Page 136 of The Villain We Tempt

“Also,” Dad snaps, cutting her off, resting a tattooed fist against the wall next to her. “My husband issober. He doesn’t drink. Ask him if he wants a cocktail one moremotherfuckingtime and I’ll deflate those cheap implants with those even cheaper Louboutin knockoffs you’re clomping around in.Do you understand?”

Julia nods her head so fast I'm surprised it doesn't fall off.

“I came here tonight to enjoy a meal with my wonderful children and my sexy husband. And I’d like to finish doing thatwithoutany more of your bullshit. Think we can do that, Julia?” he snarls.

Her head nods violently again. “Of course, sir! I amsosorry?—”

Papa and I shrink back into the hallway as Dad ignores whatever lame apology Julia is attempting to stammer out and kicks open the door. He storms out, not seeing us as he turns and marches back to our table.

Papa chuckles. When I glance at him, he’s got puppy dog eyes trained on Dad. Then he grins and glances down at me. “Some advice, kiddo?” He nods his chin at Dad. “Whoever you end up with, find someone who’ll dounhingedshit like that to make sure you’re respected. Trust me.”

23

LOCHLAN

Velvet Villainess

Do you think there’s something wrong with us?

The Ghost Prince

Probably.

On my laptopscreen in front of me, Galina’s shoulders slump a little as she audibly groans, then types again.

Velvet Villainess

Wait really?

The Ghost Prince

Lol no.

So, yeah. It's been a few days, but we're talking again. And I think I know why: it’s because of the time she saw me shirtless in the locker room.

I still have no goddamn idea why she was in there. When I caught her, she was standing and staring at a handful of lockers. I have no ideawhose, and they were all still locked anyway.

But honestly, curious as I am, her reason for being in the locker room is secondary to what happened directly after I caught her, when her gaze dropped to my bare torso and her eyes locked on the scratches on my hips.

…Scratches that just so happen to be fromherfucking fingernails.

And that’s a problem.

Not the fact that shegavethem to me. That part I have absolutely zero problem with. In fact, I think Galina unlocked a new kink I never knew I had when she raked her nails harshly over my skin as we were both coming.

That little stab of pain as my balls were unloading?

Chef’s. Fucking.Kiss.

She seriously needs to do that more often.

No, the problem is that Galina looked at those scratches andrecognized them, or at least looked like she did for a moment or two. Then she seemed to shake it off. Most likely she told herself that she was imagining things. Still, when she walked out she had this stunned expression on her face. And then she went completely radio silent with Ghost for the last four days.

Maybe she's busy with family shit. I know her dads came up to visit her and her brother. I know they all went out to eat at Christopher’s, and I also know that Julia, the waitress who IthinkDrago’s fucked a couple of times, basically threw herself at Galina’s father, Roman Nikitin.

Her very married,gayfather.

I mean, I’ve barked up some wrong trees in my time, but Jesus.