“Good.” I leaned in a fraction closer, the air between us thick with unspoken tension. “And let’s keep it that way.”
A smirk danced on his lips, a playful challenge in his eyes. “What? Are you worried she’s going to find out?”
I took a moment to gather my thoughts, mentally bracing myself for the performance ahead. It was showtime, Savannah.
I erupted into laughter, the sound echoing louder than I intended, causing him to flinch slightly. “Find out? About that? Oh please, Dean. Don’t make me laugh. This isn’t some primitive era.”
The confident smirk vanished from his face, replaced by a look of confusion that was almost comical.
“You mean you’re aware… you know what he-“
“Aware?” I interjected sharply, cutting him off. “Dean, I was right in the thick of it. A participant, if you will.”
His expression morphed from shock to horror, then flickered into something altogether different-something that shouldn’t have been there at all.
“Oh, and about that last order?” I leaned in closer, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper, ensuring our conversation was private. “That was my brainchild. We were celebrating a successful merger.”
Dean’s jaw dropped, his disbelief palpable. “You’re serious.”
I let out another laugh, this one darker and tinged with a hint of mischief. “Dead serious. We revel in fun. Wild, crazy fun. Something you uptight types look down upon. It’s not a crime to experiment, you know. You should give it a shot sometime.”
The transformation in him was almost laughable. Shock morphed into intrigue, intrigue melted into fascination, and then fascination twisted into something sleazy before shamelessly giving way to raw lust. His gaze roamed over me in a way that sent chills down my spine.
I can’t believe I once found that look appealing.
“Holy shit,” he murmured, shaking his head as if trying to dispel a fog of disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re into that.”
“You can’t even begin to imagine the things I’m into,” I replied, my voice low and teasing.
His grin widened, teeth flashing like a predator’s, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous hunger. “You have no idea how fucking hot that is. Damn.”
Bingo. Hook, line, and sinker.
“You should always go for the well-stacked ones,” I said casually, glancing at his chest as if imparting a personal tip. “That’s where the real fun lies.”
Dean leaned forward, his eagerness palpable, as if he were ready to take notes on my every word. “You should tell me more. Hell, we should… hang out sometime. Just you and me, Sav. You could, you know…” His hand slid onto my thigh, just above the hem of my dress, a bold move that made my skin crawl. “…show me.”
Ew.
“I don’t think so,” I replied sweetly, forcing a smile. “Roman’s a little possessive. He gets all feral when any man dares to glance in my direction for more than three seconds.”
“Babe?”
The word hit me like a splash of cold water, jolting me back to reality. Dean’s hand recoiled as if it had been burned.
We both looked up, and there stood Chloe, arms crossed, her frown sharp enough to cut glass.
Dean sprang to his feet, brushing imaginary grass from his shorts with a nervous energy. “Just catching up with Sav. Clearing some bad blood. Wouldn’t it be awkward if the groom and maid of honor avoided each other on the wedding day? It’ll ruin the photographs.”
“True,” I echoed, my smile so artificial it could’ve been molded from plastic.
Chloe scrutinized me for a moment, her gaze piercing, before seemingly dismissing whatever she saw. “Come on. Mom’s asking if that island we vacationed on two months ago is suitable for a family trip because-“
Her voice trailed off as she linked her arm through Dean’s, pulling him away toward his mother with an air of authority.
But not before she threw one last parting shot.
She caught me watching their retreating backs, and her smile sharpened, feline in its satisfaction. Then, with a subtle tilt of her head, she flashed the diamond on her finger in the sunlight-a gesture as subtle as a brick.
I received the message loud and clear. ‘He’s mine, stay away.’
Noted. He’s all yours, Chloe.
I lingered for a moment longer, my forced smile dissolving the instant her back turned.
With a sigh, I tossed the crushed soda can into the recycling bin and made a beeline for Roman.
He was still deep in conversation with Alyssa, their voices low and intimate. As I approached, both of them halted, their expressions shifting in a way that made my stomach twist with unease. Curiosity sparked within me about the nature of their discussion.
“I need to speak with you,” I said firmly, my tone brokering no argument. “Now.”
Roman had barely managed to excuse himself from Alyssa’s presence when I seized the moment, plastering the most artificial, tight-lipped smile I could muster. My fingers curled around his arm like a vice, and with a determined tug, I pulled him toward our room, moving swiftly enough that no one had a chance to register our departure.
Tonight was not a night for uncertainty. Not with Dean’s insufferable little secret ticking away in my pocket like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
As the door clicked shut behind us, the sound reverberated in my chest, a sharp reminder of the tension in the air. I turned to face him, my heart racing, ready to unleash the storm brewing inside me.
“What the hell, Roman?” I snapped, my voice laced with frustration.
He blinked at me, genuine confusion etched across his face as if he were a deer caught in headlights. “Okay… can I at least know what I did wrong before I get executed?” His tone was almost comical, but I wasn’t in the mood for jokes.
“Dean found your name on the VIP guest list for an escort service website.” The words hung in the air, heavy and accusatory.
That revelation struck him like a slap; his eyebrows shot up, barely lifting a millimeter but enough to show he was rattled. “How did he get his hands on that?”
“I have no fucking idea. Do you think I subscribe to Creeps With Connections Monthly?” My sarcasm dripped like venom, but the truth was, I was just as bewildered as he was.
“But I already canceled my membership-“
“Two days before we arrived here,” I interjected sharply, “after you placed your last order. I’m well aware of that.” The word ‘order’ felt bitter on my tongue, as if I had just bitten into a battery.
His forehead creased in thought. “That’s… very strange. Nothing has ever leaked from Velvet Desires before. It’s supposed to be the safest and most discreet service out there. This is actually serious.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.