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She places a hand on my arm and leans closer. “Our members are extremely respectful of each other. You are completely safe here. Reserve judgment and keep an open mind. You’d be surprised by what you discover about yourself and your body with the right partner.” She gives my arm a gentle squeeze before dropping her hand. “Have fun.” She winks before she turns and walks out of the club.
NINE
X
Through the monitor, I watch my angel slide onto the barstool beside Heather. As much as I don’t want Heather in my club, I’m happy she brought her new friend. My top-notch security cameras allow me to see clearly as the two of them lean toward each other before Makayla tosses her head back with a laugh. Seeing her so carefree makes my dick painfully hard.
Or it could be that scrap of a dress that shows off her flawless skin.
“What are you grinning at?”
I slide my gaze to my friend, Gio, seated in the chair opposite my desk. His brother, Enzo, occupies the other.
“None of your business.” I smirk, and he flips me off.
The sound of Desiree’s heels clicking rapidly against the marble floor mimics the sound of gunfire. Her steps are hurried, which means she’s got a lot to say about Makayla, and a moment later, she saunters into the room.
“Uh-oh,” Gio murmurs under his breath.
“How’d it go?” I ask, keeping my eyes trained on the monitor.
A black leather folio lands on the center of the desk with a loud thwack.
I flinch, lifting my head. “What the fuck is your problem?”
She turns to my friends and points toward the door. “Out.”
Enzo exhales a soft laugh as he rises from the chair. “You know, Des,” he says in a playful tone, “if you were anyone else, that attitude would earn you a beating, and not the pleasurable kind.”
Desiree pins him with a hard stare. “Don’t threaten me on my turf, Enzo Cantore.”
Enzo barks out a laugh. “So feisty.” Shaking his head, he leans in and presses a kiss to Desiree’s cheek, eyeing his older brother.
Gio glares at Enzo as he pushes to his feet and leans in to kiss Desiree on the cheek. “I miss you,amore mio.”
She jerks her head back from Gio with pure hatred on her face. “You’ll get over it,” she replies bitterly, and I fight back the urge to laugh.
Gio shoots me a pleading look, and I shrug. I’m not getting in the middle of their bullshit.
“We’ll wait for you in the club,” Enzo says, heading for the door.
“Grab a booth in the back corner,” I call, before directing my attention to Desiree who’s glaring at me from the opposite side of the desk with her hands on her hips.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
A grin tugs at my lips as I lean back in my chair.
“She’s a child.”
“She’s twenty-two,” I argue. “Why are you acting like a jealous girlfriend?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” she says with a soft laugh, dropping down in the chair across from my desk. “Her innocence surprised me, that’s all.”
“It’s refreshing.”
She rolls her eyes. “What are you going to do with her? She’s here because”—she curls her fingers, making air quotes—“she’s ‘curious.’”
“I’m going to play with her,” I say simply. “Twelve years ago, you were a curious twentysomething,” I remind her. “That’s why Veil exists.”