Page 6 of Sins of a King

His jaw clenched and he nodded.

“What kind of services?” I demanded, suddenly understanding what I’d overheard at the restaurant. “You’re not interested in my history knowledge, are you?”

I stood up and began to pace across the living room floor. I whirled on Flynn, who had stood too, but was watching me with an indiscernible look on his face.

“You agreed,” I said in realization. “At the restaurant. Andrew asked if you guys had a deal.” My eyes narrowed. “What kind of man agrees to that sort of thing?”

In two quick strides, Flynn was in front of me, looming and fierce. “You don’t know anything about me.”

“So what is this? I work off my brother’s debt in the bedroom? Is that what you were hoping? Keep me chained and bound and—”

Flynn gripped my upper arms, dragging me close to him so we were nearly nose-to-nose despite the fact that he was several inches taller than me. “If I wanted a woman, I wouldn’t have to pay for it.”

“Then what could you possibly want me for?” I asked, still in shock.

Flynn released me, setting me back down on the floor. I nearly stumbled in my heels, but I caught myself.

He gestured to the couch. “Sit down. And I’ll explain.”

Chapter 3

Flynn went to the bar to refill my glass.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I need food if we’re going to keep drinking this way.”

“What do you want?” Flynn asked, setting my glass down on the coffee table before picking up the receiver of the hotel phone.

“Red meat. Medium rare, please.”

A small smile appeared on Flynn’s generous lips. He ordered two steaks and baked potatoes. I should’ve known he was a meat and potatoes guy.

He settled back down in his chair and looked at me. “Tell me about your relationship with your brother. Clearly there’s no love lost between you two.”

I stiffened. It still burned—Andrew had bartered me like I was an animal to be sold. “Andrew’s my half-brother,” I said, not bothering to disguise the bitterness I felt. “Same father, different mother. He’s a decade older and he was never nice to me. Ever. Even when I was little. Then my parents died in a car accident, and Andrew became my guardian.”

“Why?” he asked. “Was there no one else you could’ve lived with?”

“No one else,” I said with a nod. “There was also a stipulation in Dad’s will. Andrew had to take care of me, or he wouldn’t get his inheritance. Dad’s idea of trying to keep the family together. There was money for me to go to college and higher education, so I never really understood why Andrew resented me so much. It’s not like he wanted for anything either.”

“Why did you come to dinner tonight?” he asked.

“He told me there were some papers I had to sign. Family estate stuff. I wouldn’t have come otherwise, and he knew it.”

“Family is not always made by blood,” Flynn said. “As far as I can tell, that’s all you and your brother share.”

I took another long drink of the potent amber liquid, wanting it to wash away my anger at Andrew. It was one thing to get himself into trouble—but to barter me? What a selfish prick.

“So,” I said, “now you know all about me.”

“Hardly,” Flynn replied. “But I know enough.”

“Will you explain to me what role I have in all of this—if not to be your…what? Sex slave? Mistress?” I laughed. “Mistress. Are they still called that?”

His lips quirked in amusement. “You wouldn’t want to be my mistress?”

Tipsy on scotch, I felt bold as I replied, “The idea doesn’t repulse me, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“Then why the big show of being offended by the prospect?”