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)
I gulped. “Maybe my uncle can pay back the money you spent on me.”
Lorcan chuckled. “Your uncle spends all his money for expensive cigars and whiskey, or loses it in poker games, Aislinn. He already owes me money, and I won’t add more to his bill.” He pulled back slightly to fix me with a terrifying stare. “I paid for every inch of your body, Aislinn. Or do you want to owe me a debt?”
Lorcan’s eyes burrowed deeply into me, unraveling my control. Part of me wanted to be used by him, maybe to get back at Patrick, or maybe for even worse reasons. I couldn’t think clearly with him so close.
“Won’t it be awkward if you have to confess this to my uncle?” I asked.
His expression hardened. “If this is your attempt at blackmailing me, you should reconsider your options.”
“No! I was just thinking …” But of course, it had been my miserable attempt to use his respect of the church and a priest to get out of this. At least I didn’t threaten him with the police. That would have been suicide. I’d heard enough stories about the Devaneys while working behind the bar at Merchant’s Arch.
“So, which one is it, Aislinn? Will you give me what I paid for or will you owe me a debt? But a word of warning … my interest rates are horribly unjust.”
I glared, despising his condescending tone. Our faces were so close I could see specks of light green in his forest green eyes and a small groove in his chin covered by stubble. I’d only been attracted to guys my age, but my body definitely reacted to his presence with more than terror. “I won’t owe you a debt. If you insist on this deal, then you can take what you want.”
Mum had always made sure I stayed far away from the Irish mob, but even I knew that owing them a debt was a horrible mistake. My mouth ran dry as the words left my lips.
His fingers teased the strap down my other shoulder, and his index finger slid under my neckline. I was glad for the bra I wore until his finger plunged inside. He ran the back of his finger over my nipple, which puckered under the contact. I swallowed a gasp. My body quivered with nerves and to my utter shock … arousal.
He pulled away. “How about you show me what I paid for?”
“You want me to strip?”
He smirked. This entire experience still felt surreal. I wasn’t sure I was really awake.
“Indeed.”
Swallowing, I turned around.
“No,” he said. “I want to see your face when you undress.”
I faced him even as heat rose to my cheeks. He sank down on a chair, his arms stretched out on the armrests and his legs parted confidently. A sick curiosity took hold of me as ny gaze was drawn to his crotch.
Head held high, my chin jutting out, I refused to let him intimidate me even if he held all the power. My fingers trembled when I touched the first button of my dress and popped it open. I focused on the buttons and not on the man intently watching me. To my surprise, I got a kick out of knowing he was watching me with rapt attention as I took my time.
If Patrick had ever asked me to strip, I would have refused. Lorcan’s intense gaze was more of an aphrodisiac than anything Patrick did. Something was horribly wrong with me and if I ever escaped the Doom Loop, I’d take my time pondering the matter.
“Look at me while you undress,” he ordered, and I couldn’t refuse the command in his voice. I dragged my gaze up until it crossed his penetrating stare.
My mouth became dry as my fingers worked on the remaining buttons of my summer dress revealing the simple white underwear beneath. I wasn’t wearing something sexy for the occasion. After all, I hadn’t known I would end up selling my body in the Doom Loop. Not that I owned anything remotely sexy, especially not underwear. I never had a reason to buy lingerie. Patrick and I had always fooled around in the dark.
I pushed the dress down my shoulders and it pooled at my feet. Lorcan’s mouth twitched when he glimpsed my underwear. “Very practical,” he said.
His condescending tone drove heat into my cheeks, but anger began to simmer in a familiar way in the pit of my belly. I rarely lost my temper, but when I did, it was never good.
“Why don’t you get out of that?” It wasn’t really a question.
My heart pounded wildly when I reached behind my back to unhook my bra. It took my shaking fingers three attempts before I succeeded. Despite my desire to lower my eyes, I kept them right on Lorcan as my bra slid down my arms and bared my breasts. His expression didn’t waver in the slightest, as if he couldn’t care less if I got naked in front of him. He’d probably seen hundreds of women naked, maybe even Imogen. That thought gave me new strength. I was here to find out what happened to my sister and bring her back home. If Lorcan had the information I needed, I’d have to tease it out of him, and if he turned out to be responsible for her disappearance … then I’d make him pay.