Page 20 of Contracted

Greta’s eyes burned for a whole different reason as she took in Serafino. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He nodded but didn’t bother with the formality of replying.

Charlie turned to me, his interest obvious. “So what have you been up to, other than, you know...”

“Other than fucking men like you for a living?” I said, filling in his unspoken words.

He spluttered. “I wasn’t going to put it that way.”

“Then how were you going to put it?” I asked mock-sweetly. It was pointless withholding the truth and I refused to be made to feel worthless for it.

Greta gaped, her eyes flashing. “You paid to fuck her?” she hissed.

Serafino cocked a brow. “You give it to him for free?” He clucked his tongue. “No wonder you’re furious.” He smirked. “If you’ll excuse us...”

He guided me away from them, his stare as he looked down at me seeming to see right through me. “Are you all right?”

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I said softly, though I was shaking inside.

Confrontations weren’t uncommon. But I hadn’t made excuses for my profession in a long time, and I didn’t intend to start now. I provided a service, men could make use of it...or not.

I only wished I had someone like Serafino by my side more often. I looked up at him as we climbed a round of steps to the boxed seats above the main auditorium. “Thank you.”

“For what? Telling the truth?”

I shook my head. “For defending me.”

His mouth twisted, then he paused, showcasing an unnatural, predatory stillness. “I would do a whole lot more than shield you with a few simple words.”

I inhaled quickly, my senses attuned to his. Right now he was a tightly leashed tiger. I could only imagine the carnage if he was set free. He’d leave dead bodies in his wake to defend my honor.

A delicious little thrill shot through me. I shouldn’t enjoy that thought, yet a part of me—a big part—truly did.

He smiled, muscles untensing. “Let’s not miss the opening of the show.”

I nodded and allowed him to usher me to a private seat that took in the stage below. When the lights dimmed I leaned forward, enthralled within seconds by Isabella’s magical performance, the other actors adding to her brilliance.

It didn’t matter that it wasn’t a musical, if anything it highlighted her performance, made her standout even more for her brilliant acting ability. I was only glad it was a ninety minute show without intermission; I was too absorbed in the story to want it to stop.

It wasn’t until the end of the performance, where Isabella held her dying boyfriend in her arms, and the stage curtains swished closed, that I realized my cheeks were wet. I realized just as quickly Serafino was watching me, and had probably done so for a good duration of the show.

Then the audience pushed to their feet and roared approval, their applause deafening. I pushed to my feet and hollered and clapped right along with them, all too aware of Serafino doing the same beside me as he grinned with pride.

“That was incredible,” I shouted to him above the noise.

Then the curtains swished open and revealed the actors with Isabella in the center. As they linked hands and bowed, the audience cheered even harder.

Serafino leaned close, his big hands cupping the sides of my face before he kissed me, then swiped my cheeks dry with his thumbs. “Let’s go home,” he said into my ear. “I want you all to myself.”

My nipples hardened to sharp points, my stomach clenching along with my pussy. I nodded, then allowed him to draw me with him out of the boxed seat and toward the stairs. I wanted him all to myself, too.

But I was certain his sister would want us to at least make an appearance backstage. “Shouldn’t we congratulate Isabella first?”

He grimaced, then nodded. “You’re right, it’d be selfish not to.”

Security nodded assent at our VIP access backstage. The moment I saw Isabella, I squealed like the biggest fangirl, before I threw my arms around her neck in a warm hug. “You were wonderful,” I enthused.

She drew back, her eyes shining and her long dark hair a little mussed. “Thank you. And thanks for coming!”

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