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PIERRE

I t’s most certainly been an interesting week.

After one of the hottest things, I’ve ever done having phone sex with Issy, that night when she came home, I thought we had turned the corner in our friendship and that she would let me do all the things I said to her over the phone in the flesh.

Instead, she acted as if nothing happened.

We sat and ate dinner, talked about our day, watched sports on the television, and then went to bed, separately.

The next day I called her again and just like the day before we had the most earth-shattering phone sex, and then she comes home and again acts like she didn’t just watch me jerk off using her knickers on her security camera.

She has done this all week. It’s hot. Like it’s our dirty little secret, but if I’m being honest, I’m confused.

There’s a knock on the front door. I check the peep hole first and see that it’s Sam Rose which is a surprise.

“Hey, man, how are you?” he asks, greeting me warmly.

“Still housebound,” I tell him as I shut the door behind him.

“I should hear back about an offer from The Mavericks next week so fingers crossed they can come through for me. I had a sit down with the coach the other day and I want to play for them. I really like the coach, he seems like a good guy.”

“That’s great news. Does that mean you’ll be searching for somewhere to live in the city?” he asks.

“Yeah. Felix and I are looking at getting a place together. Did you want a drink or something?” I ask.

“Water thanks,” he answers. “You and Felix?”

“Yeah. I think he’s thinking about what happens once your sister’s ex moves on and leaves her alone. I mean, it was why he moved in wasn’t it?” I ask him.

“That’s true. I just thought they were doing so well.” Sam shrugs.

“My brother is head over heels in love, but he has baggage too. I think he doesn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize his relationship with her. When the season starts, we are hyper focused on the game, we can be quite unbearable to live with.”

Sam nods. I know he is just looking out for his sister. “How are things with Issy going?”

“She doesn’t hate me as much so … I take that as a win,” I tell him as I take a sip of my water.

“There’s nothing going on between the two of you?” he asks.

“Um, no, why?” I ask defensively.

“Hey. I don’t care if there is it’s just, I come bearing gifts and I thought you’ve been here locked up in Issy’s home for the past couple of weeks with nothing but your hand for company.” He grins, sliding a box toward me.

I take the black box and open it. Inside is something that looks like a credit card with the words The Paradise Club on it and nothing else except a barcode and a number. “Oh wow,” I say, staring at a key that gets me into this world of sex clubs. “Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me just yet. There are very strict rules to this club.

A bit like fight club, no one talks about fight club,” he warns me seriously.

“Guard this card with your life. If you see anyone at the club outside the club that isn’t like us, do not mention the club.

We value our exclusivity and clientele it is the only reason something like this can succeed without the gossip pages finding out. I trust you.”

“Thank you.”

“And just so you know, Bill Reeves and Kitty are not members, I checked. This is kind of breaking the rules, but I just needed you to know you were safe. Now I can’t guarantee you won’t run into anyone else you know so remember your secret and everyone else’s secrets are kept safe.”

“I understand,” I tell him.

“So, you going to go check it out tonight? I’d say let me take you but that might be weird, plus I have a thing so enjoy,” he says, getting up from his chair.

“And again, thank you for this. I really need it.”

“Go forth and have fun, you deserve it.” He grins before giving me a wave and walking out the door.

Because Sam came over, I didn’t get to have my jerk off session. I messaged her and asked for a raincheck, and she agreed. Issy is probably going to be in a bad mood when she gets home with all the pent-up tension, and I can’t wait.

I hear the keys in the front door and Frankston rushes toward it, and moments later, I hear here giggles as he greets her.

“Did you have a good day, boy?” she asks. It’s very sweet how much she has fallen in love with my boy. She found a doggy bakery the other day and now brings him home treats which he has after his dinner.

“Hey, how was your day?” I ask her as soon as she enters the kitchen.

“Okay. How was yours?” she asks cautiously.

“Interesting. I’ll tell you about it during dinner. The table is set if you want to crack open the champagne and pour us each a glass,” I tell her.

“Champagne, are we celebrating something? Did The Mavericks offer you a contract?” she asks excitedly.

“Not yet, they said they would be in touch next week.”

I hear the champagne bottle pop and watch as she pours us both a glass while I bring over the beef goulash I made. We settle in at the table and suddenly I’m nervous. I’m not sure what she is going to think when I tell her I’m now a member of The Paradise Club.

“So, what are we celebrating?” she asks, holding up her glass of champagne to me to clink before she takes her first sip.

Spit it out, Pierre. “You’re looking at the newest member of The Paradise Club.” I grin, clinking our glasses together. She follows the motions but stays quiet until she realizes she hasn’t congratulated me.

“Oh wow. Congrats. I’m sure you must be happy about that. Now you don’t have to wonder what it’s about anymore,” she says, clearly affected by this news as she takes a large gulp.

“I guess not,” I tell her as I start to dig into my dinner. “I was kind of hoping to go check it out tonight.” Issy drops her cutlery which makes a loud sound before hurriedly picking it back up again.

“You should,” she says through gritted teeth.

“You don’t have anything to say about it?” I ask, annoyed that she is ignoring everything we have been doing this past week like I’m her dirty secret.

“No. You’re single. You can do what you want.”

Now it’s my turn to drop my cutlery. “Seriously? You have no feelings about me going to a sex club and fucking someone else?” Her knuckles turn white as she grips her fork and her cheeks burn brightly. She’s not happy at all about that thought. She’s jealous. Good.

“Why would I care?” she snips.

I stare at her blankly. Why would she care?

Has this been all one sided? I thought …

shit. “You wouldn’t care if I left here after cooking you dinner and went to a sex club and slept with someone else.

” Issy swallows and I can see it on her face she isn’t happy, but she can’t bring herself to tell me that. “I get it. You’re embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed?” she repeats.

