So, if he needs to step away, he hands me over to his best friend, like I’m a child who needs a babysitter. It grates on my nerves, but I don’t argue. He just wants to protect me, and I know that’s just how Hunter shows his love.
Hunter presses his lips to my cheek, squeezing me close to his body. “Be good,” he growls in my ear, and chills run down my spine at the dark rasp of his words, which sound more like a sexy promise than a serious warning.
“Or what?” I reply, glancing back at him through my lashes.
He smacks my ass and kisses me on the lips, pressing his tongue between them and owning my body until I’m breathless in his arms. Then he tears himself away, leaving me disoriented and staring up at the stage.
The suspended man is no longer suspended. He’s now standing front and center, completely naked, showing off the intricate rope marks all over his body. The crowd oohs and ahhs at the performers like they are an artistic masterpiece.
“Looks like it hurts,” Drake mutters next to me.
“What’s wrong, Drake? Afraid of a little pain?” I tease, glancing up at him. He’s standing closer than before, almost stationed behind me like some sort of bodyguard.
He leans down, until his mouth is closer to my ear, and replies, “Not at all. Are you?”
“Nope,” I reply with my chin held high.
“You’re telling me you wouldn’t mind being strung up there like a pi?ata?”
I bite my lip as I stifle a laugh. “It doesn’t look that much different than the aerial yoga we do in my studio.”
His deep chuckle vibrates against my back. “I guarantee this is much different.”
The man with rope stamps all over his body is gone now, and it’s only Maxwell, the demonstrator, left on stage, and I look up just in time to see him staring at me. I’m struck silent as I wait for him to speak. I feel like I’ve been caught by the teacher talking in class.
“You two,” he calls to me and Drake.
“Us?” I ask, pointing to my own chest.
“Yes. You two would be perfect for my next demonstration. Would you like to come up here and try this next one together?”
“I’m not—" Drake starts, but the man cuts him off.
“I won’t touch her. Only you.”
Drake stiffens behind me.
I’m speechless as I stare at the black ropes hanging from the ceiling. On the one hand, this could be an excellent training opportunity to learn what we need to know for Salacious, and I’d love to see how we could get our members involved in these demos. I’ve also always wanted to try Shibari. It’s harmless. I mean…we are here to learn.
On the other hand, if Hunter sees me on stage, he might not react well.
But I’ll be with Drake.
“Okay,” I call as I take a step toward the stage.
“Really?” Drake replies quietly. Turning around, I reach a hand toward him.
“It’s just a demonstration. We should learn this stuff. Come on.”
He hesitates as he takes my hand but still lets me pull him up the three steps to the top of the black stage, where we meet Maxwell under the bright pink can light shining from the rafters.
“Beautiful couple,” Maxwell greets us as we meet him in the middle of the stage.
Drake’s hand is still in mine, so I give it a quick squeeze as I glance up at him with a tight-lipped smile. He only shakes his head in return. This is making him uncomfortable already, I can tell.
“Thank you,” I reply to Maxwell.
“I’d love to show you how to tie the pentagon harness on this beautiful woman, would you like to learn?” he asks.
Drake clears his throat. “Sure.”
“Excellent. This dress is lovely, but the harness would fit better without it. Would you mind removing it? You can say no.”
My mouth goes dry. Remove my dress? On stage?
I scan the gathering crowd for any sign of Hunter or Mirabel, but I don’t see them. I’m in a bra, and this is a sex club. I mean…it’s hardly inappropriate here to be half-naked. And I am with Drake.
It’s just a demonstration.
“Yeah,” I answer quickly. Pulling the straps off of my shoulders, I let my dress fall down to my ankles. When I pick it up and turn to drape it over the chair to the left, I catch Drake’s expression, and he looks downright livid. His cheeks are red, and no, that’s not just the bright pink light shining on us. His eyes are wide and his jaw is set. He takes a step closer to me, keeping his eyes laser-focused on my face and not my nearly see-through bra.