Page 8 of Room One Hundred & Twenty-One: Kiss of Fire

She found Tristan, Liam, and Miles during that dark time. And now the four of them live together. I met them a few times when I was still living in Chicago, and I have to admit seeing them makes me envious. They’re openly affectionate with her, like they’ll die if they aren’t touching her. And they’ll kill anyone who even thinks of hurting her. Like, literally kill them. Maybe someday I’ll have a fraction of what she has.

“Lex! They’re my bosses,” I scold with a playful smile on my face.

“Who are sexy as hell. I saw their photos online, girl. You’re not fooling me. How on earth have you not slept with them yet? At least one of them?” she asks as thoughI’mthe one in the wrong.

“You’re insane, you know that? Those men of yours have scrambled your brain.”

“Probably. From too much sex!” Her tone is filled with mischief.

“Don’t rub it in,” I whine.

“Oh, please, you and I both know you aren’t a prude. And you’re beautiful, Selena. But something is holding you back, and whatever it is, you need to let it go.”

I’ve already told Lexi about the woman from yesterday, and how undeniably jealous I felt after watching them touch her and kiss her. Of course, it didn’t help that she was drop-dead gorgeous, which is something I’m not. She seemed more like their type than I am. But these men are so confusing, so what do I know? And according to Ms. Abernathy,I’mtheir type, whatever that means. Guess they like short, chubby girls with too much ass and annoyingly big boobs.

“What’s holding me back? Maybe the obvious fact that I work for them?” I say, my words dripping with sarcasm.

“Pfft. If it’s consensual, then it’s fine.”

“Did you forget that they hate me?” I narrow my eyes at the phone, knowing she can’t see me as I move around the kitchen. I make myself a cup of herbal tea before ensuring all my files for work are in order for tomorrow.

“I’m not convinced they hate you. I think they’re playing hard to get,” she suggests.

“What gave you that idea?” I huff.

“The way they avoid you after you do something that pleases them. It reminds me of a boy on a playground who’s mean to the girl he likes because he’s too afraid to admit it.”

I shake my head at the analogy. My bosses aren’t little boys. They’re grown men who’ve decided to keep me at a distance. “Can we talk about something else, please?”

“Fine,” Lexi agrees with a hint of exasperation. “So, you gonna try dating again or you gonna become an old cat lady?”

Sheesh, she’s tough tonight.

I groan just as my kettle whistles on the stove. Plopping a tea bag inside my favorite Golden Girls mug, I pour in the hot water and think about Daniel.

Yeah… I’m not ready to do that again.

“I think one date is enough for right now. I don’t have the patience to be polite to a jackass for an hour straight.”

Lexi laughs. “That does sound painful. I’m so glad I never have to worry about that.”

“Not everyone can be as lucky as you, meeting your forever men at a sex club.” There’s a long pause before she gasps sharply on the other end of the line. I jump at the sound, eyeing my phone in confusion. “Lex? You okay?”

“You should go to Club Sin!” she squeals.

The only thing I know about Club Sin is that it’s the BDSM club where she met Liam, Miles, and Tristan. There are also a few locations, including one here in Seattle.

“You wantmeto go to a sex club? To find a date?”

“Hear me out. You told me that the only reason you agreed to have coffee with David?—”

“Daniel,” I correct.

“Whatever. Was because you’ve been feeling sexually frustrated and pining over your bosses. Right?”

“Something like that,” I mutter.

“Well, the club is a great place to go if you’re just looking to let off a little steam, have some sexy fun times, and maybe meet some guys to take your mind off them.” She makes it sound like I’m just going to the bar down the street. “And it’s a safeplace. Everyone must agree to go through a rigorous application process and background check. Plus, I could vouch for you. I think they?—”

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