Bane

The door to the elevator dinged and I stepped out, eyes trained on the door down the hall. A fellow guest passed me and gave me a courtesy nod. I returned the gesture.

For now, I booked this room for the month so I wouldn’t have to continue checking in each day. Why I was doing all this … there was no answer—at least not one I would entertain. I wasn’t sure what was going on with her brother, but I planned on getting more information to investigate. This whole situation was like a clusterfuck of questions. I mashed my teeth together at the thought of her own flesh and blood pimping Maren out. She was a good person. Even with my darkened soul, I could still see the goodness in others.

Slipping the keycard in, I opened the door, holding my breath, wondering if the angelic brunette beauty would be here again. Much to my delight, Maren sat on the cream fabric couch, at the end, with a bottle of water. Today she was in some sort of dress that emphasized her tits. My dick pressed against my zipper, having a mind of its own around her.

Calm the fuck down. This isn’t puberty.

It wanted inside Maren. Badly. I wondered what her tight pussy would feel like as it clenched around me as I brought her pleasure beyond her wildest dreams. Fuck, why was I torturing myself with all this talking?

“Hey, stranger.” Her cheery voice was similar to how she’d been in the kitchen at Discrete Encounters.

I took the same place on the couch, but slightly turned Maren’s way. “Hey. Seems like you decided to come back.”

Her genuine smile created an involuntary one on my face as well. This was the most odd and fucked up way to meet someone, but it did give us anonymity to escape … for a bit. At least that was what I wanted. Freedom from the past. Maybe I’d be able to flee from the nightmares even though I deserved each one.

“It would seem so. I wasn’t sure if I would come back.”

There was a small part of me that thought she wouldn’t, but hearing her voice the words created a desire within me to want to know more. Her leaving now would be the best for us. But, I had to know where her head was. “Why’s that?”

She casted her eyes down. “Let’s say that I wasn’t prepared for the grilling I got.”

“What kind of grilling?” Anger boiled under the surface, assuming her brother gave her a hard time.

She gave a tired sigh and twisted the lid of her water bottle on and off. A nervous habit. “Jewel told my brother yesterday that you booked me for the entire month. He asked what I did to make you want me like that. He wanted me to do things.”

“Things?”

“Things to make you want me more, to pay more. This is so messed up. I wanted to come, but I don’t want to drag you into anything with my brother.”

Fucking bastard. I bet the self-entitled prick didn’t even have a job while he mooched off his sister who had four, if you counted the escorting. “What’s his name?”

Alarm shot through her eyes as they met mine. There was good reason for her to feel that way. “Why?”

Stay calm. There was information I needed. “I’m curious. He obviously has my name now. Don’t you think it’s only fair we’re on equal footing?”

I’d rather have the information from Maren. But, I’d get it regardless. I still had access to Discrete Encounters’ mainframe while the security team updated the system. From the front desk run-in at the dati

ng service, I knew his first name was Frankie, but that could be a nickname. It’d take me longer, but I’d still find out who he was.

Leaning forward slightly, to look me straight in the eyes, the dress moved slightly revealing the side of her breast. And damn it, I wanted to run my fingers against the soft plumpness.

“You promise you aren’t going to do anything?”

Countering with a question generally distracted anyone and kept me from commitment to anything. “Why would I?”

Maren shifted toward me and that intoxicating perfume came over me. “Because I think you can be dangerous if you want to be.”

“Then why did you come back?”

We leaned into each other, only a few inches separating us. “I don’t know.”

Maren’s chest heaved as her breath quickened, eyes darting to my mouth. Hell, this was dangerous. Abruptly, I stood and made my way to the bar, pouring myself a glass of bourbon.

Hesitantly, Maren approached as her hazel eyes watched me. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No.” I took a big sip and allowed the burn to cover my throat.

“Our last name is Kincaid. He’s Frank Kincaid.”