Page 9 of The Assignment: Room 3

“From you specifically?” The way she runs her fingers through her long, wavy hair, licking her lips like the cat that got the cream. “I don’t know. I’d need a demonstration to adequately offer an answer.”

“Feisty tonight.”

“I think you meanalways.” She looks to Eli with the smile of a siren.

“If you’re trying to make me hard right now, it’s working.” She knows exactly how she affects men and women. I’ve watched her putting on a show for the voyeurs before. Everyone’s eyes go to her.

“So, Eli, what do you want to know?” She seems at ease with him.

“Are you into pain?”

She laughs a sweet little sound. “Don’t beat around the bush or anything.”

“Sorry.” There’s a slight blush on his cheeks. She makes him nervous.

“I love pain. It’s such a rush. And the pleasure that comes after is mind-blowing… with the right Dom.”

“When did you realize that you were into that stuff? The pain.”

Her face sobers, and I see her visibly shut down. “That’s a long story.”

“Are you okay?” I ask, noticing the extreme change in her body language.

“Always. I just don’t feel like I need to justify what I want.”

Eli looks horrified. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“You should know by now I don’t have feelings.” She downs the rest of her drink. “I’ll leave you two to your conversation.” She stands to leave.

I instinctively reach for her, my hand grasping her wrist. “Wait. I don’t think you have no feelings. I would never say that about you, Celest. We’re friends. I would never pass judgment on anyone in here. You know me.”

“And yet, you know nothing about me. No one does.” Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears as she yanks her wrist free and heads to the staircase up to the voyeur floor.

“Shit,” Eli sighs, “I didn’t mean to upset her.”

I look to where she disappears upstairs. “It wasn’t you. She’s normally up for anything.”

“Are you going up there? Please let her know I wasn’t slighting her at all.”

“Why don’t you go up there yourself?” I already know the answer.

“Not my scene.”

“Fair enough. Well, I have work to do. I’ll be in my office if anyone needs me.”

As I walk across the bar to my office, I hesitate at the bottom of the stairs, wondering if I should check to see if Celest is okay. I’m not her Dom, so I think better of it.

I work late going over the plans Jenna and I were discussing earlier. Fuck. That feels like days ago. I’m not doing too well with the women in my life tonight. Jenna wants to explore the club, and for some reason, she gravitates toward me. I’m the worst Dom she could choose to dip her toe in the proverbial waters of kink. Nadia would flay me alive if I touched her best friend.

Before I leave for the night, I’m going to check on the progress of the training floor. Work is almost complete, and I’m psyched for the new addition. As I head toward the elevator, I think better of it, opting to take the stairs and stop via the voyeur level. I’m always up for a little distraction.

Celest sits on the far side of the room in a dark corner. It’s unlike her to sit on the sidelines up here. I approach her, my hands up in a show I’m not here to berate her. I just want to know she’s okay.

“Can I join you?” She keeps her eyes trained on a couple writhing against the wall directly across from her.

“Sure.” I’m pretty certain she meant that as a ‘fuck off,’ but I’m worried about her, so I plant myself firmly at her side.

“What was that downstairs?”

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