Page 24 of Mastered by Them
“An ice cream parlor?” I could spy on Isabelle’s competition.
“Nope.” A wicked gleam shines in his green eyes.
I set down my spoon. “If it’s your pants, then the answer is a firm no.”
Troy coughs to cover a laugh, but Edmund laughs openly.
“No,” Edmund says, “it’s a club.”
“What club?” I don’t mention Low Vice, where Dmitri works, because that place is supposed to be a secret.
“It’s a club in Salding. Underground. I doubt you’ve heard of it.”
From the corner of my eye, I see Troy frown. He doesn’t want me to go to this club? Now I’m even more intrigued.
“Yeah.” I stand up. “Let’s go.”
Edmund
The live music portion of the evening has ended at Salt, replaced by a low, sensuous beat coming through hidden speakers.
I see Salt in a new way, looking at it through Danica’s eyes. Large waterfall chandeliers collect flickering purple and blue lights. Beneath them, dancers undulate in varying degrees of undress—everything from full vinyl bodysuits to skimpy thongs.
Behind the bar, Jaden takes a moment to touch up his eyeliner before washing his hands and slinging some more drinks. His mohawk and dark makeup make him look goth and edgy, but he’s got the soul of a Care Bear.
Troy and I stand on either side of Danica. I have to resist the urge to take her hand in mine and touch her engagement ring. I fucking love having this claim on her.
Troy has been more reserved lately. I get it. I can’t make it better, much as I wish I could. This is how things are going, and the sooner we all get used to it, the better.
Danica gawks at our surroundings, her eyes wide. When I pass her a glass of wine, she gulps down half before taking a breath.
And yet, she doesn’t seem quite as shocked by this place as I thought she’d be.
I keep my arm around her waist and give her hip a gentle squeeze. “Have you been here before?”
She shakes her head and leaves her half-full wine glass on the bar. “It’s incredible. I had no idea San Esteban had more than one club like this.”
So she knows about Low Vice. “Have you ever been to your brother’s club?”
“Well, it isn’t his club. But, no. It would be pretty grody to be around that stuff when my brother is there.”
“Good point.” I notice her gaze fixed on the dance floor in front of us, particularly on two men grinding against the woman dancing between them. They’ve pulled down the front of the woman’s dress, exposing her tits. The man in front of her buries his face in her chest while playing with her nipples. “That’s hot. What do you think?”
“It’s okay…” Danica speaks slowly, enraptured by the scene.
I grip the side of her dress, bunching the fabric in my fist.
She glances at me from the corner of her eye. “What are you doing?”
“Touching my fiancée.” I lift the dress higher. “You’ve been so good tonight, I want to give you a reward.”
“Out here?” She looks at me directly, and I see the vulnerability in her gray eyes.
Now isn’t the time to push her limits. “No. Back this way.”
Instead of taking her to the hall of alcoves, I grab her hand and lead her back behind the bar, toward the manager’s office. It’s empty right now because Shoshanna is patrolling the floor. Troy follows behind us.
I tap Jaden’s shoulder. “We’re going to borrow Shoshanna’s office. Tell her to knock.”
