Buttons and Shame

Tristan has been my client for a long time. Always keeps his word—and always pays on time. But this month he’s short on funds, and offers Adelina, his beautiful slave, as collateral until he gets the full payment.

If this happened before Pearl came into my life, I would have taken the deal without a second thought. But now it feels wrong…knowing everything my sister-in-law suffered. I should say no, but she looks at me like she desperately wants me to say yes. I want her—and she clearly wants me.

I submit to temptation and take her home. Her kiss is fire on my mouth, and I want the marks she digs into my back become permanent scars. It’s supposed to be simple and physical, but I find my heart softening for this woman and her predicament. She asks me to save her, to make enemies with my allies. Once Tristan has the funds, we’re supposed to make the exchange. And if I don’t, there’ll be hell to pay.

And once Crow finds out what I did, he’ll kill me.