Chapter Nineteen
“I’ll show you my world.” Joe tapped me on the nose. “When we’ve heard from my associates. In the meantime, I'm hungry,” he said, reaching into his pocket.
Before he could do anything his phone rang. As he brought it out of his jacket, he glanced at the name and frowned.
“I need to go to the bathroom.” I backtracked towards the door as he nodded and answered the call.
“Don't run away,” he said, his eyebrows flicking as I waved a hand in dismissal and left the room.
My insides were quivering, trying to assimilate everything that had happened. Joe certainly had a lot more to answer for than I'd originally thought. He had a temper, which I hadn't been surprised at considering what he'd witnessed as a child. His sexual explorations were far beyond my realm of experience, but the idea of being tied up and pleasured made my core pulse, I couldn’t deny. I was excited to get started.
“I thought I dropped it out here,” a deep voice sounded from inside the club room.
Freezing, I waited until the voices retreated, moving away from the door. Always the inquisitor, I poked my head into the room, watching as two men in suits walked towards the wall on the far side of the room. As they approached, they pushed a panel, which slid open effortlessly and allowed them entrance into a room beyond. The slow music that came from inside had a hypnotic inviting beat, drawing me nearer.
My shoes were light on the dancefloor as I skipped across it and approached the door. My mind flashed back to Finley’s accusations about Joe's men’s night. Was this what he'd been talking about?
Creeping up to the door as it started to close, I slunk inside, hiding in the shadows beside the entrance. The room was dimly lit with flashes of bright lights coming from the stage. A red glow hovered in the wall above every booth, lit discreetly by unusual vintage metal lamps.
“Have you seen the girl on stage?” a man asked another as they stumbled out of a booth, one of them doing up the zipper on his trousers.
Before the curtain fell back down, I caught a glimpse of a woman wiping her mouth as she climbed off the table. A gasp echoed around me, shocking me enough to step further into the corner, away from the men who milled around the huge room. It was my own voice that had scared me so I tried to breathe quieter, just in case anyone saw me.
“The society feels that Finley deserved to be removed.” A deep voice reached me from a nearby booth. “I understand that you were introduced to me by the young man, but our ethos is clear. We never hurt women or men in our care... or outside it, actually.”
Another male tone hummed before replying. “Very well. As you know, I'm extremely keen to join the Protector Society. I've had several women rely on me throughout their lives and I've always found it such a pleasure to help them.”
“No children,” the original man spoke, “that's not our kink or our motto, in any way shape or form.”
An uncomfortable feeling blossomed in my chest as I bit my bottom lip. I was thrown by the secret sex-club, but there was something else, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. My hands shook as I stepped a little closer. If I could just get a better look, my curiosity might be satisfied.
A deep chuckle came from the other man and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “Of course not,” he said, “I understand.”
Shit, what was it about him that freaked me out? Maybe it was just the concept of the strange society that had me on edge, it couldn’t be anything else. I didn't know these people and they didn't know me. Did they?
I stood, frozen by the door, unable to decide whether to return to Joe – who clearly knew all about the secret room and its extra-curricular activities – or to stay and find out more about who these people – and ultimately Joe – were.
“As you're aware, we're first and foremost a charity,” the first man said, “so we expect our members to be very well...”
“Endowed with cash?” the other man said, “Don't worry, I made my billions in the last five years.”
“Five years?” the man spat, “I admire you. Can I be nosy and ask how?”
I stepped forward, fascinated by their conversation, even though it had nothing to do with me. They were billionaires and had to be to be invited into the society. That meant that Joe.. .
An uncomfortable grunt preceded the man's reply. “As we know, the sex business makes a hell of a lot of money. That's all I'm prepared to say.”
My stomach rolled for no particular reason; it was just something about the second man that made me nervous. It was obviously my trauma talking because the poor bloke was completely oblivious to being spied on in the first place.
I had to get back to Joe or he could come looking for me and that would cause a scene. Except... I wanted to know more.
“Well, my friend,” the first guy said, “this is a sex club and an intimacy society. I'll speak to the others and propose a meeting to get you an official invite to the Protector Society.”
The shuffling of feet made me back up and slip out of the door. My heart thumped as I rushed across the empty club and out into the main hall, stopping just a few feet from Joe's office. My huff was loud as I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself. I'd known that Joe was into some kinky shit, but a sex club and a fucking secret society. Maybe he’d struggled to get into the freemasons because of his debauchery.
A giggle escaped me, despite the thoughts that whirled through my mind. I jumped when Joe called out to me, clearly hearing me hovering in the hallway. Breathing out, I stood straight, ready to confront the man who'd captured my feelings.
“You were quite a while,” he said from where he sat behind his desk, “I was getting worried.”
