Page 33 of The Toy Maker

But I didn’t move.

For a single, agonizing second, I hesitated. My gaze flicked between him and the door, my body at war with itself. Jason remained perfectly still, his expression neutral, like he didn’t care which choice I made.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forced my feet forward, and grabbed the handle. As the door clicked shut behind me, I sighed and hurried down the hallway.

Jade spotted me as I rushed over to the sales floor.

“You’re here early.” She was in her outfit for the show, a thin blue mesh top without a bra. Nothing was left to the imagination. Even her panties were sheer. She pulled her thick black hair into a tight bun and stuck a pencil through it. The final fittings were her time to shine.

“I wanted to practice the dance before rehearsal,” I explained.

She pinched her eyebrows together. “Yeah, okay.” Jade took my hand and pulled me to the dressing rooms. “Guess who showed up!”

The other Cherries who knew it was my first dress rehearsal cheered when they saw me enter the room. I waved and tried to hide the dripping between my legs.

Sarah bounded over and attacked me in a bear hug. “You’re just in time.”

“I am?” My eyebrows raised.

Jade nodded. “We need to make sure your outfit fits before the dress rehearsal.”

Panic set in as she reached for the tie on my robe.Holy shit.“Actually,” I said, pulling away, “I don’t have it on yet.”

“Then why are you wearing the robe?” Sarah asked, her forehead creased in confusion.

I stumbled for any possible excuse, “I was trying to get the shower to work but apparently Jason already fixed it.” They stared at me, so I continued, “My clothes got soaked.”

“You were in the shower with your clothes on?” Jade raised her eyebrows.

Sarah chimed in, “I think she was wet because she saw Jason.”

I scoffed, “No, I just didn’t expect the water to come out so fast. You know how it’s been barely trickling.”

“If you say so,” Jade said in a sing-song voice. “Where’s your outfit then? It isn’t with the others.”

“I—” I hesitated, knowing that I would have to go get it from Jason’s workshop. “I have it.”

“Do you?” Sarah laughed.

Jade dug through her sewing bag. “She’s keeping it in her other robe.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll go get it.”

“Do we want to know where it is?” Jade chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

I flipped my robe like a cape and turned on my heel. “You ask way too many questions,” I said over my shoulder.

“She’s hiding something!” Sarah said loud enough that she knew I’d hear they were onto me.

I made sure she could see my middle finger perched high as I stalked out.

The confidenceI managed to scrounge up when facing Jade and Sarah left me depleted for my return to Jason’s lair. Apartment?Sex dungeon?I cringed.

No,“He’s just a guy,” I murmured to myself when familiar knots started to form in my stomach. I clenched the satin fabric of the robe in my fist and knocked on the door to orgasm hell with the other.

Jason shuffled on the other side of the door, and I tucked the loose strands of hair out of my face. He answered soon after and didn’t look surprised to see me standing in front of him.

“Can I help you, Ms. Holloway?” he said briskly.