“I know.” He withdrew his hands from her dress and kissed the top of her head. “Let’s walk some more,” he said. If a place existed for a man to walk with a huge erection without penalties, this was it.

He kept her close to him, and she didn’t miss the women—even some men—giving lingering glances their way as they marched along the other tents without joining those activities. More specifically, they looked at him—good enough to eat, like a delicious, exquisite entrée she hoped to be able to taste by the end of the evening.

Still, he held her hand like no one else captured his interest, which caused a ridiculous thrill of joy to surge through her. “Is this part of the lesson? Making your partner feel like she’s the only one in a room filled with naked people?”

He chuckled. “You do learn fast, Emma Cavanaugh.”

“I was the teacher’s pet when I was younger,” she said, remembering how Zaine and her late brother Zachary teased her and called her “teacher’s pest” because her behavior at home, especially with boys, wasn’t anywhere as easygoing. She teased them, but all in good fun.

“And now you’re my pet.” He squeezed her hand a little tighter.

A purple tent caught her attention. A woman held a whip and wore a black Dominatrix getup and a leather mask. The man, tied to the bed in a spread-eagle position, was in his birthday suit and completely aroused. She lashed the whip on his leg, and he groaned, but didn’t relent, and continued looking at her like they both fought for dominance even though she was the one without physical restraints.

Whoa. The crowd circling the area completely focused on the woman, who had purple strands in her long, jet-black hair. Her dark corset had an opening in her crotch, and she sat on the man, straddling him while whispering what Emma assumed weren’t pleasantries. He didn’t care, and his ass almost flew off the mattress, but she smacked his shoulder, then stopped the act altogether.

Interesting. She wanted to be in control. Was her Simon into this kind of thing? “This seems to be a lot of work,” she said to Nico. “I mean, that lady’s kicking ass, kudos to her, but…”

“Just keep an open mind. Come.” He pulled her away from the crowd.

He took her to a flight of stairs, and she followed him, intrigued. A gorgeous black woman greeted them, and when he showed her his wristband, she nodded, granting him access. They reached the second floor, where small recessed lights guided them through the darkness.

Small cabins similar to department store dressing rooms lined up next to one another with the doors closed. He took her to the last stall, which had an open door. They entered the small space, and she stared through a huge glass wall displaying a stage.

Different colors and lights shone onto the main stage, where a group of men and women, all stripped of clothes, screwed one another. Unlike the tents, where there was a context to each show, this was pure animalistic orgy.

She stepped and touched the glass, making a print, her eyebrows reaching her hairline. “Who are those people?”

“They’re members of the club.”

He hiked up her dress, his fingers caressing the curve of her hips. A shower of goose bumps washed over her, and her nipples instantly hardened, pressing into the fabric of her dress. Damn.

“Want to know what’s fun?”

“What?” she asked, still facing the stage.

“They can see us, too.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Ohmygod.”

“They give us a show, we give them a show, sweetheart.”

Was this for real? Or did he make it up just so she’d run scared? The lengths he’s willing to go not to fulfill his end of the bargain astonish me. “Are there cameras here? I mean, can everyone see me?” she asked to make sure. Or play along.

Sensing her hesitation, he kissed the sweep of her neck, turning her bones into putty. “No cameras. Strictly forbidden. Only the performers in the middle can see you, but honestly, they’re too busy fucking one another right now. Doesn’t the possibility turn you on, Emma?”

“W-what?”

He reached for her halter top and undid the knot, the strips falling down her chest. “To know I’m about to fuck you hard and good, and these people will see us if they choose to. Doesn’t that turn you on?”

“I…” Did it? She could barely breathe, arousal constricting her lungs. Being with him turned her on to a painful level. Sure, this naked party helped her, but when he stroked her arms, his assuring hand on her skin, she mewled, powerless against the desire pulling her to him.

She’d have to go back to her mental notes and register things later, because now, she surrendered to her body’s responses, losing the ability to think clearly. “Yes,” she said, finding it easier to agree with him than admit he was the one who made her horny as shit.

Nico sank his teeth into the curve of her neck, and she mellowed, melting against him. He cupped her bare breasts, and she sighed, turning her head a bit in a frantic search for his mouth.

He squeezed her tits, earning a little growl, and withdrew his head from her a notch. Was he serious? Was he not a kisser? Maybe he saved it for someone who meant something to him, a la Pretty Woman.

He hiked up the hem of her dress, causing a trail of tingles wherever his hand touched. “Spread your legs for me, sweetheart. Let’s play.”