Page 15 of Ruthless Sinner

What I said out loud was, “So you let your father underestimate you.”

Marco gave me an odd, sharp look, a wolf scenting danger. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you’re not nearly as stupid as you want people to think you are,” I replied. “You wanted me to roll my eyes at you just now when you said you wouldn’t end up that way. You like it when people underestimate you.”

Marco looked thrown, but also impressed. “You should be a cop with people reading skills like that.”

You’re not too far off,I thought grimly. “Being a stripper pays better. And they don’t complain when you sleep with clients. I hear sleeping with criminals is frowned upon in the cop community.”

Marco laughed. “You’re something else, Jewel. I can’t get a read on you. I like it.”

My stomach flipped again, this time less from pleasure and more from fear. It was a good thing that he couldn’t get a read on me, right? That I intrigued him?

We finished up our ice cream. Marco stood, offering me his arm. “You live near here?”

I took his arm and let him tuck me into his side. “Why, you going to turn around and be a gentleman?”

“If that’s what you want,” he replied evenly. “Or… I could take you back to my place.”

His place. As far as I knew, Marco didn’t really take strippers to his apartment. This was perfect. This was it.

“What will we do if we go there?” I asked.

There was a part of me, one I didn’t want to look at too hard, that wasn’t asking to be coy and play the game. It was asking because I had yet to see him naked and I wanted to get my hands and mouth on his body, so goddamn badly. Being fucked with all of my partner’s clothes on was very hot, the impression that they were so in control and I wasn’t just adding to the experience. But I wanted to see the muscles and tattoos that lurked underneath the expensive clothing.

Marco’s voice, when he spoke, held that growl that sent shivers up my spine. “Not sleeping,” he said. “That’s for sure.”

I said yes.

And it wasn’t just because of the job.

CHAPTER7

Marco

My place was decked out, but also definitely a bachelor pad.

I fucking loved it.

Loft apartment in the city? Check. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows? Check. Open-plan so that if I wanted to hold parties I could? Check. Built-in surround sound stereo for optimal movie marathons or dance parties? Check. Huge California King sized bed up against the exposed brick wall? Check and check.

I even had a balcony with a hot tub. Bathing suits optional.

Vincent had been his usual self and insisted on installing an escape room, top of the line security cameras, a bodyguard rotation, and all the rest—but I didn’t really care. I was just a soldier, and the second son. I had no real power, so what would someone want with me?

As long as the security measures didn’t get in the way of my fun, though, I supposed it was fine.

As I opened the door, I flicked on the lights. So far, Jewel hadn’t been all that impressed with the doorman or the private elevator. I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to be impressed or not. The fact that she was genuinely accepting and calm about the richness of my life was… a nice novelty.

But then I flicked on the lights and I saw her jaw drop and her eyes go wide. I grinned. “Not too shabby, huh?”

Jewel swallowed, clearly trying to act composed. “Um. It’s pretty nice.”

I laughed. “I know, it screams bachelor pad. And it technically is a studio. But I think the view makes up for it.”

Jewel sent me a playful glare as she took off her absurdly high heels and walked into the apartment. “Technically a studio. I can see why your brothers find you insufferable.”

“But the ladies find me charming.”

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