Page 144 of If Our Hearts Collide

“Take it all in, Penny.”

“I’m trying to, but everywhere I look seems like I’m imposing on a private moment.”

Daphne lets out a boisterous laugh that has a sinister edge to it. “At Limit-X, patrons know it is basically a playground for all of their naughtiest fantasies. Everyone here being watched chooses it. Desires it. It all just adds to the fun.”

“Limit-X? This is more than just a social club, isn’t it?” The words get stuck in my throat, as I take in the entire scene.

If arriving and seeing Michael hold a leash on Daphne wasn’t enough giveaway…

I really am that naive and inexperienced girl that I crave to evolve out of…

“As long as socializing with body parts meets the criteria, then I think this place would pass inspection,” Daphne giggles. “But remember, you are not allowed to breathe a word about what happens here to nonmembers. I mean, technically you aren’t a member yet anyway.” Her eyes crawl up from my feet to my eyes, taking stock yet again of my body. “But Master Yuri will want to lock you in, I’m sure. You’re his type.”

Before I can ask for more clarification on what she means, my attention gets pulled across the room, where I see a man giving a woman oral sex while she writhes around on a chair. And then I see the silver wrought iron cages elevated off the floor by chains hung from the ceilings.

“How did I not notice those before?”

“Oh, those just got lowered a few minutes ago. Look fun?”

“This is wild.”

“I’ll go in one with you. Surprisingly the floor is super comfy, and they are sturdy and don’t swing around like you might expect.”

“What’s the point of going inside?”

Daphne can’t stop giggling. “I mean, some people fuck each other’s brains out inside…”When I make a face, she laughs even harder.

Tugging me along, we go explore closer to the dance floor.

I’m being naive—clearly—and I think she’s enjoying the whole experience of giving me the grand tour. At least my shock is entertaining to her.

The song changes and we start to sway to the music, when her attention is on the man approaching us. “Hold on to your thong, because things may get a little wilder for you.”

I look between the man and Daphne. “What?”

“If you’ll excuse me for just a moment,” she says, closing the distance between us and the man.

I can hear her mumble something to him and then within seconds, she is down on her knees, undoing his belt, button, and zipper. What the hell is happening? And when—oh, I don’t know—some number of inches springs free from his boxer briefs, I know this is my cue to get the fuck out of dodge.

“I, um, I’ll go grab a drink at”—I look around the room to see if I can find one place where I won’t be a blatant observer—“catch up later.”

“I’m thirsty as well,” I hear Daphne say, but I refuse to look at her.

I pull myself from the awkward situation, as she proceeds to mutter unintelligible words to me, while her mouth must be stuffed full of some man-who-is-not-Michael’s cock. Damn. Nothing about tonight is what I expected. This place is intense.

I stumble backward before pivoting and turning toward what appears to be the bathrooms and then?—

“Ouch,” I gasp, rubbing at my head. “Sorry.”

“My apologies,” the long-haired blond man says, rubbing at his chest. He dips his head in greeting, giving me the once-over on the way back up to my eyes. “You must be Penny.”

“I, um…” My eyes stare up into crystal-blue ones. They are warm. Inviting. I could get lost in them if I wasn’t so intimidated by his stance and demeanor of power. “How did?—”

“I am Yuri. And Michael informed me after Daphne failed to inform me that there was a little fawn loose in the club.”

“I, uh, oh.” Then realization dawns on me. I’m the little fawn. “I’m sorry. She left you a note on your desk. I didn’t mean to?—”

“Little fawn, you need to stop apologizing for everyone else’s bad choices. Daphne could have looked harder for me. She likes to get in trouble, because she treats the attention as a reward instead of as a punishment. You didn’t do anything wrong. Now, tell me what brought you to the doors of the most elite and private club in the state of Oregon.”

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