Page 53 of Forgotten Comeback (Parisi Family #5)

Chapter

Fifty-Two

Taylor

We arrive at the event space, a nondescript industrial-looking building. “So by adult party, this is like a kink or BDSM-type party?”

“Pretty much.”

“How does it work, exactly? People have sex, and others watch?” I ask.

“There’s a shit ton of rules. I don’t know all the ins and outs, but yeah, there’s sex going on in the different themed rooms.”

“Have you ever fucked someone in one of those rooms?” Jealousy bubbles in my chest, and I only have myself to blame for asking a question I won’t like the answer to.

“No,” he says without hesitation. His words ring with sincerity, easing my discomfort somewhat. “But that was before I had a girl with a public sex kink.” He playfully wags his eyebrows, but I’m too nervous to verbally spar with him right now.

Gavin pauses, watching me. “If you don’t feel comfortable, we can bounce.”

“No,” I say, steeling my nerves. “I just like being prepared.”

“Nobody fucking touches you tonight,” he warns.

“Nobody fucking touches you tonight.” I counter.

“Before you get too feisty, you’re still not ready to throw a bare-knuckles punch,” he informs me.

“Maybe you need to teach me, then,” I inform him right back, poking his muscular chest.

“Barely survived the last time we trained together,” he grumbles.

“Aww, I think tough guy can handle it.”

His gray eyes fill with naughty mischief. “I’ll agree to train you again, but only if you flash a nipple.”

My lips purse. “I’ll agree to that, but only if I get to punch you in the ribs.”

“Sure. If you can land a blow. Or if you wanna get on your knees in the ring and blow me. Either way, I’m down.”

“You’re still a walking red flag,” I inform him, us having both leaned across the console to where we’re sharing the same breath.

“Red’s still your color.”

He presses his lips to mine in the sweetest of kisses.

“Sorry, I fell asleep.” Call me twisted, but I love getting this man riled up.

Gavin laughs darkly, the sound pooling between my thighs. I gasp as he grips me by the back of the hair, the bite of pain making my eyes water. “I’m not sharing, but I might let everyone watch me fuck this sour puss of a mouth of yours.”

“Go fuck yourself.” I whimper as he tightens his grip.

“Ah,” he drawls. “You want everyone to watch you lose in another masturbation challenge with me.”

Heat licks between my thighs. “You’d come on my tits in the first round.”

Gavin nips my bottom lip before releasing me, a smirk on that pretty face of his as he hops out and hurries around the car, opening my door.

Accepting his hand, I climb out of the car and right my dress as Gavin adjusts his hard-on, and it’s then that I realize the man likes poking me nearly as much as I like poking him.

“What?” he asks me.

“We’re fucked up.”

“Yeah, we are,” he agrees, giving my ass a firm smack.

Lacing my fingers around his, I smile as he leads me to the back and scans his card, and we enter through the employee area.

“You wanna keep your purse behind the bar with me?” Gavin offers.

“That’d be good,” I say, my voice sounding all weird.

“You’re still nervous.” He squeezes my hand.

My tongue darts out, licking my bone-dry lips as I nod. “I’ve never been to a sex club before.”

“It’s a stoplight party. Red means no-go, so no one should fuck with you. They do, you tell me, and I’ll handle it.”

“Why aren’t you wearing red?” I challenge.

“Can’t. Bartenders wear this monkey suit.” He gestures to the tux that his broad shoulders and chiseled frame fill out so nicely. Accentuated by his absurdly handsome face, the man exudes confidence.

My eyes land on the bow tie, my cheeks warming.

“Aren’t you glad you stopped the wedding?” Gavin says in all seriousness.

“You are ridiculous.” I try not to laugh as I rummage through my purse, finding my compact and lipstick.

“Hold this.” I shove my purse at him as I open the mirror and paint my lips red.

Smacking my lips together, I give him a big ole smooch on his cheek, leaving the perfect lip imprint. “There. Now you’re wearing red.”

He howls with laughter, reeling me into his arms. “Baby, you are just as ridiculous as I am.”

“Sorry to interrupt.” Effie appears wearing a headset and a polite smile.

“Hey, Effie. You’ve met my girlfriend, Taylor,” Gavin says, and hearing him introduce me proudly warms my heart.

“Taylor. So glad you could join us tonight. Follow me, and I’ll get you set up.”

“Sure thing. See you later,” I tell Gavin.

“Later,” he promises, kissing me where he now has a red stain on his lips.

“Aren’t you two sweet?” Effie says as I keep pace with her long strides.

“Yeah, that’s probably not the best word to describe us,” I tell her ruefully.

“Fair enough,” she says, leading me through the hall and into an office. “Please, sit.” She gestures, and I take a seat, with her sitting behind a desk. “Gavin’s vouched for you, but I still need you to look over and sign our NDA before we proceed.”

“I’ll handle things with Taylor. Effie, you’re needed in the petting zoo.” A cold voice has my skin prickling.

I turn to the door, my eyes going wide. It’s the man with gray eyes from my storage unit.

A tiny flicker of annoyance in Effie’s eyes—so tiny I’m not sure if I saw it—she says smoothly, “Sure thing, Inferno.” Turning her attention to me, she smiles politely. “Taylor, if you need anything tonight, just flag me down.”

