Page 36 of Playing with Desire

The problem was, Summer didn’t want to put him behind her. But she also knew she couldn’t pine for him forever and continue living the same monotonous life, every single day, without at least trying to change things up.

Paige grabbed her hands, squeezing them gently. “You can’t keep going on the way you have,” she said, reiterating Summer’s thoughts. “It’s not healthy to live in this kind of limbo, and maybe just getting out of your head for a night and feeling something other than anger or heartache will be the catalyst to moving forward. You don’t need to fall in love with anyone. You just need to feel like you’re in control of your life and emotions again.”

Paige’s words definitely resonated with Summer, because for the past four months, shehadallowed Declan to have too much power over her fluctuating moods.

Walking away for a moment, Paige withdrew an envelope from her desk drawer and came back to Summer, extending what she knew was an invite to the club. “Here. Take this and just think about everything I’ve said.”

Summer didn’t argue. With the envelope tucked in her purse, she left the shop for the weekend, mulling over everything Paige had said to her, all of which made sense on so many levels. That Friday evening, she went to bed giving Paige’s idea serious consideration, and by Saturday morning, she’d decided she wanted—no, she desperatelyneeded—to feel something other than the hurt and anger she’d lived with for the past four months.

She wanted to experience pleasure instead of the constant grief tightening her chest. She wanted to find a man who’d take her out of her head for a little while and give her an escape from the loneliness overwhelming her. And instead of going to a random bar and picking up an arbitrary stranger to go home with, at least The Players Club offered safe and consensual sex in a regulated environment. A place where she could lose herself in the sublime bliss of being dominated and not feel shame. Nor would she have to worry about any awkward morning-after scenarios as long as she made her one-night-only deal clear up-front. For her, this was all about escapism, nothing more.

As she got out of bed for the day—when she normally slept until noon on a Saturday because she had nothing else to do—she felt a small shift inside her, like she was taking the first productive step to rebuilding her confidence to finally move on.

A glimmer of anticipation flowed through her, and Summer smiled, realizing it was the first time in four months that she felt optimistic about the future.

Rick prowled aroundThe Players Club and through various play areas, feeling edgy and restless because it had been a while since he’d found a woman who’d captured his attention. And it didn’t escape his conscience that it was all kinds of fucked up that he was looking for a curvy blonde to play with tonight, because after seeing Summer the previous week for dinner, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her or that one erotic night he’d shared her with Declan.

Which really didn’t come as a huge surprise to Rick. During the time she’d lived with him and Declan, it had taken immense effort for Rick to keep things light and flirtatious between him and Summer while respecting the boundaries that Declan had established. But there was no denying that having her around on a regular basis had increased his feelings for her, as well as his attraction to her.

His stepbrother would probably kick Rick’s ass if he knew about the impure thoughts he had toward Summer, regardless of the fact that Declan had broken up with her and insisted she move on and date other people. There was just this silent code between brothers that you didn’t make a move on their ex, no matter that they were no longer together, and that’s what Rick kept reminding himself.

Combine the added agony of Declan asking Rick to watch over Summer while he was gone, and it was just another temptation to see her, be with her, and keep his fucking hands to himself. The fact that she was still pining over Declan at least made it easier for him to keep things platonic between them.

He stopped at the balcony overlooking a lounge where men and women mingled in search of a partner for the evening before escaping to enjoy more provocative pleasures. There were plush chairs and couches, a small bar where people could order their two-drink maximum, and also more private alcoves where partners could escape to for more intimate conversations.

His bored gaze scanned the area and stopped when it landed on the backside of a curvy blonde—exactly the kind of woman he’d fantasized about hooking up with for the evening to get another out of his head. Her long hair hung in silky waves halfway down her back, and the material of her red, off-the-shoulder dress outlined her shapely figure and a rounded ass he wanted to do dirty, filthy things to.

Unfortunately, she was talking to another man, who Rick knew as Mitchell, and they seemed to be pairing off. Disappointment tamped down Rick’s initial interest as Mitchell grabbed her hand and led her toward one of the private alcoves. Except when she turned to sit next to the other man and Rick had a clear view of the woman’s face, shock rendered him to the spot.

Holy shit.The woman looked like Summer, but Rick told himself that his eyes were deceiving him. Making him see what he wanted to because she’d been on his mind too damn much. But then those cherry-red lips curved into a sweet smile, and she laughed at something Mitchell said. Rick’s entire body stiffened. He was intimately familiar with that light, flirtatious sound that made his stomach tighten with desire.

He swore beneath his breath, his fingers tightening on the balcony railing. As desperate as he was to deny that Summer was here at The Players Club, there was no mistaking it was her.

Jesus, what the fuck was she doing there?

The two of them stood up again, and Mitchell placed his hand on her back, leading her toward the stairway that led to private playrooms. The knowledge that she was about to be alone with another man with dominant tendencies poured jealousy through Rick’s veins and spurred him into action.

He raced down the stairs, coming face-to-face with the couple as they walked out of the lounge. Rick deliberately blocked their path, forcing them to stop, and while Mitchell frowned, Summer stared at him with huge, round eyes.

“Rick,” she breathed, her expression startled.

He met Mitchell’s confused gaze. “She’s with me tonight.” Then Rick grabbed Summer’s arm and pulled her toward him. “You’re coming with me.”

Normally sweet and docile, Summer resisted, planting her heels firmly on the marble flooring. “No, I’m not.” Her chin lifted, her pretty blue eyes flashing stubbornly. “I’m not doing anything wrong.”

Rick disagreed. The fact that she was about to be Mitchell’s plaything for the night had him on the verge of blowing a fucking fuse.

Mitchell glanced between the two of them, his expression etched with concern, despite knowing Rick and his sterling reputation at the club. “Are yousureshe’s with you?”

Between himself and Declan, Rick had always been the easygoing one, but tonight, in this precise moment, he felt as though something animalistic had been unleashed in him. No way was he letting Summer walk away with this other man, and he narrowed his gaze on her, making sure she saw the direct challenge in his eyes. “Say your fucking safe word and I’ll let you go.”

It was as simple as that. He gave her a choice, and his gut twisted when he saw the flash of defiance in her gaze.Where the fuck did that come from and why did it make his dick hard as stone?

He braced himself for her to sayred, which he wouldn’t be able to refute, and he’d be forced to release her to Mitch. The thought of her spending the night with another man—the first, he suspected, since Declan—ripped something inside of him to shreds.

Her sexy red lips pursed for a moment, and then she glanced at Mitchell. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t expect this to happen.”

Mitchell looked all sorts of bewildered. He was a man who understood submissive women, but it was clear that Summer wasn’t going with Rick all meek and mild. She looked furious with him, which only made Rick more irritable, too.

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