Page 4 of Skin Trade

He smirked and then winked at her. “I sure hope so.”

She didn't flinch at his words, and when he came closer to her again, she didn't wither into herself like some women probably did. But despite that, there was no denying the flutters her stomach gave at his proximity. She tried to push it down so he wouldn’t see.

“Let me get this thing unhooked,” he said, and he tilted her head back, so he could reach her chain.

God, it was so light with that gone. She might even float away. She wanted to laugh at her own weird thought. She couldn’t help when her mind did that. Like it had thoughts of its own that would pop into her head without notice. The chain clunked to the ground. “Thank you.”

He watched her again, the way she rolled her shoulders, the way she moved. Strong eyes, intense gaze tearing into her. She'd not deny him if he came to her if he took her, but it would be like she did with Creven. Fighting, she had found, always made the bastards hungrier, hurtful, almost feral and wild. They bit harder when there was a fight. Boredom and indifference, that was the key with these guys, and she had done so with Creven and been rewarded with less use.

“Take off your panties and get into the bath.”

She hesitated and shot a glance at the door. I really should have aid to--”

“Yes. Now, take off your panties and get into the bath.” When she went to protest a second time, he said, “This is not a negotiation. Are you going to force me to do it myself?”

She pursed her lips, angled her head and stared at him with the words of defiance on her lips. No. What she wanted to do was make him go out there and get the women aids and do this properly, but instead, she said, “Fine”. Without taking her eyes from him, she rose, put herself face to face with him as she hooked her thumbs into the side of the thong, and pulled it down.

The warmth of the water was so welcoming, chasing away the cold, tense shivers in her body. It seeped into her skin, into her soul, and she let out a sigh. The heat was a delicate silk coating her skin as she lowered herself.

“Sit in the middle, and put your head back,” the man said.

She did without argument, and he took the brass shower head from the top of the taps and turned it on.

“I’m going to wash your hair,” he said.

“I can do it.”

“I know but sit back.”

She jumped as the first blast of warm water hit her scalp, as he ran his fingers into her hair, ran them along her scalp, and with each movement, she relaxed under his touch. Every part of her shouted at her to stop. To sit properly and not give into this, but hell, it felt oh so good. She let her head hang back more, let her mouth open, and her eyes fall to a half close.

He rubbed shampoo into the palms of his hands when her hair was all wet, and as his fingers dug into her hair, she found herself sinking back into those hands … those strong hands, warm palms, tender, massaging, strong but not hurtful. But it was gone all too soon. He startled her with fresh water when he rinsed her hair. And she let out a groan.

“You liked that?”

“I …” she’d lost her voice. Damn him. She blinked to rouse herself. This wasn’t happening. Not like this. Those bastards got into everyone’s heads. It was why they ran the world now. Vampires and their classical seduction. She pushed herself up straight. “It was very nice.”

“Your neck is quite bruised,” he said. He touched along her skin, along her neck, tracing the marks. She couldn’t see the back, but she could imagine it. She raised her own hand to touch where his hand was, but he caught her. “Don’t touch it. Here. Lean back.” He patted the back end of the bath.

She leant back as he'd said, and he got up from his seat. He’d used the empty chair to sit on next to the bath, and a jolt of worry fired in her gut at the idea he would be leaving. It was crazy, but it was there, and it only settled when he went to the towel and picked up a tube of cream. “This will help.” He squeezed some into his palm and came to sit back down. It smelt like fresh cut grass and rainwater on a warm day.

“What is that?” she asked when he ran his hands along her skin. Every nerve came to life. Electricity shot through her body in small waves.

“Magic,” he said. And yes, she had to agree with him. It was magic. She sank into his hands. There was more than just physical touch to this … If she wasn’t careful, she was going to fall right into it.

Chapter Four

The steady drone of the air conditioners wafted down to Payton as she stepped out of the auction building and into the dimly lit street.

It had been a long time since she had walked outside properly, and she wasn’t including trips from Creven’s house to his car. She meant outside, in the street. The low hums resonated through her as she tried to gather her bearings.

“How long?” he asked.

“How long?”

“Yes. How long since you have been outside?”

“How did you—”

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