Page 15 of Forever Touched

“No excuses,” she snapped, gripping my chin hard enough to leave a bruise. “Losing a client is dangerous for our business, as you well know, and therefore unacceptable. If you ever see that male in our club again, you will inform us immediately. He must be dealt with swiftly and silently. At least he only thinks you’re a blood whore. The practice isn’t illegal in our kingdom, so it’s not enough to raise suspicion.”

My throat tightened even more, but I managed to whisper, “Yes, Mistress. I take full responsibility for what happened tonight.”

With a curt nod, she dropped my chin and stepped back. “Good. You will pay for this loss by working an extra hour tonight and forfeiting another day of pay.”

My heart sank.

“Yes, Mistress.”

“And the ruined duvet will also come out of your pay. Now, hurry up and finish eating. Your next client will arrive in fifteen minutes. Heath, see to her face and neck, please.”

With that, she swept from the room and left me alone with her business partner. Remembering his earlier visit to my room, I tried not to stiffen as Heath invaded my space to inspect my wounds. My failed client hadn’t bothered to heal the bite marks he’d left behind, and when he’d pushed me away, the punctures had torn.

I’d barely felt the pain, though. He’d given me enough venom to make me feel euphoric. I still felt high, which helped dull the ache in my cheek.

As Heath eyed the blood on my face and neck, I saw the hunger in his gaze. He’d never fed on me, but I’d seen him pull aside plenty of humans in his club. The man had a ravenous appetite, and he wasn’t gentle with his conquests. If it wasn’t for the healing properties in vampire blood, he probably would have killed several of his customers by now.

“You know, Star,” he said, reaching out to touch my injured cheek. I didn’t even flinch, the venom in my veins chasing the pain away. “Madame Faircroft has every right to be angry with you, as do I. We’ve worked hard to get where we are and made countless sacrifices to build names for ourselves. Venturi are coming toournightclub. We serve respected drothen, nobles, and even council members. We’ve builtconnectionswith them. Invaluable ones. You know why this business is so vital, and I thought you wanted to help us.”

“I do,” I replied, hoping to stay in his good graces with my compliance. The sooner he was appeased, the sooner I could eat the rest of my sandwich. “I’m grateful you entrusted me to help. You’renot the only one who wants revenge.”

He tilted his head to study me, his doubt clear. “I’m starting to think you don’t want it enough. I’m thinking your main goal has shifted to paying off your indenture so you can get far, far away from here.”

His words snatched some of my high away, and I sat up straighter.

“I do want to pay off my father’s blood debt, but I haven’t forgotten what they did to him. I want justice just as much as you and Mistress do.”

He studied me a moment longer, then dropped his hand. “Prove it then.” Flipping his hand over, he dug a black claw into his palm. As blood began to pool, he dipped a finger into it and smeared the blood across my cheek. I immediately felt the tingling burn of my cut sealing shut.

“How?” I asked, watching as he dipped his finger into the blood again and pressed it to the bite marks on my neck.

“Secure us more clients. Make themhappy, Star. So deliriously happy that they keep coming back for more.”

I suddenly had the urge to throw up. When the little bit of sandwich I’d eaten threatened to come up my throat, I swallowed, careful to keep my expression blank.

He was asking me to prove my loyalty by giving up more of myself. By bringing in more and more vampires who would strip me of all that I was.

A small price to pay, right?

Struggling to breathe, I dipped my head in a small nod. “Okay. I won’t fail again.”

A big grin stole across his face. “That’s my Star. Now get yourself cleaned up. Viscount Le Blanc is eager to have another session with you. Give him a blow job before letting him feed on you. He’s one ofour most important clients and deserves to feel like a king.”

As Heath stood to leave, the last of my appetite vanished. The minute he closed the door behind him, I raced to the bathroom and threw up my meager meal.

* * *

I had the dream again. I was dancing for the masked man with amethyst green eyes. The man who’d escaped my intricate web of seduction.

Just like last time, I enjoyed having his gaze on me. Which was odd, especially considering how he’d treated me.

He saw me as a disgusting blood whore? Well, I’d show him just how disgusting I could be. Let’s see him escapethistime.

My dance turned erotic, and I slowly began to strip for him. His intense gaze remained locked on me as I removed my top, giving him an unobstructed view of my breasts. When hunger flashed in his eyes, I smirked in satisfaction.

He might think I was disgusting, but he still wanted me.

Rolling my hips seductively, I ran my hands down my body and hooked my thumbs into my tiny bottoms. Teasingly, I inched the material downward, smirking wider when his eyes followed the movement.

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