Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Fury
My heart raced as I stepped into Club Privé, silently praying that Gavin wouldn’t be here. He’d be livid if he found out why I was at the club. I hadn’t breathed a word about Sienna during our earlier discussion about Arthur, nor had I revealed my conversation with Carson about letting Sienna choose for herself who she wanted to see. Honestly, I hadn’t planned on coming here at all, but Sienna still consumed my thoughts, and I couldn’t shake her from my mind.
Her body moving against mine, her fierce strength, the fire in her eyes as she stood up to me. I recalled her compassion for Dodd, despite the danger he’d put her in, and how vulnerable she’d looked in her office. The taste of her kiss lingered on my lips. Most of all, I couldn’t shake how I felt being inside of her.
My carefully constructed arguments for staying away had crumbled in the face of Carson’s simple logic. The more I mulled it over, the more I agreed - it should be Sienna’s choice. When the thought of waiting any longer to see her became unbearable, I gave in and hailed a car for the club.
The absence of a line outside told me it was a private night. After the recent incident, I couldn’t blame Gavin for being cautious. I felt a wave of relief wash over me when I saw Dodd wasn’t at the door. The urge to deck him for his negligence, which had put everyone in danger, simmered just beneath the surface, ready to boil over at any moment.
Inside, I paused, letting my eyes adjust to the dim lighting before scanning the room for Sienna. Though I wasn’t certain she was working tonight after what happened, I had a hunch she’d want to set an example for her performers by being here.
The Monday night crowd was thin, making it easy to spot her tall, slender figure by the bar. She was chatting with two men, and I felt a stab of jealousy as I approached. It faded when I saw the shorter, muscular man wrap his arm around his partner’s waist.
Their conversation seemed light, so I sidled up to the bar nearby, close enough to eavesdrop while I ordered a drink. Sienna didn’t notice me as I positioned myself behind the couple.
“This is only our second time here,” the shorter one was saying. “So we’re still getting used to the system you guys use to show who’s up for what.”
His partner jumped in, “What my partner is trying to say, and doing it poorly, is that we weren’t sure if you’re one of the employees we’re allowed to ask to join us in a private room.”
I felt my body tense, jealousy flaring anew.
Sienna’s eyes widened. “Oh, okay, I wasn’t expecting that.”
The taller man continued, “We get that a lot. Everyone sees two men together and they assume homosexual, but we’re actually both bisexual. We’re not interested in having a polyamorous relationship or an open relationship, but every once in a while, we get in the mood for something … different, you know?”
His partner chimed in, “That’s why when we moved here, we were so excited to find Club Privé. Knowing we could come here to a safe place, find someone to play with, and not have to worry about messy fallout, well, it just made us love the Big Apple even more.”
My patience wore thin as they rambled on. I fought the urge to interrupt, to claim Sienna as mine. I knew that would be a dick move, one she would hate. So I held my tongue, waiting for her response. If she wanted to go with them, it had to be her choice. I wasn’t about to let my possessiveness ruin things before they even started, but holding back my temper was a struggle.
“So, what do you say, gorgeous? Want to spend the rest of the night being thoroughly pleasured by two men at the same time?”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I straightened, turning towards them. All three looked my way. I caught a glimpse of the men’s faces as they glanced between Sienna and me, but my focus was on her. Her eyes met mine for a split second before darting away, a blush creeping up her cheeks. I could sense the men shifting uncomfortably, suddenly aware they’d stepped into something they hadn’t expected.
I watched the shorter man’s face fall as he broke the awkward silence. “Um, I guess we really did read things wrong,” he mumbled, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “Didn’t mean to step on any toes.”
Sienna’s chin lifted, her eyes flashing with defiance. “You didn’t,” she shot back, her tone daring me to contradict her.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm. “She doesn’t answer to me,” I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. “It’s her choice.”
Her eyes met mine, widening slightly. The pleased light dancing in them made my stomach flip, a mix of relief and desire coursing through me.
“I’m flattered,” Sienna said to the men, her lips curving into a smile. She reached behind the bar, the movement drawing my gaze to the graceful line of her arm. “But I’m going to pass.” She produced a sheet of paper with a flourish. “Here’s all the color coding to help you choose someone who will be a better match.”
“Thank you.” The taller man’s eyes flicked to me, a knowing look in them as he nodded. I felt my jaw clench, but I forced myself to nod back, acknowledging the unspoken understanding between us.
I watched the couple retreat, their disappointment noticeable. As I stepped into the space they’d vacated, I moved closer to Sienna, hope fluttering in my chest. But when her eyes met mine, that hope shriveled. The fire in her gaze wasn’t desire - it was anger.
Swallowing hard, I tried anyway. “Can we go somewhere and talk?”
Her eyes narrowed, lips pursing into a thin line. “That’s a good idea. Come on.”
I trailed after her, my mind racing. In her office, she motioned for me to close the door. As it clicked shut, she whirled on me, her fury scorching.
God help me, but her passion - even directed at me in anger - was intoxicating.
“What was all of that about?” she demanded, voice low and dangerous.
“All of what?” I asked, genuinely confused.
“Out there, with those guys.”
I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. “I said it was your choice if you wanted to go with them or not. Would you rather I went all caveman and threw you over my shoulder, dragged you back here, and bent you over your desk?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. A vivid image of doing just that flashed through my mind, and I struggled to focus.
A blush crept up her neck, but her eyes still blazed. “I mean, why were you even there at the bar, anyway? Eavesdropping on me?”
“I came here to talk to you,” I explained, frustration creeping into my voice. “When I saw you, I came over. But you were talking to someone, so I didn’t want to interrupt. I’m not sure why you’re pissed at me about that.”
“I’m not,” she snapped. “I’m pissed at you because you didn’t tell me that Gavin wanted to sell Club Privé.”
I took a step back, caught off guard. “Where did you hear that?”
She crossed her arms, her posture radiating tension. “He had a meeting today with Mr. Dalton, who made it very clear that he already looked at the club like it was his property. And he was not happy when Gavin told him he wouldn’t be selling.”
“Okay, if Gavin’s not selling, why are you mad?”
“Because I had to find out the same way everyone else did, when I know for a fact that you already knew what Gavin was going to do and you didn’t tell me.”
I ran a hand through my hair, exasperated. “It wasn’t my news to tell. Yeah, Gavin asked me about Dalton, but it’s his business to do with what he wants, and that includes what he tells his employees and when he does it.”
Her eyes flashed dangerously. “So it’s okay for you to poke your nose in my business? Why is that?”
Something inside me snapped. I threw my hands into the air, words tumbling out in a desperate rush. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you, okay? I came here to find out if you’ve been thinking about me too and I see you being propositioned by two men. Of course, I wanted to know what you were going to say. And, yes, I wanted you to send them away and choose to come with me. You drive me crazy in a million different ways, but I can’t get enough of you.” My voice cracked with raw emotion. “All right? Is that what you wanted to hear? That you’re in my head? That I need you so badly that it hurts?”
Sienna stared at me, her eyes wide in surprise. My confession hung in the air between us, heavy and charged. For two agonizing heartbeats, neither of us moved.
Then she launched herself at me.
Her mouth crashed against mine, hungry and desperate. I caught her instinctively, my arms wrapping around her. She fit perfectly against me, like she was made to be there. Like she belonged.