[Jasmine’s POV]
Gareth kneeled while continuing to reach down to the floor.
My heart pounded as all the possibilities of why the Lycan King would kneel before me flooded into my head. Was he going to caress my legs with those strong hands of his and plant kisses on my inner thighs? A shiver of anticipation coursed through me, and I fought the urge to fidget. I needed to seem like a confident seductress, not an anxious virgin.
Then, he scooped up my coat from the ground and held it up to me.
“You must be cold, Jasmine,” he murmured and pointedly looked down at my coat.
Stunned, it took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that he was rejecting my offer.
My entire body flushed as I spun around, and Gareth helped me into my coat. To make matters worse, his touch still seared my skin as his hands brushed my arms.
I tightly tied my coat around me and scolded myself for offering my body up on a silver platter to him.
What had I been thinking? I told him that I could do whatever he wanted.
Now, I knew I had absolutely nothing to offer Gareth Laken.
Then, I remembered my mom’s anguished sobs and how my father must be feeling locked in a jail cell for a crime that he didn’t commit.
I swallowed my pride and forced my lips to turn up into a flirty smirk.
“Are you sure I can’t change your mind…?” I trailed off suggestively and placed my hand on his warm chest.
He gently grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together. His gray eyes held an intense look as he met my gaze.
“Jasmine, what I’m going to tell you is very important.”
I froze from the serious expression on his face.
“Never, and I mean never, offer your body up for sale,” Gareth continued. “Because at the end of the day, you are selling much more than your body. You're selling away your innocence. And that’s priceless.” He squeezed my hand and looked deeper into my eyes. “You are so young, and you have so much more life left to live. Please, think through your decisions before you make them.”
His last comment made me pull my hand away from his grasp. His sentiment almost sounded something like…like a father would say. There was an unmistakable trace of disappointment in his eyes.
I took a step away from him as shame and despair washed over me.
“Thanks for the advice,” I grumbled, crossing my arms.
“I'm just looking out for you,” he said gently but firmly.
“Right.” My voice was dripping with sarcasm as I masked my shame with anger. “Well, there's nothing more to say then.”
I turned around to leave, but deep down, I wanted him to stop me.
But he didn’t.
So, forcing my feet to move forward, I left his office without looking back, my neck burning with embarrassment.
***
Gareth stood with his hands behind his back, looking out his large office window. His body stiffened as he watched Jasmine get into her car and drive away, slowly disappearing from his view. His wolf growled in displeasure at her absence.
With a frustrated sigh, he took out his phone and hit the number one on his speed dial.
“I need you to look into Lowett's arrest,” Gareth said when his Beta picked up on the second ring. “Use our tech team to access emails, bank accounts, anything you can get your hands on. Make sure that you're discreet. I don't want the wrong people to know I'm looking into it.”
“I'll get right on that,” Beta Kevin answered.
After Gareth hung up, he sat at his desk and picked up notes for his next meeting. But he couldn’t concentrate with Jasmine's sweet scent lingering in the room and the image of her beautiful body branded in the front of his mind.
***
[Jasmine's POV]
“It was so embarrassing, Mindie,” I told my best friend later that day. “I literally stood naked in front of the Lycan King and offered myself to him. Then, he flat out rejected me.”
I was sitting on her bed with my knees tucked to my chest, watching her sort through her closet. After I changed out of my silly lingerie and made my mom a dinner I knew she wasn't going to eat—she hadn't been able to keep anything down since my father's arrest—I came over to Mindie's house.
My best friend and I didn't have any secrets from each other, and I just got done telling her about Elliot's engagement party, my kiss with Gareth, my father's arrest, and the indecent proposal I made to the king.
“I'm sorry, girl,” Mindie said sympathetically. “You have to admit…he kind of has a point.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“Sleeping with someone for money would change you…forever. It's not a decision that you can make lightly.”
I blew out a long breath. “Yeah, I guess you're right.”
We were silent for a moment, and I became lost in my thoughts.
