Page 84 of Seeds of Malice

Her voice shakes. "Why would you say such a horrible thing?"

I lay it on thick. "That's what women do around here. They use me. I—" I look at the floor, clench my jaw, then slowly meet her gaze again.

"You what?" she pushes, playing right into my palm.

"I can't handle it if you aren't really into me. The others, I can handle. But you? No, not you."

"Dax! Of course I'm really into you!"

"Then I need to hear it, Ivy. Tell me who you are to me," I repeat.

Her chest rises and falls faster. She blurts out, "I'm your slut."

"No. You're not."

Her face falls and her head jerks backward.

I add, "You're my sexy slut."

Her lips twitch.

I demand, "Now, say it louder, like you mean it. Step into your power, baby girl."

Her eyes dart to my mouth, and her voice turns sultry. She confidently declares, "I'm your sexy slut."

I don't say anything. I release her, buckle my belt, and leave the room. I shut the door and stroll across the boutique, feeling everyone's eyes on me.

"We're taking one of everything in the store in a size eight," I declare.

Liza, the manager, nods and smiles, but it's fake. I've fucked her too many times in this building. She forces herself to reply, "Sounds good, Mr. Carrington." She turns and points to three other women. "Zara, Katie, Pamela, pick one of each and package it up."

Liza begins ringing up items. She's halfway through when Ivy steps out of the dressing room.

She timidly steps toward me, her face turning redder.

I slide my arm around her and quietly murmur in her ear, "Stand confident, baby girl."

She releases an anxious breath but squares her shoulders and lifts her chin.

It takes twenty minutes until the transaction is over. They fill my trunk and back seat with bags.

I guide Ivy into her seat, then shut the door. I go up to the security guy and direct, "I want that video footage sent to me within the next fifteen minutes."

He nods.

Giddy, I hop into the car and rev the engine. I pull out into traffic and speed down the road, knowing I just had a huge win.

She might have been winning the game all week by staying away from me, but the game has turned.

It's no longer Ivy and me behind closed doors.

14

Ivy

Music blares from the radio. Dax drives as recklessly as he did on our way into town.

I just had sex. And the entire store could hear us.

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