“What else would you call it? Every single day I bring you to orgasm at work and then you waltz into your home as if what we did during the day never happened. I’m your dirty little secret, Issy, you’re so ashamed of yourself for wanting me again that you ignore it.

I can’t, no I won’t be ignored anymore.” With that, I throw my napkin onto the table and walk out of the dining room.

There’s a soft knock at my bedroom door. “Come in.” I’m rummaging through my clothes wondering what the hell does someone wear to a sex club because if Issy doesn’t want me then I’m sure as hell not going to stay here and keep making a fool out of myself.

“Saint.” Issy says my old nickname. I still. Dammit. She’s playing dirty. I refuse to turn around to look at her. I hear her feet pad across the wooden floor until a hand lands on my back. “We need to talk.”

I turn around. “I think we do.” I offer her a seat on my bed, thankfully, I made it today. She takes it, and I notice she’s nervous as she picks at one of her nails. We sit there in silence, neither one of us knowing how to start this conversation we should have had a week ago.

“Would it hurt you if I went to the club tonight and hooked up with someone?” I ask her.

Turning to look at her as she sits there contemplating my question.

She starts to answer then stops and tries again, but nothing but a squeak comes out.

“It would hurt me if you went after the week we had.” Slowly, Issy lifts her face to look at me, those chocolate eyes filled with so many unsaid words that I hope might spill from her lips.

“Yes. It would hurt me,” she answers quietly.

Oh, thank goodness. Relief washes over me. I reach out and take her hand in mine and she lets me. “This week has been one of the hottest weeks of my life,” I confess to her.

Issy bites her bottom lip. “Mine too,” she says, unable to look at me.

I give her hand a squeeze. “Issy, look at me.” She looks up through thick lashes. Reaching out I cup her face. “Take me to Paradise and do whatever the hell you want to me.” Her hand squeezes mine.

“Saint.” She gasps.

Her using her old nickname on me is my undoing as I lean forward and rest my forehead against hers. “I want you, Issy. This week seems likes the filthiest foreplay I’ve ever had. Do you want me too?” I ask her.

“Yes, but …” of course there is a but, “this doesn’t mean anything. It’s just sex.” Not going to lie that stings a little, no, a lot, but the fact that she is putting sex on the table who the hell is going to say no to that.

“I understand.”

“I can’t risk anything more with you, Pierre.

” There it is, the wall she’s put between us using my name.

She may forgive me for what I did as kids but she’s never going to forget it.

I resign myself to that fact. My life is in shambles right now, I’m not looking to date anyone anytime soon, so if all Issy can offer me is sex than I can handle that.

“I understand. Just sex,” I tell her.

She nods. “I think we can agree the physical attraction is still there.”

It sure is. But what she’s saying is the emotional connection isn’t.

Guess I’m going to have to respect her wishes.

So, you should. You never thought you would ever get Issy back in your arms. Are you prepared to give that up because she won’t give you a piece of her heart that you broke the last time she gave it to you.

Point made. My thumb slides over her pouty lips. “It sure is.”

Next thing I know she is pressing her lips to mine and kissing me. She’s made the first move on me, catching me off-guard for a moment, but once my brain catches up, I’m kissing her back. My fingers dig into her hair as I pull her closer to me. She climbs into my lap and deepens the kiss.

“Fuck, Issy.” I groan as I devour her, a week’s worth of foreplay unleashing in a kiss.

“Shut up,” she hisses, pushing me backward onto the bed. I do as I am told not wanting this to stop. I roll her onto her side, her leg curls over my hip as my cock digs into her. Issy pulls away, we are both panting. “If we do this, there’s rules.” Whatever she wants. Yes.

“Rules.” I pant as my hand slides along her face, pushing her hair behind her ear.

“Yes. I think we need them.” Issy is protecting herself, I get it.

“Lay them on me,” I tell her, my eyes roaming over her gorgeous face.

“It’s just sex,” she states.

“We established that earlier,” I tell her.

“I won’t share you at The Paradise Club,” she adds.

There’s no way in the world I am going to sit and watch some other man fuck her. “I’m not sharing you either. Next.”

“This stops when you move out.”

I still.

“I mean it, this is just because we are living in the same house, nothing more,” she adds.

“Are you saying this wouldn’t be happening if I wasn’t here?”

“Yes. Because I wouldn’t be forced to be around you.”

Oh. “Do you not want this?” I question her.

Her brows pull together as she bites her lip.

“Yes. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.” Then she slides her hand across my face and looks at me.

“If we were not forced together, I would never have given you a chance. I would have continued to ignore you and held onto the past.” That is true.

“I know I sound like a broken record and it’s nothing against you even though it is about you …

” she says, rubbing her thumb across my cheek, “but my heart is non-negotiable. If you think that this is going to change my mind about wanting more with you then let’s not do it.

” Wow. Guess I should be happy that she’s being honest with me, but that is a kick in the guts.

“You have a lot going on in your life. You shouldn’t be worrying about dating especially me. ”

“I want you, Issy,” I declare.

“And I want to fuck you, Saint. But these are my rules,” she explains.

“So, no seeing anyone else while I’m living here. It will just be the two of us messing around until I move out, and then what?” I ask.

“Then we stay being friends.”

“You think you’re going to be able to do that?” Because I sure as hell don’t think I can.

“Of course.”

“And you won’t have a problem if I start dating then?” I ask.

“It would be an adjustment as it would be for you. I want you to be happy,” she states.

“And that’s not with you?” She shakes her head. “Okay. I hear you. We have fun until I move out and then friends.”

Issy’s face lights up. “Deal.”

“Take me to Paradise, Issy.” I grin as I grab her face and kiss her which makes her giggle.