Page 41 of Contention

Kara thinks she likes him better with his mouth shut.

He disappears back towards the front of the long stretch limo, going back to his seat.

Once again, Kara is faced with the knowledge that she’s put herself in this position to confront Calais, but now she’s not so sure she wants to. Sure, she wants to hash out their crap, but she certainly doesn’t want to get in his damn limo again! The scene of the hazy crime. Which, perhaps isn’t entirely a crime, the more Kara dissects it. She’s spent a few nights telling herself it was her fault anyway, how was he supposed to know Kara wasn’t one of the working girls he usually pulled off the street?

Because, I never said yes to him.

He instructs the working girls to say no, dimwit. Try again.

I never said that either.

Clearly, she is not going to be given the chance to chat to Calais on the sidewalk tonight.

Calais looks at her with half-lidded eyes as he takes a drink, noting her sudden hesitation. “I thought your intent was to storm in here and chew me out. Lost your nerve?”

It’s clear in his eyes; he doesn’t want her there. She’s been a fun little drama for him, but now he’s fucking bored of her. She’s a mistake that’s gotten out of hand and won’t go away. A little girl hanging off his suit coat, mad that she can’t control him the way she wants. How he won’t bend and cower like all the other boys always did.

He can’t make you do anything you don’t want. Not this time. This time, you’re in control of yourself.

“Not on your life,” Kara says finally, grimly. With steely resolve, she ducks down and enters the limo.

Chapter 12

She carefully maneuvers her way over the long legs of the girl currently beside Calais, not wanting to step on her. Kara makes a beeline for the long row of seating along the length of the limo opposite the entrance, sitting down on the fancy leather cushions that squeak loudly as she does so.

All the sparkling party lights are on full force. Settled in, Kara can see the other occupants of the vehicle. Calais and Long Legs are at the back end of the limo, while Kara finds herself seated next to the man with the devious dark goatee and shiny black shoes. All the way to the front with their backs to the driver are two scantily-clad girls on either side of the devasting blonde gentleman in his lovely midnight grey suit. He looks positively eye-catching with his black shirt and accompanying black silk pocket square tucked into the suit breast pocket, contrasting sharply with his very pale hair.

Goatee Gentleman raises a hand to brush Kara’s hair away from her neck, but Kara twitches and slaps it away. She raises a single finger and shakes it at him, scolding him sharply, “Ah ah. Think again. Keep your hands to yourself. I’m not here to be your personal playtoy.”

He snorts, rolling his eyes as she scoots further away from him, closer towards the end where Calais is idly pouring himself more gin from the golden wet bar, filled with assorted juices, sodas, and alcohol. Kara isn’t close enough to touch him, which is perfectly fine; she just needs to be able to talk to him without shouting across the vehicle.

Kara eyeballs the wet bar. There’s spilled powdered sugar on it.

Someone is grabbing her around the waist while she’s distracted, sliding her rear across the seats. The same hand makes a pass at her ass. Kara growls with teeth and twists to face Goatee. “Did you think I was kidding when I told you not to touch me?”

Those midnight eyes widen in surprise; ah, so he did think she was kidding. Not used to women refusing to fall all over him and his money, likely. His hand loosens on her before slowly pulling away. When he finally gives her a respectful distance, Kara holds out her hand with her eyebrows raised. “This may come to you as a surprise, but I am a human, not an object to entertain you. I’m Kara. I also have sharp teeth.” She snaps her teeth together, making an audible click.And a bad temperament.

Goatee chuckles, briefly looking over Kara’s shoulder at Calais. “Sharp teeth, eh? It seems youarean acquaintance of Nicholas.” Then, he engulfs her hand in his own, squeezing tight, a bruising grip that Kara returns. “Walter.” He tilts his head in curiosity. “Has he brought you out before? You do seem familiar, you know.”

Oh, no doubt. This must be the lady hound limo crew. Kara is pleasantly surprised that none of the opposing counsel, other than Calais, is present. This must not be Sunshine or Rugby’s scene, as it were. Fabulous; now she doesn’t need to feel weird about seeing either in court.

While Walter doesn’t try to grope her again, he does lean over Kara a bit, eyes walking down the line of her throat, across her exposed collarbone, down to her chest. His arm comes up behind her, across the top of the seat. He’s wearing a deep black button-down and Kara can already tell that he smoked a cigar at some point tonight. With him towering over her in this fashion, she can clearly see a deep scar running down the side of his neck.

“Jade, be a sport and go keep Walter company for me,” Calais is drawling in a bored tone somewhere behind Kara.

“Of course, Sir.” Long Legs, her name apparently Jade, gets up and scoots into place on the other side of Walter of the Goatee, pressing up against him eagerly with a practiced smile. Her finely manicured hand settles high up on his thigh immediately.

With him practically on top of Kara, the hooker pressed up on his other side, Kara suddenly feels like she’s part of something she absolutely wants no part of.No effin’ way, Walter boy, no sandwich for you.

Jade’s hand is creeping further. If it creeps any higher, Walter is going to be having himself a good time while breathing down Kara’s neck.Oh, lord. He’d best not or I’ll strangle him with his tie.

“You’re moving rather slowly for someone who is supposed to be relocating to the seat beside me,” Calais utters flatly. Kara can feel his eyes boring holes into the side of her face.

Turning to look at him, tie undone about his neck loosely, Kara gives Calais a disgusted look. “What is this, a horse trade? Give me a break, ornery jag-off.” Regardless, she takes her sweet time moving over to the open real estate beside him, leaving ample room.

The girls in the front of the limo are looking at Kara seated beside Calais, both of them giving her pitying looks, mixed with concern. Kara gives them a thin smile, “Oh, don’t give me that look. I know all about him.” She jerks her thumb in the direction of Calais.

“Oh,” he scoffs at this, “Do you?”

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