Page 3 of Salacious Desires

There was an innocence about her. Hardly an inch of her skin exposed, yet she was sexy as hell. Wide hips, full breasts, pouty lips. She called to me. I wanted to sweep her off her feet and carry her into my room on the third floor so I could get to know every single thing about her. Privately. Because those wide, dark brown eyes tell me there’s a lot to know. Questions I want answers to.

She relaxed into me for a brief moment before she pushed me away. When I was holding her, everything in my head went quiet. I wasn’t thinking about the next app I’m going to develop or the club’s accounts or any of the hundreds of other things running through my head. I can’t remember the last time I felt so peaceful. But when she turned and walked away, I let her. Like a fucking idiot.

Why was she standing in front of Edge? She’s definitely not a member here. I would have recognized her. You don’t forget a face like that. Ever. Plus, my brother and I make it our mission to know every member, especially those in tiers two and three.

“Earth to Drake.” Easton waves his arms in the air to get my attention. When I snap out of my thoughts and look across the office, he’s smirking.

“You’ve met a woman,” he says. “I’ve been waiting for this day. All the shit you gave me when I got with Faye. It’s payback time. Who is she?”

“I don’t know.”

Fuck. I let her walk away. I held her in my arms and felt her body against mine. Felt the bolt of lightning I’d never felt before, and then I let her go.

Easton sits up straight and cocks his head. “Oh, shit. I was right. What do you mean you don’t know?”

Running my fingers through my hair, I shake my head. “I don’t know who she is. She was standing outside the front door. She tripped, and I caught her. Then she ran away. And I didn’t stop her.”

Steepling his fingers under his chin, Easton stares at me. “You’re a dumbass.”

I start typing harder than necessary and ignore my brother. I don’t need him to tell me I’m a dumbass. I already know that. I’m also not going to give him the satisfaction of agreeing.

The truth is, I can’t explain the magnetic pull I felt toward the mysterious woman. Can’t shake the image of her from my mind. The way she looked up at me with those startled eyes. Her hand was tiny against my chest.

I replay the moment over and over again, each time feeling a pang of regret for not chasing after her. But what would I have said? What would I have done if I’d caught her? Meeting a woman outside of the club isn’t wise. At least if I meet them here, they know what I am. A stranger on the street would have no idea what she was getting into with me.

Easton’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “You’re really hung up on her, aren’t you? If you type any harder, you’re going to need to replace your laptop.”

I glare at him, annoyed by his smug expression. “Shut up, Easton.”

He laughs, and I want to throw something at him. Something heavy.

Marny, one of our receptionists, pops her head in the door. “There’s someone here about the waitressing position. She’s filling out an application now, but I wanted to give you a heads-up since I know you want to fill the post as soon as possible. She’s in the first-floor reception.”

Thank goodness for the distraction. Normally, we wouldn’t interview someone on the spot, but since my brother is on my last nerve, I think I’ll do something different today.

I close my laptop with more force than necessary and stand. “Great. Thanks, Marny. I’ll be down shortly.”

Easton looks at me in shock. “You’re going to do an interview?”

“Sure. Why not? We need to fill the position. With the club getting busier, we have to hire as soon as possible. The last thing we need is our current staff getting burned out and calling out because they’re sick.”

I glance at the monitors we have mounted on the wall. Every square inch of the club has camera surveillance except the private rooms and bathrooms. Safety is our number one priority, above all else. As soon as my eyes land on the reception area, my shoulders tense, and I take a step closer. Am I seeing this right? Could that be her?

“What’s wrong?”

Shaking my head, I stare at the figure on the screen. Her head is down, so I can’t see her face, but the clothes, her long chocolate brown hair… I’m almost positive it’s her.

“It’s her, isn’t it?” Easton asks, coming to my side.

“I don’t know.”

My brother snorts. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Fuck off,” I murmur as I continue to watch her.

Her leg is bouncing up and down as she fills out the application. I want to reach out and rest my palm on her knee to soothe her. Why do I want to do that? I’ve never wanted to soothe a woman before. I’m not a jerk. I provide aftercare, but only because that’s what a good Dom does. Right now, though, I want to quiet whatever anxiety is making her fidget like that.

“Do you want me to join the interview?”

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