Sean shredded Jeanne to pieces with his look, loathing etched on his face, but when he fixed his eyes on Asia, they softened, no doubt for her benefit. She needed any moral support she could get.
Keeping her gaze trained on his, she unbuttoned her tunic, pulled it from her arms, and let it drop to the floor. Goose bumps ran over her skin. A sick feeling settled in the pit of her stomach as acid pushed up in her throat. Swallowing it down, she kicked off her shoes. Sean did the same, removing his T-shirt and flicking it aside without breaking their eye contact.
“Put some speed into it,” Jeanne said. “This isn’t a slow striptease.”
Asia slipped the button of her pants through the buttonhole. She fumbled with the zipper. It made a scratchy sound as she pulled it down. The pants fell open, revealing her underwear. Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she refused to shed them as she pushed the pants over her hips. There was no way in hell she was going to give Jeanne the satisfaction of crying.
The bald man’s gaze traveled over Asia before settling on her thong. The asshole didn’t even try to be discreet about ogling her. Next to her, Sean flexed his fingers, looking ready to attack the lot of them.
Jeanne tapped her watch. “Three seconds.”
Sean stepped out of his jeans, standing tall and defiant in his boxers. His biceps bunched as he clenched his fists, and his eyes flashed with futile fury.
Caressing his cheek with the barrel of the gun, Jeanne stepped around him and pressed her chest to his back. She snaked a hand around his waist and into the elastic of his underwear.
“That’s better.” Addressing Asia, Jeanne said, “Underwear too, Snow White.”
Asia bit her trembling lip. When she reached for the clasp of her bra behind her back, Sean locked his fingers around her wrist.
“Come here,” he said as if no one else in the room existed, as if Jeanne weren’t standing there with a pistol pressed against his head, her hand in his shorts, and ten of her fucked-up friends watching.
When Asia didn’t move, Sean tugged her closer.
He smoothed his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. “Let me.”
His touch soothed her. She closed her eyes and focused on the feeling of his fingers trailing over her back as he gripped the clasp of her bra. She blocked out everything else, trying not to think but only to survive. A click sounded. The lace cups loosened around her breasts. The underwear fell to the floor when he pushed the straps over her shoulders.
Gripping her chin, he titled her face to him. “You know you are beautiful.”
She opened her eyes. It wasn’t a compliment. It was meant to encourage.
She managed a watery smile. “So are you.”
A grin spread over his face but quickly disappeared when Jeanne went on tiptoes and said in his ear, “Do you need warming up my dear? I’ll happily take care of the task.”
“Get your fucking hands off me or I’ll break your wrist,” he gritted out.
“Suit yourself.” She chuckled. “But you better hope your skills in bed are as good as your skills behind a bar counter, because now you’re going to make our sweet little Asia come, or she dies.”
“What?” he asked with a growl, yanking Jeanne’s hand from his underwear and shoving her away.
Jeanne only laughed. “You heard me. You have ten minutes to give her an orgasm, and I’ll know if she fakes it.”
The bald man said, “Make it twenty. I like my shows longer.”
Jeanne smirked. “Fine, twenty. Here’s how this is going to work. She’s going to lie down on the table and spread her legs for us, and you’re going to suck her off. When you’re done, she’s going to return the favor. If either of you fail to orgasm, you’re dead.”
Asia stared at Jeanne. She couldn’t have heard right. “What?”
The blue of Sean’s eyes turned to the color of a frozen lake. “Is this your idea of a sick joke?”
Jeanne smiled, looking pleased with herself. “Let me clarify that. If either of you don’t come, you’re both dead. That’s the only rule.” She turned to her friends. “Who wants to place bets? My money is on Sean pulling it off. I’m not so sure about Snow White. She looks a bit frosty.”
“You’re fucking nuts,” Sean gritted out.
“Thank you,” Jeanne said. “I won’t be accused of being boring.” She checked her watch. “The clock starts now.”
Sean’s expression shifted when he faced Asia. She knew that look. It was one of intent. He was going to do it. Her breaths turned shallow. Her mind screamed at her to run. She took a step back, but Sean clasped her upper-arms, pulling her to him and surprising her by planting a soft kiss in her neck.