Page 37 of Play With Me

Her words do nothing to comfort me. “I’m notinterested.” My mind drifts to when Carmela told me she hasn’t been with Luca or Mick in a while. I remember how her face looked when she told me it’s only been me recently—the pride I felt with her words.

The possessiveness.

But Mick is right.

When this is all over, I’ll be going back to California. And Carmela will still be here, ping-ponging between the two men whenever she feels like it. I’m just a passing blip in her life that she won’t even remember this time next year.

Someone steps up to my left again, pulling my attention from the depths of my tumbler. Surprisingly, it’s Carmela. She looks nervous, picking at her nails and staring at my glass with a faraway look in her eyes. Her mask is delicate tonight, not as elaborate as her usual ones, as though she grabbed it quickly from the ones meant for the clients.

“That was quick.” I let out a snort and slam the rest of my drink back, sucking air through my teeth as it burns my throat on the way down. “Luca blow his load the second he saw you naked?”

I motion to Jace for another and glance back at the woman I’m trying desperately not to want. She shakes her head like she’s in a daze, slowly sliding onto the stool next to me. “Nothing happened,” she says like she can’t believe it. Her eyes snap to mine,the deep brown orbs filled with genuine curiosity. “I couldn’t go through with it.”

The way relief floods my system might as well be the final nail in my coffin. I can keep denying it all I want, but deep down, I’m such a fucking goner for this woman. “Why not?”

She opens her mouth to reply before shutting it again. A look of disbelief pulls at her beautiful features, stretching her lips into a grin as she shakes her head. Her gaze finds mine again, shining with undiluted acceptance. Like she’s finally coming to terms with what we’re both trying to deny.

A moment of understanding passes between us, but I want to hear hersayit. The tension stretches like a rubber band, growing thicker with each second that ticks by. My entire body is hyper-aware of her entire existence as she slides from her stool and walks to my side. Her nipples harden into peaks as her breasts strain against the fabric of her dress with each excited breath.

“Because he’s not you,” she finally admits. She doesn’t step back as I slide from my stool, continuing animatedly. “And I don’t fucking get it because you’ve made it pretty fucking clear you don’t like me.”

“I never said I didn’t like you,” I interrupt, reaching for her waist. “I said I don’t fuck prostitutes.”

“And you’ve made it pretty damn clear that’swhat you think I am,” she parries as her hands settle on my biceps.

“And you’ve made it clear this isn’t that sort of establishment,” I tell her quietly, bending my head to speak into her ear.

Her sharp intake of breath is in sync with her fingers clenching around my arms. My dick grows behind my pants, but what I have in mind for Cara isn’t for me tonight.

Not physically, anyway.

“You couldn’t fuck him because he doesn’t make you feel the way I do. Isn’t that right, baby girl?” I press our foreheads together, fingers skimming up her side to cup her breast.

I don’t care who watches us anymore. In fact, I fully intend to draw in a large audience tonight. Carmela likes it when people watch, and I like knowing that I have complete power over her orgasms.

Pinching her nipple earns me a soft cry as her head falls back. “I asked you a question,Madame.”

With her head still tilted back, she smirks at the ceiling. Reaching up, I grab her other hand and slide it down until it’s resting on my erection. “Yes,” she whispers, squeezing me hard through my pants as she runs her palm along my length. “I hate that my body only wants you.”

I fucking hate it, too, baby girl. I hate that you’re all I can fucking think about lately.

“And we’re going to show everyone tonight whatonly Ican make your body do, aren’t we?” When she doesn’t answer right away, I pinch her nipple harder and make her squeeze me tighter.

Our entire dynamic has always been push and pull—a battle of wills—a fight for dominance. Tonight is different. Tonight, Carmela melts into me like a kitten starved for affection instead of the hellcat I’ve come to lov?—

No. What the fuck?

That line of thinking should be enough to snap me out of whatever spell I’m trapped in. I don’t want to retreat, though. I want to make Carmela as messy as she’s made the inside of my chest.

And I want everyone to fucking see it.

Her only answer is a nod as she presses up on her tiptoes to kiss me. I allow it, briefly sliding my tongue against hers, before fisting her hair and pulling her back. I don’t let go, marching her through the Grand Room to the Desires hall.

We pass Luca, who is watching us with astonishment and unveiled hatred. We pass a couple who are fucking each other while performing oral on others, a shibari show, and a full-blown orgy. And since Carmela is without her wings, everybody just thinks we’re another couple enjoying the evening like everyone else.

It’s a good thing she’s not recognizable tonight. But I’m still not going to take any chances. The farwall at the end of the hall is lined with rooms where couples can go in and open the curtains to put on a show without stressing about anyone trying to join them. They are private enough that I won’t have to worry about her safety and can fully focus on taking her pleasure for everyone to see.

I pull her into a room, slamming the door behind me before pushing her against it to steal the breath from her lungs. My kiss is punishing, but Carmela takes it with equal passion, clawing at my suit jacket to remove it. Our lips don’t part as she undoes my tie and the buttons of my shirt, pulling them off next.

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