Page 20 of Skin Trade

“You know it is. Clothes matter,” he said and pulled out a necktie from his pocket and shook it, before wrapping it around the back of his neck and then tying it into place under his chin. “Did you know that ties originate from Croat mercenaries?”

“I can’t say I have ever given ties much thought. They’re just ties. They had them to keep their necks warm?”

“No. They donned ties before battle. A warning of sorts that they were ready for battle. It is why people in offices wear them now. A false armour for them, or a preparation for the battle of the boardroom.”

“Are you planning on going into battle?”

Before he could answer, the main door opened again. Payton expected it to be Sky coming in with her drink, but instead, Tasha entered the room, wearing the exact same dress Payton had refused to put on.

“I believe the battle is about to begin,” he said. He leant into Payton, putting his mouth dangerously close to her ear. She could fight him, mostly, but there was a part of her that knew she’d lose eventually. She waited for him to speak, but the bastard said nothing to her, simply ran his hand along her waist and laughed.

“Tasha,” he said. “Right on time.”

Chapter Fifteen

Afish out of water, that was the saying and what came to Payton’s mind as she stood in the room with Seth and Tasha. They were both neatly pressed and dressed for the evening, and in her rebellion, Payton now looked like the one who had come and gatecrashed the party. Her resolve ebbed a little, but not enough that would suggest she go and change. That would be like allowing Seth to win and there was no way in hell that was happening.

Tasha sauntered into the room. A woman who knew how to walk, knew her place—this place. This was her place, not Payton’s. She sidled up to Seth and rested her hands on his shoulder. Seth obliged her by slipping his arm around her waist. If there was ever a couple who belonged together, it was them. She complimented him in every way. Her long body, his tall frame. Although Payton wasn’t short herself, she also wasn’t a match for this woman. Not where it mattered. Sure, she’d probably beat her in a fight. Getting down in the dirt, but Tasha was one of those women who belonged in one of the country clubs her father used to go to.

“I took the liberty of ordering for you,” Seth said to Payton. “I am not sure what it is you like to eat, so I ordered a selection. Tasha is more a burger and chips kind of girl.”

That didn’t fit the profile Payton had of Tasha in her head. More a salad and water kind of girl.

“Burger and chips would have been fine for me too,” Payton said, holding her hands in front of her. Conscious of how she held them and wrung them together, she let them fall to her sides.

Seth eyed her, angling his head. “I do not think so.” He narrowed his eyes, studied her, with regards to the comment he had just made. “Choose whatever you like, leave the rest.”

“Always so thoughtful,” Tasha said, her voice a purr against him. She rubbed a hand down his chest to the edge of his waistcoat, just above the belt.

He caught her hand and in a silent exchange, Tasha backed away, but Payton didn’t miss the look he gave her. So, she smiled at Tasha and then turned her back on the pair so she could walk around the room and explore it. It was big enough she could do that. Modern enough that there wasn’t so much to look at, though. But at this point, she’d have got down to examine the carpet just to distance herself from the two of them.

“Does Tasha bother you?” Seth asked minutes later. He had given her the space to walk around the room. Given her time so she could make her way to the bookshelf behind the piano.

“Why should she bother me? I don’t know her.”

“Just curious,” he said. He sucked in a breath as if he was scenting the air, his head back a little. “Would it bother you if other women touch me?”

“Why would it bother me? I hardly know you.” And yet, there was no denying the way her skin felt when he was this close to her, or the way her mind was ready to take a leave of absence. It was only because she was so stubborn minded that she managed to hold onto herself, remind herself that these were vampiric tricks of lust and sexual arousal. It had nothing to do with emotions and knowing someone. But he was there, so close. She could swear she could feel him breathing.

“But it will bother you,” he said, and there was that self-assured cockiness again.

It made her want to turn around and knock it back. She wanted to prove him wrong, but when she did turn and found his beautiful eyes staring at her, she could do nothing but swallow hard and hope to hell he couldn’t hear the way her heart was beating.

“What do you think of the place?” he asked, and just like pulling a rubber band and letting it go, he snapped himself away from her and her mind cleared again. “I built it pretty much from the ground up. This is …” he paused to glance around the room. “Probably my favourite room. I let very few in here.”

“I … it isn’t what I expected.” He was not what she expected. When she’d been dragged to the auctions, and dragged was the word, she’d been so filled with terror. The stories amongst the blood slaves at what happened in those places were nothing short of nightmares. Rape, torture, mutilation, all of them were possibilities in the hands of the wrong vampire.

She’d told herself at least Creven wasn’t cruel all the time. Not in his actions. Most of the time he kept his slaves to their rooms, to their quarters. Some of the girls who’d been sold probably wouldn’t be alive now. With Creven, it was safe when he was away, when they were locked up.

Seth held his arm out for Payton to slip her hand into the crook. “Are you ready to eat now?”

Payton nodded. “Very.” She had to clench her fist to stop herself from grabbing the offered arm. She put her hands down beside her, trying to keep them there as she moved past Seth.

Tasha was already sitting at the table. She had her chair back and a glass of wine in her hand. She watched Payton the same way a cat watched a mouse, right before it pounced. But Payton was no mouse and she sat herself in the chair opposite, leaving the head of the table to Seth.

Was this what Seth wanted? Two women to fight over him.

“You did not like the dress?” Tasha asked as she smoothed hers down, running her hands purposely across her breasts. There was very little the dress covered, and it was clear to see Tasha wore no underwear, at all.

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