Page 41 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

FIONA

F or a brief second when Brody introduces me to his friends, I don’t know how to greet them. Should I kneel? Call them Sir?

Then I clue in. He called me Fiona, not Fifi.

Kai says something about giving me a fire play demo, but his eyes are twinkling when he says it, and his amusement is directed at Adrian and Brody, not me. He’s trying to make them jealous. They have nothing to worry about. Kai Bowen’s a good-looking guy, but he doesn’t make my heart skip a beat.

The five of us chat. Kai is a cardiac surgeon, and Maddox is a photographer. “How do you know each other?” I ask.

“We went to college together,” Adrian replies.

I remember Avery’s reaction when I mentioned Kai Bowen’s name. I look at the dark-haired man. “This might sound a little random,” I ask, knowing full well that I’m sticking my nose into something that’s none of my business, “but do you happen to know someone called Avery Welch?”

Both Kai and Maddox freeze. “Avery?”

“Yeah. She’s from London. Dark hair, about this tall?” I stick my hand in the air. Avery’s a good six inches taller than me. “Bad habit of quoting Monty Python?”

Kai’s smile is strained. “That sounds like Avery. We used to know each other a long time ago, but we’ve lost touch.”

There’s definitely a tension there. Were they lovers? Did it end badly?

Are you playing matchmaker, now, Fiona? I mock myself. You’re starting to resemble Xavier.

Before I can say something to smooth over the situation, the men stiffen. “Well, fuck me,” Adrian says softly. “I never thought I’d see them together again.”

I follow his gaze and see three people walk into the club, two men, and one beautiful woman. Xavier Leforte is the only one I recognize. “Who are they?”

Brody replies. “The man is Rafael Garcia,” he says, never taking his eyes off the trio. “He runs a club called Phoenix halfway between New York and Philadelphia. It’s more hardcore than this place.”

“And the woman?”

Brody's lips twist. “Remember Lina, the girl who died?”

“Yes.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see expressions of surprise on both Kai and Maddox’s faces. “You told her about Lina,” Kai says. “Ahh. Sorry.”

I have no idea what he’s apologizing for, but Brody must know because he nods. “That’s Lina’s twin sister, Layla,” he continues. ” She was their submissive fifteen years ago. She left them when Lina died.”

Oh wow. I watch the three of them. I’m not the only one. Practically everyone is looking at them, including Maria Dumonte, who’s staring at Xavier with a shattered expression on her face. Poor girl. She’s young, and she’s clearly besotted with the club owner. This can’t be easy for her.

“They’re heading to the semi-private playrooms,” Adrian says. “The walls are made of glass,” he explains for my benefit. “You can see in, but the people in the room can’t see out. Some members like the thrill of knowing that they might have an audience.”

My nipples pebble and my breathing quickens. Brody glances up. “From your expression, Fifi,” he murmurs, “You might be one of them. Come. Let’s watch the show.”

I’m worried about Katya, about the hold that Raymond seems to have over her, but when they look at me with heated eyes, my worry fades to the background, and lust comes roaring back to the forefront.

Yes, Mr. Payne.