Page 101 of Unorthodox
“And if I am?” I challenge Evora. “Fucking her?”
She bites the inside of her cheek, her chocolate eyes rounded, more sadness in her expression than grief. “I just want to know,” she whispers.
I smile at her, leaning down close so my mouth is over hers. “I don’t fuck my merchandise,” I tell her honestly, and I hate that Addison has become something just a little more than that, the way she’s gotten into my head, but I let the thought go. Something like relief spreads over Evora’s features, her brows lowering, jaw unclenching. “But I also don’t explain myself to mywhores.”Roughly, I push her face away and step back, sliding my hand back into my pocket.
She glares at me, but her eyes are shining with unshed tears. I see her face flush red, and I roll my eyes.
“You knew what this was,” I remind her quietly. “And you knew what itwasn’t.Would you like to go home?” I nod toward the door, where the guard is still looking at the floor. “If so, no one is stopping you.”
Her hands are balled into fists by her sides but wisely, she only says, “No, Max.”
I think about leaving her here anyway. She wasn’t supposed to come. I was going to fuck around with Addison at this party, but now that she’ll be on display for two men who are to report back to their bosses, I don’t feel like playing with her.
“Bruises are fine. Marks from whips. But things like broken bones, permanent disfigurement? Don’t cross any lines, Max.”
With the way Addison saw me as Mamie tried to rip me apart with her words, I wouldcertainlycross the line with Addison tonight. The way I held her after, as if Ineededher… I’d undo all of that damage if I put my hands on her tonight. If she thought the first time I took her was bad, she has no idea.
Distracting me from those thoughts, I hear the click of heels on hardwood and I turn to face the hall Addison’s room is on.
Mamie is shadowing her, a few steps back, but I don’t focus on her.
Instead, it’s Addison I’m staring at.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her in a dress.
Her golden blonde hair is wavy down her back, giving me a good view of her slender neck. The plunging neckline of the dress reveals the swell of her breasts, the burns atop them, three on each side, six total. She’s lost some of the tan she had when she came here, but Mamie didn’t put makeup on her save for over the faded bruise on her throat and I can make out the light spray of freckles along her nose as she steps closer. She walks gracefully in her nude heels, strapped around her ankles, and I wonder how often her father showed her off at his own parties.
Her long lashes blink up at me, green eyes wide as she nervously takes me in, wondering if I’m still the same weak man she thinks I am. Her eyes are lined with red, though, and I wonder if she was crying over being forced to come to this party with me. The thought pisses me off.
But her hands are relaxed by her side as she tries not to cower. Even still, I see her taking deep breaths in, long breaths out, trying to calm her nerves.
Her cotton candy scent makes my cock twitch.
But before I can say anything, she glances past me, and I see her expression falter.
Evora.
Her brow furrows, nose wrinkling with her confusion as she stares at the woman I’m fucking.
I step back, looking between the two of them.
Mamie waits behind Addison, saying nothing, her eyes lined with red and a tissue in her hand. It’s been a week.
Dante has been dead aweek,and she’s still crying over him.
I let it go, rolling my eyes.
“This is Evora,” I tell Addison calmly. I don’t introduce Addison, because property doesn’t get names.
Addison’s jaw clenches as she takes Evora in, and I see Evora sizing her up too.
It’s almost touching, their animosity.
I step closer to Evora, put my hand on her low back. Evora pushes closer to me and the anger in Addison’s face is nearly humorous.
But then she says, her eyes finding mine, “I see I won’t be needed,” and she makes to turn around. “I’m not really feeling up to going—"
“Oh,” I interrupt her coldly, “you thought you were going as my...what, Addison? Mydate?”I didn’t explain this party to her, because she doesn’t need an explanation. But if she wants to push this, I’ll push back.
