Page 25 of Mastered By Desire

I hug him back. I don’t repeat the sentiment. Some wounds go too deep, and what I saw, what I heard, can’t be erased from my mind.Blood-soaked concrete, bruised flesh, brass knuckles dull with use. The strangled sounds of someone holding back her sobs.

I shake the memories away, but they’ll return again. They always do.

As usual, my mom looks confused at the lack of closeness between Granddad and me. I’ll never ask how much she knows about his business. It’s better if I pretend she knows nothing.

Rachel, my cousin, seems happy with the gift card I picked up from her favorite bookstore. I spend some time catching up with Patrick, my other cousin. It’s all around a wholesome evening,even when Patrick and I spend a good hour bickering over details for the jazz club we want to open.

As I’m leaving, Danica stops me. “Dmitri. Stop avoiding me. I know you’re mad at me, so just say it.”

I stare in surprise. “I’m not mad at you.”

“You’ve given me the cold shoulder ever since I voluntold you to take in Leah.”

“I didn’t mean to. Sorry. I’m just busy.” I give her a quick hug. “But I should get going, I have work.”

I don’t have work yet. In fact, I don’t start for another hour. But like all family gatherings, there are dangerous riptides beneath the joyful waves. Best to get away before I’m dragged out to sea.

With an hour to kill before my shift starts at Low Vice, I decide to go in early and soak in the vibes. I sit at the bar while Betty fixes nonalcoholic drinks for our patrons. It’s a Tuesday night and pretty tame. My focus fixes on a trio of people around my age, two guys and the woman sitting between them.

She looks nervous, but that’s no reason to intervene. Besides, the other bouncer, Miles, is great at his job. If anything bad happens, of course I’d step in, but chances are he’d notice it before I do.

The woman’s charm bracelet catches the lights as she twirls her copper-red hair. Each of the guys slides down her dress straps so they can kiss her bare shoulders. She says something I can’t hear, and they stop and talk for a moment. A second later, the guy with light brown skin gets up and walks to the bar.

“What can I do for you?” Betty asks.

“Do you know where we could get a blindfold for our girl?” He gives her an apologetic grin. “I think it would make her more comfortable.”

Betty reaches beneath the bar and pulls out a sleep mask. “On the house.”

“Thanks…” the guy says, trailing off to ask her name.

“Betty,” she says.

“Thanks, Betty. I’m Jase. It’s our first time here.”

“Welcome. Feel free to reserve a room—you can turn the lights off or pull the curtains if anyone in your party is shy.” She smirks. “Unlike that crowd in Room Two.”

Jase thanks her.

I turn around to see what’s happening in Room Two.

Damn. There have to be at least eight people inside. The curtains are wide open and everyone’s fucking.

I see a lot of nudity and fucking in Low Vice. I’m not immune to it by any means, but a lot of the time I can ignore it because it’s part of my job. A guy walking around with his woman impaled on his cock? A man feasting on his Domme’s pussy beneath their table? Another man fastened to the St. Andrew’s cross while his lover gently flogs him? Just another Tuesday night.

But I’m not on the clock right now, and the scene in front of me is pretty fucking spectacular. Three women are together in the foreground, two of them writhing together while the third grinds on one of their faces. My cock twitches at the sight of all that female nudity and sexuality.

Even as I watch that, I keep sneaking peeks over at the trio in the booth—Jase, his friend, and their date. She’s blindfolded now and the guys have eased down the front of her dress, exposing her bra-covered breasts. From the way her lips are parted, I suspect Jase’s friend is fingering her beneath the table. Jase pinches her nipple through her bra and I can hear her soft yelp all the way over here.

“Dmitri!” a voice calls, pulling me from my very pleasant distraction.

I look up, disappointed.

Miles waves me down from the end of the bar. “There’s a girl outside, wants to see you. Leah. Can I send her in? She says she’s been here before.”

“Yeah, send her through.” I get up from my seat to meet her.

From the corner of my eye, I see Betty smiling. About what, I have no clue.

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