Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
She stiffened, the tips of her ears becoming red.
Sweet Aislinn, this is the big boy’s yard. Don’t play around if you don’t play rough. “So I bid you farewell now, Aislinn.”
With one last lingering look at her beautiful back and ass, her red mane spreading all over the bed and covering her face from my view, I left the room.
This wasn’t goodbye. Today had offered me a small taste of Aislinn, but I wanted to devour all of her.
I’d come to the Doom Loop to get answers, but was left with a myriad of new questions and a heap of shame.
I didn’t move, breathing harshly into the bed linen. I couldn’t believe I’d masturbated right in front of Lorcan Devaney. And I certainly couldn’t believe I enjoyed it and had come even. Maybe the air-conditioning in this building spread pheromones all over the place. Maybe I wasn’t responsible for losing control of my body so easily.
Maybe …—
Something landed beside my face. When I blinked, a wad of cash came into focus through the strands of my hair. My belly coiled with revulsion, realizing Lorcan had just paid me for my services like a common whore.
“Twenty percent belong to the auctioneer, but I topped it off so you’d get the full three thousand for the thorough entertainment you provided.”
My fingers gripped the sheets. Had he really given me a tip, the arrogant asshole? Tears of anger and embarrassment burned in my eyes but I bit my tongue to keep my emotions and the nasty insult at bay.
“So I bid you farewell now, Aislinn.”
His steps sounded and then the door clicked. I waited a couple more heartbeats before I pushed myself up and sat on my haunches. My gaze caught on the wad of cash. I took it and tossed it against the door. The roll unfolded and the bills fluttered through the room, landing all over the floor.
I shoved off the bed and gathered my clothes. Even though I wanted to shower, I wanted to leave this place even more. I put on my clothes, straightened my hair, and grabbed my purse. My eyes wandered over the money spread out on the floor. The damage was done, but this money could buy me and Imogen a return ticket to Dublin. Swallowing my pride, I collected every dime. Before leaving the room, I hesitated in the hallway, unsure what to do. Could I just leave? Had Lorcan told the guards I’d fulfilled my part of the deal?
A new wave of mortification burned a fiery trail through me. Swinging my purse over my shoulder, I headed down the hallway. I kept my head high, even if I wanted to hide in a corner.
A walk of shame. I’d always scoffed at the notion. I used to jog through Temple Bar on Sunday morning and would sometimes notice a rumpled looking woman walking home with shame after a night with someone regrettable. I’d always thought people should own up to their mistakes and use them to learn.
Now, I was on my very first walk of shame. I swallowed my own thoughts from the past. Owning up to my mistake was much harder than I thought, especially when said mistake was Lorcan Devaney. Despite my initial intention, I didn’t want to keep the money—I couldn’t if I wanted to look in the mirror. What had happened between us wasn’t for the money. I might need money, and it would probably make my search for Imogen much easier, but my pride forbade me from using it.
The too hot feeling between my legs mocked me with every step that I took, reminding me of every sordid detail of the night. Only three hours, and yet I knew they would impact my life for far longer.
Had I learned something I hadn’t known before?
Lorcan Devaney had made me lose control. My body reacted to him like fire to gasoline. But as far as Imogen’s whereabouts were concerned, I was as clueless as I had been before. Lorcan might be able to help me, because he was involved or because he knew the right people to acquire information. Either way, I wasn’t sure how to push past my pride and face him again to gather information. Maybe it was for the best that I stayed far away from the Irish mob. There had to be another way to find Imogen.
I turned my phone back on and a message from Patrick popped up.
“I miss you. When you get back, I’ll be ready for the next step. This break was what we needed. ILY.”
I let out a choked laugh then fell silent as guilt overwhelmed me. Anger quickly followed. I had no reason to feel guilty. Patrick probably hunted every skirt in sight to make the most of our break, so “he wouldn’t have to cheat again.” And what the heck did he mean with the next step? Did he really think I’d sleep with him once I was back? Lose my virginity to him?