Chapter 44
Forty-Four
NATASHA
“I’ll go up with you,” Julian insists as he escorts me to the elevator. “I know you don’t like this building.”
I can feel his come seeping out of me, and I’m reminded that I really do need a bathroom. But also, in the light of day, with everything else that’s happened, this building doesn’t seem so . . . scary.
“It’s the middle of the afternoon, so there shouldn’t be very many people at Rapture, right?”
Julian’s gaze finds mine, and he lifts an eyebrow. “It’s not open yet.”
“Can you get in anyway?”
He turns to face me now and tips my chin up. “I can get in. Are you saying you want that tour?”
“I’m feeling particularly brave today,” I reply with a small smile. “So, if you have the time—”
“I have all the time in the world for you.” He pulls his phone out of his pocket as he pushes the button for Rapture, and I assume he calls Rome. “I’m stopping in at Rapture with Natasha, just for a tour. We won’t be long. Thanks.”
He hangs up and slips his phone back in his pocket, then threads his fingers through mine and lifts my hand to his lips.
“This is a good idea,” he says. “You can see it when there’s nothing going on.”
He leads me out of the elevator and down a hallway, and we’re in the bar area. I remember this from that night that Elliott brought me here.
That was so long ago now.
“Lulu works here,” I say softly, taking in the black leather, all the bottles of liquor behind the bar, the low tables with couches surrounding them.
“Yes, part time now,” Julian agrees. “Each person is allowed two drinks, max.”
“Why?”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders. “So that people don’t get too drunk and hurt each other in the playroom.”
I nod, taking that in. “I like that rule.”
“It’s a good one. Are you ready to see the playroom?”
After swallowing hard, I turn a brave face up to my husband. “Sure. Let’s do this.”
He grins and nibbles on my lips before he guides me to the heavy double doors that lead into the space where people can openly have sex.
Where the lounge is done in dark, rich colors, the playroom is in white with jewel-toned furniture all over the big space.
White sheer curtains hang to give it a mystical feel.
There are beds, couches, benches. Lots of chains and shackles.
Restraints. There’s even a cross that I saw someone tied to that one night, getting whipped.
That’s a hard pass for me.
I know there are private rooms, too, because I was in one. I’m not ready to go down that hallway right now, so we stay put, here in the middle of the playroom.
“What are you thinking?”
I sigh and shrug one shoulder. “It looks . . . I don’t know. Scary. Interesting. Humiliating. Sexy.”
“It can be all of those things and more, depending on the person and what they want to get out of the experience.”
I turn to him and brace one hand on my hip. “Did you have sex in this room?”
“Yes.”
“What did you come here for?”
His face doesn’t change. He’s somber, and he reaches out to brush my hair over my shoulder, then rubs his thumb over the pulse point in my neck.
“Please remember that I’m twice your age, Natasha, and that you have absolutely nothing to be jealous or uncomfortable about.
I came here to fuck. That simple. To get off.
I don’t have particular kinks that I need to indulge in order to be satisfied.
I simply needed to get my dick wet, no matter what hole someone let me do that in. ”
I wrinkle my nose. “That’s . . .”
“The truth,” he replies and frames my face in his big hands.
“I never claimed to be a good man, Angel. But now my priorities have completely shifted. I want you, and that’s it.
If you decide that this isn’t for you, we never have to step foot in here again.
If you want to give it a try, as long as your kinks don’t include someone besides me touching you, I’m open to listening to suggestions.
You’re in control when it comes to this.
I don’t need it. I have my every fantasy in my bed with me every night. I’m a lucky man.”
A slow smile spreads across my face. I’m not jealous over anyone who came before me. There hasn’t been anyone else since me, and that’s all that matters as far as I’m concerned.
And having sex in the open really isn’t my thing, but . . .
“Talk to me,” he says, and leans down to kiss me softly.
“I kind of like to watch.” I press my lips together and grin back at him when he smiles down at me. “I mean, who knew? But I don’t want anyone to see us because I know that there are already women here who’ve seen your monster cock, and they don’t get that privilege anymore.”
“How about this. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll come back in the evening. We’ll just watch others. You can see what goes on when everything is consensual, and then you can decide if you want to play or if you want to go home and let me fuck you until you can’t walk for a month.”
“I mean, you can always do that,” I reply with a laugh. “Okay. That sounds good to me.”
“I’ll always keep you safe, agapi mou.” My love. I love it when he speaks to me in Greek.
“I know you will.” He takes my hand and leads me back to the elevators, so I can go be with my friends and he can go finish dismantling my father and his empire.
“You’re the best thing that ever happened in my life,” I tell him softly as I lean my head on his arm. “The best damn thing.”