“Thanks, Effie,” I say with a steady voice, even though I’m on edge.

Her heels click-clack down the hall, and I turn to Gavin’s brother. “You were at my storage unit. Were you following me?”

He takes a seat, and I examine him. Something about his face is off, but I can’t put my finger on what exactly. “Why? Is there a reason I should have been following you?” Inferno counters.

Gavin’s brothers are twins, so maybe it was the other brother, John, and not this one. But either way, what are the odds? “No, and don’t deflect.”

He chuckles; it’s a strange, hollow sound. “NDA.” He slides a document across the desk.

I grab the contract, forcing my hands steady as I read through it.

No cellphones.

No photographs.

No asking guests their real names.

No talking about the club to outsiders.

And a bunch of other lawyer-sounding stuff. Even if I do like problems and not peace, I could never be a lawyer. It sounds boring as hell.

“Pen?” He produces one, and I sign my name and return his pen. After an uncomfortable stretch of silence, I break it with a sigh. “Is this the part where you threaten me?”

He cocks his head. “Why would I threaten you?”

My arms crossed, I inform him, “No offense, but you’re giving off threatening vibes.”

“My apologies on the ‘vibes.’” He rises, motioning for the door. “This way.”

Gladly.

We walk down the hall, with me sneaking peeks of the man in my peripheral.

He’s not as athletically built as Gavin, but I can see the family resemblance.

Dressed sharply in a sleek black suit, it’s the gloves that are throwing me.

It’s summer in AC, and nobody’s wearing gloves unless they’re committing a crime.

Maybe that’s it; he’s wearing them to hide his fingerprints at the crime scene. Or maybe he’s a germaphobe. Or maybe he’s just really freaking eccentric.

I sneak a full-on glance, my eyes lingering on his face. What is it that’s off?

“Yes?” He catches me staring.

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “Your profile is very—”

“Threatening?”

“Interesting.” And yes, a little bit threatening. But I trust Gavin isn’t going to let his brother fuck with me.

We arrive in a plush room with attractive people in robes milling about. There’s a table with paints and brushes, but nothing else. “Where are the canvases?” I wonder.

“You’re painting the models,” Inferno tells me.

“Right, on what medium?”

He looks at me like I’m an idiot. “On the model’s medium.”

“Oh.” I blink. “When Effie asked whether I was comfortable with nude models, I didn’t realize she meant I’d be painting them literally.”

“Is this a problem?” he challenges.

“No, I don’t have a problem with it, but I’ll need to talk to Gavin first.” We set clear boundaries for tonight, and I don’t want to inadvertently cross one.

“Why?” he asks in a baffled tone.

“Because he’s my boyfriend, and I care about his feelings?” Like, is this a trick question?

Silence.

The man’s face is still befuddling me, and I blurt out, “Would you consider sitting for a bust portrait at my studio?”

“A bust portrait?” he repeats the words like I’ve offended his honor.

Something about his face unsettles me, and I’d love to explore it on canvas. That feels too blunt to say, so instead, I tell him, “Yes, a bust portrait. I would give you my studio address, but my guess is you already have it.”

Inferno flashes a look I can’t interpret as he silently walks out.

Gavin

Getting the bar organized, I squat down to check out the ice situation before popping back up. “Christ,” I say, my hand going to my heart. “Don’t be such a creepy fuck,” I tell my lurker of a brother.

“Your girlfriend needs to talk to you.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask, tossing my towel and hopping over the bar.

“You’re her boyfriend, and she cares about your feelings.” Inferno crosses his arms. “Her words, not fucking mine.”

Well, damn, if that doesn’t make me all warm and tingly.

“She also told me I was giving off threatening ‘vibes,’ and then in the same breath, wanted to paint my portrait. Is your girlfriend crazy, by chance?”

I grab Inferno by his tie, yanking his masked face inches from mine. “Call her crazy again, and I’ll remind you how fucking crazy I can be.”

“My apologies,” he says, and I release him with a little shove.

“Where is she?”

“This way.” He could’ve told me, but I get the feeling he wants to say something else, so I walk with him. “You talk to John lately?” Inferno tries to play it cool.

And there it is.

“Yeah. You?” I counter.

“No.”

“Look, I don’t know what the beef is between you two, but I’m keeping my head down and focusing on my shit for a change.”

“You’re happy.” It’s not a question, but a statement.

Another big grin. “Yeah, I’m happy.”

“Good for fucking you,” he drawls exactly like his twin.

“You and John freak me out sometimes,” I tell him.

“I’m sorry about what happened to you as a kid,” he says softly. “We fucked up, and that’s on me and John.”

“It’s alright,” I say, stopping myself from hugging him; Inferno doesn’t like people touching him.

“We’re all good. Hey, wait a second. If you haven’t talked to John, then how do you know about that?

” My eyes wide, I whisper vehemently, “Did you bug the trailer? You’d better not even think about doing that to my girl’s place. ”

“I’d never think of doing such a thing. First door on the right.” He walks off.

Only after he’s gone do I realize he didn’t answer me.