He doesn’t recognize me yet. I’m wearing a dark brown wig to help conceal my identity, but I imagine he’ll figure out who I am the moment he hears me speak. My huskier voice has always been easily identifiable.
Xavier’s presence is suffocating, and it takes several more seconds to drag my gaze away, fighting to wrestle my heart back down.
Swallowing nervously, I face the couple straight ahead where the man is now fucking the woman from behind, bright red welts across her ass and thighs. Her hands are cuffed behind her back while the man uses her locked hands as an anchor. Her screams are high-pitched and sharp with pleasure, and once more, I feel a stab of envy.
“Too shy?” he prompts. Rolling my red-stained lips, I nod, hoping that’ll satisfy him.
Don’t be shy, diamond, let me see how good you suck cock.
I squeeze my eyes shut, tilting my face away, so he doesn’t see how hard I have to fight to pull myself together.
“I’m right behind you, baby,” Zade whispers. I don’t turn to look, but I feel him anyway. He’s a force far stronger than the man standing next to me.
Instantly, I relax. Zade may be Hades, but the dark God has never been known to bow for anyone but his woman. It gives me a small dose of power, enough to reignite my confidence.
Xavier can’t hurt me anymore. He can’t touch me, cut me, or use me. He’s a pitiful soul posing as a powerful being. Soon, I will remind him that he is only a man, and I am the reaper forged beneath his own hands.
“I can help relax you if you’d like,” Xavier suggests from beside me, his voice deepening. “There are private rooms to your left.”
“Okay,” I agree quietly.
He grabs my hand, the touch of his skin sending a cold chill throughout my body. I’d forgotten how dead he feels. He pulls me toward a double set of doors in the corner of the room. Subtly, I glance back to Zade, finding him in a full-face mask. All black with geometric points, a dramatic frown, and a slash through the eye. His yin-yang eyes are hidden, only bottomless pits where they should be.
Admittedly, he looks terrifying. And I’d be lying if I said that didn’t spark something low in my stomach, sinking between my thighs.
Turning away, I focus as Xavier leads us into a hallway full of black doors. It’s deathly silent in here.
“Soundproof rooms,” Xavier supplies, glancing back at me with a wicked smirk on his face.
I bite my lip, my nerves running wild as he walks us into a private room. The white walls are tinted blue from the LED lights surrounding the ceiling. A single black bed sits in the middle with handcuffs on the headboard and footboard. And a dresser is next to it, likely filled with different kinds of toys.
“Should I be worried that these rooms are soundproof, Xavier?” I ask, no longer concerned with him recognizing my voice.
He slowly turns his head to me, his blue eyes widened with surprise. Even beneath the mask, he can’t hide his reaction.
“I see my diamond has come back to me,” he drawls, his lips curling into a smile. His eyes drop to my body, taking his time as he slowly takes me in, pausing on the rose tattoo on my forearm.
“My god, you look fantastic. Must be why I didn’t immediately recognize you.” His eyes kick up to my hair. “And your hair is darker. Can’t say I’m a fan of that.”
“Truly, I’m hurt,” I respond dryly.
Anger flashes across his irises. That reaction makes the smile impossible to contain.
He nods his head, seemingly to himself.
“I suspect you’ve come back to kill me.”
I cock my head. “You think I could?” I query, though I’m not the least bit interested in his approval.
He laughs, tipping his head back and exposing his throat. One slash to the jugular. That’s all I’d need. But I don’t want to kill Xavier.
Not tonight, I don’t.
His laugh tapers, and if I were breathing any louder, I wouldn’t have heard the subtle click from behind me.
I turn, my heart dropping when I tug on the handle, finding that he locked the door. Which means it’s automated.
“I’m good friends with the owner here,” Xavier explains darkly. “If we want a little extra time with the girls than they’re willing to give, we have… means to get them to stay a little longer.”
I face Xavier again, noting his hand in his pocket. He must have some type of button in there to engage the locks.
My pulse is hammering, but I force my chin high, exuding a confidence I’m having trouble feeling.