Page 49 of House of Cards

This guy? I think I threw up in my mouth a little.

I yelp in surprise when Howler grabs my ass and squeezes. Goosebumps break out on my skin…and not the good kind.

His hand is big, rough, cold.

The image of a butcher grows so strong, I can’t help wonder if he was handling dead meat before he arrived. If there’s still blood in his nails. Fatty under-skin grease on his palms.

Fuck off with that shit, Brain. A butcher can’t afford a place like this, or a woman like me.

I hope.

I clench my jaw, holding onto the thought with steely determination as Howler feels up my ass cheek like he’s inspecting the tenderness of a cow’s rump.

Satisfied with the left cheek, he moves on to the right. This brings his body closer to mine, and with it, a whiff of cologne.

Yup, there it is.

Rich person’s cologne. So strong, he must have bathed in it.

Howler grunts as he kneads my right cheek like he’s tenderizing a piece of steak.

“What’s all these marks on this slutty ass of yours? Thought I’m your first?”

Don’t do it, Zoey. Don’t open your big, fat?—

“Oh, you thought you were buying fresh meat? Sucks to be paying premium for leftovers, doesn’t it?”

He stops cold, hand tightening painfully once, twice, against my bruised flesh. I bite back a grunt of pain.

“You’ve got some mouth on you, slut. Best you shut the fuck up.”

“Don’t worry, sweetie,” I croon. “You’ll always be my first…disappointment.”

Howler snatches away his hands like I burned him.

Well, Ididburn him. Ha ha.

I like to think Smith’s doubled over with laughter in his pervy little Peeping Tom room next door.

Yeah… no.

I bet Smith’s face is a thundercloud. I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t be speaking to their clients like this.

Yes, Sir. No, Sir.

Spank me with anything you like,Sir.

“Don’t need a mouthy slut like you. Got one of my own already,” Howler says in a tight voice.

“Do you also have to tie her down before you fuck her?”

Howler lets out an indignant huff, so close I can feel the sickening wet heat of his breath.

“That right?” he mutters, his voice moving behind me again. “We’ll see what you’ve got to say when I’m done rearranging your insides, you worthless fucking cunt.”

I’m so shocked, I don’t even beg for mercy.

A heavy crash goes through the room, my body flinching at the loud noise, then a suffocating silence.

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