Page 39 of Say My Name

Devereaux’s intrigued eyes crash with my mortified ones. “Is that true?”

“I never said that.”

Luna parks a hand on her hip. “You didn’t have to. I can tell.”

“My boyfriend is top-notch in the bedroom.” Nerves weigh me down.

“Like how?” Luna asks.

I flounder for an answer because I can’t believe she asked for specifics. What’s more unbelievable is that Devereaux hasn’t walked away. He’s waiting for my answer too.

My mind draws a blank. I can’t even remember my fake boyfriend’s name at this moment.

The only thing I can think of is my interlude with Devereaux in the kitchen that spurred my fantasy in the shower.

“Like spankings and such,” I blurt.

Devereaux’s startled eyes zip to mine, and I can feel the weight of his world behind them. “He spanks you?” He seems off put by that idea.

“Yep, all the time. We can’t get enough of it.” Ok, I’m too eagerly telling this lie.

“Really?” Devereaux stares at me, but I can’t tell whether the crinkle between his brows means he’s amused, bored, or perhaps, intrigued.

“It’s always the innocent ones,” Luna says before she ambles away, leaving me alone with Devereaux.

“Your ass must be sore all the time,” he says.

“I’m a tough girl.” I wink, trying to seduce him. “I can handle it.”

“You can handle it?”

It’s silent in the club, because they haven’t turned on the music yet, and all I can hear is the galloping of my anxious heart.

I nod. “Yes, I can handle it.”

In a flash, he tugs me deeper into the server station and braces his hands beside my head, caging me in. “Let me ask you one question.” His voice is sharp like a dagger ready to pierce straight through my heart.

I swallow. “Ok,” I peep out.

“Does he use his hand or a belt?”

I can’t answer because I feel like I’m a fly trapped in a glass jar, suffocating. It feels like all the air is being sucked from my lungs by his powerful inhale.

Devereaux lifts his hand and tucks a stray strand of my blonde hair behind my ear. “I was hoping you’d say belt, so I wouldn’t want to punch the fuck out of some guy I’ve never met for getting to touch you.”

Belt. Belt.Belt.I want to scream the word, but he walks away, leaving in his wake a gasping, naïve girl who can’t play with the big dogs.

I’ll need to Google top-notch sex ideas, so if Luna ever questions me again, I can at least play in the same ballpark as her.

After a deep breath, I head to my station, making sure everything is all set for tonight. Before long, the music gets turned up and people spill through the doors, making me busier than I’ve ever been in the club.

I work my tables, ringing in drink orders and delivering them. Rinse and repeat. Until a hand yanks me by the arm into the hallway by the women’s restroom.

“Chloe, please don’t be mad at me for being here.”

Oh, my god. My mouth falls open at Ashley, dressed in a red bralette and a black miniskirt. And I’m talking micro. It barely covers her lady bits.

“What are you doing here, Ashley? No, ew, don’t answer that.”

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