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There was a short silence.
“Okay, I get that,” said Caden slowly.
“Anyway,” I said briskly. “There’s nothing going on between Clara and I. Understood?”
“Yep, yeah, nothing going on,” Caden said, rolling his eyes.
We didn’t speak of it again. There was a lot of prep that needed to happen before guests started arriving and the auction began. I kept myself busy for the rest of the day and tried not to think of her.
That night, I found her in the bedroom in a shimmery, silver dress that showed the outline of her body through the thin fabric. Underneath, I could barely make out her black lace bra and panties and the gleam of her pierced navel.
My dick twitched.
She’d let her hair fall naturally in waves around her shoulders. I ran my fingers through it and closed my fist. Forcing her to look up into my eyes.
“You be a good girl tonight,” I said.
She rolled her eyes.
“No, I mean it, Clara,” I said. “This isn’t like back at home. There are powerful men who have no qualms hurting people. Including women. You stay in my sight all night, don’t drink too much, and don’t flirt with anyone.”
She swallowed, her lids flickering.
“Maybe it would be better if they knew I was yours,” she whispered.
I shook my head.
“I’m not fucking up your future.”
There was something heavy in the air. I felt it like a brewing storm as I led her down the hall to the first floor crowded with people. The disco style lights were lowered, glitter moving slowly over the floor as they rotated. The fountain in the center of the room bubbled and music thrummed in the background.
She stopped short. Her eyes widening.
“Are those…dancers?”
I let my eyes run over the women. They were perched on a dozen pedestals, lights burning behind them to create silhouettes. Their bodies moved slowly, sinuously.
It was too dark to tell, but I knew they were naked.
“Merrick,” she breathed.
“It’s alright,” I said. “They’re professionals and no one is allowed to touch them.”
“What…what are they here for then?”
I guided her into the crowd and headed for the bar. “Most of these men are here to make sales with me. I keep them on the edge, get them hot and bothered, and have them make decisions while they’re distracted and horny.”
She gaped at me. “Merrick Llwyd, always playing chess while everyone else plays checkers.”
I let my head fall back as I laughed. “My therapist says that to me too.”
She ordered a Cosmo and I had a shot of tequila. Before anyone could look our way, she took me by the tie and yanked me down. Her mouth tasted like lime and lipstick.
And a bit like tonight was going to be giant fuck up.
CHAPTER FORTY
CLARA
