Eva

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“You have got to be kidding me,” I mutter as I stop short in the doorway of the private room when I see a guy seated on the edge of the king-size bed with a scantily clad brunette kneeling before him.

Isn’t this room assigned to me for the night? One of us has made a mistake, and now these two have ruined my plans.

Unfortunately, they don’t hear me and as she unzips his slacks, his hands remain planted beside his hips on the satin sheets while he looks down at her, his cheekbones high and stark, somehow making his stare seem particularly potent. Despite my annoyance, I notice his hard thigh muscles straining when she slides a palm up his leg.

Then I recognize him as the man who caught me over a week ago skulking through the hallway of Club 7, the dance club that’s one floor above this one, and ushered me back down here to the underground sex club. Even though we only exchanged a few words, I haven’t forgotten him.

“Aren’t you one of the girls from downstairs?” an imposing man demands in a deep, powerful voice that skitters over my flesh when I run into him at the back entrance. He’s wearing an expensive charcoal tailored suit, and because he must be more than six feet tall, I tilt my head up.

“Um, yeah, I forgot my purse,” I answer, intimidated by his narrowing gaze and somewhat flustered by how sinfully attractive he is.

Due to the cold Chicago wind, I wasn’t in the mood to walk to the other side of the huge high-rise where the entry for the underground sex club is located, so I used the back entrance of Club 7.

“You aren’t allowed up here and you know it.” He rudely grips my arm and tugs me down the hall.

As we pass a couple, they frown at us before he shunts me into an elevator at the end, ordering in a strict tone, “If you’re caught using this entrance again, you’ll be fired.”

“Okay. Sorry—”

He holds up his palm, deeming the conversation finished, and the door swooshes closed.

“Ass,” I grumble, although I’m glad he didn’t kick me out.

“Ahem,” I cough to get their attention and his gaze whips up to me.

His eyes are clear, just a shade darker than whiskey, and his face isn’t gentle or safe but is handsome nonetheless. Framed by broad shoulders, his chiseled features are impossible to ignore, and his thick brown hair that’s messy on top curls over his ears.

Instead of looking shocked, he lifts both brows as if he’s waiting for me to apologize.

When the brunette sees he’s not focused on her anymore, she glances over her shoulder and bounds upward.

“This is supposed to be my room for the night,” I announce as she mumbles something to him, to which he nods, and then nervously brushes past me without saying a word, causing me to wonder why she’s being skittish.

“The room is for you to entertain yourself?” the man asks in a bored tone, so I crane my neck and find that my customer for the evening, who was trailing me, has bolted.

Upset because now I won’t earn the money I desperately need, I point my finger at him and blurt out, “This is your fault.”

Ignoring my comment, the guy buttons up his slacks before I can get a peek of his manhood, and after he tucks his white dress shirt neatly inside the waistband and buckles his brown suede belt, he rises to his full height, fastening a platinum cufflink in place with a smooth flick of his fingers. “Don’t look so shocked; you’re in a sex club.” Then he grabs his suit jacket from the bed as he approaches me.

Provoked by his condescending manner, I counter, “I know where I am, and I’m annoyed, not shocked, but your girl obviously was.”

He stops mid-step, a few feet away from me, and a devilish grin curves his lips. “Maybe she was shocked by you, not by me.”

“I’m not sure it’s a compliment if she wasn’t shocked by you.” I glance at his groin as he peers at my breasts.

“Is it not?” he retorts, becoming amused. “And why is this my fault, by the way?” He gestures at his dick. “I didn’t even get to start...that’s your fault.”

“Then I guess you should run along after her.”

“Maybe I’m not interested in her anymore.” Again, he takes a step toward me.

The statement intrigues and tantalizes me – much to my dismay. His masculine cologne that smells of authority cloaks the air, and I’m unable to turn from his steady gaze. Although his expression doesn’t betray even a flicker of emotion, the way he studies me heats my limbs.

Maybe I could make some money off him tonight?

“Meaning you’re interested in me?” I close the distance between us slowly.

His grin widens. “Don’t play coy with me.” Once more, he glimpses at the swell of my breasts, taunting, “You’ve already noticed what attracts me to you.”

We’ve been inching closer until our chests almost touch, and his breath fans my cheek as I look up.

“I have?” I swallow heavily, feeling short since I only reach his chin.

“Of course.” He bends his head until his lips graze the shell of my ear, whispering, “It’s your tits.” With a victorious smile, he walks around me as I realize that he’s just toying with me, and I groan at his arrogance.

When he crosses the threshold, the manager, Tez, spots him as he’s passing the room and halts.

“Carmine, I didn’t know you were down here. Can I help you with anything?” he says, seemingly taken aback, before he frowns at me.

So his name is Carmine.

“I was just going,” Carmine responds dismissively, and at last, an emotion flashes across his face when he scowls at no one in particular and strides out.

Tez assesses me from head to toe before instructing, “Eva, you can pack your things right now and leave.”

“What? Why?” I ask, thunderstruck.

“The rules are that you’re not allowed to associate with any employees from other companies housed in this building, and that includes Club 7 members.”

“But I didn’t even know who he was and nothing happened between us. He was here before I came in. I think he was just in the wrong room or something,” I defend because I need the cash this job provides to pay my past-due bills.

He appears remorseful for a second and explains, “It doesn’t really matter what happened. I’m sorry, but it’s a strict, zero tolerance non-fraternization policy, Eva.”

Who the hell is this Carmine? More importantly, I wasn’t entertaining him – the brunette was. I’m being unfairly punished for their liaison. And now I’ll need to find a new way to make some money ASAP.

Before I can discuss the matter any further, Tez walks away and as I turn to go, I notice a silver watch on the rumpled sheets that Carmine must have left behind. Snatching it off the bed, I stash it in my dress pocket, and since I’ve been fired anyway, I go in search of Carmine upstairs at Club 7.