Page 20 of Savage Ambition

He shifted closer, pressing his body against mine. “What about your first time?”

I shook my head. “That’s not a conversation for now.”

“But I want to know.”

“It wasn’t like yours.” My voice dropped, barely audible over the bubbling water. “And I’d rather not revisit it while I’m in a good mood.”

He looked down in embarrassment. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It was a long time ago.” I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

“Did I hurt you?” Shaw asked, his concern touching but unnecessary.

“No, but even if you did, that would have been fine.” I enjoyed pain with my pleasure more than the average person.

His thumb brushed a scar on my shoulder. “Are these from work?”

I moved his hand away. “Don’t ask questions if you’re not ready to hear the answers.”

“Sorry.” He couldn’t meet my gaze. “I should get out. The heat’s getting to me.”

After climbing out of the hot tub, we returned inside. I tossed him a towel before drying myself and wrapping it around my waist.

As he redressed, Ishi knocked on the door to signal our time had ended.

When he reached the door, I planted a hand flat against it to block his exit. “You’ll come back.”

He hesitated. “I don’t know if I should.”

I chuckled at his ignorance. “When you’re alone tonight, touching yourself and thinking about what we did, remember that I have so many more pleasures left to show you.” I kept my voice low as I murmured near his ear, too quietly for the cameras to hear. “Next time, maybe I’ll bend you over the balcony and fuck you under the stars while the city stretches out below us. I’ll make you come so hard you’ll forget all those virtuous dilemmas keeping you awake at night.”

He trembled against me. “Someone could see.”

“That’s half the thrill.” I nipped at his earlobe, making him gasp. “The risk. The danger. Knowing you’re doing something forbidden.”

The knock became more insistent.

“Tell me you’ll come back,” I demanded, brushing my thumb against his cheek. My need for him to become a regular wasn’t merely a selfish desire to enjoy him, but also to keep Salvatore from becoming suspicious about us meeting outside the brothel.

“We’ll see,” Shaw said, before slipping out without another word.

He didn’t look back.

The door clicked shut, and I stood in nothing but a towel, staring at the polished wood while Ishi’s footsteps retreated down the hallway with someone who might never return.

I’d played things wrong. I’d pushed when I should have pulled, threatened when I should have seduced. Despite years of training Salvatore’s clients to crave me, I’d let one earnest virgin from my past tangle my instincts into uselessness.

It looked like I’d have to get creative to entice Shaw back.

CHAPTER SEVEN

SHAW

Ihad been on edge all day. Our business psychology class dragged on, punctuated only by Jace’s predictable outburst when Trent made yet another joke at his best friend’s expense.

Dante remained disturbingly quiet in our shared classes. He offered no acknowledgment of how he’d made me fall apart beneath him the night before. To him, I was another client who’d paid for his services.

I wanted to be special to him, though. Fuck.