‘Here’s the score, Brendan, just in case you were too busy fantasising about banging my friend to absorb what I’ve been telling you.’ Damn it, how does she do that? ‘This is the only way you’re going to get your hands on Marlowe. She has a lot going on right now. I won’t let you dick her around, but I will let you dick her down if you play by my rules and the Seraph rules.

‘You don’t even need to be exclusive—she’s your employee. You can have your fun with her at work and then get your end away in whatever wanky nightclubs you like to frequent out of work.’

She literally had me at Marlowe: beautiful, classy, and cultured. Having a woman like her decorate my office would be the ultimate win, but there’s no way I’m caving so easily. For some reason, Athena really wants this. I can tell by the steeliness in her voice and the intensity in her demeanour. I cock my head and chew on my lower lip as I pretend to appraise her offer.

‘I want you to throw in an Alchemy membership.’

‘Done,’ she says immediately.

‘There’s no way you’ll get my brother to budge on that front.’ Gabe’s been dragging his feet on proposing me for the exclusive sex club he joined before he met Athena. Selfish little dog in the manger. I thought former priests were supposed to be more charitable.

‘I don’t need to. I have plenty of ways in. My former boss’s wife, Genevieve, owns the place, and my new friend’s boyfriend has a stake. Adam Wright. I’ve got you covered. If that’s your price, consider it done.’

I sit back and allow myself a smirk. Marlowe, Marlowe, Marlowe. Five minutes in her presence and I knew she served up that ladylike, classy thing I love with aplomb.

I bet she’d be all doe-eyed and tremulous and shy if I fed her my dick. I’ve thought about it since; I’m not going to lie.

Thought about how her eyelashes would flutter, and how she’d protest that it wouldn’t fit.

How incredibly fucking gratifying it would be to watch as ecstasy took over that beautiful face and her outward breeding gave way to her inner prurience.

How tiny she’d feel as I caged her beneath my body.

No wonder I’ve been hounding Athena about putting in a good word for me.

And here she is, telling me in so many words that I’m not fit to wipe the dog shit off Marlowe’s shoe but that, for the right price, I can have her anyway, in the most salacious ways possible.

It should sicken me, fill me with guilt, but it doesn’t.