Page 8 of Elicit (Decadence After Dark)

“I can’t find my sequin thong,” Nadia informs me.

“And you think I had something to do with its disappearance?”

“No, not exactly. I just thought I’d ask if you’ve seen it.”

“Is it in the wash?”

“No.” Nadia pouts.

“Did one of the other girls borrow it?”

“I don’t think so. I’ve torn apart every drawer in the house.”

“I’m sure it’s somewhere.” I cross my arms casually as I stare up at her and Amber.

“I need that thong!” She reacts like a spoiled teenager—which may be partly my fault.

“Nadia, there are seven thousand pairs of underwear in this house. Believe me, I know the exact number because I paid for every one of them. Wear one of those.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?” I question.

“Because the sequined one is her lucky thong,” Amber teases her. “AndJamesis coming tonight.”

“Shut up.” Nadia elbows her.

I see the dilemma here. “Nadia, do you think James cares which thong you’re wearing? As long as there’s material around your waist he can rip off with his teeth, he’ll be happy.”

“You think?” She bats her big doe eyes.

I sigh. “I know.” The way Nadia and James are going, her days in this house are numbered. You’d swear I’m running a dating service, not an upscale brothel, by how many hookups have happened over the last six years. As much of a pain in the ass it is to replace an employee, I understand why it occurs so often. My girls are top of the line. Beautiful, refined, educated, and lionesses in the sack. Each as special and unique as a snowflake. What man can resist that? I can tell you, not many.

“Now, go finish whatever you need to finish. The clientele for the social will be here at seven.” I send them on their merry way.

“Yes, Jett.” Nadia flutters off, but Amber lingers.

“Can I help you with something?”

Amber, my black-haired vixen, spies down at me like a curious cat.

“When is Alistair coming back?” she asks cautiously.

Heaven help me. “I don’t know. Soon.” My elusive uncle has been here since Mansion’s inception. He helped get the whole project off the ground. Laid the foundation with his expertise and fostered it, along with Kayne and me, into the flourishing, multimillion-dollar enterprise it is today. He comes and goes as he pleases, oblivious to the fact he’s hooked yet another girl into his ring of seduction. Unfortunately for Amber, Alistair isn’t the settling down type.

“Okay.” Her disappointment is evident as much as she tries to hide it.

“Go on.” I send her off as my phone vibrates in my back pocket. I sigh as I answer it.It’s a Saturday.

I glance at the word restricted on the screen before I say, “Hello?”

“Darling,” a woman purrs on the other end.

“Sasha—”

“I sent you a present.” She cuts me off and then abruptly hangs up.

Present?

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