Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Every bit of her was a tide, pulling me in. Her allure crashed over me in waves, fracturing the walls I’d built all week, bit by bit, until all I wanted to do was bury myself inside her and never leave.
Fuck.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a woman spoke from the stage at the front of the room. “We will perform a spanking demonstration in ten minutes. Please settle in and get comfortable while we prepare.”
I was relieved by the distraction until Emily walked on stage, obviously preparing to be the submissive for the show. The last thing I wanted was to watch Emily getting spanked with Aspen at my side. Especially with the way Emily continued to eye me with her heavy-lidded stare. I took another drink, using the glass to hide a cringe and muffle an irritated groan.
Not five minutes later, the announcer strutted over with a tight smile and leaned down to whisper in Rose’s ear. Based on the blood rushing from Rose’s face, she hadn’t shared anything good. Immediately, Corbin tensed and soothed his hand along her back. He made it look so easy to comfort Rose, while I sat there fisting my hands in my lap, fighting the urge to reach for Aspen—to give her everything she needed to ruin me.
“What is it?” Corbin asked.
Rose sucked in a deep breath through her nose and exhaled through pursed lips. She rolled her shoulders back and slowly blinked, as if fortifying herself to face whatever bad news she’d received. “It seems as if Ronin, our Dominant for the evening, left early without any notice or explanation.”
“Oh, shit,” Aspen muttered with an apologetic wince.
“Yeah,” Rose said, huffing a laugh without any humor.
“Do you need me to go grab someone else?” Corbin offered.
“There is no one else,” Rose bit out. “We’re already short-staffed because three other performers called out, and Duncan quit last week.”
“What about Mark or Lincoln?” Corbin asked.
“I can’t use just anyone. We were supposed to showcase a moderate to intense spanking that leads to the submissive’s orgasm. Mark just started dabbling in impact play, and Lincoln is too soft.”
My mind drifted to memories of my hand striking Aspen’s plump flesh, leaving behind a raised imprint of my palm, before soothing the burn. Her moans of pleasure haunted me, stirring my cock.
“Damnit,” Rose swore, her face crumbling. “This had to be perfect.”
“Rose,” Corbin soothed. “Not everything has to b—”
“It does,” she cut him off. “I designed this for the executives at Midnight Orchard, and if it’s not perfect, then they won’t want to partner with my club.”
My brows rose.
“As in…” Aspen started.
“The premier company for erotic toys,” I finished her sentence with a nod. Partnering with them would be a massive opportunity for The Berkshire.
“Oh, shit,” Aspen murmured.
Corbin shook his head. “You didn’t tell me that was tonight. You said you were still in the talking phase of that deal.”
“I didn’t want to tell anyone in case it failed. Like it is now.” Rose tossed her hands, leaving them to slap back to her lap as her eyes glossed over.
Corbin lifted defeated eyes to mine, and I hated it.
Sensing the mood, Aspen scooted closer to me, searching for her own comfort in the tense situation.
I fought the urge to tuck her into my chest. My muscles twitched, reaching for her. One week of forcing myself to stay away, and I was already breaking my rules. One week, and my walls trembled, ready to fall.
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
My pulse raced, pumping me full of the same fight or flight adrenaline that screamed at me to run. My lungs spasmed, and I couldn’t—I couldn’t…
I opened my mouth, desperate for my mind to formulate any words that would save me from falling back into vulnerability. I didn’t even know what I would say, just relying on the instinct that had protected me for years.
“I’ll do it.”
“What?” Rose said at the same time as Aspen.
Rose’s eyes flicked between us, but as soon as the offer burst free, I knew it was the perfect way to create space between Aspen and me. Both physically and, more importantly, emotionally. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t look at her after I said it. It didn’t matter that my chest sank in on itself at the thought of performing the demonstration. It didn’t matter that my skin chilled when she shifted away.
None of it mattered because it was what I needed to be safe.
“Are you serious, man?” Corbin asked, smiling, oblivious to the turmoil my offer created when it provided a perfect solution to Rose’s problems. “Because that would be great.”
I focused on Corbin’s grateful smile. My friends were in need, and I could help them. I wasn’t the kind of man who let a woman interfere with my friendships—not since Daria fucked my best friend. I wouldn’t let Aspen stop me from helping my friends just because she formed unwarranted feelings I swore would never happen.