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“As if you need more,” Michail commented.

“It is the principle,” Dionysus said. “As you well know.”

“As I well know,” Michail said, though somewhat distantly. Dionysus noticed his eyes had wandered to Ariadne again, and he could not help looking either.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Come now, darling,” said Michail. “Don’t be shy. Show us some skin.”

“She’s showing enough,” Dionysus snapped.

The corners of Michail’s lips turned up. “Don’t tell me, Dionysus, you’ve fallen for this hetaira. You of all people know they arepaidfor their companionship.”

It was lucky that Dionysus had such a reaction, because Michail hadn’t seen the way Ariadne froze or paled at the man’s suggestion.

They had to get out of here.

“As she informed you earlier,” Dionysus said, “I don’t pay.”

Michail looked at him for a moment as he took another drag from his cigar. He blew out the smoke and offered the same amused chuckle he’d been giving all night.

“Fine, fine,” he said. “Far be it from me to disagree. I’ve fallen for a whore or two in my life.”

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and the young man from earlier entered.

“Mr. Calimeris,” he said. “A moment?”

“You’ll excuse me,” Michail said and rose from his seat.

Dionysus waited in tense silence until the man had gone. Before Ariadne could speak, he cut her off.

“Phaedra,” he snapped so quickly, Ariadne flinched.

He hoped she understood why he was speaking to her in such a manner, but he knew what Michail was doing. He’d been called away for no reason other than he wished to observe them alone. They were being filmed and their voices recorded.

“Come.”

She seemed to understand something was wrong, because despite her hesitation, she finally approached.

Dionysus sat forward and spread his legs apart. He wanted her between them because he wanted her close.

“Kneel,” he commanded.

She held his gaze and placed her hands on his knees as she lowered before him. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever witnessed—likely because he’d never imagined this woman obeying him so easily.

He twined his hand into her hair and pulled her head back, then bent forward, his mouth near her ear. She gasped, and her hands tightened on his legs.

“Watch your mouth,” he said. It was the best warning he could give, fearing if he said too much, Michail would become suspicious of his actions.

Dionysus pulled back to look into her eyes again.

Ariadne took a breath. Despite how good she was at this act, it was a challenge for her to remain in this role.

“Have I not pleased you?”

“Hardly,” Dionysus barked, though he did not mean to say it aloud.

She rubbed the palms of her hands along his thighs slowly, deliberately. “What can I do?”