Page 49 of Worship

The man’s fingers twist through the chain, making it tighter for her. She doesn’t protest. “Of course. What about yours?”

Milton gives a quick glance over his shoulder, and I avoid his gaze. “Yes, she knows, alright.”She signed, alright.He faces the man again while twisting his ring around his finger. “I’ll leave you to your fun. I would say try not to make too much of a mess, but I beat you to it already.”

Without saying goodbye, Milton guides me back toward the stage where the couple is still fucking. Beside me, Milton chuckles. “You look appalled.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I glare at him for making fun of me. He glances at the stage, amusement shining in his eyes as he looks at the scene. Seeing him watching makes my lower stomach clench.

Doeshelike it?

“These are Maxim’s rooms, and your reaction has only shown me how unable you are to take on this role you’ve created for yourself.”

“You said you would humor me. So far, all you’ve done is avoid.”

He smiles, the moans of the couple in the background heating the skin on my face. Being this close to him is all too much, but I don’t want to back down. “I was saying hello to my friend. And maybe I’ve changed my mind.”

My eyes narrow. Why won’t he show me? “I’ll find themmyself.” My declaration even surprises me. That I dare do it. Yet, he surprises me when a smile stretches his lips.

“Go ahead.” He thrusts a card into my hand, and glancing down, the X key ridicules me. “Go pick a door.”

“I will.” With my stomach doing loops, I twist on my heel and head back to the foyer, taking the corridor to his side of the building.

Milton follows silently behind, eventually saying, “This side of you is quite entertaining to watch.”

I don’t reply as I unlock the doors and head for the tunnels. Once going down the steps, I stop at the bottom to eye the rows of black doors bleached red.

Which one to pick. I don’t know. Certainly not room eight.

Milton comes up behind me, and my skin prickles with goosebumps when his fingers snake around my waist. “Go ahead. Pick one. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

The ebony gloss faintly trimmed in red chrome shines on the door I’ve chosen. A detail I wouldn’t have noticed unless I was this close. “This one,” I say, my spine tingling when Milton reaches forward to push it open.

Behind door number one…

It takes a while for my sight to adjust from the glare in the corridor. At first, only darkness greets us until there’s the faintest glow of candles against a wall.

He touches my shoulder, and I flinch, not entirely sure Iwantto do this anymore. Why do I want to put myself through this?

We all wonder what he does with all those women.

“You ready?” His breath is warm against my skin and makes the hairs on my neck stand on high alert. He’s enjoying this—I know it. Taking his time, lapping up my reaction.You’ve seen nothing yet, Heidi.I don’t doubt it. He knows there’s trepidation dripping off me, and it’s enough to steel my spine.

“Let’s go.” I walk inside bravely.Toobrave. Stumbling in my heels, a gasp claws up my throat as I take in the scene before me. Either my eyes are the most deceitful, and I’m choo-chooing on the crazy train, or I am genuinely witnessing this.

The room is circular, the walls and ceiling made of stone and covered with hundreds of black candles. Their warm glow reflects off five evenly spaced columns bathed in red light. To each column a naked woman, donning a black mask to hide her identity, stands with hands cuffed above her head. And they’re not alone.

Dark hooded figures stand before them. Assuming by their height and build, they’re male. As my eyes squint to figure out what is actually happening, I’m shocked when I realize they’re all engaging in sex.

Moans of pleasure from this sordid scene have me taking a step back, and my heart swoops in my chest when I bump into Milton’s front. He’s right behind me, watching me. Shit. Fuck. “Get undressed,” he orders.

I whirl around to face him. “W-What?”

He laughs airily, though there isn’t anything humorous about it. Nothing at all. My cheeks bristle with heat as he asks, “You wanted this, did you not?”

Clutching my dress, I move away from him, head shaking. His jaw clenches, and with just one step, closes in on me.

I whelp as he catches my skirt and wrenches me forward. “Milton, stop—”

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