Page 15 of Reckless King

My mind spins at the prospect. “I’m not sure… I mean… My friend might not want to come, and I… I don’t know if I should…”

“Butterfly.” He interrupts my nervous rambling. “I’d like to see you here again next week. I’m prepared to pay for a membership to make it possible. But it’s up to you if you use it or not.”

Why? Why would he spend all that money on the off chance that I’ll come back? “That’s way too expensive a risk to take.”

The sinful smile that grows across his face makes my stomach flip over. “Some risks are worth the price.”

“Right.” I don’t know what else to say. I’m at a loss for how to handle this situation.

He removes his hands from my thighs and leans back against the couch. My legs are still shaky from the intensity of my orgasm as I climb off his lap, and I self-consciously brush my skirt down over my thighs, making sure I’m covered. Which is probably pointless considering what I just did in a public place, but I won’t let myself dwell on that right now.

I take a step back as he stands, reminded once again of how much taller than me he is. With my chin tipped up so I can take in the height of him, I find myself wishing I could remove his mask and see what he looks like underneath it. Not that it should matter, but I can’t help but want to put a face to his voice and his body and his touch.

“Let me help you find your friend,” he says.

I shake my head, my chest suddenly too tight. I need a moment to breathe. To wrap my mind around what we just did.“I’ll be fine. She’s probably dancing or at the bar. She wouldn’t go anywhere else without letting me know.”

His lips flatten, but he doesn’t argue.

“Okay…” I grind to a halt, because what the hell do I say now? How do you thank someone for giving you an orgasm in the middle of a sex club? “I really enjoyed… I mean, it was nice to… uh…”

The way he chuckles, low and deep, sends a wave of heat through my whole body. “It was definitely my pleasure.”

I nod jerkily, my smile feeling a little manic. “Thank you,” I finally force out, hoping he can hear the sincerity in my voice.

Letting out a breath, I turn and make my way through the crowd, barely registering the bodies moving together in my periphery as I try to process everything that’s happened tonight.

Anna suddenly pops up in front of me, shooting my heart into overdrive and making me slap a hand to my chest. She grins broadly as she loops her arm through mine.

“So? Did Mr. Tall, Muscular and Devilish rock your world?”

I laugh, fighting the temptation to glance over my shoulder to see if I can catch another glimpse of him. “You could say that.”

She lets out a little squeal and hugs me as she steers me toward the exit. “I’m so happy for you. I kept an eye on you at the start, to make sure you were okay. But once it looked like you were, ahem, starting to enjoy yourself?—”

I groan, my skin flaring hot again.

“Ienjoyed a nice flirtatious conversation with a man with a sexy accent at the bar.”

“I’m glad you had fun while I was… also having fun.” I follow her out the door and into the long black corridor, already looking forward to getting home and taking this mask off. The soft leather is comfortable, but it’s still a little stifling, especially after my recent… exertions.

The woman who admitted us is still standing behind the desk, watching us approach with a smile. When we reach her, Anna holds her arm out, and the woman scans her bracelet, then removes it, reminding us that our accounts will be charged for our drinks. When it’s my turn, she scans my bracelet, but when the computer beeps in response, she frowns at the screen in concentration. A couple of key taps later, there’s a whirring sound from under the desk. With a small smile directed at me, she reaches down, then places an item on the counter and pushes it toward me.

“You must have made quite an impression,” she says.

I pick up the black card, still warm from the machine that just produced it. Surely, it can’t be what I think it is. I half expected him to be all talk, and even if he wasn’t, I never would have thought he’d work so quickly.

“He bought you a membership?” Beside me, Anna’s eyebrows almost reach her hairline.

The woman places a small machine on the counter between us. “If you could place your thumb on the screen,” she directs.

I do as she asks, and when the scanner is finished doing its thing, she puts it away again and turns back to her computer. With a few keystrokes, she gives me another smile. “All set. Have a wonderful night.”

“Thank you. You too.” Avoiding Anna’s gaze, I turn and head toward the door we stepped through what feels like forever ago.

She catches up to me outside, lacing her arm through mine. “You want to tell me what just happened?”

When I glance at her, the grin on her face stretches from ear to ear.

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