Alex gazed out the window, probably seeing what I was looking at, and then turned back to me, slipping her hand under my towel.

“Mmm…” she moaned, feeling how hard I was. “You like her.”

I stayed still, watching Rika as the girl stroked me. “No.”

One time I thought I might. For a few hours, long ago, we looked through the same eyes, and I felt like I could trust her.

It had been a mistake that cost my friends their freedom.

“But you want her,” she pushed, rubbing me faster and knowing exactly where my hard-on came from.

I let her handle me, but unfortunately I had no desire to reach out and touch her. I stared down, seeing Rika step off the ladder and drop to her hands and knees, running tape along the crown molding as she arched her back, taunting me.

I grunted, feeling the girl’s strokes get faster.

“Yeah,” she taunted. “So sweet and innocent, isn’t she?”

I swallowed through the dryness in my mouth and glared down at Rika. “She’s neither,” I gritted out under my breath.

“Maybe not,” the girl teased. “The shy ones tend to be the baddest after all.”

And then she leaned in, burying her lips in my neck and whispering, “I’ll bet your brother can tell you what a bad girl she is.”

Jesus.

I planted my hand against the window, leaning in as Rika sat back on her knees and looked up at the wall that she appeared to be getting ready to paint.

I hoped that wasn’t true. I only wanted two things…that my brother hadn’t broken her in as well as he bragged and that Rika had as much fight in her as I hoped.

“Yeah,” the girl breathed, kissing a trail down my jaw. “I’ll bet he knows exactly how she likes it.”

I instantly straightened, turning my head and placing a hand under her jaw, holding it tight. “My brother is the last person that knows anything about her,” I bit out, glaring down at her. “Now go home. I’m not in the mood.”

I pushed her away, and a shocked breath escaped her as she pinched her eyebrows together, looking confused.

“But you’re…,” she protested, gesturing to my cock tenting the black towel.

“That’s not for you, and you know it.”

Facing the window again, I tightened the towel around my waist and watched Rika pull her hair up in a ponytail and then bend over to pick up a can of paint.

But then I heard the ding of the elevator behind me, signaling that it was descending to pick up whoever had called it, and I quickly glanced over my shoulder to see the girl still standing there naked.

“You’d better hurry,” I warned. “I’ve got company coming up, and they’d love nothing more than to find you like that.” I let my eyes fall down, indicating her naked form.

Her eyes shifted side to side, hesitating and looking displeased. I didn’t know if she was really disappointed or just offended.

I really didn’t care. I’d already paid her, after all.

She finally turned, hurrying for wherever she’d dropped her clothes, and I heard rustling as she got dressed.

Looking back down, I saw Rika pour paint into a tray and then dip in a roller, soaking it in red.

My favorite color.

It was brave and confident but also aggressive and violent. Not sure why I favored it, but I always had.

The elevator bell dinged again, and I stood up straight, steeling my back as I heard deep voices enter the penthouse.

Turning around, I saw the girl, Alex, slip on her last shoe and grab her clutch purse before hustling in the direction of the elevators.

But regardless of whether or not she was dressed, she wouldn’t go unnoticed.

Damon, Will, and Kai emerged from around the corner, dressed in similar black suits, having just been out themselves, smiling over a shared joke.

Alex stepped quickly, trying to scurry past, but Damon caught her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Whoa, where do you think you’re going?” he teased, tightening his hold against her fake struggles. “Did Michael use his full hour already?”

Will laughed, shaking his head as he and Kai kept walking, making their way into the apartment.

Damon walked her backward, into the living room again, one of his hands squeezing her ass.

I leaned over to the chair, picking up the lounge pants I’d thrown there this morning. Slipping my legs in, I pulled them up and then whipped off the towel, tossing it on the floor.

“Just leave her alone,” I told him.

But his dark eyes, nearly black, drifted up to me, a challenge lurking there that I was getting fucking tired of seeing.

His lips curled in a smile as he reached into his pocket, taking out a roll of bills.

“I’ll be gentle,” he whispered against her cheek, holding up the money.

She turned her head, eyeing me, probably wondering what the protocol was. Was she supposed to indulge an opportunity while another was still in the room?

I didn’t care what she did. She was available, and when it came right down to it, it was her business, not her pleasure. I’d simply needed someone on my arm tonight for a private party, and Will knew her well enough to know she was discreet and hassle-free.

I was just sick of Damon’s antics.

But she turned back to him and slowly took the money.

And he didn’t hesitate. Yanking the top of her dress down to her waist, he picked her up and guided her legs around his waist.

“I lied,” he said, baring his teeth next to her ear. “I’m never gentle.”