Page 55 of The Breaking Point

Not that I wanted her to see me as a brother. But I also hated that she didn’t see me as important a person as Ben had been. Or that my concern didn’t weigh on her like her dad’s would.

“I don’t think coming to a place like this just because you’re curious is a good idea,” I said.

Grace frowned. “Um, isn’t that why you came? Curiosity?”

“I knew I’d probably—do stuff,” I said weakly.

“Mmm, ‘do stuff.’ What kind of stuff? Although I already got a good preview. Whips and all. What else have you tried? Chains? Hanging girls from the ceiling? Butt stuff?”

I barely restrained myself from covering her mouth. “Can you not?” I hissed.

She giggled. “We’re in a sex club. It’s okay to talk about sex.”

“And that’s something you know nothing about.”

“And once again, whose fault is that?”

I growled under my breath. “It’s not my fault, and you know it. You could sleep with whatever guy you want. What about Will? He wanted to fuck you.”

“You want me to sleep with other guys?” Grace looked hurt and confused.

I raked my hands through my hair. “No. But I’m not going to do it either. I’ve already told you this.”

“Yet you and I both know you want me, and I want you. We’re adults. We aren’t in relationships already. What’s the hang-up? Or have you suddenly taken a vow of celibacy, minus the whole whipping thing?”

I didn’t know how to answer that. How did I convince Grace she should stay away from me, the club, and everything that could hurt her?

“Promise me that you won’t keep coming here. You could end up getting hurt,” I said.

“You’re being dramatic.”

“Am I? You don’t know what the guys in here are thinking, seeing you. They see a woman who’s open to kinky shit. What if you get persuaded to do things you don’t want to do? Or you end up seduced and dumped? Or even physically hurt? People don’t fuck around here. This isn’t Disneyland.”

Grace folded her arms, but I could tell my words were having an effect.

“You must think I’m stupid. Or just overly naive,” she said finally.

“You are naive. That’s not a bad thing, either. You’re lucky that you’re innocent about a lot of things.”

Grace was silent for a long moment. Then she sighed.

“I can’t promise you anything other than I know I’ll be careful. So trust me on that, okay?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Grace. I just didn’t trust everyone around her. Right then, it took every ounce of self-control not to throw her over my shoulder and take her home, her protests be damned.

Mac nearly dropped the beer he was drinking. “Grace was at the club? Grace Dallas?”

I nodded. “Yeah, she snuck in. She almost gave me a fucking heart attack when I saw her.”

Mac gaped at me. “Holy shit. What did you say?”

It’d been two days since that eventful night at the Scarlet Rope. Grace had bounded away after our little talk, and despite my best efforts, she’d disappeared into the club. I’d texted her after I’d left, but she’d assured me she was fine.

I’d needed to talk to Mac about this situation. He’d invited me over to his place for some barbecue and beers. Mac’s fiancée, Elodie, was at the grocery store picking up a few things.

“Was this my fault?” I asked.

“Your fault? How?”

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