Page 26

“This isn’t funny.”

Several weeks, he had said when Carmen asked him how long he’d had hisgift. I never specified the timeframe that I’d been going to the club. The realization makes a lump form in my throat. I don’t want it to have been him, and yet, if it was, that would solve my problem. I’d know I have the culprit right in front of me.

“Oh, Charlie,” he murmurs, stepping toward me, his two more inches in height now seeming to make him tower over me. One of his hands plants on the wall next to my head. “Do you see me laughing?”

I can feel his body heat radiating off him. Feel his warm breath ghosting my face. It’s now that I catch a hit of his spicy scent. It’s mild, not the overwhelming kind from people whoindulge in too much cologne. It’s the same scent I remember from when I was in the room at the club—something mellow that made its way through the aroma of the leather panels. Fucking hell—itwashim. I know it was.

“Give me the fucking key,” I demand, but it comes out more like a harsh whisper.

His face falls in disappointment, and he clicks his tongue. “Are you sure that’s what you want? Why you stormed in here all hot and bothered?”

His gaze moves down to my chest, which is now heaving more than I’d like to admit. I can feel splotches of color on my cheeks, too.

“Because…” he whispers, bringing his other hand up to my face. With the back of his knuckle, he drags it along the line of my jaw. “You begged so nicely for me to come back that day. And I was so happy to oblige.” He leans in close to my ear. I gasp as I hear him inhale, like he’s taking in my scent. And then his hot whisper hits the shell of my ear, “Next week. Remember?”

A burst of air rushes out of my lungs. Was I holding my breath?

I can’t move. Why can’t I move? I should be shoving him the hell away from me, but it’s like I’m paralyzed. That fucking whisper that once brought me so much joy is now keeping me prisoner in this spot. I’m trembling like I’m in the Arctic.

“G-get it off me,” I manage. “Now. I…I want it off.”

Pulling back, he drops his hands. The one that was on the wall drags softly down my bare arm before falling to his side as he turns away, sighing. “That’s…so disappointing,” he says sadly, moving toward the bed.

He pulls the towel from his hips, revealing that firm ass of his still clad in his Speedo. Bringing the terry cloth up to his head, he rubs at his damp hair, which has started curling on the ends.

“And here I thought we shared something…special.”

I feel sick. And the damnedest thing about it is that I feel sick because I’d stupidly thought we’d shared something special, too. How fucking delusional was I? It was just a few orgasms, and I let them go to my head simply because they werereally goodorgasms. It wasn’t special to him if he did this to me. He…he’s just a sadist.

Sucking in a breath, I peel myself off the wall and take a step toward him. I can’t look like a coward or some feeble creature just because he holds all the power right now. Maybe he thinks this is some coy sex game, but it’s not. He’s got me all wrong and needs to know I’m not playing.

“You tricked me and sucked me off. That’s all it was. Now get this fucking contraption off me.”

Turning around to face me, he frowns, and I’d swear his expression is pitying. He’s still drying his hair like this isn’t serious. I hold my ground, refusing to back away even though I’m not keen on being face to face with him after whatever the fuck just happened by the doorway.

“You’re sure? You don’t want to take a little more time to reconsider? You went to the club for an experience. Don’t you think it might be worthwhile to see that experience all the way through?”

I fucking can’t with him anymore. It’s like talking to a boulder.

“Having my dick locked up for over a week wasn’t the experience I asked for and you fucking know it. You’ve had your fun. Now get it the fuck off me. Game’s over.”

He stares at me for a beat, looking like I’ve…hurt his feelings, of all things. So bizarre. Everything about him is bizarre. I can’t believe he’s the one who made me feel the way I did. And I can’t believe a part of me cares that I may have hurt his feelings. How is that possible?

“All right.” He nods, finally.

I’m holding my breath again for some reason. Now that he’s conceded and I no longer have to do battle, I don’t know why I don’t feel more relieved. Maybe it’s because I still have this damn thing on my cock.

Yeah. I’ll feel relieved once it’s gone.

Warily, I watch him walk over to his desk chair and toss his towel over the back of it. Turning back around, he sets his hands on his lean hips and smiles.

“I take it that means you want to settle up for your violation now, then?”

“Violation? What are you talking about?”

Frowning, he moves to a sideboard and turns down the music. Opening a hatch, a small bar set up is revealed, and he proceeds to mix himself a drink.

“You broke the rules, Charlie. Three to be exact.No talking. No soliciting. No breaching the barrier.You violated the club agreement that you signed, and part of that agreement states that any violations are to be recompensed by a punishment of the club owner’s choosing.”