Page 158 of If Our Hearts Collide

Has she lost her ever-loving mind?

What was that girl thinking?

And to stop a scene mid-act…

Yes. She most definitely has lost it.

Every time I think of the way she looked at me, I feel my blood boil. Of all the places to come trotting inside, why did she pick my one and only refuge?

Sure, I haven’t visited in a while. But this place is definitely more mine than hers.

Yuri prides himself on keeping the venue off the radar of outsiders. It has an invite-only membership protocol. Yet, Penny comes waltzing in, looking like a beautiful flower in a field of weeds.

I hope she enjoyed the establishment while she did, because I sure as fuck never want to see her here again. Yet, it’s going to be impossible for me to erase the image of her standing innocently in front of me, wearing the sexiest outfit I’ve ever seen, from my mind.

Does she even have a sliver of self-preservation in her body? So many bad things could have happened tonight from her reckless behavior, and I never warned anyone here to stay the fuck away from her.

She’s going to be the death of me.

And if her brothers were to find out… They may put her on house arrest and conveniently lose the key.

I throw on my shirt, not even bothering to turn it the right side out. I just need to get to Penny before she hails a cab or does something equally as stupid—yet again—putting herself in harm’s way.

Where the hell was Chris, who I hired to watch her for the night?

That man prides himself on being able to handle anything and literally went into battle during our military days, but can’t handle the princess for a few hours?

How did she even get inside?

“Do you want to talk about it, man?” Yuri asks me, while tending to the redhead, who seems unfazed by any of this.

I mean, she shouldn’t be fazed. I’ve seen her make her rounds multiple times in this place. I just never bothered to learn anything more about her. I know she likes things rough and is good at following directions. By the glazed expression I elicited from her, I know she was having a damn good time under my control, as most women that enjoy this kink do.

I was giving her what she craved, and in exchange I got to release some endorphins. It was a win-win exchange of power that was mutually agreed upon. I came here tonight to blow off some steam and relax. And I was, until a fiery blonde flower got in my way. Now she’s the only thing I can think about as I shove my guilt into the back of my head.

My motive in accepting to have a scene with the redhead was strictly a logical one—and definitely not an emotional one.

I lead with my brain, not my heart.

The heart gets you hurt.

So I wanted someone who could handle my moodiness, while still getting off. And I also owed Michael a favor.

Doing this “public” scene was the favor.

And I’m pretty sure I’ll be owing Yuri one just to keep the princess from this establishment in the future.

“She’s going to need aftercare,” his voice cuts through the silence.

“Then give it to her,” I snap back. Sighing, I glance to the redheaded girl who is coming down from her high, in need of the comfort I can no longer provide to her.

It makes me feel shitty. But I need to get to Penny.

Turning my frustration to Yuri, I bark. “When did you start letting in nonmembers, and doesn’t that shatter the entire privacy clause?”

“She got an invite from another member apparently. I just don’t know who extended one to her when clearly that breaks the rules.”

What the fuck… I shake my head at his smirk. “And you couldn’t resist telling her no? You always had a thing for strays. Always wanting to rescue some baby butterfly who has hurt her wings.”

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