Chapter 13
“Do you think West will ever come back for these appointments?” I asked as we pulled on our robes.
Rian shook his head.
The three of us had reserved the place for ourselves at the same time each week, for years. While we didn’t touch each other, we did explore other people together. I’d seen every inch of them and they’d seen me. There wasn’t much we didn’t share together.
But now that West was madly in love with Kaylee, I doubted that would happen again.
“Maybe he will. This place is a part of him, just like it is for us. I don’t want to abandon hope just yet. Kaylee knows what this place is all about. West would never lie to her. And, since they’ve spent time here together anyway, she probably doesn’t mind so much. It’s not a mystery to her. If she and West can establish boundaries together, and abide by them, I don’t see why he can’t come back when he’s ready.”
“Sounds as healthy as a goddamned kale salad,” I growled.
“Doesn’t it?” He laughed, shaking his head. I could see the envy in his eyes. He’d never admit it, but I knew he wanted a connection with someone like that. If he ever dropped his gruff exterior for more than a minute, he might find it.
“You ready?” I asked.
“Ready.”
Passing over the threshold, we let the heavy wooden door fall closed behind us. The darkness of the temple blanketed us. The usual hushed silence fell over the space. Flickering orange flames from the heavy torches lit our way down the long hallway, leading to the great room of the temple.
A round, caged bed was prominently displayed in the middle of the dimly lit, oval-shaped room. Our guests had already arrived, mingling slowly around the space. A few of them stood around and watched the two men on the bed who’d already begun making out.
We made sure to evenly divide the guest list between men and women, but once invited, they were free to engage with each other in whatever way they wished.
Naked and masked, the two men were tangled up together, their sculpted bodies entwined in a passionate embrace. Surrounding them, three women stood at the edge of the bed, lightly running their fingers over the men’s bare skin as they made out. Bathed in the amber glow of the flames dancing off the walls, the image was like something out of a cinematic masterpiece. Sensual and provocative and arousing, displaying the mysteries of exploring the human body.
I stood back.
Watching. Worshiping.
My cock twitched with desire under my robe.
One of the women picked up a soft leather whip from the nearby table. She lightly slapped it against the nearest man’s ass. He jumped, startled at first, but when she slapped him again, he moaned, pushing his ass up in the air in a silent plea for more.
Rian had been watching beside me, but after a moment, he moved forward, his cock hard and heavy in his hand. He approached a woman outside of the cage, gently caressing her arm in greeting. She nodded and flashed him an inviting smile, her eyes peeking out from behind the glittery mask she wore over them.
That was the only sign he needed. He gripped her hand and confidently led her over to the wall of restraints. After a short conversation, she leaned against the wall, enthusiastically raising her hands over her head as Rian secured her to it with the wrist restraints. He did the same thing to her feet.
Within seconds Rian had her writhing against the wall while he flicked a cat o’nine tails over her breasts, slowly teasing her as he slid the leather down her belly, snapping it and flicking it playfully along her soft bits as he went along.
I couldn’t help but smile. Rian came alive in the temple. We all did. The look in his eyes told me he was finally relaxed and at home in his skin. He was still gruff and rugged, but the temple gave him a space to blow off the steam inside him that usually seemed ready to blow at any moment.
Personally, I got just as much pleasure from watching everyone as I did from participating. Today was no exception. I leaned against the wall, casually rubbing my cock as I took in the beautiful darkness unfolding in front of me. The snaps of leather meeting flesh echoed through the air, mixing with the sound of moans and lusty cries of pleasure from our guests.
My eyes raked over the room, trailing over the gorgeous bodies of the dozen or so club members, each in various forms of undress. Rian and I were responsible for who was invited to our private sessions, but we didn’t always share who we invited with each other.
I saw a familiar pair of legs walking through the darkness, and my cock twitched. Mae was here.
She was masked, as always. And tonight, my own hood was firmly in place.
She glanced my way, but walked right past me, heading straight towards a pair of men chatting in the corner. My heart sped up as she approached them with a warm smile and boldly grabbed them between their legs.
I took a deep breath as first one, then the other, kissed her deeply. The urge to intervene was strong, but I waited.
I watched helplessly as Mae made out with these two men and moved closer.
She reminded me so much of Everleigh that a wave of jealousy washed over me. It was ridiculous, but undeniable.
I forced myself not to look away, a low growl vibrating through my chest. I watched with disdain as one man’s hands ran over the curve of her hip. I knew the feel of her velvety flesh sliding under my fingertips and I imagined that was my hand. When the other man’s tongue dove deep in her mouth, I almost cried out in anguish.
When her grip tightened on his cock, he moaned into her mouth. She pulled her lips away, a sensual laugh escaping from her perfect lips. She’d been so quiet when we were together and her laughter tweaked something deep inside of me, leaving a nagging feeling that I couldn’t shake.
The man bent down, his mouth engulfing her rosy nipple. She threw her head back in ecstasy as she cradled his head, pulling him in closer to her breast. The other man sank to his knees, his mouth inches from her pussy.
I watched with my teeth clenched. That was my pussy. That was my job.
No.
No fucking more.
I pushed forward without thinking, closing the distance between us in seconds. I gripped Mae’s arm and pulled her away.
She yelped. Bewildered and confused, her eyes widened at the sight of my hand on her arm. As I kept pulling her away, she shook her head then looked up at my face.
