The Good Girl Effect (Salacious Legacy, #1)

by Sara Cate

With one hand at my throat, the other trails down my body, lightly drifting over my breast and belly. When he reaches my panties, my body tenses, and my breathing accelerates. “I have you all to myself now, don’t I?” he whispers in my ear. “I could do whatever I want.”

“Is this breaking the rules?” he asks as his finger barely kisses the sensitive bud between my legs. “I can’t tell.”

And when he drags his finger through my folds, finding them soaked, he growls loudly in my ear. “God, you’re so wet, little bird.”

“Is it time for your reward, little bird?” he asks, sinking his middle finger to the first knuckle. I fidget as a throaty, guttural sound escapes my lips. “Yes, please,” I beg. “Shall we show them what good girls get?” he growls in my ear as his finger sinks deep inside me.

As Julian and I reach the top floor of the now-empty club, we freeze as we come face-to-face with Matis.

“Nothing,” I whisper. “You are such a good girl, you know that, little bird?”

He chuckles. “Sorry.” Then he nods toward the nightstand again. “What are you reaching for in there?” “Nothing,” I say with a quick shake of my head. He smirks as he crosses his arms and leans against the doorframe. He really can’t look that good and still expect me to deprive myself. It’s not fair at all. “Really? Nothing?” He steps into the room looking haughty, and I have to bite down harder on my lip to keep from grinning. “Because it looked like you were about to

get something out of your drawer there.” I take a step back, guarding my nightstand. “No, I wasn’t,” I argue. “You wouldn’t,” he says as he steps up to me, running his fingers down my arms. “Because you’re a good girl, and you don’t break the rules.” I have to clench my teeth together. “I am a good girl. How dare you imply otherwise?” As he leans in with a devilish smirk, I get a whiff of his cologne, and it makes my knees start to weaken. “I suppose you want your reward soon.”

“You thought what, little bird? That the night at the club was your reward?” Th...

my ear, he adds, “You’ll find there are many rewards when you behave.” “I do behave,” I reply, tilting my chin as he ...

“Maybe I’ll just watch you reward yourself,” he whispers playfully. “That’s not breaking the rules.”

“We really shouldn’t do this,” he whispers so quietly the words drift off into the darkness. “I don’t care,” I reply. “Neither do I.”

Neither do I. Lol.

Pulling back, he grinds his hips forward, pressing slowly inside me as he says, “I like breaking the rules.” A moan is pulled from my lips as he does that again, thrusting his hips fluidly, and I savor every second of having him inside me. “Me too,” I whisper on a gasp.

“You want me to say that I am yours as much as you are mine, but you must know it’s true. Don’t you see what you’ve done to me?” Her expression softens as she looks up at me. The fire is still there as she whispers, “Then say it.” I don’t hesitate. “I am yours.” There is disbelief in her expression as she winds her arms around my neck and practically leaps into my arms, kissing me with as much fervor as before. Mumbling against my mouth, she pleads, “Then take me, Jack. Make me yours, and I’ll never touch another man again.”

When I say you’re perfect, I don’t mean that perfection defines you. I mean you define perfection.”

“You like that, don’t you?” he asks with a punishing grip on my hips. “You like the idea of me fucking a baby into you.” “Yes!” I shout. “The thought of your swollen belly makes me so fucking feral for you.” Then he slams in again, hitting a spot inside me that has my toes curling and my body spasming. “You feel that, little bird? You feel how hard that makes me?”

“I chose you because you are perfect in every way. You are perfect to me. You are everything I have ever wanted and will ever want, and I chose you as my date tonight because as long as you are in the room, I see no one else. Understand?”

“Emerson,” Jack says as he greets him. “I’m so honored that you came.” The woman puts her hands out to hug Jack. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She’s a stunning woman, I would guess in her midforties, with long, thick brown hair and a kind smile. Something about her looks down-to-earth and relatable, like she might feel as out of her element here as I do. After the hug, Jack turns toward me. “Camille, this is Emerson and Charlotte Grant. They own the greatest kink club in the United States.”

“I have to tell you something,” I say softly. Her eyes grow soft as if she’s preparing herself for the worst. And I know I should just come out with it. I owe her the truth. After all the trust she’s put in me, the least I can do for her is give her everything she’s given me—loyalty and faith. But when I open my mouth, the most true and honest thing I have comes slipping out. “I love you.”

I love you so much it hurts, little bird. But I don’t want to hold you down anymore. When you do fly off, I hope you will take us with you. And if you can’t, I understand. At least I hope you can take our memories and this apology. I’m sorry. Joyeux Noël. Yours, Jack

“Can you call her?” she asks. “Tell her she can sleep in your bed again, and maybe she’ll come back.” My head snaps up, and I stare at her in shock. “Beatrice,” I say in a scolding tone, without fully knowing what I’m supposed to be scolding her for. “What?” she asks innocently. “When Camille slept in your bed, she was much happier.” “She never slept in my bed,” I argue, which is a lie. “Yes, she did. Sometimes, I would get up in the middle of the night, and she would be in your bed.” I’m appalled. My jaw hangs open as I stare at my daughter, suddenly humiliated that she found her nanny in my bed. I should be ashamed of myself. “You shouldn’t have seen that,” I mutter quietly. She only shrugs. “I love Camille. I think you should call her and tell her she can sleep in your bed again so she comes back.”

“So she can stop being my nanny,” Bea replies, moving her attention back to the icing and sprinkles. “Tante Elizabeth doesn’t have a nanny, and she has ladies who sleep in her bed all the time.” “Beatrice!” I snap, staring at her in shock. “How do you even know that?” “Because when I sleep over, they knock on her door, but she tells them they can’t sleep over because I’m there.”

“Tell her what?” I ask. “That she’s not my nanny anymore.” Camille’s eyes widen with alarm. I chuckle as I kiss her again. “Yeah, you’re…sort of fired, I guess.” “Fired?” “So you can sleep in Papa’s bed again!” Camille looks at me again with her brows raised and a hesitant smile. “I’ll explain when we get home. As long as you are coming home.” She nuzzles in closer. “I am coming home.” Beaming, I kiss her again. “Good. Je suis très excité.” Camille lets out a laugh as she covers her mouth. “What?” I ask with a perplexed expression. Leaning in, she whispers in my ear, “That means…I am very aroused.” “Oh fuck,” I mutter, making my six-year-old giggle and cover her mouth. “I knew that.”

“What does it mean?” Bea asks, hopping up and down. Camille takes her hand as they walk ahead together. “Nothing.”