The Mercenary's Bond

Playing Innocent

I grabbed my small purse, slid out of the Camaro, and started walking toward the entrance. Most of the people shivering in their leather jackets and heels had no idea this place was owned and run entirely by a bunch territorial, overgrown assholes—they just thought it was a cool, exclusive underground dive bar.

Before I could fall into the back of the queue, my eyes caught a tall figure standing near the VIP side entrance.

Jasper. One of the leaders sons.

I gave him a quick, accidental glance—just enough to catch his attention—before sharply looking away, fixing my gaze on the pavement like I was just another shy girl intimidated by his presence. But the subtle shift in his posture told me he’d caught it. I didn't look back, keeping my head down as I strolled toward the end of the line.

I barely had time to cross my arms against the night chill before heavy footsteps crunched on the gravel behind me.

"A pretty girl like you shouldn't be waiting in a line like this," a smooth, gravelly voice purred right near my ear.

I turned around slowly, widening my eyes slightly to play totally dumb and innocent. I tilted my head, putting a sweet, hesitant little smile on my lips. "You really think I'm pretty enough to skip the line?"

Jasper’s eyes darkened with instant satisfaction, his confident cocky grin spreading wide. He reached out, wrapping his warm, callous-rough hand around mine. "F*ck yeah, you are. Come on, I'll get you right in."

Bingo.

"Oh, wow... thank you," I cooed, letting him lead me past the long queue of sighing, frustrated patrons.

As he pulled me toward the front doors, I threw a soft, sympathetic glance over my shoulder at the people still stuck waiting in the cold, hiding my triumph behind a helpless little shrug as Jasper bypassed security and pulled me straight inside.

So far, this is easier than I thought, I mentally grinned as Jasper led me straight through the crowded entrance and up to the main bar. He caught the bartender’s eye instantly, flashing a quick hand gesture, and within seconds, a glass of dark liquor was slid across the counter toward me.

"Here you go," he said, flashing a charming smile that was probably meant to knock me off my feet.

"Thank you," I said softly, taking a delicate sip and letting my eyes wander across his broad shoulders. "I might just have to save you a dance tonight to repay the favor."

As I spoke, I began idly looking around the room, scanning the exits, the staircases, and the elevated corridors overhead, playing the part of someone searching for a friend.

Jasper caught the subtle shift in my focus. "Are you here with someone?"

I looked back at him, letting my gaze slowly trail down his chest before meeting his eyes again. "Just my, girlfriend," I lied smoothly. "I was supposed to meet her here, but I don't see her anywhere."

"Maybe she hasn't arrived yet," Jasper suggested, leaning his forearm on the bar to bring himself closer to me. "I can keep you company until she gets here."

"I would love that," I said, offering a warm, sweet smile. I tilted my head, putting a trace of naive curiosity into my voice. "If you don't mind me asking... you must be a pretty big deal around here, huh? How did they just let you in like that? I've always had to wait in that awful line."

"You've been here before?" he asked, his dark eyes narrowing slightly with interest.

"Just a couple of times," I murmured, taking another slow drink.

"Funny," he whispered, leaning down so his mouth was close to my ear, his hand casually resting on the small of my back. "I kind of own the place, and I’ve never seen a girl like you here before."

I gasped softly, closing the remaining distance between us. I reached out, resting my hand flat against his broad chest, feeling the steady thrum of his pulse through his shirt. "Really?" I purred, tilting my chin up. "So... do you have an office here?"

He glanced away for a fraction of a second, his eyes darting toward the back hallway where the private doors were hidden, before looking back down at me. "Yeah. I do."

I stood up on my tiptoes, leaning into his space until my lips brushed the sensitive skin of his earlobe. "Ohh... office s*x is one of my kinks," I whispered, keeping my tone breathy and suggestive.

Jasper took a sharp, heavy breath, his fingers tightening against my hip as he stared down at me, his instincts visibly flaring. "Really?" he rasped. "Well... we might just have to fulfill that kink later."

"Okay," I giggled softly, stepping back just enough to break the intensity, returning to my drink without pushing any further. Don't be pushy, I reminded myself. Let the dog think he's the one doing the hunting.

He launched into a bit of easy small talk, asking about where I was from and what brought me out tonight. I gave him effortless, playful answers, dropping just enough vague details to keep him hooked while I kept one eye on the clock. Five minutes passed, then ten.

Finally, I set my glass down on the wooden counter with a soft sigh. "You wanna dance?" I asked, looking up at him with a helpless little pout. "I still can't see Stephanie anywhere, and I'm starting to get bored."

"Bored?" Jasper repeated, a low, dangerous smirk spreading across his face as he took my glass and set it safely out of the way. "Well, I definitely can't have that. Let's dance."