Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Surprised?” Lucian asked.
“Maybe,” I admitted reluctantly.
His accuracy in reading my thoughts through my reactions I usually kept hidden unnerved me, and I hesitated to reveal more than I already had. Also, I didn’t want to admit how much stock I placed in the negative stereotype—assuming only macho men dominated women and expected them to be submissive to their misogynistic alpha beliefs. Honestly, I didn’t realize how much I did believe in those stereotypes until I saw the juxtaposition to them in front of me and felt the surprise.
He huffed a laugh but let me get away with avoiding the truth. “A glass of Cabernet? Stag’s Leap?” he asked once we stood at the bar.
My gaze shot to his. “How did you know?”
“You’ve ordered it at the few dinner meetings we’ve attended.”
He turned away to order two glasses, leaving me to soak up that tidbit of information. I wasn’t even sure my father knew my favorite kind of wine—let alone the brand. He passed me my glass, and I immediately took a sip, buying time to process the unfamiliar warm goo spreading through my chest. Not that it mattered because, in the next instant, a familiar voice called his name, sending the sip down the wrong pipe.
A bubbly, smiling Emily bound over just in time to witness my coughing fit. And it only got worse when she slid against Lucian’s side, wrapping her arm around his waist like she belonged there. “Oh, shit. Miss Quinn. Hey. Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No worries, Miss Green,” I managed once the coughing stopped.
She waved away my comment, with the hand not clutching Lucian. “Call me, Emily.”
“Of course. And you can call me Aspen. Since we’re not at work.” I tried to mimic her casual response, but the words tasted like hot ash singeing my tongue. Probably created from the fiery concoction of emotion burning away the warm goo from seconds ago.
“I offered to show Aspen the club, so she is my guest tonight,” Lucian explained, looking just as comfortable as Emily with his hand resting at her waist.
Something churned through my stomach, pinching and pulling at my insides. I wanted to call it shock. I wanted to blame fear that she’d tell someone she saw me here. I wanted to find something familiar, but I couldn’t remember feeling so nauseous and hot and frozen and angry and...
I shook my head, deciding that not thinking about it was a better choice.
Instead, I focused on the realization of why they were so familiar with each other at the office.
Emily was a member at The Berkshire.
She lived the same life as Lucian.
While I stood stiffly, clutching my drink, casting glances around the room, she stood relaxed and unaffected by the various acts.
Had she performed any of them with Lucian? Were she and Lucian a couple? Was he her dominant? Her boyfriend? Were they in some kind of open relationship? Was I the one intruding in this situation?
Had he cheated on her when he’d been with me?
Not that he’d been with me. He’d just spanked me a couple times. Technically, that’s not sexual at all.
Then why did you come?
I don’t fucking know, I snapped at the question rattling in my head. That was the whole point of coming to this club in the first place.
But he’d also been hard that day in the office, groaning against my back.
My favorite wine turned sour and swirled with the internal raging back and forth, threatening to come back up.
“Well, that’s exciting. Welcome to The Berkshire, my home away from home,” she exclaimed, confirming at least one of my suspicions before turning to Lucian, hoping to confirm another. “I’m glad you’re here tonight. I was hoping that maybe we could get a private room later…or a public one, Sir.”
Dread coated me from head to toe with a prickling numbness. Sir. I read about that on the websites. Emily must be a submissive. But did that mean that Lucian was her dominant? Oh, god.
“I appreciate the offer, Emily, but as this is Aspen’s first time here, I’d like to give her my attention.”
If I hadn’t been consumed by trying to decipher their relationship by watching their every reaction, I would have missed the quick flit of hurt that dimmed Emily’s blue eyes to a dull gray.
Another confirmation: she cared for Lucian.
However, with how quick she masked her emotions; she didn’t want him to know how much.
With a playful smile back in place, she threw out another option. “Well, then, maybe we could all play together.” Emily turned her attention to me, openly checking me out from head-to-toe. “I have always found you absolutely stunning and would love the opportunity to play with you.”
I put so much energy into controlling my shock that it left room for other emotions to take over. Ones that I never saw coming. Like flattery and blushing.