It wasn't an accusation. Just an observation. But it made Eve's cheeks flush with embarrassment and something else....something her body recognized before her mind could catch up.
"I'd be stupid not to be afraid," she said. "You have reputations."
"Ah." Damon laughed. "She's done her research too. What did you hear, Eve? What stories did the other dancers tell you?"
Eve's throat was dry. "That you're brutal. That women who spend time with you come back changed. That you don't do gentle."
"All true," Damian confirmed. "Does that make you want to run?"
Yes. "No."
"Liar." But he didn't sound angry. If anything, he sounded... pleased. "You're afraid, but you're staying anyway. Because of your mother. Because two million dollars is worth six months of terror."
It was too close to the truth. Eve looked away.
Silas moved into her line of sight, forcing her to meet his dark eyes. "Look at us when we speak to you. That's the first rule."
Eve's pulse jumped, but she met his gaze. "I didn't know there were rules beyond the contract."
"There are always rules," Damian said. "You'll learn them. Some through instruction. Some through experience."
Damon was behind her now...she felt his heat against her back, his breath on her neck. "First lesson, little dancer. When we ask you a question, you answer truthfully. Always."
His hand settled on her hip, possessive and firm. Eve's entire body went rigid.
"Are you afraid of us?" Damon murmured against her ear.
"Yes," Eve whispered.
"Good. Fear keeps you smart." His hand slid up her side, just barely brushing the curve of her breast through her dress. "But we don't want you terrified. We want you... aware. Present. Responsive."
Damian stepped closer, and suddenly she was surrounded...Damon behind her, Damian in front, Silas to the side. "Tonight isn't about the contract. Tonight is about seeing if you can handle us. If you break too easily, this arrangement won't work."
"I won't break," Eve said, though her voice shook.
"We'll see." Damian's hand lifted to her face, tilting her chin up. "Tell me, Eve. Have you ever been with more than one man at a time?"
Her face burned. "No."
"Have you ever been truly dominated? Held down, controlled, pushed past your limits?"
"No."
"Have you ever wanted to be?"
The question caught her off guard. Because the truth was... she didn't know. She'd never thought about it. Never imagined herself in a situation like this.
But standing here surrounded by three dangerous men whose eyes promised dark pleasures she couldn't even imagine, something inside her responded.
Something hungry.
"I don't know," she admitted.
Damian's eyes gleamed. "Honest. I appreciate that." His thumb brushed across her bottom lip. "We're going to find out together. But first, we need to establish some things."
He stepped back, and she could breathe again. But only for a moment.
"Strip," he commanded.
Eve's eyes widened. "What?"
"Your dress. Remove it. Now."
Her hands trembled as they went to the zipper at her side. This was it. The moment the contract became real.
She could refuse. The contract said she could establish hard limits. But something told her that refusing this first command would set a tone she couldn't recover from.
So she pulled the zipper down with shaking fingers.
The dress pooled at her feet, leaving her in black lace underwear and her low heels.
Three sets of eyes raked over her exposed skin. She fought the urge to cover herself.
"Beautiful," Damon murmured. "Even better than I imagined."
"Turn around," Damian ordered. "Slowly."
Eve turned, feeling their gazes like physical touches. When she completed the circle and faced Damian again, his expression was unreadable.
"You'll do," he said, as if she were a piece of furniture he'd decided to purchase. "The rest. Remove it."
Eve's hands went to her bra clasp. This was happening. This was really happening.
She let the lace fall away, then hooked her thumbs in her panties and slid them down.
Now she was completely naked except for her heels, standing in a bedroom with three fully dressed men who owned her for the next six months.
"Come here," Silas said quietly.
Eve walked toward him on unsteady legs. He reached out and traced a finger down her spine, making her shiver.
"You're trembling," he observed.
"I'm nervous."
"Don't be." His hand splayed across her lower back. "We're not going to hurt you. Not tonight."
Not tonight. The implication was clear....eventually, they would.
Damian moved behind her, his hands settling on her shoulders. "Tonight is just a taste. A preview. We want to see how you respond. How your body reacts. Whether you have the capacity to take what we'll give you."
Damon appeared in front of her, that dangerous smile playing at his lips. "And we want to see if you'll obey. Because obedience, little dancer, is everything."
His hand cupped her face, thumb brushing her cheekbone. "When we tell you to do something, you do it. When we ask you a question, you answer. When we want you, you come. No hesitation. No negotiation. Just submission."
Eve's breath came faster. "And if I can't?"
"Then the contract is void," Damian said from behind her. "You lose the money. Your mother loses her treatment. And you go back to your pathetic little life knowing you couldn't handle six months with us."
It was cruel and calculated and exactly the motivation she needed.
"I can handle it," Eve said, her voice stronger now.
"Prove it," Damon challenged. "Get on the bed. On your back."
Eve walked to the massive four-poster bed on shaking legs and lay down, the silk sheets cool against her heated skin.
All three brothers approached, surrounding the bed. Looking down at her like she was a feast they were about to devour.
"Last chance," Damian said. "We start now, and there's no stopping until we're satisfied. If you want to leave, go. We'll void the contract, reverse the payments, and you never have to see us again."
It was a test. She knew it.
"I'm staying," Eve said.
Damian's smile was cold and satisfied. "Then let's begin."