Page 31 of Texting the CEO's Obsession
Thomas raises his glass in a silent, sardonic cheer, his smile more of a grimace.
“I’m thinking of opening invitations up a bit more this year,” he muses. “Maybe invite a few lifestyle influencers, some educators. I could set up a few demos for after the auction—flogging or shibari, something eye-catching.”
It’s not a bad idea, and the extra attention could do the club plenty of good even outside of the event itself. There are too many people out there that don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to the world of kink, and the education Thomas shares could be beneficial to ensuring that people enjoy themselves safely.
“Charge a separate fee to see the demonstrations,” I suggest. “You could cord off part of the dungeon specifically for that instead of letting people roam free back there. You’d probably get plenty of applications for memberships after that.”
“How very like a CEO,” he teases, grinning widely. “Money, money, money.”
I shrug unapologetically, watching the golden liquor in my glass slosh against the sides as I swirl it gently. “So donate some. It’s a win-win.”
Thomas drains the last of his drink and leans forward to pour himself more.
“You’re annoying when you’re right,” he jokes. “Do you plan on showing your pretty face, or am I going to have to get someone else to come be eye candy for the ladies?”
“I might come,” I hum thoughtfully, choosing my words carefully. “Let me know when you finalize your plans and I’ll decide if there’s anything interesting enough to clear my schedule for.”
It’s not like I go to every event Thomas puts on at The Echelon, but I usually take time to come to his auctions. They’re an easy way to spend a night with someone, and the girls know what to expect. They don’t plan on getting my number or seeing me again—it’s just a night to enjoy each other and then forget each other.
It works well.
Now that I’ve got my hooks in Riley, the appeal of wasting time with anyone else has disappeared. The other girls are uneventful at best. Most of them are already familiar with the world and don’t care to be taught. They are there for their own release, as am I. No connection. No real desire.
With Riley, it’s different. She’s innocent and new. There’s a soft side of her that everyone gets to see, but there’s a more daring side of her that’s waiting to be unleashed. Like a toy that hasn’t been fully explored… and I damn sure want to explore every dark side she has to be unlocked.
When it comes to getting off, I don’t want anyone but her.
“Women begging to suck your dick isn’tinterestinganymore? Don’t tell me you need the blue pills already,” Thomas says with an arched brow and a shit-eating grin. “Come on, there will be plenty of girls there who are just your type.”
I snort, not deigning to offer him more of a response than a single middle finger lazily raised as I take a swig of my whiskey.
“You don’t know what kind of woman I want, Tommy,” I say blandly.
“Blonde, busty, and bratty with legs a mile and a half long?” he lists without hesitation. “I’ve got about fifteen women already on the list who tick all those boxes. Give me some credit here.”
My lips twitch into an amused grin even as I shake my head.
Sure, that’s the type I go for when I pick women up at the club, and it doesn’t surprise me that Thomas took notice. They were fine for a night—predictable and easy. But I didn’tlikethem and had no desire to keep them for more than a few hours. My interest has narrowed down since I first saw Riley, and it includes no one but her now that I’m finally getting close to calling her my own.
My obsession won’t let me look anywhere else.
I won’t stop until I can completely ruin her innocence in every possible way.
“Don’t worry about catering to me,” I say, brushing him off. “I’ll be there if I feel like it.”
A spark of interest lights in Thomas’s bright blue eyes, his gaze raking over me curiously as he tilts his head to the side. I don’t let myself stiffen at the way he studies me, no matter how much I hate it.
“Nicholas D’Amico, you’re an awful liar.”
I’m not, and he knows I’m not. He’s just too goddamn good at reading me after knowing me for our entire lives.
“Who’s the lucky lady?” he asks, leaning forward in excitement as he puts his glass down on the coffee table.
I swear he could live off gossip. I arch a brow and take a slow sip of my drink, polishing off the glass. “That’s none of your business.”
There’s no use lying. It’ll only make him push even harder, but I’m not going to give him any information on her. At least not anytime soon.
I’m taking baby steps closer to her, but she’s notmineyet. Until she belongs entirely to me, I have no intention of telling anyone about her. I’m taking things slow for once, being patient, and the rest of the world is going to have to do the same. The last thing I’m willing to let happen is for someone else to try and come in to take what’s mine.
