Page 12 of Required Surrender

Every employee I’d seen was gorgeous, including the beefy bouncers. I hid behind my champagne glass, thinking impure thoughts about Lachlan. Maybe the fact I’d finally gotten the courage to toss the asshole I’d been dating for two years to the curb was the reason I allowed myself to drift into an erogenous zone. There was no other explanation for my level of attraction.

“So, you’re saying you have the key to sizzling Mr. McKenzie’s heart, or at least his raging hot body?” Betsy threw out.

“Oh, I know I could.” I’d felt the extreme chemistry exploding between us. Maybe it was true about enemies making the best lovers. I had no plans on finding out. I had to draw the line somewhere if for no other reason than my sanity.

“How about this? Why don’t we make a little wager?” Debbie purred as her grin resembled something evil.

“Wager?” I asked, glancing around the table. They were all staring at me.

“I love that idea,” Jackie mused. “Why don’t you ask to see Mr. Hottie then demand a tour of the club?”

“I love it too! You’re the only one of us who can pull it off.” If Betsy squealed one more time, she wouldn’t make it to her wedding day.

Maybe I was to the point of intoxication that I’d thrown out both common sense and mental control. “Meaning what?”

Jackie drummed her fingers on the table. “If you’re successful in getting a tour, we’ll pay for your part of this fabulous evening.”

“That’s my incentive?” I took another sip of champagne, then another, hating myself for longing to see the man entirely naked. That wasn’t like me. And that was never going to happen.

“I’ll throw in a dinner for two at the restaurant of your choice,” Margie tossed out.

“Do it. Do it,” Betsy started chanting. It was difficult not to wrap my hands around her throat at this point.

“That’s insane. He won’t give me the time of day,” I countered, shaking my head while a flutter of excitement tickled every synapse. I wasn’t a prude by any means, but the closest I’d come to anything kinky in my sex life had been when ex-asshole had used ice cubes.

And that experience hadn’t been pleasant.

The little voice inside my head reminded me about Davidson’s membership. Was it possible he’d met the victim behind these hallowed walls? That was crazy. I was jumping to conclusions. Then again, Mr. Grumpy McKenzie had been in the law firm earlier in the day.

“I agree. Do it. We double dare you. If you don’t, I might need to let it slip to Mr. Abbot’s assistant that you accosted a client.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Now I had two friends I wanted to drive stakes through their hearts.

“You know me, girl. I’ll do whatever it takes to get what I want.”

After giving her a murderous glare, I threw back the rest of my champagne. What the hell. If I could annoy Lachlan and snoop around, I’d consider it to be a win-win. “You don’t think I have it in me.”

“Nope.”

“Fine.” I slammed the glass onto the table with enough force I was shocked it didn’t break. “Watch me.”

CHAPTER4

Lachlan

There was nothing more annoying than remaining in a constant state of arousal, which I’d been in a good portion of the day.

All because of a beautiful woman who needed her mouth washed out with soap and a spanking using my belt. I continued to salivate at the thought as I ducked down the corridor to my office. I was wound up, enough so I needed a stiff drink and a hand job. At least one of those I could achieve, the other would need to wait. Maybe I needed a vacation instead.

I threw open my door, heading toward the closet where I kept two changes of clothing. I’d had drinks tossed in my face more than once during the last eleven years of operation. It was hard to believe the Carnal Sins Club had been operational that long. Smirking, I tore off my coat and tie, my thoughts drifting to Coffee Girl once again.

Her instant hatred of me was interesting, more so than all the other women who’d learned quickly that I wasn’t interested in what they had to offer. I’d enjoyed my share of women over the years, but there hadn’t been a single one who’d enticed me enough to allow the time spent together to linger for more than three dates. Only two women had intrigued me enough I’d shared my sadistic needs.

Both had resulted in disaster.

After the last time, I’d concentrated on business and nothing else, making a fortune instead of spending my hard-earned money. That didn’t mean my hunger didn’t rear its ugly head from time to time and the beautiful redhead had sparked something I thought long dead.

After tossing the shirt into the bin, I grabbed another, hearing a light knock on my partially open door.

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