Page 92 of Hate Mates

The door swung open. “Lindsey, darling. Come and join me.”

Okay. This wasn’t what I’d expected. Curious, I stepped forwards, my heels clicking across the marble floor, and then I saw why she’d invited me to join her. The spacious stall had its own sink and mirror. On the vanity counter next to the sink lay several neat white lines of powder.

“There’s plenty to go around. No need to be shy,” she said, bending over the sink. Her hair hung down in a golden curtain, hiding her actions from me, but it was obvious what she was doing. The sound alone would have given it away, if nothing else.

Delicately sniffing and dabbing at her nose with a tissue, she inspected herself in the mirror.

“Perfect,” she announced, and then proceeded to reapply her lipstick. It seemed as if she’d forgotten about me for the moment, and I was glad, because all I’d planned to do when I followed her in here was to gauge how receptive she’d be to me flirting with her man. I wasn’t about to start doing lines as some kind of fucked-up girl bonding moment. My commitment to the cause didn’t stretch that far.

I came up next to her, eyeing her reflection in the mirror. “How long have you been with Federico? The two of you make a stunning couple. You’re beautiful, and he’s—” I forced a light laugh as I lied through my teeth. “—He’s incredibly handsome.”

Her gaze met mine in the mirror, her pupils already blown wide as the drug took effect. “You think he’s handsome? Forgive me for being forward…I hope I’m not reading the signs wrong, but would you perhaps be interested in coming back to our room later?” She took my moment of stunned silence as a negative response, shaking her head. “Forget I said anything. You’re here with your own partner. I have no doubt that Federico would be more than happy for you to join us, but he’s very possessive when it comes to other men. He won’t allow them in the bedroom with us.”

Thinking fast, I placed my hand on her arm. This situation could still be salvaged. “Oh, that’s not a problem. Thomas and I have an open relationship. We’re only casual, anyway.” I made a point of lowering my voice. “Do you know what? It turns him on to see me flirting with other men. The sex afterwards is explosive.”

“Really?” She smiled. “Then my proposition still stands.”

I let my own mouth curve upwards. “In that case…do I have your permission to gauge Federico’s interest in this arrangement? Flirt with him a little, see if he really is interested? It’ll have the bonus of riling Thomas up. Then he can take me back to our room for an appetiser, before I come to you forthe main course, if you catch my drift.” I could not believe the words that were falling from my mouth, but they were coming out easily. Kinslee Stewart would not touch this situation with a bargepole, but Lindsey Davenport would. It was a job, and I had to perform to the best of my ability.

“Mmm, yes. Love it. Let’s get Rico all hot and bothered, and then I can enjoy my own appetiser before you join us for the rest of the night.” She dug around in her handbag, fishing out a gleaming gold keycard that she handed to me. “Room 702.”

With that, she swept out of the stall.

I tucked the keycard away, and as I looked down, my eyes widened. I’d forgotten about the remaining lines of coke.

“Shit!”

FOUR

Kinslee

With the remaining drug paraphernalia safely cleared away, I returned to the table, ignoring Thomas’ less-than-subtle glare in my direction. Vanessa gave me a pointed glance from where she was standing next to Federico, back on the bench seat in a casual recline with his black shirt unbuttoned enough to catch a glimpse of dark chest hair and the gleam of a gold chain, looking every bit the rich mafia man I was beginning to suspect he might be. One hand splayed possessively over Vanessa’s lower back, while the other cradled a new, full glass of amber liquid. Vanessa leaned into him, whispering something in his ear, and his brows rose, before he released the glass and crooked his finger at me.

“Thomas, have you visited the restaurant on floor twenty-three? The scallops are to die for,” Vanessa said loudly, strutting around the table to the side I’d been previously seated on, although she remained standing rather than taking a seat. She glanced back at me, and I took the hint, coming up next to Federico. My heart was suddenly pounding as I realised that this was really happening. It wasn’t just a plan in my head.Somehow, I had to get that phone, wherever it was, or at the very least create an opportunity for Thomas to get it.

I let my gaze sweep over Federico’s body under the guise of checking him out, and I suddenly remembered. He’d taken a call earlier. His phone had been in— Fuck. It had been in his right trouser pocket. Not only was I on his left side, but his right side was pressed up against the padded curve of the bench, so there was no way of getting to it.

And now his hand was on my hip, pulling me closer, and Thomas was staring daggers at us… It was up to me to salvage the situation, and that meant I had to follow this wild plan through.

I let myself press into Federico’s side, giving him a sultry smile. Placing my hand on his lower thigh, I met his gaze. “My boyfriend enjoys me flirting with other men.”

He peered around me, his brows lifting. A smirk tugged at his lips. “He does not look as if he is enjoying it,bella. Myself…I am enjoying it. Very much.”

“It’s all part of our foreplay.” Letting my hand trail higher, I leaned in even further, allowing him a good view of my cleavage as he leered at me.

He shifted in his seat, his free hand ghosting over the bulge in his trousers, and I barely managed to stop myself from recoiling. Clearing my throat, I forced the words from my mouth, dropping to a whisper.

“Vanessa mentioned that sometimes you like to play with other women…”

His hand had been moving lower in tiny increments and was right at the top of my ass now. I didn’t dare to look at Thomas.

“Is that something you would be interested in?”

Swallowing hard, I nodded, and he smiled, his fingertips sliding onto the curve of my ass.

“Lose your shadow and come to our room. I trust Vanessa has already given you the number?”

She’s already given me a keycard, I nearly said, but held on to that information, just in case. I didn’t want to get her into any trouble if she wasn’t supposed to give it out.

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