Page 2 of Royally Ruined

“No.” One corner of her mouth went up in an out-of-place smile. “And I thought Hawthorne was the asshole of your family.”

When I was younger that would have hurt. But I’d been called worse things for a long while. “I’m not playing around. Clothes off. Now.”

She stood taller. Most women don’t come close to my height, but in sneakers—who wears sneakers in a club?—her chin was even with mine. I could smell the sweetness of her skin. I’d expected typical stripper smell, but this wasn’t cotton candy and baby powder. This was something ... richer. Like the inside of a treasure chest, metallic, with a sugary hint Iknewand couldn’t place. It was familiar in a way that nagged me.

Her voice was low, anything but soft. “If you’re going to see me naked, you should know my name.”

“You don’t need to be naked, your bra and panties are—”

She spoke over me. “Scotch. My name is Scotch.” Again her piercing shone from how hard she scrunched her nose. “And you? You’re Costello, right?”

My family owned every single strip club in this city, so her knowing my name didn’t startle me. Had she thought it would? Was that why she was talking so casually?She’s trying to distract me,I reminded myself, wondering if she hadn’t already. How long had we been standing here? “If you don’t take your clothes off, I’m going to take them off for you.”

Scotch peered at me. I wondered if she doubted my promise. If she was smart, she wouldn’t. I’d do whatever it took to ensure no cops got involved in this meeting tonight, to keep the people important to me safe. If that included stripping a stubborn waitress, so be it.

She turned away and faced the lockers and curled her nails under her pink-and-blue shirt, peeling it up to expose her back to me. “Get this over with. I have drinks to serve upstairs.”

Tucking the gun back into my jacket, I said, “Smart girl.” I bent close, and that damn scent hit me again, confusing me and making me dizzy. Fighting through it, I brushed my hands over her skin, reaching around to feel for anything hidden on her stomach.

Scotch trembled, her heart kicking at my chest through her spine. She was warm as a perfect cup of tea, smooth as ivory. I was supposed to be feeling for a wire, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how goodshefelt. How solid and feathery.

When I trailed my fingertips over her hips toward her black skirt, the edge of it rustled under my touch. The gap between me and her spread legs shrank. The instant I brushed the inner part of her hidden thigh, Scotch inhaled through her nose. It wasn’t a scared sound; it was too thick. Static passed between us, and together we stiffened.

She asked me, “Why are you going so slow?”

Sweat crept over my brow. “I’m not. I’m being precise.”

“Oh?” It came out like apurr. “How’s this for precise?” I pride myself on my speed, but this woman rammed her ass right against the front of my slacks before I could dodge. I’m not sure I would have dodged.

My blood raced, battling with the excitement that was curling in my lower belly. How had this simple task become such a game of wills? How was this damn stranger getting under my skin so quickly?Get your shit together!I reprimanded myself. Scotch was grinning; I could see it even with her face turned away.

She wanted to play.

I didn’t. Or I did, but ... No. I didn’t. I had a job to do. I snatched her wrists and pressed her hands above her head against the lockers so hard that the faded green metal rattled. Over it all I heard her surprised gasp and endured a thrill from it. “Not the wisest move you could have made,” I whispered in her ear.

“Wait,” she said quickly, struggling to face me. I didn’t let her. “Hold on. What are you doing?” I bound her hands with one of mine, and my free fingers hooked into the top of her skirt. “What I promised I’d do from the start.” I pulled it lower, a mere inch, revealing the fish tail of her black thong. My cock swelled painfully. “Taking your clothes off for you.”

She was breathing heavily. My mouth was a tingling mess and my senses were getting fried, but no matter how this girl was turning me on—and fuck, she really was—I was done playing games.

Even if it meant making people hate me ... even if it meant creating fear ...

I’d always do what had to be done.

Once upon a time, I would have been a king.

Now?

I’m just a monster.

- CHAPTER TWO -

SCOTCH

This was not how I’d expected my Monday to go.

I couldn’t recall the last time someone had tried to feel me up in this club. It would have been early on, when everyone thought I was green and naive. It only took a few sharp knees to the groins to cut that behavior off.

These days, the men who came here knew to keep their hands off me.

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