Prologue #2
My heart leaps into overdrive. Because Beau fucking Walker is staring at me behind a black mask.
He wants a beer, Honey. Wake up. “Sorry. Of course.” I let him grab a drink off my tray as I take in his costume. “What are you supposed to be?”
He’s wearing jeans that fit him like a glove and a black cape that’s pushed back, so all I see is his hard chest and abs. Good Lord, he’s ripped. “A Musketeer.”
I’m not sure this is what Alexandre Dumas had in mind when he wrote that novel. “In Wranglers and Ariat boots?”
When he leans in to hear me over the music, I catch the scent of his spicy cologne. Damn, he smells good. He chuckles with a shrug. “I wanted to come as a firefighter tonight, but my friends said that would be lame.”
“Why’s that?”
He scans the room and lowers his voice. “I don’t think we’re supposed to share anything personal here.”
“Right.” The first rule of the sex club is not sharing personal info. Duh. “I’m sorry I asked.” I take a step to move past him, but he puts his calloused hand on my arm.
“I didn’t mean to be rude.” He looks me over. “What are you?”
I set down the drinks and adjust my tiara. “I’m Belle. She’s a princess who likes books.” Speaking of sounding lame... Also, who dresses like a Disney princess to attend a sex party?
“You look incredible.” He leans closer. “Though I’m not sure what a princess like you is doing in the Devil’s Den.”
“I guess you could say I’m taking a walk on the wild side.” Heat steals across my cheeks. If only Beau and I were really talking. “I’d better get back to work.” The words burn on my tongue. I can’t believe Cyn talked me into waiting tables for free. That girl owes me.
Beau nods, and disappointment spears me as another woman with her tits out and raring to go comes up to him with a giggle.
You and Beau Walker are never going to happen, Honey. Let him hook up with someone else. When I reach the other side of the room, I turn back to get another dose of reality, but they’re gone.
Just as well.
I wander through large rooms with chandeliers and people having sex on settees and guys doing shots between women’s naked breasts. I try not to stare and make a mental note to watch that movie the parking attendant mentioned.
At the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder if Beau is having sex with another woman right now. I’m not sure if I hope to see it so I can purge this dreadful crush I have on him, or if it would hurt too much to witness.
In real life, he’s never noticed me. Not once. I’m not sure if that’s because he’s four years older than I am or because my family hates his. He and my brothers have gotten into several fights over the years.
After I refill my tray and make another round, my feet ache something fierce.
I take another shot, grateful for the buzz numbing that pain and helping me loosen up.
For a girl who’s never gotten farther than second base, the shock of tonight is wearing off.
I don’t stiffen when I come face to face with boobs or some dude’s naked member now.
I don’t even blink when several guys go to town on a woman in the middle of the dance floor.
That makes me strangely proud.
Everyone views me as a good girl, and yes, I might be a little sheltered, but I’ve overheard my two older brothers talk about drinking and parties and hookups.
Just because I’ve never dated a guy I wanted to go all the way with doesn’t make me a prude.
I know there’s more to life than being a dutiful daughter and doing well in school.
I’m not sure I wanted an immersive experience into debauchery, but I’ve always loved a good challenge.
And getting through tonight seems as good a challenge as any.
When I’m out of drinks, I set down the tray and scan the room, which has grown more naked in the last half hour. I decide it’s time to find Cynthia, and I turn to make my way back to the kitchen, but someone grabs me from behind and pulls me to him so fast, I almost trip.
“Whoa, baby. Where ya going?” a guy in a gladiator costume slurs from beneath his mask.
“Let go. You’re hurting me.” The man has a death grip on my wrist. Fear settles over me. Would anyone help me if this guy pushed himself on me? For the first time, I realize how far over my head I’ve gotten. I’m basically at a sex club. For all intents and purposes, by myself.
“Come on now. Aren’t ya gonna show me a little love? That’s why I pay the big bucks.”
His sour breath turns my stomach. I move back and yank on my arm, but he doesn’t budge. “Please let me go.”
“You heard the lady. Let her go.”
Relief floods my chest. It’s Beau. His voice is low and raspy. I turn and catch a glimpse of his clenched jaw before he wraps his muscular arms around me from behind. “She’s mine tonight.”
The guy squeezes my wrist once more but releases me. “Then she shoulda said something.”
Beau turns me to him, and I instinctively burrow against him. “Thank you,” I whisper.
