Page 49 of Moonlit Thorns

“And that’s why they’re so concerned about me knowing anything.”

He nods.

“This has been going on a long time.” For as long as I can remember, the cars have been rolling through town on the last Saturday of the month.

“My father founded it, and when he died, I took it over.”

I frown. “But you were only eighteen when your father died.” His gaze doesn’t move from mine. He doesn’t even blink. My hand goes to my stomach when it lurches. “Oh god.”

Eighteen years he’s been partaking in the Vosses’ little secret. It isn’t judgment that makes me feel sick—it’s the idea that he’s been sleeping with different women on a regular basis for eighteen years. I don’t know how I know that he doesn’t have a steady partner, but somehow, I know.

Jealousy claws at my insides, jealousy that I have no right to feel. Asher Voss isn’t mine—he’s made that perfectly clear. Still, I can’t help being drawn to him, wanting to experience more with him.

“How does someone become a member?” I ask.

“That’s the end of this conversation. You got what you came for. You now know what goes on in the basement. It goes without saying that if you tell anyone, there will be drastic consequences.”

“How does someone become a member?”

He stands from his desk. “Don’t push me, Miss Boudreaux. This conversation is finished.”

He steps around his desk and continues through the office. I think maybe it’s to go open his office door and insist I leave, or maybe he plans to leave himself.

I stand from the chair to face his back. “I want to become a member.”

He stops, and his back rises and falls with a deep breath. Asher whips around to face me, eyes full of fury. “That will not be happening.”

“Why?”

He turns fully around and stalks over to me. “First, because you don’t belong there.”

“Because I’m not rich?”

“Because you don’t know what you’re asking, and if you did, I doubt you’d feel the same. Do you want to fuck a bunch of strangers, Anabelle?”

My eyes flare when he says my first name. It so rarely happens, and I love the sound of my name coming from his lips. “No, I want to fuck you.”

There. It’s out there. No taking it back.

I want to sate the desire tormenting me for this man whenever I’m near him, and lately even when I’m not. I want to know what it feels like to be owned by him. To drive him so crazy with my body that he loses control of himself.

“Don’t say that.” He leans in closer.

I put on an unaffected air and shrug. “Why? It’s the truth. You can’t tell me you’re not attracted to me.”

“You don’t have to be a member of the club to fuck me, Anabelle.” He trails a finger down my jawline to the edge of the V-neck on my dress to the center point above my cleavage. “Just say the word.”

I smack his hand away. “Stop playing games. We both know that every time something has happened between us, you react by pushing me away. Besides, I’m curious. I want some adventure. Why do you think I left Magnolia Bend in the first place? I’m stuck here for another ten months, so I might as well make the most of it.” I smile at him in challenge.

“You’ll have to find adventure some other way.”

“Fine. Maybe I’ll see if one of your brothers will nominate me.” I move to pass him, but he grips my upper arm to stop me.

“You’ll do no such thing.”

I wrench my arm from his grasp and face him. “I want in, Asher, and if you won’t make it happen, I’ll find someone else who will.”

His gaze roams my face for a moment before he lets his hand drop. “Jesus Christ, you’re serious. You’re not going to let this go, will you?”

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