Chapter 4

Sandra

I just stand there against the wall he’d pinned me against, breathing heavy and well aware that my boss and I just came a fraction of a second from undoing everything I’ve worked so hard for.

I came into the club today with a purpose and almost left without my virginity.

Thankfully, he's all business now, pacing the floor like an angry tiger, his expression telling me he’s trying to decide what to do next. I don't blame him. The Clarke contract is a big one; the company would definitely feel him leaving, and given the good will and kind gestures that Rico has given the man... I don’t doubt he’s going to be salty over this break up.

Still, I'm embarrassed by my behavior and by how close we came to doing the unthinkable. The longer I stand here in the overwhelming and somehow growing silence, the more uncomfortable I get.

Surely Rico thinks I'm an idiot and an easy woman. I already know that’s the kind of women he surrounds himself with. What if I'm just one more challenge for him to conquer?

How could I have been so stupid? How could I come here to this club and not expect him to think the wrong thing? And now that I've done irreparable damage to my reputation, what happens next?

As he stands there thinking, I edge my way toward the door.

There's no knob on the inside of the door. How the heck am I supposed to get out?

Rico had managed to open it somehow, like magic, or maybe an app on his phone? I stand with my back to the door, staring at him, wondering what to do next, when he stops and turns to face me like a predator staring down his prey.

He pulls a shining metal card from his pocket and holds it up like a beacon. Suddenly, I realize they must be activated by the cards, even though I don’t see or feel a panel that would clue me into that fact. I’m not sure how it works, but I need that key.

“Trust me, you’re safer in here with me than you are out there with them.”

Of course he'd say that, making me feel like he’s not the biggest threat to my safety is the perfect way to keep me docile. Still, he hasn't hurt me yet, or even done anything I didn't actually want him to do. While I haven't given him explicit consent to touch me or anything like that, I also didn't tell him no.

Sure, I'm one of those people that believes enthusiastic consent is the only way to go with anything, but I'm in his sex club right now, so I can't help but think we don't have the same rules or morals when it comes to intimacy.

Rico's phone rings and he flips the card between fingers as he turns his back to me to answer the phone.

“Yeah, I just heard. Course of action?” He seems occupied and tucks the card into his pocket. I approach him like I’d approach a dangerous wild animal and carefully take the key from his pocket. At the last second, he grabs my hand, as if to take the key from me and speaks to the person on the other end. “One moment.”

With that, he puts the phone on mute. “I need you to stay safe. I can't ensure your safety if you're not with me.”

“But who's going to keep me safe from you?” I whisper the words and his eyes narrow.

“I haven't let any harm come to you yet.” He growls the words, and I know they're true, but as excitement bubbles deep in my gut, I decide to do the unexpected.

I yank the card from his grip and race for the door. He turns to grab me, his hand brushing my back but not catching hold of me.

I dash to the door, swiping the card, and the door clicks softly before swinging open. He’s right behind me, so close I can almost feel his hands as I push out the door and into the room.

The only thought on my mind is escape, and I barrel through the room toward the red door with him hot on my heels. I can only hope my memory will guide me true, but I make the mistake of glancing over my shoulder to see where he is. He’s not running after me like I thought, but his determined walk as he follows me leaves my heart pounding painfully hard.

Panic grows like a bubble in my chest before popping and overwhelming me.

I throw myself into the closest door instead of the red door across the room, telling myself I can figure out the maze later.

For now, I just need to escape.

I race through rooms, everything blurring as I push past moaning bodies, flashing lights, and grasping hands. A woman reaches for me, smiling as a man pulls her close, inhaling her neck, his hands on her bare breasts. I dodge them and keep running.

I reach the next door, glancing back just as Rico steps in. The same woman grabs at him, but his gaze is locked on me. He pulls away, takes out his phone, and the door shuts between us.

My phone chimes. Stop running.

As much as I want to obey—Rico is not a man you disobey without consequences—I can't. Heart pounding, I bolt through another red door, gasping for air. I bend over, hands braced on my thighs, trying to breathe.

“You, get over here.”

I glance up at the man who’s clearly talking to me and stare, unable to do anything else. My mouth finally remembers how to form words and I say, “I’m not one of those girls.” But he doesn't seem to believe me and gestures aggressively toward his member.

I glance at his erection, then rush for the next door, terrified that he’ll come make me do whatever it is he wants. Though I have to ask myself, can a man run in that condition? And do I really want to know?

I slam through the next door—straight into a naked man, his fully erect member throbbing as he approaches with open arms. I yelp, "Nope!" and swerve past him.

"I love runners," he laughs, giving chase.

My lungs burn, my side aches, but I can't stop. This place could make a fortune marketing cardio sessions to prudes like me. Not that I am one, but I've heard it enough to roll with it.

I glance back. Rico steps through a side door.

A shiver runs down my spine. Will he finish what we started? Rico uses sex as stress relief. I don’t want to be his next distraction. And I’m not afraid he’ll force me—I’m afraid I’ll give in.

I push forward, crashing into a broad chest. Strong arms scoop me up before I can fall. The man holding me is all sharp angles and power, a scar slicing through his brow.

"I’ll keep you safe," he growls.

I know better. "Put me down."

"Not a good idea, little miss." His voice is gentle, but fear and adrenaline override logic.

"Put me down!" I kick, and he lets me go, steadying me before I shove him away and lunge for the next door.

If I could just make it to the front doors!

I burst through a purple room, then a yellow, then green—so blindingly bright I shield my eyes.

Girls rush past me, whispering, panicked. I stagger forward, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out where all this light is coming from.

“Well, aren't you just a treat.”

I glance at the man, well aware that it's not the first time someone has said something similar to me today, but the last guy who said it put me on edge but didn’t make me afraid. This guy terrifies me. The second I lay eyes on him, I know he has nothing good in mind for me or anyone else.

I take a step back, as if putting a little distance between us, and he takes a step forward in a sickening dance that leaves my heart pounding even more out of control. He seems to be mirroring my every movement in a way that leaves me feeling both bullied and afraid, and I wonder what exactly he has in mind.

“Leave me alone,” I say, but something tells me my words don't matter against this man.

A threatening grin crosses his lips. “Green light rooms mean anything goes,” he says, advancing on me another step as my heart stops beating in my chest and every drop of saliva in my mouth dries up. “You wouldn’t be here if you weren't down for literally anything.”

He reaches for me, and I slap his hands away. That only seems to make him angrier, and he grabs for me, rage and violence written into his features.

Anything goes, huh? I shove the guy back and he nearly falls, his expression stunned, as if he didn't expect me to fight back.

I turn around, searching for another door as he gives chase. I know he's right behind me, playing with me like a cat plays with a mouse, and I wonder what he'll do if he catches me.

Of course, I think I know what he'll do if he catches me.

But instead of having the same warm burst of excitement I feel at the thought of Rico chasing me down, now I only feel fear.