Chapter 10 - THE REVELATION|
Beatrice’s breath caught in her throat. Her mind raced, trying to find a sarcastic retort, an accounting analogy, anything to defend herself against the intense, raw sincerity in his gray eyes.
“Arthur...” she choked out. “We have an agreement. Debit and credit. After midnight—”
“It’s eleven-fifty-eight,” Arthur interrupted softly, his gaze dropping to her lips. “We have two minutes.”
Before she could process his words, his hand cupped the back of her neck, pulling her toward him.
He kissed her.
It wasn't a gentle, polite kiss. It was deep, dark, and heavy with two years of unspoken tension, hidden glances across mahogany tables, and raw, possessive heat.
Beatrice let out a soft, helpless sigh against his mouth, her hands acting on their own instinct as her fingers tangled into his thick dark hair, pulling him closer. The smell of cedar, rain, and expensive whiskey wrapped around her senses, drowning out every voice of reason in her head.
The Maybach ground to a smooth stop outside her Pilsen apartment building.
The glass partition lowered three inches, the driver’s polite voice cutting through the dark cabin: "We’ve arrived, Mr. Costello."
Arthur broke the kiss slowly, his forehead resting against hers, both of them breathing heavily in the dim light.
Beatrice stared at him, her lips parted, her hazel eyes dark with shock and sudden, terrifying emotion.
May you like
Arthur reached out, his thumb gently wiping a trace of her lipstick from his lower lip.
“Midnight,” Arthur whispered, his voice raspy. “The deal is done, Miss Gallagher.”
