Page 41 of Brightness

But he won’t.

With a sigh, I sink further into my seat as I stare at his toned ass. He’s standing at the bar talking to Nycto and my sister. I gnaw on my bottom lip, just thinking.

Pepper slides in beside me, sporting a giant smirk. “If you stare any harder, your eyes will fall out.”

I giggle, blushing as I look away. “But he’s so nice to look at.”

Pepper turns, glancing at Void with a shrug. “True. But if you want things to progress, then maybe you need to make the first move. Void has certain… tastes… and if he’s scared to go there with you, the only way is to make him. If you’re ready to go there, that is.”

“The thing is, everyone keeps telling me about how he needs to take it slow… even Void. How he needs to be gentle with me. But no one will tell me why. What the hell is he so into that should have me running scared?”

“Running scared? Maybe not. But preparing yourself? Yeah, probably.”

With my brow furrowed, I turn to her, studying the longing expression in her eyes. “Have you and Void…”

Pepper snaps her head back to me, regret showing in her features. “Well… I mean, I’m a club girl. It’s what I’m here for, besides all the cooking, cleaning, and morale, but I haven’t for a while. Not since you’ve been here.” She pauses for a beat. “I don’t imagine Trixie or Stacey have either.”

“Great. So both of us have a chastity belt on right now.” I sink into my seat a little further.

Pepper chuckles. “He’s not doing it to punish you, Ivy. He’s doing it because he cares.”

“Well, unless he’s into killing girls and fucking their corpse, he needs to lighten the hell up. I mean, honestly. What could he possibly be into that’s so dark?”

Pepper bursts out laughing, making Void turn our way. “Shit, you’re funny. I didn’t know that about you. And obviously, I’m still alive, so there’s no necrophilia involved when it comes to Void.” She lets out a laugh. “You’re safe. Your body is, at least.”

Void heads our way as I exhale a sexually frustrated huff. “Maybe I should knock him out and feed him a Viagra, then I could have my way and my first time over with.”

Pepper shakes her head. “Uh… that would be illegal. Plus, he’d likely be so freaking mad at you th—”

“Who would be mad?” Void asks, stepping in front of us.

Pepper swallows hard, but I shrug. “You would be if I mounted you in your sleep.”

Void rolls his eyes. “Not this a-fucking-gain. Now you’re talking about us to other people?”

I huff. “Wouldn’t have to if you just gave me your di—”

Reaching down, he grabs my arm and hoists me up, effectively cutting me off. “Okay, c’mon. Time to go.”

Pepper gives me two thumbs up as Void drags me with him through the clubhouse toward the hall. My stomach flutters in excitement.

Is he taking me to his bedroom?

“Where are we going?” I whisper, my voice coming out all breathy.

Void’s lips turn up at the corner. “Jesus, you sound sexy when you’re worked up like this. We have someplace we need to be.”

My brows scrunch as we walk past the entry to the hall, heading for the exit of the clubhouse. “We’re not going to your room?”

“Keep up, sweet thing. C’mon, let’s go.”

Disappointment flows through me, but the massive grin on Void’s face, which causes the dimple on his left cheek to pop, soon makes my frustration disappear. We rush outside to where Ominous is waiting for us in a cage, and I smile. “We’re going somewhere?”

“Now you’re catching on.” Void helps me into the rear of the cage, then walks to the front passenger side next to Ominous. He awkwardly stumbles in as I close my door.

He’s still sore, the poor guy.

Ominous starts the car, and we’re off—to where, I have no idea.

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