Page 34 of The Owner's Temptation

It seems lately the men around me are the only ones getting their dream life and dammit, it feels like it should be my turn now.

I glance around the apartment again, my heart giving a little flutter at how different it feels now. How much lighter.

Every piece I’ve added since Ben left has been a quiet little rebellion. A small declaration of independence.

But as much as decorating has distracted my mind all day, there is nothing to stop me from thinking about the Sponsor Mixer tomorrow night.

The nerves start to tingle again in my chest, but Harper bumps her shoulder against mine, pulling me back to the moment.

“You’re going to kill it,” she says, somehow always knowing what’s going on in my mind.

Harper stretches her legs out, flexing her toes as she grabs another dumpling from the container between us. “Alright, enough about work. Let’s get to the real topic of interest here.”

I arch a brow, popping a piece of broccoli into my mouth. “And what would that be?”

She rolls her eyes, exasperated. “Oh, I don’t know—maybe the fact that you spent last night in a nine-story sex club? You’ve been suspiciously quiet about that, and I donotappreciate the lack of details.”

My face heats instantly, and I shove another bite of food into my mouth just to avoid answering.

Harper is undeterred. “Comeon, Sienna. You went toThe Masqueradeas a Black Mask. You had full access. I need details.”

I chew, I swallow, because what the hell am I supposed to say?

That I stood inWrath, surrounded by power and depravity, andlikedthe way men looked at me? That I walked intoThe Devil’s Playgroundand watched as the man in the devil mask devoured a woman like she was his last meal?

That he locked eyes with me and somehow fucked my soul.

That even now, just thinking about it, my thighs squeeze together, and my breath comes a littletoofast?

Yeah. No.

I clear my throat. “It was... a lot.”

Harper snorts. “Yeah, no shit. Give me something better.”

I exhale slowly, staring at my takeout box. “I—I liked watching.”

Harper stills, then grins like a cat who just found a whole flock of canaries. “Oh?Oh!?Is my baby girl entering her hoe-era?”

“Oh, shut up.” I swat at her but she just dodges.

Harper cackles. “God, Ilovethis for you. I mean, obviously. Have youseenthe men at that club? Of course, you liked watching.”

“I also liked, um—” I gnaw the inside of my lip. “—being watched?” I turn the words up on the end as if I’m posing a question.

“Bitch.” Harper is practically levitating off the floor in anticipation. “Did you get run through like a New York subway and didn’t immediately call me? I could have taken your picture like a proud mom on her kids first day of school.”

“You’re ridiculous.” I stand, grabbing the empty containers and heading for the kitchen.

Harper heads for a bottle of wine.

“And no. We weren’t allowed to be touched but I sort of went up to…”

“Oh, my god you went to the Devil’s Playground.”

I wince, nodding.

“And I kind of watched… the Devil fuck the brains out of this woman.” I cover my face with my hands knowing I look like a God damn cherry tomato. “And he kind of… watched me.”

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