Page 111 of Beautifully Ruined

He steps in close, and it takes everything I am not to shrink back. He reaches out, intent on putting hands on me, but Cade grabs his wrist, and I gasp.

My response seems to diffuse the situation, and Thomas laughs. “You’re one of those, I see.”

“‘Partners’ is her way of saying she’s my property, and I’m a greedy man.”

He holds Thomas’s gaze a moment, then lets go, and Thomas smiles, but I don’t think it reaches his eyes. He does, however, reach inside his jacket pocket and pulls out some bracelets.

Thomas selects one with big red stones and hands it to Cade, who puts it on my wrist.

It’s pretty iridescent red stones, gold chain, and what look like gems. They’re big, so I’m sure they’re fake.

Even if someone’s paying a lot to play here, to be a member, they wouldn’t give out chunky bracelets worth a fortune.

Would they?

Thomas looks me up and down one more time. “I think this is her first time at a real club, one with class, substance, and all the dark fantasies your hearts and libidos desire. I’ll give you a tour, and we can chat, Cade.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

The grand gestures of Thomas make me think he doesn’t give tours to just anyone, and I don’t think he plays up here, or on the other floors we go to. When we’re down where the private suites are, I notice a door with a key pass on it.

At first, I think it’s an office, but there are men that go in there, so I figure it’s something else.

But I don’t have time to ponder, as we head back up to the level below ground, where there’s a bar, a lit area, and people drinking, touching.

And the way Thomas keeps looking at me, at my breasts, I can’t shake the feeling he’d like to be sampling me.

I’m not sure why. I’m not that pretty, and I’m nothing compared to some of the women in here, especially the naked ones who move about, serving drinks, being touched, stroked, felt up.

I get why the men want to touch them, some of the women, too.

The only person not visually feeding on those women is Cade.

Even Thomas looks, but only to gaze back at me, the predator in him breathing down my metaphorical neck.

I put up with it, smile. Pretend to be flattered.

For the sake of Gianna.

“And as the last thing, I’ll show you my office.” Thomas gestures to the sweeping staircase where a naked hostess stands in stilettos with a tray of shots.

She comes down, and Thomas takes one. So does Cade. And while I don’t want a drink, I take one, and I’m shocked to find it’s a shot of iced Jasmine tea with the softest bubbles.

“It’s our signature non-alcoholic bubbly. Refreshing and perfect for those who don’t want to muddy their vibe with booze. The bars have an array of mocktails that are divine, too.”

He waits for us to start ascending, but Cade just raises a brow. “I’m not interested in a tour of your office. If you want me to look over things, take me to the real heart of the place.”

A slow smile appears. “It’s downstairs. There is one thing I’d like you to do. It’s quick…” His eyes wander to me. “Boring.”

“I’m happy to do that.”

We go down, and he opens a panel in the wall where the private suites are, and there’s a small office that has video feed of most of the place.

I stare at three people having sex. Then at a woman riding the mouth of a man with a pony’s tail in his ass and his cock hard with a ring around it. He’s in leather with a half mask and ears. And a mane.

She’s leaning over a sofa, pushing back into his face, rubbing on him, grinding in as he kneels on all fours, a collar and leash on him, the leash in her hand as she tugs him harder against her.

In another, a woman is on a cross being whipped.