Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MAYBE THE NEPO BABY IS PREPARING FOR HIS NEW ROLE
TRIPP
Iwatched Greer more intently than usual—which was saying something.
It took her a few beats before her gaze dropped to actually see her friend.
When Maddie was on her cushion, she was under strict orders not to speak to anyone without Easton’s say so. Even still, she snuck a little wave at her best friend, offering her a small smile.
Both might’ve been reassuring if not for the rattle of handcuff chains that clanged at the movement.
Maddie’s blue eyes closed, and she looked so tense, it was a wonder she didn’t shatter.
Greer took a concerned step toward her friend, but I banded my arm around her waist and hauled her to me until her back was pressed to my side.
I wasn’t sure if my hard-on against her would increase her anxiety or offer a distraction, so I kept myself angled away. I lowered my mouth to her ear, my lips grazing as I whispered, “Don’t worry. She’s right where she wants to be.”
A full body shudder went through her, and my dick jerked.
I thought Maddie was closing her eyes against any potential judgement from her best friend, and I was about to steer Greer away in case there was some. It didn’t seem likely, but at the very least, there had to be a shit-ton of shock.
But Maddie wasn’t hiding from Greer. When she opened her lids, she did so with a stubborn lift of her chin.
No wonder they’re lifelong friends.
Her focus stayed on Easton as she said, “I’m thirsty.” He reached for the fluorescent red cocktail, but she shook her head. “The champagne.”
It was Easton’s turn to stiffen as he regarded her carefully. “Are you sure, guppy?”
At her jerking nod, he picked up the glass flute.
I knew what was coming. I’d seen it before. But the demonstration wasn’t for me. It was Maddie’s way of getting everything into the open between her and Greer.
Tightening my hold, we both watched as Easton tipped the glass into his mouth before letting the bubbling liquid stream into hers.
Greer gasped.
Not gagged.
Not cried out in disgust.
Not recoiled.
Her sharp intake of breath shot to my dick, but she tested my patience and control further by pushing into me.
Arching her ass.
Fuck.
Easton used a thumb to swipe away the champagne that dripped down Maddie’s chin. She remained rigid as she kept her gaze locked on him. He would’ve been okay with her talking to her friend, but I got the feeling she needed a minute.
Greer probably did, too.
Grudgingly, I slid my arm from around her until my palm rested low on her back.
I used the hold to steer her away. Her shock worked in my favor, and she went without argument.
Once we put some distance between us and the couple, she tried to peek over her shoulder at them.
Not that she could see more than Easton.
“That was… How long… What…” She scrunched her face before pausing to face me. Putting her hands on my chest, she tipped her face to look up.
And fuck, I wanted to kiss her so damn bad.
“I can’t believe…” She paused, but not because she was at a loss for words again.
Tilting her head like the weight of her running thoughts was too much to hold up, she amended, “Actually, I can believe it. Maddie has always been underwhelmed by guys she’s dated.
It was like she wanted something more. And it looks like she found it. ”
She sat with that for a second before she looked toward the couple again. A small smile played at her mouth.
There’s only so damn much I can stand.
I jerked my head toward the bar. “Do you want a drink?”
“I don’t think my nervous system can tolerate alcohol right now,” she admitted.
“Do you want to see more?”
At her immediate nod, I guided her over to the hallway that led to the private rooms.
Or mostly private rooms.
Even though it was a Thursday and not a weekend, a fair share of them were occupied. I paused us outside of an open doorway.
“It looks like a hotel room,” she said as she glanced in. She gestured down the hall. “Is that all these are?”
“That’s all this one is,” I said. Maddie had opened the metaphorical door, so I hoped she didn’t mind me giving Greer a literal look into it. “This is the one Easton and Maddie use since it’s all they need. Their kink comes from the fact that she belongs to him.”
“Belongs…” She shook her head. “What does that even mean?”
That wasn’t my information to share. “Ask your friend.”
And then agree to belong to me.
She gave a nervous scan down the hall. “Are there other, uhh, kinkier rooms?”
“What’re you hoping to see?”
Surprisingly, she didn’t laugh off my question. She didn’t get flustered and deny the excited light in her pretty eyes. She gave the truth. “I don’t know.”
We started walking again, pausing often so she could check out each piece of erotic art on the wall. A room set up like a doctor’s office and the one stocked with body dripping candles were both open. She gave each a cursory sweep but didn’t seem interested beyond that.
I didn’t blame her. Before that night on the roof, the candle room hadn’t appealed to me, either. Now I would take her in any room she agreed to.
If she agreed.
Greer
I’m in a sex club.
An actual sex club.
Probably the nicest, most refined one in existence.
Or maybe not.
I really don’t know.
I wasn’t naive. I knew places like that existed. But if someone would’ve asked me to picture one an hour ago, it would’ve been scuzzy. Rundown. A shady place that would send me running for a vat of sanitizer.
But I didn’t want to run from Gilded.
Not at all.
It was the complete opposite of any preconceived notion I had—or would’ve had if I’d given it any thought.
From the watchful guards we passed to the men armed with cleaning supplies who were sterilizing a mirror room, every detail seemed targeted for safe exploration and erotic pleasure in an elevated environment.
This place is…
It’s no wonder there are so many famous people at the bar.
At footsteps, I looked to the side.
And in the hallway with us.
I tried not to stare as a mega rock star and a pretty woman in blue scrubs headed into the medical-themed room.
Tripp wrapped a large hand around my wrist and tugged me into a dimly lit alcove. There was a door there, but not the same kind as the rest of them. His tone was gentle. “Do you want to leave?”
“Never,” I blurted on a harsh exhale. My cheeks flamed, and I had no clue where that had come from, other than it was the truth. I wanted to see more of the rooms.
No.
I wanted to see all of the rooms.
No, even that wasn’t true.
I wanted to experience them all. Even the ones that seemed underwhelming from the outside. And that made no sense.
I wasn’t that kind of woman. I wasn’t Maddie, holding out for something more.
My sex life had been fine. My self-given orgasms were more satisfying. And all of them were fueled by fantasies that were lovely and tender. Safe.
Boring.
I wasn’t wild or fun or exciting. I wasn’t even vanilla. I was non-dairy vanilla—the cheap, ice crystal crap that didn’t get creamy as it melted.
Bland. I was as bland as bland could be. I was white rice and steamed veggies with no spice.
Never spice. Not even in my own head.
I didn’t belong in a place like that, but that didn’t stop me from asking, “Do people pay to come here?”
“There’s a membership fee,” he said, confirming my suspicion.
Based on the social standings of the clientele—Tripp and Easton included—it was a safe bet that fee was outside of my budget.
Even with my overinflated salary.
“Why do you ask?” Tripp asked
I gave a dismissive shrug. “Curious.”
He tightened his hold on my wrist, and it was almost too much for my scorched skin. “Do you want to join?”
I opened my mouth to tell him no. To reiterate my curiosity. But I couldn’t force the words out.
Force the lie out.
He scanned my face, and at his stretching silence, I braced.
He’s going to tell me it’s not a possibility.
That I don’t belong here.
But when he finally spoke, it was the rumble, “There will be rules.”
“I know.” I gestured to the side. “I read the forms.”
“Not Gilded’s rules.” He gripped my jaw to tip it up. “Mine.”