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Phazian turned his head toward her as if noticing her for the first time. His pupils widened as he took her in from head to toe and then back again. “Well, aren’t you a delicious little female.” From the slur in his voice and slightly glazed look on his face, he’d had many more drinks than them already.

Baxian stood suddenly, placing himself between Aivey and his brother and giving the latter a little shove in the other direction. He looked back over his shoulder at her, his features pinched. “One moment.”

While the two males were locked in conversation a few feet away, Aivey’s stomach twisted itself in knots. She’d finally found what might be the only male in this bar she’d truly be interested in, and now his brother had to show up and ask him to leave. Could her luck be any worse? She should have just gotten to the point and asked him if he wanted to borrow a room with her. But, truly, she’d been enjoying their conversation and getting to know him first. It might be a little conventional for this unconventional club, but so what?

Baxian glanced over, catching and holding Aivey’s gaze though his brother was still speaking and gesturing with his hands. Another couple walked between them, breaking up her line of sight. When they moved on, Baxian was looking at his brother again, saying something she couldn’t begin to hear over the noise of the club and the surrounding patrons.

Her stomach dropped. Aivey grabbed her mostly empty glass and tipped it back, savoring the burn of the last few drops. She briefly considered ordering another, but what was the point? If he was going, she didn’t plan to stick around and start at square one with someone else.

There was zero chance she’d find someone else like him anyway.

Baxian looked over at her again, and this time, Aivey willed all her hopes and desires into one look.Please.Stay.

Another agonizing few moments passed as Baxian addressed his brother once more. The two males clasped each other on the shoulders. Phazian headed wandered into the crowd as Baxian turned back toward her. Aivey sucked in a breath and sat a little straighter. Baxian still wore a serious expression. His lungs expanded on a deep breath that swelled his chest before he smoothed out his suit and strode toward her once more, his powerful body cutting through the space separating them with authority.

Aivey hopped off the stool as he advanced. This was it, where he said goodbye and walked out of her life forever.

Baxian stopped directly in front of her, their bodies nearly touching. “I’m sorry about that.”

Aivey shifted from one foot to the other, unable to stand still. “You’re leaving, too?” Her chest swelled in nervous anticipation.

His eyes hooded once more, a grin returning to his face. “No. Not unless you tell me you’re done with me.”

The breath she’d been holding whooshed out. “Thank the stars,” she sighed.

“Although, I hoped you might want to get away from all of this”—he gestured around them— “and find somewhere a little quieter where we won’t be disturbed again.” The blue of his dark cheekbones deepened as he glanced away and then focused on her once more. “Since my brother is leaving, we can use his private suite. It hasn’t been touched tonight and should be ready for us. If you’ll join me, that is.”

All her worry evaporated into nothingness, even her concern about potentially hooking up with a stranger who might leave her feeling less than satisfied or with morning-after regrets. Baxian wasn’t that male. She knew it with a sudden certainty. He’d been nothing but respectful, and most of all, she felt comfortable with him. He was like Casac sugar: a sinful sweet that she could handle just fine. In fact, she ached for him body and mind, like even senses knew that he would be good for her. How could that not be just what she was looking for?

He extended a hand to her, and she took it without hesitation. “I’d love to.”

chapterfour

Baxian’s armbandgranted them access to the elevator that accessed the private suites a level above. Hand-in-hand, they navigated to the door marked with the appropriate number. They’d been silent on the walk there, but not an uncomfortable sort of quiet—not that any place here was truly quiet with the dimmed hum and thumps of music seeping through the walls—but the kind full of so many unspoken words and heated looks that Aivey was painfully aware of how wetness soaked her underwear and her nipples peaked against her dress. In fact, all of her clothing felt more abrasive than it ever had, and she couldn’t wait for it to be gone. Assuming he actually wanted to do more than talk. Even if that was all, she’d be okay with that, too. She couldn’t wait to hear more about his thoughts on how mining practices were disrupting the delicate balance of nature in their mutually beloved mountains, or what parts of the range he favored, or his experiences there, or actually, anything about him at all.

The door slid open with a soft whoosh as soon as Baxian held his band against the panel just to the left of it. Beyond lay a massive room that had Aivey stopping short the moment she stepped through the threshold and the door zipped closed behind them.

The space was large, as big as some of the lounges off the main floor. A multi-piece seating area lay directly in front of them with chairs and sleek sofas that could seat at least a dozen and an assortment of various-sized little tables. A chaise sat beyond that, pushed near the floor-to-ceiling tinted windows that looked out directly at the glass platform hovering above the main floor where the orgy was still in full swing.

To the left was a massive bed, perfectly made and flush with pillows in multiple sizes. A full bar hugged the wall with the entryway. Bottles of various beverages and crystal glasses glimmered atop it in strategic pools of light. The right side of the room was clearly designated for play. There were multiple sleek benches with straps and bindings. Another set hung from a wall. A swing occupied a corner. The far wall held a rack flush with toys—several of which she couldn’t begin to know the use of.

All of the furnishings and accessories, from the chairs and tables to the bed and its pillows, were black with accents of silver. Even the carpet sucked up all the light, leaving the space dark despite the dimmed wall scones and the dancing, colorful lights filtering in through the windows from the main bar.

“Wow,” she breathed.

Baxian chuckled. While Aivey had been taking in the space, he’d watched her, seemingly documenting each reaction as she absorbed the various features of the room.

“Yes, it’s quite over the top.” He glanced toward the various toys and winced. “I forgot about some of that, actually. I’ve only been up here once, and that was for a party.”

“It’s fine.” Actually, knowing that he wasn’t a regular at using the room, but at least had enough familiarity to guide her, made her heart do a weird little flip-flop that it had no business doing given that they’d just met.

“If at any time you want to leave, just press the panel by the door. You have to have access to get in from outside, but it doesn’t lock on this side. A little safety feature of the club.”

Handy, that. And thoughtful of the management.

Aivey strode into the room, her heels making the softest thud against the floor. While they could hear the music in the hallways, in this room, it was barely audible at all.

“We can close the curtains if you like, if it’s distracting. The glass is one way unless we choose to make it transparent.”