Page 4 of His Price

Right then, my cellphone beeps in my pocket, indicating I’ve received a text message. I grab out my phone, and when I see the text message is from Aria,I say to Mallory, “Give me a minute.”

Mallory accepts the order and I watch her walk away, determined to keep my relationship with Aria private. When Mallory vanishes around the corner and there’s no one else in sight, I click on the text message, and my cock hardens so fast I bite back a groan.

Aria is lying on her bed, the photograph only showing her stomach, and the dildo I sent her is resting on her smooth, toned, tanned skin. That’s not what throbs my cock, however. It’s the way the light is glistening off the dildo, telling me that she didn’t only use the toy but she also brought herself to orgasm. Every muscle in my body tenses. I ache to have her, to make her melt beneath my touch.

Another beep.

Thank you for the gift. I quite enjoyed it.

I text back and promise,Your next orgasm will be mine.Then I shove the phone back into my pocket, knowing the game between us has only begun.

* * *

ARIA

After work on Tuesday, I enter Martini’s, a chic restaurant known for its pasta and grilled meats in the Fashion District. With industrial lighting above the tables and red chairs and black couches scattered throughout, the design of the grand space is a mix of modern and elegance.

“Can I help you?” a violet-haired female greets me.

“I’m actually meeting someone here.” I quickly look around the bustling restaurant and find Mallory waving at me from the back of the rectangular room. “Oh, she’s there.” I smile at the greeter.

She smiles back. “Enjoy your dinner.”

“I always do,” I tell her before hastily moving toward Mallory.

The closer I get, the more Mallory’s smile warms, and the more my heart warms. Our friendship grew from working for Liam and Jackson. While they despise each other, they are also insanely professional when it comes to work, and they happen to do a lot of business together, just on opposing sides. Which in reality, I think they both enjoy. Making the other’s client pay financially seems as good a way as any to continue to burn each other. Though over the years, Mallory and I became closer, and now we’re roommates and pretty much inseparable.

“Hi,” I say when I reach her.

She gives me a quick hug. “I’m so happy you called to meet for dinner. I did not want to cook tonight at all, and pasta sounded great.”

“Carbs always sound great.” I laugh, taking my seat across from her. “How was work?”

“Work was work.” Mallory smiles then winks. “Liam, however, is in an exceptionally good mood.”

I imagine the photo I sent him helped with that, though I can’t deny that he always seems to up the ante. I thought I owned him with that picture, but his response—your next orgasm will be mine—sent a ripple of lust through me, making me putty in his damn hands.

Before I can reply, a cute blond waitress stops at our table. “Can I start you off with some drinks, ladies?” she asks.

“We’re actually all set to order,” Mallory says with a sheepish smile.

“Two fettucine Alfredos,” I tell her with a firm nod.

Okay, so we’re totally predictable and always get the fettucine Alfredo, but it’s like sex in your mouth every single time.

“And we’ll also take two glasses of your house chardonnay,” Mallory finishes.

The waitress smiles at us, and it seems she finds our twin-like behavior cute while she gathers up our menus then hurries off to fetch our orders. That’s always been our way, Mallory and I. She’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister. And coming from divorced parents who hate each other—and who I’m not entirely close to either, having left them both back in Louisville—I appreciate how loyal Mallory is to me. I learned a different type of love when I met her.

“So, the time is counting down,” Mallory says, dragging me from my thoughts. “Three days until you climb into Liam’s bed.”

I laugh softly. We never shy away from talking about my lust for Liam. Mallory’s known I’ve wanted him since day one. It’s never been awkward, and I think that’s because Mallory isn’t close to Liam like I am to Jackson. “To be perfectly honest,” I say, reaching for my napkin and placing it on my lap, “I’m less worried about being in his bed than I’m more worried about not wanting to get out of it. What if I find out he’s this amazing guy and not at all what Jackson claims him to be?”

“Heisan amazing guy,” she counters. “And why would finding out that he’s a great guy be such a bad thing?”

The waitress returns then with our wine and places our glasses down in front of us. I wait for her to leave before responding, “It’s a bad thing because I don’t want to hurt Jackson. I’m loyal to him, not to Liam. So as hot as Liam is, or even how amazing he is in bed, I can’t let it go beyond this weekend.”

Mallory takes a sip of her wine. “Honestly, I don’t even understand this feud between them. I wish they would just tell us what happened.”

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