His large hand runs down over my back. “I got you, honey.” I freeze, but when I look up to catch him shooting the retreating gladiator a death stare, I realize he’s not saying my name.
Would it be so bad if he recognized me?
Would it be so terrible if something happened between us?
Nuzzling closer, I brace myself for him to smell like cheap perfume and sex, but he still smells like his yummy cologne and sexy man.
I smile against him, thrilled he hasn’t hooked up with anyone.
Unless he got a blow job.
My smile withers.
I take a step back from Beau. “I thought… I thought you were with that other girl for the evening.” I may be new to this whole sex party thing, but if Beau banged another woman tonight, I’m out. I might be a virgin, but I’m not an idiot.
He smirks as he brushes a strand of black hair out of my face. “No, darlin’. I was playing poker in the parlor.” Leaning closer, he runs his nose against my neck, and I shiver. “Why? Were you jealous?”
Feeling safe behind my mask, I bite my bottom lip. “Maybe.”
As he watches me, he tilts his head. “I have to be honest with you. You seem too pure to be in a place like this.”
I could say the same thing about him. Beau Walker is the last man I’d expect to see at a sex club.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to call him out for being at the Devil’s Den himself when Cynthia’s words come back to me. Tonight’s the time to be a little wild. To take chances. To stop being the good girl.
Infused with another bout of bravery, I run my finger down Beau’s hard chest. “If you have a few minutes, I could show you how wrong you are about that.” My heart knocks in my chest at my brazen words.
His nostrils flare, and he glances around. “Come on.” He laces our hands together, and we run down a dark hallway and up a flight of stairs.
At the top is another bouncer. They do this weird hand clap thing that makes me wonder if they’re friends. “What’s your pleasure? Group or a single room?”
“Single,” Beau responds as he tugs me closer.
“Last door on the right.”
As we pass rooms, shadows within writhe on what I can only assume are beds. I pause in front of an open door and peek in. A woman is tied to a headboard as some guy goes down on her.
An ache forms between my legs that’s a little mortifying. Is it bad this is turning me on?
Let go, Honey. There’s nothing wrong if you do this with the right man.
We continue down the hall. The sound of a sharp snap cuts the air, and I suck in a breath. Beau looks at me and grins. “Don’t worry. We won’t mess with the whips.”
I let out a strangled laugh as he leads me to our room. I should be scared, freaked out that I’m alone with him, but I’m not. Because even though Beau has never noticed me, I’ve noticed him.
I’ve seen him help old ladies cross the street. I’ve spotted him helping a neighbor change a tire. And I’ve watched him help construct the swing set in the park downtown. As much as my brothers hate Beau Walker, I know he’s a good man. He’d never hurt me.
The only thing I wonder about is if he’s done this with other women.
I shouldn’t be jealous, but I am.
When we enter the bedroom that’s only lit by one small lamp, I scan the room. There’s a queen-size bed, a loveseat, and a tray of liquor. Curiosity gets the best of me, and I wander to the booze, where I also find a bottle of lube and a stack of condoms.
“They’re very thoughtful here, huh?” I ask, almost to myself.
Beau sits on one end of the loveseat and rubs his palms on his thighs. “What time do you get off work? We can hang here until your shift is done. I’ve heard we can order food, if you’re hungry.”
I sit next to him. “I thought you wanted to…”
He studies me for a long minute. “We don’t have to do anything, gorgeous. I just figured you must be tired from running around all night in those sexy-as-fuck heels and could use a break.”
This is why girls fall all over themselves for Beau Walker. I’m offering something naughty, and he wants to get me some time off my feet. Can I lick his face and claim him? Would that be wrong?
“Thanks. That’s really thoughtful of you.” I sit back and lean my head on his broad shoulder where I can smell his cologne better. When I shiver, he lifts his arm and settles it around me. Holy hot cowboy, he feels good. “How’d you do at poker tonight?”
“Made out like a bandit.”
I turn to look up at him. “Then shouldn’t we celebrate?” I motion to the drinks. “We have rum, whiskey, and vodka. What would you like?”
He rubs his jaw. “Whiskey.” My kind of man. After I pour us both shots, he holds his glass up to mine. “What should we toast to?”
With my pulse beating wildly, I smile. “To taking chances.”
We down our shots, and I breathe through the fire in my chest. Then I set down the glass and pray I’m not about to make a fool of myself. “So what were you saying earlier? That I’m too pure to be here?”
