“Please don’t remind me of bloody hands,” I said, my nose involuntarily scrunching.
He gave a harsh laugh, lifting his hands to show me there currently wasn’t blood on them. “You don’t seem to mind my hands doing anything else.”
“Shh,” I said, smacking his leg under the table. He grabbed my hand, forcing it onto his thigh.
“Does this mean you are finally learning discretion?” he asked, moving my hand higher.
“Well, yes, in places like this, I know how to keep quiet.”
He smirked as my hand trailed over his groin, feeling the hard length of him. “Could we put how quiet you can be here to the test?”
“Rook,” I said, my teeth gritted together as he moved my hand back and forth over him. “Why are you this turned on right now?”
“Because someone had to wear a dress that clings to her body. A body I’ve had to watch writhe and fall apart under my tongue,” he said. “I’m dying to get another taste.”
“Why did you come here, Rook? I can’t imagine this is a normal place for you, and based on the stares, I’m going to assume everyone else agrees.” I only grew more annoyed withthe fake answers, and I didn’t think he would be telling me the truth soon.
“Because you shouldn’t be alone here.”
“Why?”
“You’re the daughter of one of the most powerful men here tonight. You should be asking why you’re allowed to go anywhere like this alone.”
“So you are here to what? Be my bodyguard? Ironic when you’re the one trying to kill me.”
“You have an obsession with wondering if I’m trying to kill you or keep you safe.”
“It’s a legitimate concern. You could do both.”
“That’s true,” he said. “Honestly, I’m probably putting you in more danger being here than if I hadn’t come.”
“How?”
“Because there are going to be plenty of conversations tonight about why I came here. I’ve never shown my face at any place like this. Anyone connected to me in any way is going to worry about what’s happening. They are going to be worried someone pissed me off, and me being here with you will make them wonder why. There will be plenty of questions over the next few days.”
“So you’re not going to kill me or protect me. You are going to put me in danger and then leave?”
“I’m not doing any of those.”
“Then what?” I asked a little too loud, making his eyebrows jump.
“What happened to discretion?”
I only stared and waited. He had to have a better reason to have come tonight, and I doubted any of the reasons he gave were the truth.
“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “I came because I didn’t like you here alone. That’s not a lie. I also like learning about you.”
“I thought you said I was boring.”
“You are,” he said with a grin. “But I think I might be jealous of your type of boring.”He stood up, seemingly uncomfortable, as he brushed off his jacket and ran a hand through his hair. “Come on. I’m showing you how to handle this place.”
“And how would you know how to handle a place like this? I’m sure they are much different people here than in the places you meet them,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite his confession rattling me.
“Doesn’t matter. They are still the same people with the same secrets.” His hand moved to my lower back, sliding once down over my ass and back up. The intimate touch made my skin tingle, and I had to fight the urge to lean into him. “You’re teasing a starving man,” he groaned. “Let’s go to another room so I can taste you again.”
I tried to keep my cool, even as my pulse quickened. “Keep helping by telling me all these secrets, and maybe I will let you.”
He gave a satisfied groan, the sound reverberating through me. “See, you already know what you’re doing, and how to handle these people. Use everything you fucking have to make me bend. Force me into a corner, so my only way out is to do what you tell me. You are always playing a game here. Every single one of these powerful men can be backed into that corner and all of them will cower at your feet if you say the right words.”
