Page 11 of Dark Seduction

A wrench hits the cement floor behind me and echoes off the walls of the garage. “Shit,” V mutters.

“Guys, I want you to meet our new painter, Mack Taylor.”

V curses again, but I hear nothing other than my own heart thudding in my ears.

We’re both fucked.

MACK

“Hello,”I say, extending my hand to the one Judge had called V, struggling to keep my voice even. “Nice to meet you.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Maybe they don't recognize me. Last night, I had been wearing a mask and nothing else, lost in the thrill of the moment. Today, I’m maskless, clad in practical clothes, and even though I'm fully dressed this time, I somehow feel more exposed than ever.

V shakes my hand, his eyes drilling into mine. His grip is firm, sending a shiver down my spine. “Nice to meet you.”

“Mack here did an incredible job on old Scabby. Been working at it all day. Wait 'til you see it,” Judge says, his voice resonating with pride.

I cock my head to the side, forcing my eyes away from V’s piercing gaze. “Scabby?”

Judge chuckles heartily. “That’s the old girl’s name. She’s been around for a while, but nobody’s ever fixed her up. She’s kind of a long-standing joke around the clubhouse. But not anymore.”

Pasting a confident smile on my face, I nod and say, “Nope. She’s the sexiest motorcycle in the country now.”

Judge grins while the two men, V and his nameless buddy, just stand there, watching me intently. Their presence sends a turbulent mix of nervousness and excitement coursing through me, like a storm threatening to break loose.

I play it cool, ignoring those unwelcome feelings and flash them a confident smile, willing myself to appear in control. “Well, I’m off to find a place to stay. I guess I’ll see you all on Monday," I say, trying to sound composed, even as my heart races like a thoroughbred.

“We have a place across the road,” Judge offers, pointing to a building visible through the open bay door. “It’s not much, but it’s furnished, and you wouldn’t have much of a commute.”

The man beside V is still studying me with those intense eyes, the same eyes that had held mine while I'd ridden him just last night.

Fuck.

“That would be awesome,” I say, shaking off the memory and returning my attention to Judge. “I’m not picky. As long as I have a place to sleep and take a shower, I’m happy.”

Judge nods. “It’s settled then. You have a place. Let me go grab the keys, and you can get yourself settled in.”

A lump forms in my throat as he makes his way back to his office, leaving me here with V and his friend.

“So, your name is Mack, huh?” he finally says, his voice a low rumble.

I shut him down before he can say more. “Stop,” I command, bringing some of the dominatrix firmness back into my tone, but keeping my voice low so nobody else hears. “Don’t you say another word.”

The man’s lips snap shut, and there’s something about the way he obeys me in an instant that reignites the ember of desire smoldering deep inside.

“What happens at Vanilla Villa stays at Vanilla Villa, you understand?” I say, my voice firm but tinged with an underlying heat.

He swallows but only nods, and I can't help but notice the heat in his eyes.

“What’s your name?”

“Burnt,” he says, standing a little taller, his name almost a challenge.

“Ok, Burnt—which is an interesting name by the way—last night was a one-off. I have a certain…kink, and that is something I like to keep strictly to myself and the select few I choose to share it with. Now that I work here, that will never again include either of you. We clear?”

Burnt’s brows dip low, and as Judge reappears with a set of keys hanging from his finger, I can’t help but notice that he never does agree with my terms.

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