Page 65 of Savage Ambition

“Sure, if by fine you mean fucked-up, insecure, neurotic, and emotional.” Her playful gaze took on a calculating intent. “If I told you he asked about you after our session, you wouldn’t want to know what he said?”

“Nope.”

Her cheeky grin told me how much she was enjoying lording her knowledge over me. “Are you sure you don’t want to know how I answered his question about what makes you come the hardest?”

I took a long sip of my espresso as I stared her down.

“Come on, you know you’re dying to know about my conversation with him,” she cajoled.

“You shouldn’t have been talking about me at all.”

“We were careful, don’t worry.” After working at the brothel for so many years, she was as well-versed as I was in where the safest spots for hushed conversations were. “Stop acting like you aren’t curious.”

There was more than one way to play the game with Natalia. Denying her what she was after was the best method to get her to spill. “I don’t care.”

Her eyes gleamed with glee. “Maybe I told him how you melt when someone bites the back of your neck while fucking you from behind.”

I remained silent, refusing to give her the satisfaction.

“Perhaps I told him you secretly enjoy it when somebody leaves a mark on you that reminds you of them for days.”

“Is there some reason you’re trying to get me in trouble?” I asked with an irritated sigh. She knew the rules that clients had to pay a high price to leave a mark, even impermanent ones. “The last thing I need is him giving me a hickey and dealing with the punishing consequences.”

Despite my protests, my dick perked up with interest at the thought of Renato biting me hard enough to bruise, maybe even bleed.

“Then again, I might have said nothing.” Her grin was unrepentant. “I’m happy to tell you if you ask.”

“You’ll tell me, regardless,” I pointed out.

“Don’t you want to hear how he waxed poetic as he told me you were the most beautiful man he’d ever seen, but you needed someone to make you laugh more?”

“I laugh plenty.”

She leveled a challenging look at me. “Name the last time.”

“Five minutes ago, when you told me Jace comes faster than a teenage boy.”

“That wasn’t a laugh. It was a smirk with sound effects.” She reached over to poke my chest. “I’m talking about a genuine laugh. The kind that makes your stomach hurt and your eyes water.”

“Those are overrated.”

She tilted her head as she studied me. “Damn, Renato must really get under your skin in a way no one else does for you to be putting up this much of an unaffected front. No wonder it scares the hell out of you.”

“You’re projecting.” I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you so invested?”

She studied me with fascination. “Because in the six years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you genuinely attracted to anyone you work with.”

“I’m attracted to you,” I countered.

“That’s different, and you know it. I’m like your sexual security blanket. Comfortable, familiar, safe.”

The assessment was surprisingly accurate. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

“I’m not. I know exactly how good I am and what I mean to you.” Her expression softened. “That’s why I know Renato scares you a little, doesn’t he?”

I shook my head but said nothing.

“Then why won’t you talk about him?” She crossed her arms. “Usually, you’d have given me a detailed analysis of a new hire’s sexual technique, complete with pros, cons, and numerical ratings.”