Chapter 59

Sinead didn’t like the fact that going to Marc’s apartment made her feel like a high school freshman getting picked up for a date with the cute junior. Her palms were sweaty, she had to remind herself twice that she’d shaved her legs the night before, and she found herself breathing rapidly three or four times.

The mystery was gone, wasn’t it? After their talk on Monday, she knew he wasn’t the big bad blackmailer. She had the power. He’d said it over and over.

She could step away at any time. One word and he would stop everything.

And yet her nerves were spiking as she rode the elevator in his building. Her fingers clung to the handrails of the metal box nervously. Her foot tapped impatiently. It had warmed up over the week and she was wearing black, open-toed heels since the snow had melted. She’d worn a high-waisted, tight pair of faux leather pants that hugged her legs snugly, and she’d paired it with a cream buttoned blouse that billowed out nicely and let her show off her small amount of cleavage without looking slutty.

Marc had said they were going on a date when he’d summoned her. And it had been a summoning, not an ask. Not a request.

‘Be at my place at 4 PM on Saturday, ma petite rebelle. Casual but classy dress. I’m taking you somewhere fun, but indoors and non-active.’

Sinead knew her ass looked fantastic in the tight pants, and she’d used some of the tricks from the stylists Marc had treated her to before to get her hair looking better than she’d ever managed herself in the past. She’d looked so good she’d even taken a picture and sent it to Jules, who’d immediately asked who her hot date was with. That had made Sinead obfuscate, saying it was a blind first date set up by her cousin.

Jules, of course, wanted updates. Sinead had managed to hold her off and set up that they’d meet for lunch the next day. She was ... mostly sure she’d be free by then.

The idea that maybe she wouldn’t be had Sinead feeling a little hot under the collar.

Up on the correct floor, Sinead marched down the corridor towards Marc’s door, her hips swaying due to the high heels. She felt hot and sexy. She felt confident. She felt ... nervous. Still.

She knocked and waited, and after a few moments Marc opened the door and flashed her that fucking smile that looked so good.

“Bonjour, ma petite rebelle,” he said, offering her a hand and escorting her inside. He made an obvious, long once-over of her outfit. He smiled even more broadly when he saw she was wearing the necklace and earrings he’d given her. “You look ravishing, Detective. Parfaite.”

“You look pretty dressed down,” Sinead responded, raising an eyebrow. He was wearing athletic shorts and a T-shirt, which was much different than the very nice suits she usually saw him in.

“I was at the gym down the street working out, and a conversation delayed my return,” Marc said, a small conciliatory smile on his lips. “I will need a moment to get myself together. Please, follow me.” He led her down the hall and into the kitchen - despite apparently running behind, he already had a glass of wine poured for her. As usual, it was fruity and fragrant and tasted expensive, unlike the cheap bottles or boxed wine she had at her place. Just the smell of it made her relax though, and she followed Marc willingly from the kitchen to the stairs, and up towards his bedroom.

The last time I was up here... Sinead thought to herself and glanced at the bed, imagining what she’d looked like kneeling there on the edge, her bare ass raised up and turned red from the paddling. Her pussy dripping from the brutal attention. It put a flush to her cheeks and she tried to dispel the image by sipping her wine.