Page 24 of Peyton's Price

Unable to stop herself, she slid the drawer open.

Peyton expected to find a dress, perhaps lingerie. With a frown, he pulled out a pair of navy-blue sweatpants.

Okay, now this was getting weird.

* * *

There wasa matching hoodie and a long-sleeved t-shirt to go with the sweatpants. She found a set of brand-new sneakers next to the bed. In the closet, she found an identical set of sweats and underclothes. There was nothing remotely sexy.

He doesn’t care what you wear because he expects you to be naked around him.Not that she’d do it willingly, even if he did look a bit like a Nordic god.Thor-lite.She smirked before realizing there was nothing to smile about.

Frustrated and confused, Peyton decided to do as Thor asked. She showered, making sure the bathroom door locked first. Then she put on the sweats and went to go find him.

Despite the luxury of the yacht she’d glimpsed, Peyton gaped when she found the dining room.

The walls were a delicate creme with dark cherry wood molding. There were at least a dozen chandeliers, with a larger central one over the single table in the room. Instead of chairs, it had two matching leather booths encircling it. It was almost as if a cozy diner’s booth had been set in the middle of the room, except it was far more elegant.

Thor-lite was sitting alone, nibbling on canapés. She crossed the room, freezing halfway when a uniformed man came in. But all he did was bring an open bottle of wine to the table, which was set for two.

She approached cautiously. “You’d never guess we were on a yacht by the look of this place. I can’t even feel it moving.”

“Trust me, we are.” He waved her over with a welcoming gesture. “Rather quickly, too.”

“Why only one table?”

He shrugged. “I don’t entertain a lot.”

“No, I guess you wouldn’t.” This was a man who bought people. Even in the most corrupt circles of the uber-rich, there would be people who weren’t okay with human trafficking.

She slid into the leather seat opposite him, wondering why this place reminded her of the Caislean’s main dining room. Thor poured a glass of wine before offering it to her. She shook her head.

“It’s just wine—completely unadulterated,” he assured her. “I think you’ll like the vintage.”

He pushed the bottle toward her. She frowned. It was a brand she was familiar with.

“An Italian red. It’s one of your favorites, isn’t it?”

“How the hell did you know that?” She hadn’t had the wine in months—she hadn’t been able to find it on the West Coast after her move.

“I was telling the truth when I said I knew a lot about you.”

All right, this was starting to creep her out. “How?”

He sat back, pursing his lips. “Let’s just say I was once very close to someone who is close to you.”

He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Matthias Fredrik Leif Raske the third. But I just go by Matthias.”

When she only stared, he blinked, steepling his fingers. “I guess you’re not familiar with the name. I shouldn’t be surprised. Liam does like to keep his secrets, doesn’t he?”

Her eyes widened. “Wait, what?” The story came back to her in a rush.

“I—I do know you,” she said. “You lent the guys your boat so they could rescue Eva Stone when her stepbrother took her. Am I onthatyacht?”

“No,” he said with a little slashing motion. “TheShais quite a bit smaller than this. It’s currently in the Azores, so my great-aunt Bente can escape the cold of Norway. This is theOrmen Lange, my primary vessel, the one I call home.”

“Oh.” Peyton reached out for the wineglass, but she hesitated. “But you arethatMatthias, right?”

His eyes twinkled disconcertingly. “Yes, I’m that Matthias. Or you can call me the cavalry if you like.”

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