Her eyes peered deeply into mine.
Despite the darkness, I knew.
This wasn’t Mae. This was Everleigh.
The realization shook me to my very core. The smug look in her eyes left me reeling.
The shock turned to anger . the Anger turned to indignation.
“Don’t say a word!” I hissed, pulling her quickly into a nearby room. I was hoping like hell Rian was so preoccupied with his own partner that he didn’t notice us.
I closed the door behind us and faced her, my anger threatening to explode. Her eyes flashed angry and hot, sending daggers straight through me.
She ripped off her mask, revealing the beauty I’d been obsessed with forever.
“What the fuck, Theo!”
“Why the hell are you here?” I demanded.
“Me!?” she whispered, incredulously. “I was invited! Or, don’t you remember?”
“I didn’t know it was you!”
“Clearly!”
“It’s my fucking club.” I said. “You need to leave. Now, Ev.”
“No fucking way,” she said, shaking her head.
“I insist, Everleigh!” My voice rose in the small room. The fact that we were locked in this room all alone in the temple was not lost on me. Or my cock, apparently. It twitched under my robe.
“Why should I leave?” She crossed her arms, looking like a petulant, angsty teen. “You can’t make me.”
I laughed. “Of course, I can make you! I could easily pick you up, throw you over my shoulder, and toss your naked ass right out onto the street.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“Don’t test me,” I warned.
Her eyes widened, then squinted as she searched my face to see if I was serious. Of course, I wasn’t. I’d never do such a thing. But she didn’t need to know that. And I needed her gone. Right now. Before we both regretted it.
“I don’t believe you,” she concluded, lifting her chin smugly.
“Everleigh, what the fuck are you doing? Can’t you find someone to have sex with privately? Why do you keep coming here? None of this should have happened!” My head was reeling. What had we fucking done?
Her eyes squinted narrower. She shook her head slowly as she came to the realization I’d hoped she’d never come to.
“Are you really going to pretend you didn’t know it was me, Theo?”
“You were wearing a mask!” I protested.
“Are you fucking kidding me? You really didn’t know it was me?” Her voice was a wispy, smoky ghost floating straight out of the depths of my conscience. She closed the distance between us, her naked body pressed up against my robed flesh. “Theo.”
The heat of her gaze bore into my face as I avoided her eyes.
“Look at me. Theo. Admit it, you knew.”
I swallowed hard. How could I keep denying it? But I had to. I couldn’t tell her I had chosen Mae because she reminded me of her. What a twisted web this was.
“No,” I said, firmly shaking my head.
She scoffed. “You’re lying.”
She saw right through me.
“What does it fucking matter, Ev?” I finally asked. “It doesn’t change anything. It’s still fucking torture and I’m doomed to live it every damned day.”
Exasperated, I pulled my hood off and let her see me. I let her see the desire I had for her. I let her see the emotion storming behind my eyes. For one second, I let the curtain fall.
“Why?” She whispered.
“Because I’m fucking obsessed with you, Everleigh. I can’t stop thinking about what it would feel like to be inside of you. I can’t stop thinking about what it would feel like to make you mine, once and for all, after all these fucking years. That’s why. Is that what you wanted me to say? Fuck!”
“Theo…” Her eyes searched mine. The heat between us grew to a raging wildfire that incinerated all the restraint I’d built up over the years.
I kissed her without thinking. All I knew was that I needed to taste her again. It was everything I wanted and yet so much more. Hot, and wet, and so soft and plump, her lips almost brought me to my knees.
I swallowed her moans with my thirst, my tongue diving in and tangling with hers in a hot dance of long overdue passion and release. Her body pressed against mine, and my arms circled her waist, pulling her in closer against my throbbing cock.
She gasped when she felt it, then melted into me. Our kiss grew to a heated bliss that stole every ounce of oxygen from my lungs.
My body exploded with pleasure. Fireworks went off inside of my brain. At last, Everleigh was in my arms again. At last, Everleigh was exactly where I’d dreamed she’d be. I’d never thought I’d be able to kiss her again, because I’d never betray my friend like that.
West.
Shit.
I froze.
Slowly, I pulled away from the warmest embrace I’d ever felt.
Everleigh blinked, her eyes wide with shock, and confusion, and lust.
“Theo, my god,” she whispered with wet swollen lips. I wanted to lick them, bite them, never stop kissing them. “I didn’t know.”
“I think you did,” I replied, giving her a wistful smile.
But all I could see was West, crushed and angry if he ever learned we’d kept any secrets from him. I’d spent so many years keeping my feelings a secret, just the mere fact that so much time had passed would be a betrayal in itself.
I let go of her waist and walked, shaking my head, to the other side of the room, getting as far away from her as I could.
“It doesn’t matter if you knew or not. I’m sorry, Everleigh. That can never happen again,” I muttered. I turned back to her, facing the anguish that flashed in her eyes at my words. I’d hurt her with my rejection after kissing her so passionately. I could see that. But what else could I do?
She closed the distance between us again. But this time, her desire was replaced with anger. Her hand sliced through the air, her open palm landing in a hot, fiery blow on my cheek.
My mouth fell open. But the painful sting was the only thing left alive in the room as she turned on her heel and walked out.
My heart lay like a bloody corpse in my empty chest.