Page 30 of Dissension

He laughs against her belly. He doesn’t need to ask if it was good; heknowshe’s good.

As she comes down from her lusty high, reality returns unpleasantly. She just let herself get tongued in the men’s restroom by her client. She rode his face like she owned it.

Kara feels a flush develop in her face. Oh, what did she justdo?

She doesn’t have much time to dwell on that. The sound of shoes clicking on the marble floors echoes loudly as Kara rights herself. She feels like everyone is going to know what she’s been doing in here. Hell, most people probably expect it, considering the man she’s with.

Dietrich gets to his feet, checking his clothes over carefully. He grins crookedly at Kara, his eyes dilated from the cocaine,because it can’t possibly be about her. Why does he always pull her in like this? She doesn’t want to like this man, not in the least.

But the reality is, shedoeslike him.

The footsteps stop right in front of their stall and the door snaps open with force, causing Kara to snarl, “What the hell!?”

“What a surprise,” Nicholas Havenwood-Calais utters drily, with murder in his eyes. “Finding you both in here. Likethis. What could you possibly be doing, I wonder?”

Dieter’s head clunks back against the side of the stall as he leans against it, snickering into his palm. Kara wants to smack him and tell him nothing about this situation is funny, but he’s riding his high.

“I’m consulting privately with my client,” Kara manages to choke out, despite her face being blazing red.

Dieter laughs even louder, the sheer elation of the cocaine soaring in his veins. He’s having a jolly good old time for a guy that didn’t get off…

“Consulting? Is that what you call it?” Nick says coldly, eyes narrowed in on Kara’s face.

“God, Nick. You’re so predictably boring,” Dieter chuckles, running a hand over his face. “You always know how to ruin a good thing.”

“Would you shut your mouth, pretty boy?” Nick snaps at him.

“Rude. You know I never do that,” Dieter drawls as he slides through the small gap Nick has left to exit the stall. Nick’s face shifts, nose wrinkling. He can probably smell Kara on his lips,oh, that’s humiliating…

When Kara tries to slip past Nick to exit the stall, he doesn’t let her, barring the way with his arms. The scent of his familiar cologne washes over her, rich and dark. It swims through her senses, bringing back all sorts of old memories. The feel of his hands, the sound of his voice rough with lust.

Unfortunately, his voice is rough with irritation right now. Nick is looking down at her, those piercing blue eyes crawling right down into her soul. His broad form blocks her in, his power suit giving him that edge of intimidation, the sort that makes Kara’s heart flutter. “I tell you that we need to talk andthisis what you go do?” He tilts his nose in the direction of Dieter briefly, maintaining that firm eye contact with her. He sneers a bit, a flash of teeth. “I bet you think it’s funny. Do you like playing these games with me? Felt like rubbing something awful in my face?”

Kara doesn’t play games with people, she’s not a freaking schemer. Not like some people she knows. “You think I would go out of my way to spite you like this on purpose?” Kara asks in disbelief. “With him?”

He makes a face. “Yeah, I think you would. Given our history.”

“I’m disappointed you think that,” Kara replies, feeling a twinge of hurt. She might have a ratheruglytemper, but going out of her way to try and fool around with someone else for completely petty reasons? Not her style. “Then again, you never did want to knowme, now did you?” The words are bitter on her tongue.

“Oh, don’t you even start with that dog and pony show,” Nick hisses, shaking his head, brow furrowing up. “It’s getting old and it’s not true.”

Kara opens her mouth to fire something witty back, but she’s interrupted.

Sighing theatrically, as if Nick is keeping him from something more important, Dieter says, “Nicky.Pal. Could you maybe go find your lovely fiancée? You’re killing my buzz with that broody scowl of yours.” He examines himself briefly in the mirror, rubbing his nose, glancing at his own drug-dilated eyes. If Karalooked as good as him, she’d probably stare at herself that much too.Pretty shithead.

Glancing over his shoulder, eyes narrowed with barely leashed anger, Nick says, “Could you have the decency to leave?”

Dieter leans casually against the pale marble countertops. He grins brightly, but his pupil-consumed eyes are dark and unpleasant. “I’m waiting on my date.”

“She’s not your date, she’s your lawyer.” Nick’s face cannot look more unamused.

Lifting his eyebrows facetiously, Dieter drawls, “Maybe she’sboth.”

The words do absolutely nothing for Nick’s mood. His eyelids flutter with barely leashed anger every time he hears Dieter speak.

“Just ignore him,” Kara says under her breath. While she isn’t playing with Nick, Dieteris, trying to burn his last nerve in a frying pan.

Ouch, Dieter mouths soundlessly behind Nick’s back.

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