Page 6 of In Case You Didn't Know

Sure, I had a little crush on each of them in turn. Especially Asher, because like me, he was always reading books. He normally wears contacts, but I remember tiptoeing into the library one night in search of something to read, only to see him at the desk, leaning over a book, wearing a pair of wire-rimmed glasses.

I was eighteen then. He was twenty-eight. He was my first grown-up crush. But he was too old, had a girlfriend, and I knew he never noticed me. Which was fine, because I think Autumn would spontaneously combust if I ever dated one of her brothers. She thinks they’re all assholes.

“What on earth possessed you to come here?” Asher growls, his jaw tight. “You shouldn’t be in a place like this. It’s not for you.”

My jaw drops open. Seriously, he thinks he has the right to say that to me? “I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions,” I point out. “And maybe you should tell me what you’re doing here?” Because I’m not big on double standards. “Did I just ruin your fun?”

He blinks, like he’s taking my words in.

“Were you about to join in?” I ask him. “Because you can go back in if you want. I’m sure Princessa would love an extra man on the bed.”

He looks appalled. “Princessa?”

“The woman with the three men. That’s her code name.” I reach for his security bracelet, determined to find out what hisis. But there’s no name on there. “Why’s your pass different than mine?”

“It doesn’t matter. You need to leave.Now.” He reaches for my arm, but I step away.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” I protest. “I already have six brothers. I don’t need another one.”

His mouth twists at that.

“Do they know you’re here?” he asks, and a shiver rushes down my spine. If they ever found out I’d have to flee to a convent. And black isn’t my color.

“Does your girlfriend know you’re here?” I counter.

“We’re not talking about me,” he huffs. “I’m a grown man.” He pauses. “And I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“And I’m a grown woman.” I lift a brow, trying to ignore the rush I feel from knowing he’s single. The last I heard he was practically living with somebody. “If I want to go to a sex club, I can. If I want to have sex, I can do that too.”

His lips part. “Francie…”

“Sylph,” I correct. “No real names, remember?”

His jaw ticks. “What the hell are you wearing?”

My cheeks heat. The white dress had felt daring earlier, a little dangerous. Now, under his burning stare, it feels...wicked. His gaze drops to my legs, then flicks back up, a second too slow. Just enough to make my pulse skip.

“You need to leave,” he tells me. “Now. I’ll call my driver, he’ll take you straight home.”

“No thanks.” I shake my head. “I’ll get an Uber.”

His face hardens, like I’ve just told him I’ll catch the subway naked. “No you won’t.” His voice is low. Commanding. I bet he’s a load of fun in this club.

“My driver will be here in five minutes,” he says. “Black town car.”

The door to room five opens, and amid the loud sounds of moans and grunts – I guess they managed to get back to things quickly – somebody walks out. It’s only when Asher manages to look even more pissed that I realize it’s the man who was standing in the corner with his eye on me.

“Actually,” Asher murmurs. “I’ll walk you out.” Without any advance notice, he slides his arm around my waist, his touch so soft it sends a shiver down my spine. “Darling.”

It’s my turn to frown.Darling? Seriously. And yes, the way he presses his palm against my stomach as he pulls me close is making me tingle in all the right kind of ways, but still.

The man who came out of the room stops in front of us. “You’re a very beautiful woman,” he murmurs. There’s an accent to his voice that I can’t quite place. He looks at Asher. “Do you share?”

Asher shoots him the dirtiest of looks. “No, I don’t. Fuck off.”

“I’d pay good money.”

“You couldn’t afford her.”