Page 31 of Dirty Play

“Vodka Red Bull, please,” she says and watches the boy behind the bar get to work.

Her voice is steadier now like she’s gaining control, and I hate how much I want to break it again.

The bartender slides her drink across the counter, and I don’t miss the way his gaze drops to her cleavage. I’ll let this one slide because I get him. Fuck, do I get him. Her breasts could make a priest sin. But that doesn’t mean the bastard gets a second free pass. If I catch him looking again, I’ll make sure he won’t be able to look at anything for a long time.

She lifts the glass to her lips, taking a small, deliberate sip.

I smirk, letting my eyes drop to the hem of her dress, lingering for just a second too long before dragging them back up to her face.

“Don’t.” Her voice is a low warning, but there’s a tremor in it that she can’t quite hide.

“Don’t what?” I ask, my smile widening. “Tell you how good you look in that dress?”

Her cheeks flush—the first crack in her armor—and it’s like a hit of adrenaline straight into my bloodstream.

“Go mess with someone else,” she says after recovering.

“Why would I do that?” I say, my voice dropping lower. “When you’re so easy to mess with.”

Her breath catches just for a second, and I know I’ve hit a nerve.

“Fuck you,” she says, her voice quiet but laced with heat. I’ve never heard her curse before. Her words travel straight to my dick.

“You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” I grin.

She glares at me, her cheeks flushing again, and it’s too damn satisfying.

Before she can fire back, a syrupy voice cuts through the air.

“Gentlemen,” it purrs.

I turn just in time to see a bleached blonde in a skin-tight red dress, all curves and confidence, sliding up between Ares and me.

She leans against the bar, her fake nails tapping on the counter, her smile loaded with too much invitation.

I don’t even bother pretending to be interested. My eyes flick to Livia, whose jaw tightens as she takes a long sip of her drink.

Blondie doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.

“I was hoping I’d run into you tonight.” She steps closer, her hand brushing Ares’ arm.

“Don’t touch me.” His voice is quiet and calm but laced with enough menace to make her freeze.

She glances at him, falters, and then quickly spins on her heel, muttering something under her breath. She turns to me, her eyes lighting up like she just found gold.

“Rowan!” she squeals, throwing herself into my personal space. “You’re even hotter in person.”

She plants her hand on my chest, her nails dragging lightly over the fabric of my shirt. Her fake tits are threatening to spill out of the skin-tight dress she’s wearing.

Livia stiffens next to me, and my grin deepens. Is my little hellcat jealous?

“Sorry, doll,” I say, my voice flat, my eyes still on Livia. “Not available.”

Her painted smile falters, and she follows my gaze, her eyes narrowing when she lands on Livia.

Livia’s doing a damn good job of looking completely unbothered as she stares straight ahead, her fingers drumming lightly on her glass.

Blondie tilts her head, her tone turning sharp. “Oh. I didn’t realize you were…busy.” She looks at Livia, sizing her up.

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