“I think you’re getting mixed up about how this works.” Heat curled between my legs, and I felt myself grow wet.

“Nah, I’m just saying that if you’re going to study every detail of me, I should have the same opportunity. Watching you sleep wasn’t quite the same.”

I paused. “You watched me sleep?”

Another shrug from Rix. “Maybe.” He shifted on the chaise. “I struck a deal for your girl. Should have her back to you before the end of the week.”

“Really?” Hope filled me, because that was the best news I’d gotten in a long, long time. “You could’ve maybe led with that, you know.”

“I was gonna tell you before I left either way.”

I kept painting, and we lapsed into silence. I concentrated on the canvas, and when my gaze flicked back to him, I froze. His hand was wrapped around his cock and he was stroking it, his eyes burning into me.

My thighs squeezed together. “Wha—what are you doing?”

“Think that’s obvious.”

“You . . . have to stop.” I swallowed, unable to tear my eyes away from the sight.

He didn’t. Stroke after stroke, I stared as he grew even bigger and harder. I wanted him in my mouth. Right now.

Rix wanted the same thing. “Put your brush down, duchess. I want you on your knees.”

Unmoving, I continued to stare.

“Come here.”

I lowered my brush to the tray beside me and wiped my hands on a rag. Standing slowly, I crossed toward him. He nodded to his hand, which was still wrapped around his cock.

I pressed a knee to the chaise, and then the other, finding space between his spread legs. Licking my lips, I lowered my head.

At the sound of the doorbell ringing, we both froze.

“No fucking way. Do not move.”

My phone buzzed on the side table with a text, and I bit my lip. “What if—”

Rix growled. “Go. I’ll keep myself entertained.”

“It’ll just take me a second. Stay here.”

“I don’t take orders, duchess.”

“I know, but it could be my parents. Or one of my neighbors.” I headed for the door.

“How is someone getting to your door anyway? You’ve got a gated yard.”

“I know, but the pedestrian gate isn’t locked. It broke a couple weeks ago, and I haven’t gotten it fixed.”

“Jesus, here I’ve been jumping the fence, and all along you’ve got a broken latch? You need to get that shit fixed ASAP.”

“How about I worry about that later,” I said, my gaze once again dropping to his cock, which had softened only slightly, before I stepped back and headed out of the studio.

When I reached the front door, I peeked out the sidelight and recognized my visitor immediately.

Rhett. What was he doing here? And what would Rix do when he realized who it was?

I felt like I was sitting on top of a powder keg, box of matches in hand.

Rhett’s eyebrows shot up when I opened the door. I shouldn’t have been in such a rush to answer it. No makeup, paint on my hands and arms, and from the way his gaze rested on my face, I’d probably smeared some on there too.

I pushed back my hair, wondering if I looked like I’d been doing what I’d just been doing. My cheeks were hot, and I quickly crossed my arms over my still hard nipples.

“Now, what exactly were you doing?”

“Uh . . . painting?” I bit my lip and lifted a hand to my face to cover what I was sure were even redder cheeks than I’d started with. That’s when his gaze dropped to my nipples.

Something lit in his green eyes. “Fuck, I want you.”

He didn’t even give me time to react before he wrapped a hand around my waist and yanked me against his body, his lips finding mine and his tongue sliding inside.

Oh my God. Oh my God. This is not happening. Rix is going to go to prison for killing a cop.

And yet the kiss was good. Delicious, actually. Rhett had serious skills, but the heat that roared through me when Rix kissed me was missing.

Finally, Rhett released me. “I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I couldn’t help it. You can’t answer the door like that.”

“Um. Uh. Okay. Sorry?”

I was babbling words that made no sense. The kiss had thrown me completely off-balance, but Rhett just smiled. A little smugly, in my opinion.

“Was there something you needed?” I asked, grasping onto the fact that I needed him gone as quickly as possible because I didn’t want to clean blood off the floor in my foyer.

“Besides another taste of you? I thought I could take you to coffee to make up for cutting our date short the other night. It’s been a hectic few days and I had a couple hours free, so I stopped by.”

Oh shit. I looked down, desperately thinking of something to say. I caught sight of the paint and my nipples pressing against my shirt.

“I’m a mess,” I blurted. “I’m really not in any condition to be leaving the house.” I looked up as he reached out and caught a tangle of my wild hair.

“But you look beautiful. I hope you were thinking about me before you answered the door.”

My mind immediately went to Rix and the memory of him stroking his cock. Heat flushed my cheeks again.

“Well . . . I, uh . . .” Get it together, Valentina, I scolded myself. “I guess a lady should have some secrets. But thank you. I appreciate the invite.”

“That’s too bad. How about tomorrow?”

Tomorrow. Tomorrow. I bit my lip, trying to remember what was going on tomorrow. The opening.

“Work,” I said. “I have a work thing. Maybe another time?”

“Thursday night.”

Thursday. Crap. What was Thursday? I was beginning to think my brain was fried from man-overload.

“Um,” I mumbled. “I don’t think I have anything going on.” As soon as the words were out, I kicked myself. I wasn’t supposed to be seeing him again.

“Then Thursday it is. Enjoy your Sunday.” He leaned in and stole another kiss. “This is a good look on you.”

I smiled and shakily closed the door and locked it. I jumped when I felt the heat of a body behind me. A really big, really hot body.

“You let him touch you,” Rix growled in my ear.

“I didn’t ask him to.”