Page 35 of Liars and Liaisons

She crosses her arms over her chest, gripping her biceps tight. “I thought—”

“That I wasn’t serious?” A hollow chuckle works its way from my throat. “I’m not running a charity here. If I pay for something, I expect a good or service in return.”

Her luscious mouth turns down at the corners. “Is my being here not enough? You didn’t give me any tasks or duties, and you haven’t exactly been around. I don’t know what else you want from me.”

“Strip.”

Shock etches into her features. “What?”

“Strip.” My top lip curls back as I scan her outfit again. “The clothes are hideous, and I want you out of them.”

“I—no.” Her chin lifts. “We didn’t… that isn’t what you brought me here for.”

“Then, return the fifty thousand dollars and see yourself off the mountain by sundown.”

Those tempting eyes shift, searching my face. “I thought you wanted a babysitter.”

“AndIthought you wanted me to grade your performances.” Walking briskly to one of the armchairs, I flop down onto the cushion and kick my feet up on the ottoman, waiting. “Or are you going to drop out of this too?”

When she realizes I’m aware of her academic history, her hands curl into little fists at her sides. Rage colors her face the way embarrassment so often does, and I relish in her anger as crimson splatters across her skin. She glitters in the firelight, the rosy undertones of her flesh beckoning me to draw more blood to the surface by leaving my marks on her.

I’m positive she’ll bruise easily.

“Why are you doing this?” she asks. “This… I don’t believe you’re really like this.”

Groaning, I tip my head back. “Stop trying to find a rhyme to my reason, Violet. I kissed you and went to bed with you, knowing who you were. I’m an asshole, and you unfortunately caught my attention. Now, take off your top or forfeit your salary. The choice is yours.”

Her stare hardens at the reminder of our night together, and she scoffs. I wonder how differently she’d react if she knew I’d drugged her that night. If she knew it had all been a ruse to get her to this point.

“Yes, well, we all know what you think about choices.”

I lift my head, the sharpness in her voice not something I’m accustomed to. So far, she’s seemed so passionate and spirited, yet there’s an edge to her right now that makes me think she’s somehow burned through the money already.

By all accounts, her area of weakness is her finances; the woman’s credit score is practically nonexistent, and there’s a host of shady debt collectors scouring North Carolina, looking to collect on what she’s borrowed. She’s been in the house all this time, but I suppose it’s possible she’s been shopping online or—

She grips the hem of her T-shirt, and in one fluid motion, she whips it off over her head. The breath catches in my lungs at the sight of her breasts, barred by sheer black lace I could rip apart with my bare teeth.

A lump lodges hard in my throat, and I try to swallow over it. “Violet—”

“No, you’re right.” She reaches for the button on her jeans, popping it open, and then shoves them down her hips. A triangle of black silk is all that covers her as she kicks free of the denim, holding her arms out at her sides. “I’m not taking handouts. This is supposed to be work. So, if that’s what you want,Professor, by all means. I’m not gonna sit around and wait for you to accost me.”

My heart stutters as she bends her arms, unclasping her bra from behind. Her tits spring free, glorious handfuls I’ve dreamed about every night since I saw them last, and I shift in the chair to adjust my stiffening dick.

God. Fucking. Damn.

Her body is so soft and pliant, her breasts round and ripe and perfect. I want my mouth on them, want them bouncing beneath me as I ruin her throat or suffocating me as she rides me to oblivion. Desire scorches a malicious path down my spine, making itself known as I sit there, unable to look away.

Even when she hooks her thumbs in the elastic waist of those tiny panties, letting them fall to the floor.

I can’t fucking breathe.

My hands curl around the armrests, my fingernails digging into the soft cushioning.

She doesn’t even make a move to cover herself, as if all sense of modesty has evacuated her body. Gone is the shy, humble kitten from the hotel room. In her place is a true vixen, bewitching me with nothing more than her very presence.

“Now what?” she asks, cocking a hand on her hip. “Want me to get on my knees and crawl?”

I push to my feet before she can follow through on that, too afraid of what I’ll do if she’s eye-level with my cock. I’m barely hanging on to my shreds of sanity as it is; there’s no reason to add extra temptation to the mix.

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