Then, Mindie’s brown eyes widened as she held up a skimpy silver dress.
“I think I know another way you can make the money you need.” She pointed to the shiny dress.
I snorted. “I thought you said I shouldn’t sell my body.”
Mindie rolled her eyes and threw the dress at me. I ran my hands over the sequins after I caught it.
“Brad is looking to hire another server since Angela quit last week,” Mindie told me.
I groaned when I realized where she was going with this. Mindie worked nights at the prestigious Club RoseClaw as a waitress, serving drinks to the wealthiest people in our pack.
“You hate your boss,” I pointed out.
“That’s true,” Mindie admitted. “But the tips are really good. You’ll be able to save up a bunch of money really quickly.”
I sighed. She was right.
“Come on, let’s get ready,” Mindie said excitedly. “My shift starts in an hour.”
Reluctantly, I stood from her bed, with apprehension making my stomach stiff.
But I would do just about any job to avoid being Elliot’s mistress.
Forty-five minutes later, Mindie and I were standing before her boss. The night was already in full swing. The club was packed with men and women in designer clothes. Even though Brad’s office door was shut, I could still hear the sounds of techno music and laughter coming from the club.
“You can start tonight, Jasmine.” Brad scanned my body in a way that made my skin crawl. “The only rules I have are no stealing from the register, no drinking on the job, and most importantly, no causing trouble. Just do your job and do it well. If I hear that you're being rude or fighting with my clientele, you’re out.” He turned his gaze to Mindie. “And so are you since you recommend her.”
“I understand,” I said quickly.
Once Mindie agreed, she helped me get ready in the back.
The club’s uniform consisted of a tight, low-cut silver sequined tank top, a black miniskirt, and thigh-high gold socks. Mindie curled my hair, painted my lips pink, and highlighted my blue eyes with silver shadow.
When I looked in the mirror, my stomach jolted in surprise.
“I look…sexy,” I said with awe.
“Yeah, you do!” Mindie replied supportively. “Let’s go make that money!”
She quickly showed me the ropes, then armed with a blank ordering pad and a black tray to hold drinks, I was ready.
I maneuvered through the thick crowd, smiling at everyone I passed. In my section, a large group of men had just sat at a table.
With a bright smile on my face, I walked over to them. But when I saw a sea of familiar faces, I froze.
Those were Elliot’s friends.
Shit.
Before I could turn around, one of his best friends—Simon—caught sight of me.
A slow, wicked smile crossed his face, and he snapped his fingers, gesturing me over to their table.
I had no choice.
Raising my chin, I walked over, trying to keep my fake smile from slipping from my face.
“What can I get you?” I asked Simon, my pen poised over my pad.
His eyes trailed down my revealing dress, and when he spoke, he looked at my breasts.
“Oh, Jasmine, you’re looking good, darling. How about you take me to the back room and show me a good time? I would give you…” Simon looked around at his friends. “What do you guys think an hour with Jasmine is worth? Fifty bucks?”
They roared with laughter, making my cheeks heat and my blood boil.
“Nah,” another one of Elliot’s friends replied as he eyed my bare thighs. “Look at those curves. She’s at least worth a hundred.”
Simon gripped my wrist in a stronghold, making me jolt back in surprise.
“Why don’t you strip off that slutty little uniform and we’ll pay you in one dollar bills like the stripper you are?” he muttered cruelly.
My hands clenched into fists, but I tried to keep my composure. I couldn’t break Simon’s nose no matter how much I wanted to.
I needed this job.
“What did you just say to her, Simon?” Mindie demanded, stepping up beside me and glaring at him.
“Stay out of this, Mindie,” Simon snapped and pushed her roughly to the side, causing her to stumble and fall.
My vision went red, and my hands trembled with anger. Elliot’s friends could mess with me all they wanted, but all bets were off when he messed with my best friend.
With a deep breath, I splayed my hands on Simon’s chest and shoved him away from Mindie.
“Get away from her!”