Page 46 of Mastered By Desire

Nothing makes sense, least of all her presence in Low Vice.

“Then why are you here?” I ask.

Fouad’s green gaze bounces between Leah and me. He’s hoping for gossip to share with Betty later on, goddammit.

Leah says, “I’m here to enjoy myself?—”

“You’re not a member.”

“She’s my guest,” a smooth voice says behind me. “Have you signed the forms, Miss L?”

“Just about.”Nowshe smiles, so sweet and bright I’m momentarily dazzled.

She takes the pen Fouad offers and scribbles her signature on the final page of the packet.

“Pardon me, Dmitri.” Gage steps around me.

If I don’t want to be sniffing his ear, I have to take a step back.

Fuck him. My neck and shoulders are so tight, I think I’m going to snap.

He holds out an arm, and Leah links hers with his. As he leads her farther into the club, he glances over his shoulder at me.

He doesn’t wink, doesn’t smile. His eyes don’t even sparkle.

But the message is clear—he may as well be sticking out his tongue and wagging his fingers from his ears, singing, “Neener-neener, I have her and you don’t.”

What the fuck does he want with Leah, anyway? She’s beautiful, yeah, and smart and kind and funny. She has a way of making me feel like everything’s going to work out. She has a way of making me feel like I have potential, that I can ignore the dark violence within me and live in the light.

When I talk to her, she gets me in a way nobody else does. When she looks at me, she sees me. All of me. Even when it makes me uncomfortable, even when I’d rather hide. It’s horrible and wonderful and exhilarating.

But Gage doesn’t know that stuff about her. He doesn’tknowher.

With his wealth, he could find dozens—even hundreds—of beautiful women willing to take off their clothes and orgasm in front of him.

Yet he wants Leah. Why?

13

Gage

Iwaited before meeting Leah at the entrance. I wanted to make sure Dmitri saw her.

He did.

It went better than I could’ve orchestrated, had I directed the scene.

His restraint is so close to breaking. I’m tempted to put on a show tonight, something with Leah to push him, make his resolve shatter to dust.

“Thanks for inviting me out,” Leah says, her blue eyes shining up at me.

“I’m glad you called,” I say. “I’ve been waiting. Hoping.”

She looks pleased and embarrassed by that revelation.

I navigate us through the club slowly. I want her to be able to see everything, from the people casually sitting at tables and booths throughout the room, to those putting on their own little shows. All is darkness and glitter and grime. Seeing it through Leah’s eyes renders it new for me.

“Last time you were in Low Vice, we were closed to the regular activities.” I pause at Room Three, where the curtains have been parted slightly to reveal the couple inside.

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