We’d spent far too long working in a dungeon.

“I’m not sure I’m going to be assassinating anyone when I can’t open my legs more than three inches in this pencil skirt, but I like where your head is.”

She jumped up and started rifling through my toy closet, testing out various crops and floggers.

“I’m watching you.” I narrowed my eyes, as she looked a little too comfortable with my favorite signal whip.

“Where are you going again?” She flicked the whip lightly back and forth across my ass.

“Some bar where Hollywood types congregate.” I sighed. “I already hate this shit. I hate how fake everyone in his world is and I’m actually nervous at the idea of having to socialize with a bunch of sharks tonight. I can happily deal with naked kinky strangers, but small talk freaks me the fuck out.”

“Dude. Put your big-girl panties on. You can run circles around their games. It’s child’s play. You’re Lady Elena.”

I kissed her on the forehead and she wrinkled her nose in distaste at the affectionate gesture. She’d told me exactly what I needed to hear. I could see through these games and that’s why they made me uncomfortable.

“Is the skirt supposed to be like a chastity thing so you can resist Alex Chase?” she asked.

“Watch the sass, Mistress.” I liked poking at the fact her title was technically lower in the hierarchy than mine. “I have no trouble resisting Mr. Hollywood Swagger. I just need to make it look believable that we’re together. He’s smug and entitled and condescending…”

Who was I trying to convince?

She clapped her hands together. “And hot.”

“And arrogant.”

“And hot. Don’t forget hot.”

“How could I possibly forget? But you know as well as I do that hot should count against him. The hottest people are usually the worst in bed because they think they’ve already done their part just by showing up and being hot. ‘Who needs foreplay when I’ve got abs, baby?’”

“Fair.” She tucked my whip into her bag before I snatched it back from her and returned it to the closet. “But he could be an exception.”

“Not worth it to find out. I just want to get through this month with my reputation intact, be out from under my loans for good, and move on without that kind of complication.”

Alex pulled up outside my place in a black Range Rover at precisely 7 p.m. Ophelia insisted upon coming out to the car with me, giving him a friendly smile after he opened the door for me. I heard her murmur, “You take care of my girl or I’ll wear your testicles on a necklace.” She added brightly, “Just kidding! She’ll do the honors herself if you cross her.”

He laughed and waved as we pulled away.

Alex glanced at me as he maneuvered through traffic. “You ready for this?”

He smiled. Because he seemed to be incapable of not smiling ever. And I didn’t. Because I wanted to prove I could resist his charms. If he wanted a smile from me he could earn it.