The girl points to a booth, and I thank her as I take a seat. There’s a woman who is already seated, and I take a moment to look at her. She preens, thinking that I’m taken with her.

However, the long blonde hair, perfect body, and baby blues only enforce how shallow she must be to insist on my presence here.

“Isabella?” I ask with a slow, shy smile. Every word will be fabricated to make me look like the innocent Korean man that she can pervert and manipulate however she wishes.

“You must be Kian,” she purrs. She’s a few years older than me, and watching me with a predatory glint in her eyes. “I’m so glad that you weren’t busy and had time for little ol’ me.”

Ha. I made time, because when Richard James demands something, you immediately agree. He has things that I want, so I’ll agree to almost anything.

“It’s my pleasure,” I murmur, leaning to the side to allow my finger to rub the skin of her thigh. She’s wearing a black pencil skirt and a lilac long-sleeved top. Isabella looks oddly respectable, but her skin still pebbles and she shivers. “Did you know that I’ve never been to a sex club before?”

“Oh?” she asks, moving closer to me. I rest my arm on the cushions along the back of the booth, and Isabella takes this as an invitation. I would rather cut my limbs off than touch her for any reason other than duty. “I would love to give you a tour after we have a drink.”

“Isabella…” I trail off on a chuckle, looking down at her and faking the heat I push into my gaze. “Are you telling me you’re kinky?”

Shrugging, she motions for a waitress. “You learn a few tricks when you own a variety of sex clubs, Kian,” she says with a smile.

This city is known for its willingness to lose itself in pleasure, vice, and sex. I think that’s why it makes sense that the Mafia has such a strong standing here. I was initially very surprised, but I think that speaks more to my innocence at the time than anything else.

Isabella and I have a couple of drinks, and then she walks me through the club. There are observation rooms where scenes can happen between consenting adults and she explains that they have to all sign waivers. People watch the scenes as they happen, and others move to create their own pleasure.

Opening a room, she walks me inside. I know she can’t make me take this any farther than I want to, but I don’t want to fuck up all the goodwill that I’ve built up so far.

There are whips, chains, various other toys, and an odd bench with cuffs that I recognize as a spanking bench.

“This is where people come to satisfy their cravings. Each room has different tastes and rules, and some of the rooms come with their own female or male dominant. There’s something nice about just letting go of control, don’t you think?” Isabella asks, closing the door.

I’ve played both roles with Pay, so I do know. There is something nice about relinquishing control, but I only do it when I’m on her shit list. Otherwise, Patience James is mine to control, but always with her permission.

Isabella sits on the spanking bench, her skirt bunching up her thighs.

“Tell me a fantasy,” she murmurs, unbuttoning her shirt. Why are these rich, older women such closet perverts?

“I… don’t have any,” I lie, shrugging. “I’ve never really experimented before.”

Opening her shirt, her breasts bounce free as she undoes the front clasp of her bra. Grabbing my hand, I can tell she’s going to make me touch her. Please, I’d rather do anything other than that.

My cock is uninterested and limp; there’s not even a twitch. I’m broken for anyone except the light in my life. Patience is it for me.

I feel like I’m watching a train wreck about to happen the closer my hand gets to her. Isabella is just pressing my hand against her tit when there’s a knock on the door. I release the breath I’ve been holding as I look over my shoulder.

“Should I…?” I act as awkward as I feel, holding a palmful of Isabella’s breast with someone waiting at the door. It would almost be comical if I didn’t want to get away so badly.

“Yes, please get that.” She sighs, releasing my hand. I glance down as I turn, and I can see that she’s left nail indentations in my skin.

Holding back my disgust as I walk to the door, I notice that she’s hurriedly dressing. Taking my time to ensure she’s fully dressed –because I’m a gentleman– I open the door as she rises.

“Miss Isabella?” a nervous girl asks, biting her lip. I quickly realize that she’s terrified to be standing here, making me wonder if Isabella is an abusive employer.

“Yes, Aria,” she says, walking over to her.

“There’s a matter that needs your attention. I tried to handle it on my own, but—”

“It’s better to come to me with questions,” Isabella says with a fake, calm smile. I feel badly for this girl, because I don’t think that her boss is going to go easy on her. On the other hand, she saved me from Isabella’s pushiness. “It appears that I’m needed, Kian. I’ll have someone escort you out, but maybe I can see you again the next time that I’m in town?”

I would rather shove razor blades under my eyelids, but I nod instead. “Absolutely. Richard has my number,” I murmur as I say goodbye. Following the man asked to escort me out, I take a deep breath as I walk out into the night air.

All I want to do is scrub my skin, but I’m not done for tonight. Picking up my phone, I text Richard that I’ve finished my task and expect to be rewarded.