Page 20 of Reckless King

“It’s good that she has you.” I’m only half listening, because I’m distracted by the way Jarrod is smiling down at her.

He touches her arm, and she laughs up at him, as if he’s made a joke, the dimple in her left cheek flashing. Then she turns to head to the kitchen. I narrow my eyes as he watches her go. Is he looking at her curvy ass in those little shorts as she walks away?

As he turns back to the counter, his attention snags on me. Surprise flashes across his features before his jaw tightens and he returns my stare. I get the feeling he’s sizing me up the same way I’m doing to him. I don’t know why the thought of therebeing something between this guy and Violet bothers me. From the little she told me at Onyx, it doesn’t sound like that’s the case—not at the moment, anyway. Regardless, I don’t have a claim on her. And more importantly, I shouldn’t care.

Jarrod finally looks away, and I turn back to Mark and my lunch. This time, I deliberately steer the conversation away from his sister and back to work. But as hard as I try, I can’t stop replaying that night in my head. Suddenly Violet’s no longer my college friend’s little sister—who I enjoy riling up way too much—she’s the sexy-as-hell woman I made come in the middle of the club.

And I bought a membership for her. Invited her back.

Biting back a groan, I scrub my hand over my mouth. Now that I know it’s her, I can’t return. She’ll never forgive me for what I did, even if I didn’t know it was her at the time. Compounding the issue by doubling down would probably be grounds for my murder if she ever found out. The only logical solution is to avoid Onyx for a while. Not that I’ve been there much lately, but still.

Though if she does turn up looking for me this weekend, and I’mnotthere, she could end up on some other man’s lap—or under him. Unbidden, my fingers clench into a fist. With a deep breath in, I force them to uncurl. She’s a grown woman. As much as I don’t like the idea, if she wants to indulge with another man at Onyx, she has every right.

I don’t linger after we finish our meals. While Mark says goodbye to Violet, I don’t even throw a smart-ass comment her way. I merely tip my head at her. The close-mouthed smile she gives me in return is the reinforcement I need. I’m doing exactly the right thing by not dragging out this mistake.

But even as Mark and I return to the office, I can’t stop thinking about the way she felt as she moved against me, the heat of her breath on my skin, and the press of her lips to myneck. Then I’m hit with a wholly different vision. Violet moving over another man. Her breath onhisskin. Her lips onhisneck.

Fuck.

CHAPTER TEN

VIOLET

“I’m proud of you.” Anna is lying stomach down on my bed, knees bent and her bare feet kicking back and forth in the air over her ass.

Shaking my head, I suppress a smile as I smooth down my sparkly blue dress. “Proud of what? That I’m apparently too horny for my own good, so I’m hoping a masked stranger might give me my second man-supplied orgasm in over a year?”

“Uh, yes. Exactly.” She pushes herself up to sitting and swings her legs over the edge of the bed. “Eric was an asshole who manipulated you and abused your trust. You needed time to get past that. But now you’re ready to take back control of your life. What better way than to have some anonymous sexy times with a hot, rich stranger? No pressure, no expectations, just fun, and hopefully many, many orgasms.”

This time, I can’t stop the grin that tugs at my lips. “Well, when you put it that way.”

“So, are you ready?”

Nerves suddenly swarm my stomach, but I nod anyway. “I think so.”

“Great. Let’s go.” Anna leaps to her feet and slides on the heels she left by the side of the bed.

I take a deep, settling breath. I have no idea if this is the right decision. Will I even be able to go through with doing anything more than I did last week? And what if I show up and he doesn’t? Even worse, what if I show up and he’s with someone else?

“Don’t talk yourself out of it now, Vi.” Anna wraps her arms around me from behind and rests her chin on my shoulder, regarding my reflection in the mirror. “Whatever’s going on in that pretty head of yours, ignore it. If he’s not there, or whatever, then screw him. You and I can have plenty of fun on the dance floor. Or we can find another McHottie for you to get your freak on with.”

I let out a laugh. Even when I’m at my lowest, Anna knows how to cheer me up. It’s why she’s the only person I told about Eric. At the time it happened, I was feeling so low. I knew confiding in her would help me dig myself out of the hole I’d been wallowing in. If I’d spilled everything to Mark, he would have defaulted to full protective mode and gone ballistic, potentially getting himself into trouble in the process. Particularly since Eric’s boss is a state senatorandhis uncle. There was no way I’d let my big brother potentially risk his career for my sake.

Anna’s right. Tonight isn’t about a man. Not really. It’s about remembering what it’s like to enjoy myself, rediscovering the old me, the woman who’s gotten a little lost over the last twenty months.

I give my friend a firm nod. “Yep, let’s go and have fun.”

Half an hour later, we’re pulling up outside the familiar unassuming building. We’ve both donned the same masks we wore last week, but this time, it’s me scanning my membership card. It still seems so bizarre.

Inside, we pass off our purses. The woman stationed at the desk is not the same one from last time, but she’s just as friendly and professional. Once the check-in process is complete, wemake our way into the club. I know what to expect now, but watching all the masked men and women mingling in the dim light is still surreal.

Tamping down my nerves, I search the crowd for a devil mask. When I don’t spot one, I tell myself not to be too disappointed. After all, he might not be here yet, or he might be in a section of the club I can’t see. I smile at Anna. “Let’s get a drink.”

One slowly sipped Cosmopolitan later, that disappointment has gained ground. After another, I’ve decided I got my hopes up for nothing. Anna pulls me onto the dance floor, and I’m about to write all of this off as something I’ll laugh with her about later—much later, after the sharp edge of disappointment dulls a little—when a man in a Roman soldier mask approaches.

“Ladies,” he says, his voice deep, but not quite as deep as the man from last week. “May I join you?”

Uncertain, I glance at Anna, who grins at me in return.

---