Page 25 of Eden's Deliverance

I might do something stupid.

Jason, the artist Julian chose to work with, takes over talking and scheduling with the boys. I return to my post and continue working on my fake skin, not lifting my head again until they’ve all left.

I’m fucking exhausted by the end of the night, having taken well over an hour to sterilize the studio and prep for everyone who’s coming in tomorrow.

The apprenticeship is good, school is good, everything’s good. Everything’s fine. I’m fine. My life is fine.

But I miss Eden.

8

Scarlett

It’s taken a few weeks, but I’ve made it back in the saddle.

I’m going to walk in there with my head held high—wearing any color but red—andCunnilingus Casanovais just going to have to deal with it. He may be able to command me in the bedroom, but he needs to understand I’m my own person.

I refuse to be intimidated.

I think I’ll even give him a taste of his own medicine by finding a completely different partner. I have no doubt he’s going to approach me tonight, but this is perfect weather for a cold shoulder.

The elevator slides open, and it’s comforting to see the usual mob of dancers gyrating under the chandelier while “Antidote” by NOT A TOY blares over the stereo.

Penelope and I make a pit stop at the bar to throw back our first round of drinks, then order a second pair to take right to the dance floor. Before long, we’re jumping to the music, sweating our asses off, and laughing like we don’t have a care in the world.

Fuck, I missed this.

There’s something so hypnotic about Eden that I’ve never experienced anywhere else; I just can’t put my finger on it. My head feels light and airy, like I’m floating with every step I take. My skin is so conductive, every brush of Pen’s fingers against me sends a volt of electricity through my body and straight to my core. I can’t move, breathe, or touch anything without it eliciting pure euphoria and arousal.

Maybe it’s the secret sex rooms in the back.

Maybe it’s something else.

We’re close enough that I’ve been able to scope out the bar while we dance, just lying in wait forhimto appear. It didn’t take long to spot him; I just had to look for the purple mask.

That makes three times now that he’s miraculously matched with me, despite having no prior discussion about it. I’m beginning to wonder if he’s watching me outside the club.

Unfortunately for him, his friend is sporting a blue mask like Penelope. It’s the same man I’ve had my eye on since the first night at Eden when he approached us at the bar—before Pen scared him away.

“Let’s go to the bathroom quick!” I shout over the deafening bass, then drag her by the wrist until we reach the ladies’ room. “How much do you love me?” I’m still out of breath from dancing, but the struggle for air doesn’t compare to the anxiety I’m fighting.

She looks concerned but humors me anyway. “Uh, you know I’d die for you, but what are you getting at?”

“Your mask,” I pant. “Switch masks with me.”

I wasn’t anticipating her response to be this dumbfounded look on her face, but there it is. “Scarlett, no!” She rips her arm from my grip and walks to one of the sinks to fix her makeup.

“Pen, please. When have I ever asked you for anything? Just do this one thing for me,” I beg.

She crosses her arms over her chest, gawking at me with an unamused expression. “For one, you asked me for the ‘in’ to this place, and now you want me to help you break the rules? We could be banned for life if we get caught. What’s the big deal?”

I run my fingers through my hair, trying to think of the best way to explain so I don’t sound crazy. “I don’t know how to make you understand, but you’ve seen him. If he knows we matched masks again, he’ll convince me to go back with him…and I don’t want to.”

“So don’t do it. He’s just some fuckboy, it’s not like he canmakeyou do anything.”

I join her at the sink and check my own face for touch ups. “I know it sounds stupid, but when he’s around me, I fall under his spell. I just want one night to be free of him, and to make a point that he doesn’t have any control over me.”

The puppy dog eyes I keep flashing her in the mirror seem to be working, because she sighs heavily and unties the blue mask from behind her head. “You owe me…likesobig for this. And if we get kicked out, you’re finding us a new club,” she says, shoving the mask against my chest.

---