He clasped his grazed knuckles with his other hand as he watched me, his eyebrows pulled low. He was suspicious of me already, which wasn't a surprise. He’d probably caught me on camera or something. Shit, the guy was a little more stalkerish than I had cared to admit, and yet, the forbidden pull was strong. So fucking strong.
Did I tell him what I'd just seen or wait to see if he pulled out his spy card? Bloody hell, my head was spinning with everything that was happening and I had no idea where one thought ended and the other began. It would be better to try and get home to clear my head.
“I'm shaken up,” I announced, which wasn't a lie.
Nodding, he inhaled and sat back, undoing his smart suit jacket and folding his hands across his toned stomach. “I figured you might be. I've just had word that Finley has been picked up by an ambulance. He was still alive, so that’s something.”
Swallowing, I dropped onto the sofa opposite his desk and hugged my arms around my chest. Joe stood and came over, brushing the wounds on his knuckles with his other fingers.
“I'm sorry I lost control,” he muttered.
Getting back up, I placed a hand over his heart, firmly on his chest. “You did it to protect me. The fact that he's alive is good, really good. I just hope he leaves us the fuck alone now.”
Lowering his head to mine, he kissed the end of my nose. “Me too. Shall we get something to eat?”
My heart said yes, but my brain said no. Exhaustion pulled at my muscles and I slowly shook my head. “I think I'd just like to go home. I need some sleep... and a shower.”
The corner of my lip quirked into my cheek, just to reassure him. He still frowned, looking down at me with his sexy brooding eyes. Unease bubbled within them as they searched my gaze.
“It's okay,” I said, taking his hands in mine, “I just need a moment, that's all. It's been a long adrenaline filled day and the idea of my pillow hugging my head is so very tempting right now.”
He smiled briefly before nodding and squeezing my fingers. “Very well,” he muttered, “I'll take you home.”
Should I stop him from dropping me off? Would he see that as me running away? Which I was, obviously.
I watched as he gathered up his car keys and came back to me, bending down to kiss me before taking my arm and leading me out of the room. I kept my gaze on the red carpet as we passed the main club entrance, which was still shut and quiet. I’d not known there was a huge secret room behind the main theatre. The idea that it had always been used as a sex club had my inquisitive brain whirling. My creative brain could envision men in tails and top hats staying behind after the opera to indulge in the antics of the private club.
“I would like to see you in the morning,” Joe said as he helped me into the car.
Grunting an affirmative, I climbed in and sunk low into the soft leather seat. He turned the heating on as soon as he was behind the steering wheel. He might have had a drink earlier in the night, but his head was clear now, I could see it in the way he stared at the road ahead, concentrating effortlessly.
“Do you really want me in your world?” I asked him, too tempted to test the boundaries.
He glanced at me sideways and raised his eyebrows. “More than you realise. I plan to show you how much, my girl. I've never met anyone I've wanted the way I do you.”
Aw, the magic words that filled a woman's soul and promised the world. I had no idea if I was a jealous person but could I believe him? I’d just found out that he visited a sex club – run by himself, I might add. Or was it just business for him? If he was part of the society, he had to be a billionaire. Shit, I was completely out of my depth. And strangely, it gave me a little thrill that made me rub my lips together.
“Good,” I murmured, sitting back in my seat and closing my eyes.
If I feigned sleep, he might not ask to join me inside. I needed some time alone to think about everything and to speak to Elissa if she was around. I couldn't do that if he was there.
“We're here.” His warm hand cupped mine where it rested on my lap, jolting me out of my sleep.
Bloody hell, I'd passed out not long after we'd left the club. It was only a short distance to my home across the city, but we'd got there a lot quicker than I'd anticipated.
“Thank you.” I leaned over and kissed him, lingering to enjoy his scent, just for a moment. “For everything.”
He caught my chin and my heart lifted into my throat. Not because I thought he would hurt me, but because I wasn’t completely sure of the rules of the game... or our connection.
“If you need me, just ring.” He slipped his tongue into my mouth and the pit of my stomach burned with embers as he kissed me slowly, gently, and oh so erotically.
It was as if he were imprinting himself on my memory, which the bastard didn't need to do. I was already addicted.
“I'll see you in the morning.” I looked into his eyes as I pulled away, searching them for any vulnerability.
There was none. His gaze was guarded despite being soft and tender. He wasn't going to let me in, just like I wasn't going to bring my guard down completely. Not yet. We'd shared a precious close moment together, which I had loved, but the revelations that had been sprung upon me made it hard to completely trust him. I just needed some time.
“Night, sweet one.” He kissed my forehead and watched me get out of the car, waving before he drove off.
I wasn't sure whether he was going home or back to the club, but either way, I was relieved to be on my own. It would give me a chance to do some research and make sure that I hadn't become involved with a psychopath... although, as much as I would try and run away if he was, it would be hard. Did that make me fucked up? Yep, I was well and truly broken.