“It’s Gabriella...” her eyes went from Meera to Tero and then to mine, so many questions in her jeweled orbs “... and how did you get him? Where was he?”

“He was being held at a local vet’s office that attends to the precinct’s dogs.”

“Christ.” Gabriella kisses the furballs head, and he licks her cheek. The smile on her face is enough to bring a dead heart back to life, but then it drops and her brows furrow. “I’m sorry, but who are you? I know them, but we’ve never...”

“Never apologize, Gabriella. You’ve done nothing wrong.” Stepping forward, she holds a hand out toward my girl, which Gabriella takes after shifting her hold on the dog. “My name is Meera, and I’m Tero’s wife. I’m also the gallery’s event coordinator, and we were bound to meet very soon as I need your input for the show.”

“No can do, sweetheart. You’re kind of stuck with me for a while.” Today. Tomorrow. Until the end of time. “Does that bother you?”

“Would you believe me if I said yes?”

“Not when you’re smiling like that. No.” Tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, I lean across the center console and lay a small kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Now, let’s get down. There’s something I want you to see.”

“Maybe another time? I really need to head home and check on—”

“Humor me.” Another small kiss, this time to the tip of her nose. “Please.”

“You get one hour.”

“Sure.” I’ll let her think that, but she’s not going home yet. If ever.

I’m not letting her go.

“Why is it that I don’t believe you?”

“No clue.” Not giving her a chance to further question me, I turn the car off and get out, rushing to her side. I open her door and hold a hand up—pausing her exit—while quickly opening my glove compartment. She’s looking at me funny, a small smile on her lips, but more than that, there’s curiosity when I don’t show her what I’ve grabbed.

For now, I tuck it into my pocket and then pull her out, leading us toward the main entrance. It’s a little after five now and I had the place closed for us, hoping she’ll enjoy the trip more with it being just the two of us.

And I’m right when she gasps after I usher us inside.

“Theo,” my name on her lips is a beautiful sigh—so sweet. “When did this go up? Has there been some interest?”

“Before I left for L.A., and yes. A lot, in fact.” With my hand on the small of her back, I move us deeper into the reception area where an announcement of the upcoming show has been set up. Her name is the largest of the three artists showing over the next six months, and I’m proud of her. She earned this. Everything good coming her way. “We’ve already started to build your set as no one else will be using that floor this year.”

“No one?”

“No. It’s yours.” Stepping closer, I use the tips of two fingers to turn her head in my direction. “I’ve had a special prop delivered for you, too. Meera brought it here today to test its placement.”

“What is it?”

“All I can show you is where it’ll go?”

“Why?”

“It’s a surprise meant for later.”

“Okay.” And there’s the sparkle I’ve missed over the last few days. This genuine excitement that glows—moves you when she smiles. A real one. When she’s content and feels at ease, there’s nothing more beautiful to me.

“Then let me show you.” I slip my hand into hers and pull her gently behind me toward the elevator, pressing the number three once the doors close. Her fingers play with mine while we wait to reach the top, gently squeezing the tips. However, the moment we reach our floor, I pull her back before the doors open. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. No doubt. So perfect.

“Good girl.” Eyes still on hers, I press the hold button so the elevator doesn’t leave our floor and then turn her around, pulling the blindfold from my pocket. “Just remember I won’t let you fall.”

“What are you...oh!” She giggles, shaking her head after I put the blindfold in place and checking that she can’t peek through. “You came prepared for everything.”

“You could say that.” With my hand on the small of her back, I walk us into the large open space that will host her exhibit, making sure that the lights are dimmed before stopping at the center of the room. From where I stand, she will be able to see across the room and the covered display. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

“Welcome to a night in the jungle of sin.”

“Jungle of sin,” she repeats as I pull the blindfold off. I watch as she takes everything in—the dark walls and the greenery being brought in to mimic the Amazon jungle and its foliage. We’ve put up vines and lighting only in areas meant to host her pieces. Even the flowers brought in to stage the area for her approval add a layer of beauty to the debauchery that will be the final result.

“What do you think?”

“It’s stunning.” Her eyes are lit up in a way I haven’t seen in a while. So much happiness. Excitement. “This is going to look amazing, Theodore.”

“Theo.”

“I’m sorry?” she asks, and the way her brows scrunch up is quite adorable.

“I’m always just Theo to you, unless you have a sexy nickname for me? Those are always acceptable.”

Her blush is instant. “Not yet.”

“So there might be in the future?” I hedge, stepping closer. Invading her personal space, I grip the back of her neck while bending low enough that I can press my forehead to hers. “You want there to be one?”

“That’s not what I said.” Her sweet breath fans across my lips, and it takes everything in me not to kiss her. To taste her. “You’re putting words in my mouth.”

“I agree, taking your mouth is a tempting offer.”

“Theodore Astor!”

“Yes?”

“You’re doing a fabulous job at cheering me up,” Gabriella whispers suddenly and then presses those beautiful lips to mine in the sweetest kiss. It’s short and soft and the literal definition of perfection, but I want more. To own her. To devour. “Now, what’s under the large covering?”

“Another surprise.”

“Show me.” The demanding tone she uses, how she enunciates each word, is sexy and makes my cock throb. The hard son of bitch presses against the zipper of my pants, digging into the teeth in search of a relief we can’t have yet. She’s not ready for me, for the demonic need only she can incite.

“Not yet.” My expression is neutral, while inside I’m a ball of aching fire. Needing. Hungry.

“Why not?” she pouts, and I want to bite her bottom lip.

“One, she’s my surprise for another time. And two, because it’s feeding time, and someone will be here shortly to do so.” I can see the questions brewing at my words, but I shake my head. “Trust me, sweetheart. You’ll be meeting her soon enough.”