Tension arcs between us, and his stare grows incendiary. How I wish I could rip off his mask and see his beautiful rugged face.
He fingers a strand of my hair. “Not sure I’m good enough for you, princess.”
“Why don’t you let me decide?” Here goes nothing. I straddle his lap and his hands go straight to my ass. I thread my fingers through his dirty blond hair. “You saved me from that guy with the meaty fingers out there.”
“Any man would’ve done the same. Doesn’t mean you owe me anything.” He looks around. “I don’t know how things work here, if I’m supposed to pay you, or…”
I rest my finger over his mouth before he insults me.
“I’m not a prostitute. I usually wait tables and pour drinks.
” Or at least, that’s what I do in real life when I’m not in school.
“I’ve never hooked up with anyone like this.
” I don’t mention that I’ve never actually been here before.
Or had sex. But if I say that last part, it might make things weird.
He nips my finger, and I laugh. “So what you’re saying is you want to be here with me.”
So badly. “Yes. I want to be here with you.”
He pulls me closer and grazes his lips across mine, sending sparks through my body. This is what I’ve been missing with the boys I’ve dated. Chemistry.
I grip his broad shoulders as he kisses me deeper. His tongue slides against mine, and I moan.
When his nose dips to my neck, I shudder in his arms and grind down on the huge bulge in his jeans.
“Honey, you smell so good.”
God, I wish he was really saying my name right now.
His calloused hand dips under my shimmery flowy skirt, and he grazes my inner thigh. “You wet for me, baby?”
I go up in flames.
A man has never spoken to me like this before. Because you’ve been dating boys.
I answer honestly. “Yes. Soaked.”
He groans and thrusts up, and I tilt my body to apply the pressure in the right spot. He gets the hint and grips my ass to help me move.
Oh my God. Am I going to come from grinding on Beau Walker?
Why, yes, yes, I am.
I burrow my face in his neck as I cry out. Shivering, I close my eyes as bliss washes over me.
After a minute, I realize that Beau isn’t holding me anymore. He’s just sitting there. Embarrassment quickly overpowers my post-orgasmic glow.
Awkwardly, I sit back on his thighs. “I’m sorry. That was… fast. But I can still help you get there.”
His eyes narrow as my confusion grows. Why is he being weird?
“How do you know my name?” he grits out.
“Wh-what?”
“My name. You said Beau a minute ago. How do you know who I am?”
Shit. I must have moaned it when I came. This is bad.
But maybe it doesn’t have to be. Maybe this is my chance. My real chance.
Please, Beau, don’t make me regret this. “I recognized you,” I say softly, hoping that he won’t stay mad.
“Impossible.”
“I’ve known you forever, Beau.” With my heart in my throat, I reach back and untie my mask. “I’m Honey.” I clear my throat. “Honey McAllister.”
His jaw turns to granite, and he gets up quickly, dumping me on the couch. “Are you fucking serious right now?”
I cringe at the vehemence in his voice and try to stand but nearly topple over. “Calm down. This doesn’t have to be a big deal.”
“Calm down? Calm down?” His voice grows louder. “You’re not twenty-one. What the hell are you doing here? Did your brothers make you do this? Because you can tell them to fuck off if they think—”
“No one made me do anything. I’m here with my roommate.”
“So what? You thought you’d slum it for a night with a Walker?”
My eyes sting, and I reach out to try to calm him down, but he jerks away like my touch burns. “Beau, I swear, I’m not trying to pull anything here.”
He laughs coldly. “Go back to your castle, princess. You don’t belong here.” With that, he turns on his heel and walks out, slamming the door behind him.
Tears trek down my face as I stare blankly at the dark room. What just happened?
A few minutes later, the door opens again.
Everything in me hopes it’s Beau, but it’s the bouncer we talked to at the end of the hall.
He clears his throat. “Your friend gave me a hundred to call you a ride. It’ll be here in ten in front of the house.
I’m supposed to walk you out and make sure you get home safely. ”
Humiliation burns my face. I sniff and wipe my tears before I tie on my mask. “Can you give him a message for me?” He hesitates, which tells me he can. “Tell Beau he can shove that money up his ass. Tell him he’s every bit the dick my brothers say he is.”
With that, I push my shoulders back and walk out.
Beau Walker can fuck right off. I hope I never see that man again.