Page 15 of Vicious Intentions

“Hardly. They’re all skilled marksmen. That’s part of their training.”

“Their training?” I stopped her on the sidewalk, more uncertain than ever if I wanted to go inside.

She cocked her head, the light from the lampposts allowing me to see her frustration. She’d gone from warning me to chastising me in the blink of an eye. “I shouldn’t have mentioned anything, so don’t ask about things you don’t want to learn about. They’re looking for anyone who’s wired.”

“What?”

“Privacy. Every ritual is secret. Even I don’t know all that goes on behind closed doors.”

I doubted I wanted to. “Fine. You owe me for this.”

Kelly was allowed inside by face recognition only. I was forced to endure being patted down by a monster of a man with a surly attitude and rough hands. When he slipped his fingers under my dress, touching my panties, I shoved him as hard as possible, resisting driving my knee into his crotch. “Watch it, asshole.”

“Tell your friend to keep her mouth shut,” he snarled.

“She’s a visitor.” Kelly’s voice was more timid than I was used to.

“I don’t give a fuck if she’s the freaking Queen of England, consort. She gets frisked.”

Wow. The guy was a real asshole. “Just get it over with.” I didn’t add the nasty words to the end I really wanted to. His grin was lecherous as he moved to my chest, enjoying the hell out of fondling my breasts. I was nauseated, gritting my teeth to keep from saying something I’d regret.

“The rules for while you’re inside,” he snarled. “Stay in the party room, or you’ll be expelled and you won’t like how that happens. The rest of the house is off limits unless you’re invited.”

By the way he issued the statement, I had a feeling that wasn’t going to happen.

However, I’d evidently passed the barbaric test, and our entrance was allowed.

“Jerk,” I muttered.

“Shush,” she whispered. “Just stay in the room and you’ll be fine.”

“What if I have to use the bathroom?”

“Jesus, girl. There’s a suite of them adjoining the main ballroom. You’re allowed to go there but nowhere else. And I mean it.”

I was beginning to hate agreeing to come with her. What had originally sounded like fun seemed entirely different. Maybe I was wrong, but it seemed like she’d been summoned to the house, required to attend the party.

As soon as I walked inside the mansion, I was shocked by the opulence, especially for a house designed for college boys. From the Italian marble floor in the entrance foyer and the opulent chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling to the dozens of gorgeous red roses in a huge crystal vase on the glass table, the facility screamed extreme wealth. The curved staircase leading to all four additional floors was ornate, the iron work in the railings incredible.

I was used to seeing expensive things, but the entire setting reeked of power.

There were no escorts leading the way, but we followed several people, ending up in a great room that had to be at least fifteen hundred square feet. We’d passed through hallways adorned with exquisite works of art in vibrant colors, every piece a vivid vision of sexual acts. I found myself unable to take my eyes off them, my head spinning at the intricacy of how they’d been painted. There was no doubt in my mind that the artist had had live models as inspiration.

Whips.

Chains.

A cage with two naked women inside. The depictions were beautiful instead of being vulgar, but the egotism of the artist was evident by the bold strokes and thickness of paint. They were also a reflection of the misogynistic attitudes of the men who lived in the house. They obviously believed women were playthings and nothing more.

Swallowing, I allowed my gaze to linger for a little longer, memorizing the poses. What if someone had seen my journal and that was the reason I’d been invited? The thought was titillating, even though I knew I should turn around and walk out.

You can do this. Just enjoy it.

As if that was possible.

“The house is beautiful,” I half whispered, fearful I’d draw attention to our arrival.

“You should see the bedroom suites. They are to die for.” Kelly’s off-the-cuff announcement didn’t shock me more than any of her other behavior. She was a free spirit, which made what she’d said earlier more disturbing.

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