Page 58 of X's and O's

I leaned over and spoke into Bliss’s ear, “Does the number of the cages correspond to how many people are inside them?”

Bliss frowned for a second, considering my question, then shrugged. “Not on purpose, but I suppose it did work out like that.”

She lifted a hand in a wave to the four people in cage four, but they were so busy in various stages of sex that I wasn’t surprised when they didn’t wave back.

Black leather couches and benches were positioned between and around the cages, giving people a place to sit and watch…or to do so much more. As Bliss had promised, some people were fully clothed. Others were completely naked and already messing around with each other or by themselves.

“These parties are invite only,” Bliss assured me. “We carefully vet every person so there’s no creeps or inappropriate behavior.” She wriggled her eyebrows at me. “How much or how little you participate is completely up to you.”

“I’m not participating,” I said in a rush. “I’m only here because I need that extra work.”

Bliss nodded. “Fair enough. But if you change your mind, just know that won’t change our opinion of you. We all partake on occasion, if we aren’t working.”

I glanced at the foursome going on in the cage to my right. And then at all the sexual acts happening around me. For a virgin, I thought I knew a lot. I mean, I was thirty. I had friends who told me things. I’d watched someporn. Experimented with toys and worked out how to bring myself to orgasm.

But there were some things even porn couldn’t teach. And it was happening all around me.

I was so gobsmacked by being in a sex club for the first time, I didn’t even notice the group of bikers Bliss led me to until it was too late.

“Everyone, this is Violet. She’s just hanging out here tonight, making sure it’s somewhere she feels safe working at. We’ve been needing someone to pick up some extra cleaning and bar shifts for so long, so please be nice.” She smiled at me warmly. “I would very much like for her to stick around.”

One of the guys, the one whose bike Bliss had been on the back of, lifted his head and winced. “Shit. I didn’t realize you filled that role already, baby girl. I brought Reaper here tonight to do the same thing.”

“Shit.” Bliss frowned, and her and War fell into a discussion, but I didn’t register any of the words.

I was too busy staring at “Reaper.” The man I knew only as Levi. He’d been in the middle of a conversation with a woman. A gorgeous brunette, who was about the size of a Barbie doll. He had his arm across the back of the couch, and she was so close to him their thighs touched. Hers bare right up to where lacy black underwear covered her sex. His clad in denim. He’d been sipping his beer, listening while she chatted at him, her hands all over his chest and arms, even if he wasn’t touching her.

But when his name had been mentioned, he’d looked up.

His gaze slammed into mine.

“Violet?”

God, his eyes were beautiful. A striking hazel green that stood out, even in the dim lighting of the club. The spotlights glinted off the glittery cages, sending flecks of gold across eyes I couldn’t turn away from.

The same ones that had been all over another woman a second ago.

I didn’t even try to fight back the jealousy. I just let it consume me.

He lurched to his feet, interrupting the conversation Bliss was having.

She glanced curiously between the two of us. “You two know each other?”

Levi and I answered at the same time.

Him with a, “Yes.”

Me with a, “No.”

Because I did not know this man at all. The man I’d written to had been sweet and soulful and had sworn he was done with the life that had taken six of his years.

This was not the man I knew.

And I did not belong here. I opened my mouth to tell Bliss exactly that, but Levi cut me off.

“The job is hers. I don’t want it.”

War didn’t seem too happy about that, but he said nothing.