Page 70 of Unexpected Hero

“Wow. A sex club that offers benefits. Crazy.” She grabs her water bottle and takes a quick sip, seeming to need to collect her thoughts.

I keep a close eye on her face, shoulders, and hands, tracking her movement to gauge her reaction. I need to know if she’s unsure or questioning this before I get ahead of myself any more than I already have.

“It seems too good to be true. What’s the catch?”

My knee bounces, and I inhale sharply to force calmness. “The club’s owner, Dante, is particular about the staff. He fosters an inclusive environment, free of judgment.”

“Well, that’s a good thing.”

“Because of that, he typically only hires people who are experienced with the lifestyle and active in the kink community.”

Her face blanches, shoulders rolling a touch. “Oh.”

“He wants everyone to be comfortable. The staff and the guests.”

Her eyes search the table as she breaks off a piece of her biscuit, chewing it slowly. After another sip of water, she nods solemnly. “So he probably won’t hire me because I’m not experienced. Is that why you asked if I was familiar with it?”

I glance at the beach as I massage the back of my neck. “No, not at all. I was asking because I needed to know your baseline knowledge and was trying to get a feel for your thoughts on it. If it’s repulsive to you, you obviously won’t be a good fit. But if you’re open to—”

Her eyes widen, and she cuts me off. “I’m open to it.”

The eagerness painted on her features does things to me, but I bat away my reaction, remembering to stay focused. I take another bite of chicken while contemplating where to go with this discussion.

She jumps in before I can ask my next question. “So the no dating rule at the club…” Her voice trails off, and I clench my jaw.

Are there rules about that? No.

But it would be easier if she thinks that is the case. Until I figure out what to do about her father, I can’t risk getting any closer to her than I already am.

“Yes?”

She globs some honey on her biscuit. “Is this an all-staff rule or because you’re a monitor?”

Without knowing it, she’s given me a plausible explanation, and I pounce on it.

“I’m held to a different standard than the rest of the staff.”

It’s not a total lie. There are expectations. But since consent is the bedrock of what goes on at Bask, there isn’t a risk of harassment. Precautions are in place to prevent that sort of thing. When the nature of the business is sexual, it’s hard to expect staff to behave like they’re in an office environment.

“Right. So if I take the job, we can’t... you know.”

I raise my chin, owning the lie. “Correct.”

“That makes the decision harder.”

“It shouldn’t. You need a good job. And you’d be safe there.”

She pops her lips out, casting a doubtful glare at me. “In a sex club?”

“I can only think of one other place where you’d be safer.”

At Redleg, where her dad and I would be able to watch over her.

“Really?” She shakes her head, still radiating disbelief. “How is a sex club super safe?”

“The Doms are protective over the subs and the staff. They won’t stand for anything out of line. You’d be protected at all times while there.”

“Doms like you, right?”

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