to Miami because of my
job
, nothing more. Not to sound totally cheesy, but my home is wherever you are and I’m not spending a year or

however long flying back and forth seeing each other. Don’t get me wrong, I know we could do it, but I don’t want to. I’ve spent too damn long running from any kind of real attachment and you’re mine

Wyatt Christiansen. I want to wake up and see your face every fucking morning.”

Wyatt grinned at her words, his cock growing even harder. “I love it when you talk like that.”

When he went to kiss her, she pulled her head back and put a hand on his chest.

“The past two weeks have been amazing but something’s been bugging me and Jay has been in too

much pain to bug so…”

“So…what?” He’d told her he loved her and hadn’t stopped showing her just how much since then.

He couldn’t imagine anything bothering her. Not where their relationship was concerned.

She let out a sigh and crossed her arms over her chest. For a second, he saw insecurity in her dark gaze before she said, “It’s not a big deal but before the explosion—the first one—Jay said something happened a year ago between us but…I think maybe he got me confused with…”

It took a moment before Wyatt realized what she was trying to say. Annoyance surged through him.

“What, you think he got you confused with someone else? I haven’t even slept with anyone in almost

two years.” He hadn’t wanted to. Not once she’d walked back into his life. But he had spent a lot of quality time with his fist.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, but he continued. He knew exactly what Jay had been referring to

and if his friend wasn’t laid up healing, he’d kick his ass for even mentioning it to Iris. “A year ago I couldn’t get in touch with you for two weeks—you probably don’t remember, because you were just

on an assignment—and I fucking lost it.” He’d barely recognized himself then, consumed with the

need he had to make sure she was okay. “I should have known before then considering I couldn’t even look at another woman, but it’s when I realized I loved you. I’d give up anything for you Iris and it scared me.”

“And now?” There was a note of hesitation in her voice.

He swallowed hard, his throat tight. “The only thing that scares me is the thought of losing you.”

At his words she smiled, that soft seductive one that drove him insane. They weren’t making it out

of this office anytime soon and they both knew it. She reached around her back and he heard the soft snick of her zipper right before her formfitting dress loosened and dropped to her waist, revealing that she wasn’t wearing a bra.

His brain short-circuited for a second. His hands actually shook as he reached out and tugged on

her dress until it pooled around her feet. That’s when he realized she was completely bare under the dress.

With a wicked grin, she kicked the material away but kept her heels on. The sight was straight out

of one of his fantasies. Though he told himself to go slow, to exert control, he was barely hanging on.

One night away from her had been too damn long. He felt as if he was starving for her touch.

Her taste.

Without giving her any warning, he fell to his knees. God, he could already smell how turned on