Lies That Sinners Tell (The Klutch Duet 1)

“The information was obtained by my most trusted of employees and stays between only him and myself,” he assured me.

“Oh, that makes me feel so much better,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Rest assured, no harm will come to you, Stella. No matter what,” he conveyed the words so forcefully, they came out as an oath.

I shouldn’t have believed him. Not at all. But for some unknown reason, I did.

“If you know my name, then it’s only fair I know yours. Actually, you should’ve introduced yourself right after your goon dragged me in here,” I quipped.

“You’re quite right,” he agreed, nodding. “My name is Jay Helmick.”

“I would say it’s nice to meet you, but I’m afraid I’d be lying,” I said with a slight sneer to my words.

“I completely understand,” Jay replied. “I have a proposition for you,” he continued.

Although I’d made the choice to stand out of principle, I kind of wished I’d sat down. All the adrenaline that I’d been feeling was depleting, and my muscles were burning. Suddenly, the chair looked plush and inviting. Also, it seemed vulnerable to be standing now. At first, I’d thought it made me seem stronger, with more agency, but now it was just awkward.

“I’m a busy man,” Jay continued. “I detest the circus of dating. As I mentioned, you’ve caught my eye. I’m interested in arranging with you. To spend time with you. Eventually, sooner rather than later—if you are agreeable, of course—I would want to fuck you.”

My stomach dipped at that last part. Like all the way to the basement of this place. He said it in exactly the same tone he’d used this entire time. Nothing changed on his face. But everything changed in the air.

It should’ve been insulting, right? A man using his power to get me here, to make me feel vulnerable and scared, and then he proposes sex ... that was sexual harassment. I should’ve felt enraged.

Not violently turned on.

Which I was.

It didn’t make sense. He was just a man. A very attractive and powerful man, but those were a dime a dozen in this city. Handsome men didn’t impress me. Didn’t evoke feelings beyond detached appreciation at best, since I knew that most attractive powerful men in this city were arrogant, self-absorbed assholes. Powerful men weren’t impressive since the entire system worked in their favor.

Based on all of the facts of this situation, Jay should’ve been no different. He should’ve been worse, considering what he was doing.

I couldn’t explain it. The way his muscles moved at the column of his neck. How he towered over me, made me fall small, vulnerable, powerless to his will. The way his eyes pierced through me in a way that electrified my bones. The sharpness of his features, the sex in his words, the promise in his gaze ... it enchanted me. He controlled the room. The air I breathed. It smelled of him. Tasted of him. And I wanted more.

I swallowed roughly, doing my best to keep my face blank even as I felt a blush creep up my neck and settle on my cheeks.

He saw this, Jay. Of course he did. His eyes were intent on me, assessing me, dissecting me.

“You had me pulled off the dance floor because you want to date me?” I questioned, voice far breathier than I liked.

“I don’t want to date you, I want to fuck you,” he clarified.

My stomach did that thing again. My thighs clenched together, and I was pretty sure my panties were getter wetter by the moment. I was a feminist. A strong one. A feminist shouldn’t be having this type of response in this situation. I was an embarrassment to women everywhere.

“I understand that not a lot of people are comfortable with engaging in such things with strangers,” he continued, something about the way he moved his mouth upward ever so slightly told me he knew I was turned on. “Well, people in this bar, for example, are usually more than comfortable engaging in such things. But you’re not like them.”

I wasn’t sure he meant this as a compliment, but I was treating it as one. Not that I had anything against women or men who were sexually free and wanted to engage in safe, anonymous sex. Hell, I’d done it a couple of times, but that wasn’t my style. I needed an emotional connection. Which spelled trouble for me, since I was dramatic with high standards. I didn’t have any daddy issues, it was just that no man ever measured up. It was a good thing that vibrators existed. Well, it was a bad thing they existed, too, since no man measured up to them either.

Something deep, dark and ravenous inside of me—inside of my ovaries—suspected that Jay would measure up to even my best vibrator. Though I was never going to find out. Nope. I couldn’t. This was all too fucked up.