“And if I don’t want to?”
She gave me an understanding look. “You don’t have a choice.”
“Do you really have sex with four men a month?” The guests were drawing closer, making me rush.
“Yes.” She nodded with no shame or hardship. “Once a week in Euphoria is more than enough. Sullivan looks after us in that respect.”
“Looks after you?” My eyebrows soared into my hair. “He forces you to sleep with—”
“Elixir makes it anything but forced, Jinx.” She smiled a secret smile. “You’ll know what I mean when you try it. Nothing about your time with a guest will be anything but sheer, insurmountable bliss.”
I chewed on my tongue, unwilling to tell her Sully had already fed me the nasty, noxious drug. That I’d found it an invasion of everything I stood for. That it was perverse and putrid and every other foul word I could use to describe something that shouldn’t exist.
“If it’s so good, why aren’t you expected to serve more than once a week?”
My question dripped with accusation, but Jess just smiled her contented smile and said, “Because you need the week to recover. Your body is unbelievably sore. Your immune system depleted. Your energy levels non-existent. You live more vibrantly and more freely in the hours you’re in Euphoria than you do in a year of your life outside.” She wrapped an arm around me, hugging me quickly. “You just have to trust. Trust that it won’t be terrible.”
Letting me go, she slipped from honest confidant into sensual madam, welcoming the guests as they arrived in the shallows where we stood. “Hello, Mr. Grammer. Hello, Mr. Wordworth. I hope you’re enjoying your stay so far.”
One man grinned, carefree and handsome, making me wonder why he’d pay for sex when he’d receive it willingly from most. His salt and pepper hair made him distinguished while his trim body kept him attractive. “Hello, goddesses. How are you two beautiful creatures on this stunning day?” His face split into a broad smile as if he had a secret he couldn’t wait to spill.
My hackles shot up. All I wanted to do was run in the opposite direction.
Jess bowed her head politely, smiling with invitation. “We’re fine. How are you?”
“Never been better.”
The man with the floppy blond hair couldn’t take his eyes off me. He stripped me bare with his gaze. He pinned me to the sand with intensity.
I immediately disliked him.
Instantly disgusted that he thought he had any right to look at me like I was some highly expensive dessert to a main course he’d already devoured.
“Hello, Jinx.” He smiled with smug satisfaction. “Pleasure to see you’re looking well recovered.”
“Were you ill?” Jess asked, true concern painting her tone.
“She was weak from her arrival, I believe,” the man replied on my behalf. “But back to full fitness now.” He looked me up and down. His sunglasses couldn’t hide the lust or hunger on his face. “At least…I hope.”
Why the hell was he so interested in my well-being? And how did he know I hadn’t been feeling well?
When I didn’t speak, he reached out and took my hand.
My skin crawled as he bowed over my knuckles and kissed them gently. He bowed low, lower still. The move wasn’t mocking like when Sully did it. His bow was full of worship. The authenticity of his awe made me shiver with foreboding.
No.
Not him.
Don’t let it be him.
Letting me go, he confirmed my worst suspicion. “I’ve been counting the hours for our date tomorrow night, Jinx. I wish it was tonight, I must admit.” He whistled quietly, drinking in my black bikini and lacy kimono. “You are the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen.”
Never again would I wear such revealing clothes, even in the unbearable humidity and heat of this place. I would find the sack jumper I’d arrived in and never take it off.
The other man cleared his throat. “I might have to extend my stay, Goddess Jinx, and request your company a week from now…seeing as I lost the bidding war this time around.”
“Bidding war?” The startled question squeaked out before I could stop myself.
“Yes.” The salt and pepper gentleman purred. “We both requested the honour of sharing your first night in Euphoria. I was too slow to lock in the price that Sinclair offered.”
A flurry of snowflakes landed on my shoulders, melting instantly and oozing icy fingers down my back. “What price?”
How much was my honour worth to that monster who’d bought me?
The blond man shook his head. “Money and pleasure are two separate things. We don’t need to cheapen the enjoyment we’ll find together by naming a number.”
I backed away. “There won’t be any enjoyment from my end. I assure you.”
The guy grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. “That isn’t the understanding I have. You will be under the influence of Sinclair’s elixir, and he assured me that whatever we indulge in will be…mutually satisfying.”