Praise (Salacious Players Club, #1)

by Sara Cate

Why don’t dating apps match people by their kinks?

RULE #1: NEVER PUT UP WITH A DOUCHEBAG BOYFRIEND—DUMP THAT LOSER.

RULE #4: AFTER A HUMILIATING DAY WITH YOUR EX’S DAD, TACOS AND MARGARITAS ARE ALWAYS THE ANSWER.

I zone out while shoveling ice cream into my mouth, thinking about the way he touched my cheek, how strangely gratifying it felt when he said that one word: lovely. He didn’t call me pretty or say you look nice. This was different. It was…approval.

“Nope.” Quickly, I swipe the screen away and toss my phone on the nightstand. “Nope, nope, nope.” I am not that kind of girl, and I have absolutely no interest in finding guys who want to make me get on my knees while they call me pretty. Fuck that.

I seriously need help. Trying to have sex with my ex-boyfriend’s dad in my dreams…just lovely.

“Why not?” “Because that’s ridiculous. What’s the point?”

And suddenly, there is no hesitation. The words just travel effortlessly across the table straight from his lips to my ears. “Ms. Underwood, you looked exquisite on your knees.”

RULE #6: AVOID MALLS FOR THE RISK OF RUNNING INTO YOUR EX WHILE HOLDING BAGS OF LINGERIE YOU FANTASIZE WEARING FOR HIS DAD.

He’s so mature and handsome and rich, I bet they breed girls especially for him.

If this week has proven anything to me, it’s that I need to watch myself around this girl. She’s too perfect to ignore and too forbidden to be mine.

“Oh my God, you are a hooker, but I’m not complaining!” “I am not!” “Well, just keep dressing like one.”

“You’re such a good girl, Charlotte.” My shoulders relax, seeming to melt down at my sides as I gaze up at him, those beautiful words washing over me like warm water. Suddenly, I’m all gooey and compliant, like that one little phrase put me in a trance. He could literally do anything to me in this state.

Because right now, there’s only one thing I want, and that’s to come. I don’t even care that it’s in public anymore.

You made me very proud today. And you are more than enough. You are perfect.

You want me to tell you that I want to taste you, Charlotte? Because I do. I want to touch you, tease you, fuck you, bend you over my knee and turn that pretty little backside red. There’s not a thing on that list I don’t want to do with you, so you can put the paper and pen away, little girl. Every single thing would get a five from me.”

Dear God, please let this be the only man I fuck for the rest of my life because there’s not a chance in hell anyone else could ever top that.

WORK IS SO MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE WHEN YOU’RE FUCKING YOUR HOT BOSS.

I hate him because, at the end of the day, I can’t keep him.

Corrupting this perfect, young woman, making her mine and ruining her, so she can never feel this way about another man. But I don’t care. If I’m a monster, I’m a monster. I can live with that.

DURING A HARD BREAKUP, REFER TO RULE #4—TACOS AND MARGARITAS ARE ALWAYS THE ANSWER.

You can’t be unhappy in a Mexican restaurant.

THE TRUTH HURTS LIKE A BITCH.

DON’T APOLOGIZE FOR SHIT YOU’RE NOT SORRY FOR.