Page 22 of Scarlett Thief (Criminal Underground 2)

Just as the outside had surprised me, the inside was even more of a shock. It didn't appear like anything I'd researched on the forums and kink sites. It looked like the lobby of a hotel. Not the Ritz-Carlton, of course, but still a halfway decent hotel with the cleaned tiled floors, the rich mahogany front desk with a pleasant looking woman sitting behind it, her hair pulled up and done in a tightly woven, but beautiful braided crown.

"Welcome to the Incatenato," she said in accented English. "You are guests, no? We received your information from your clubs in the states. You've been granted temporary license to practice here so long as you follow club rules."

"Thank you, darling," Hadrian said, turning up the charm. “Can you direct us to the lounge rooms?”

The woman brightened, making me clench my teeth even as her cheeks flushed pink. “Of course, Sir,” she said. “If you’ll head down this hallway”—she gestured to an alcove to the side of her desk—“to the left is the women’s lounge and to the right is the men’s.”

“Thank you,” Wolf said. He turned and gestured me forward, and when I moved to step past him, a heavy hand fell on the small of my waist, making me clench up. “Remember what we said,” he whispered, leaning down as we walked. “Read the instructions and take any advice Mare gives you.”

I scowled. “I think I’m capable of following instructions,” I snapped, keeping my voice hushed.

“Tone,” he said, a warning in his voice. I kept walking but only made it a few feet forward before his fingers wrapped around my arm and jerked me to a halt before swinging me to the side. My back met the wall as he shoved me against it, turning and pinning me in place before looming overhead. My heartbeat kicked up a notch. My muscles clenched in anticipation of a fight. He was big—far bigger than me—but that would only make him slow. Just as I was debating on where to hit first, his knuckles touched the underside of my chin, and I lifted my gaze to his.

“It would be in your best interest to watch your mouth in here, Scarlett,” he warned. “It’ll get you into a lot of trouble, and while I would love to spank your ass red and show you just how wet it’ll get that pussy of yours, I still have to work with you after this meeting.”

“Business and pleasure don’t go hand in hand,” I said.

“No, they don’t,” he agreed. “Not so long as emotional attachments are involved.”

He’s challenging me,I realized. This bastard was challenging me. He thoughtIwas going to be the emotional one? Hell no. I was always the one who walked away. I kept a clear head. I didn’t get emotional.

“I can handle it,” I said through gritted teeth.

He eyed me for a bit longer, letting his body press mine against the wall before Hadrian tapped him on the shoulder.

“Time to go, buddy.” Hadrian pointed over his shoulder where the door to the men’s room had been opened. A man with spiked sandy blond hair had stepped out and was watching us with interest.

“See you on the floor.” Wolf pushed away and his hand slipped from my chin.

I watched as he and Hadrian turned and headed into the men’s lounge, and then, as soon as the door was closed at their backs, I strode toward the women’s and walked inside.

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