“A latecomer,” Tristan told the guard blocking thedoorway.
I’d been expecting silence and more relaxing string music. Instead, the cavernous space beyond the guard resonated with tinkling laughter, gruff tones, and splashingwater.
Baldy gave me a once-over before stepping to the side and revealing a sight I wished to forgetimmediately.
Two naked women lounged next to a luminescent rectangular pool, their skin glistening with oil. Another one gyrated, half-submerged in the pool, over the lap of a middle-aged man. Dragging the girl’s wet hair back, he canted his round head to the side to catch a clearer glimpse ofme.
“You spoil me, Jarod,” hesaid.
Jarod, whose spine—or what I could see of it rising over the mosaic basin’s edge—was marred by a red scar I’d missed lastnight.
“Excuse me?” Jarod’s low timbre made goose bumps sprout all overme.
The girl in the pool stood and inched seductively toward Jarod, water sloshing around her submergedwaist.
Horror struck my veins. “I-I shouldn’t behere.”
“Nonsense,Feather.” Tristan’s ashen breath was low and sultry in my ear. “The prime minister’s a huge fan of redheads. Your presence will give us some extrasway.”
I sucked in some air that hissed through my gritted molars. “I’m nota—”
“Tristan, why is the girl still clothed?” the politicianasked.
Because I hadn’t come for the freaking orgy! I’d come for the man throwing it. What was it with Jarod and orgies anyway? Was this some kink ofhisor a French barteringtool?
Jarod turned around then, and although I was glad his eyes were no longer on the naked woman massaging her nipples, they were filled with so much fury that sweat dotted my brow. “What the—Tristan, get her out of here,now!”
“Non, non. Bring her closer,” the ministersaid.
Wisely, Tristan didn’t press me any closer. I would’ve broken his arm and each one of his fingers had he set a single one onme.
“Such a divine hair color. Is it real? Actually, don’t tell me. I’d love to uncover this on my own,” the politician added with a smile that made his already round cheeks puff up somemore.
Jarod’s jaw hardened. Voice clattering against the perspiring tiles, he barked, “This one hasn’t been vetted for venereal diseases yet. She shouldn’t even be inhere.”
The thick man tittered. “You know I like to live dangerously. Come closer,mapetite.”
“Tristan!” Jarodgrowled.
Tristan grabbed my arm. I tried to shake him off, perfectly capable of getting my own self out of this damn spa, but his grip hardened, denting myflesh.
The bearded bodyguard was obviously not on Jarod’s payroll, because he blocked ourexit.
“With all due respect, Jarod,” the minister said, “I’m perfectly capable of making informed decisions when it comes to my sexualhealth.”
“With all due respect,” Jarod gritted out, “the girl’s not on the menutoday.”
The minister finally turned his deep-set eyes on Jarod. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d venture she’s not onmymenu, but perhaps, on yours? Which is all the more intriguing. You usually have no problem sharingles bonscoups.”
I gulped, because that last expression could mean one of two things: profitable business ventures or goodlays.
“If you want my help eliminating yourproblem, tell your fucking guard to step away from the fuckingdoor.”
“Hmm.” The man stroked his weak chin. “I won’t touch her, but I’d really like a better look before sheleaves.”
Jarod climbed out of the pool in one fell swoop, not a stitch of clothing on his body. As he pounded toward us, panic seized mychest.
“What the fuck got into you to bring her here?” he growled, several degrees pastanger.
