Murmuring a greeting because I’d had manners drummed into me from age six, I went to move past them into the bar, but Nash caught my wrist.
Even though he was restraining me, his touch was gentle. His fingers were warm, though slightly rough, like he’d spent his life using them well. “Not that way.”
I turned and gazed up at him, questions in my eyes.
Security bozo number one pulled aside the black curtain at his back, revealing a door I hadn’t realized was there. He opened it, and a spill of chatter and slow, sultry music fell out. “Have a good night, boss.”
Nash slapped hands with the men and then moved in behind me, his lips at my ear. “Stay close to me.”
A shiver rolled down my spine, and I had no idea if it was because there was something possessive in his warning or if it was because his warm breath brushed over my neck.
We stepped into a dark coatroom, and the heavy door shut behind us. My mouth opened again to ask questions, but Nash shook his head.
“Just take it all in. We’ll walk around for a bit, and then you can ask me all the questions you want.” He motioned to the row of coats hanging to our left.
I was suddenly self-conscious and not sure I wanted to give mine up, even though the little room was pleasantly warm. But I didn’t want him to think I was a prude either. I drew the coat down off my shoulders and passed it to him.
“Fucking hell, Rebel,” he muttered, taking in my dress.
I ran my hands over it. “Is it not good? She said everyone would be wearing outfits like this.”
He bit his lip and then shook his head. “No. It’s perfect. You’ll fit right in.”
“I’m nervous,” I admitted.
“You should be. This isn’t a country club. But I think you already know that.” Nash pushed aside a second curtain, revealing the room beyond.
I sucked in a deep breath at the scene that played out in front of me.
“Welcome to the other side of Psychos, Bliss. Axel bought out the whole building about six months ago.”
I dragged my gaze away from the scene to stare up at him in horror. “To do what?” I hissed. “What the hell is this?”
Nash shrugged. “Exactly what it looks like. It’s a sex club.”
This was way over my head, and I suddenly knew exactly why both Rebel and Nash had refused to tell me what was going on until I was already here. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come. I took a step backward, searching for the safety of the coatroom and the exit. I wasn’t doing this. I’d been out of place enough when Psychos was just a bar. In a sex club, I might as well have a neon sign over my head that screamed ‘I don’t belong.’
I was too vanilla. Too straitlaced. Too…boring.
I breathed too hard, and panic clawed up my throat.
None of this was me.
But Nash caught my arm once more, and dammit if his touch wasn’t all I could think about. “This is why I didn’t tell you before we got you here. Stop freaking out. Nothing will happen when you’re with me, okay? We’re not participating. We’re just watching.” He spun me around, gripping my arms tightly. “I’m never gonna let anything happen to you that you don’t want to happen. Not in the club, not in the bar. Not anywhere I am. Ever. You got it? No one will touch you unless they have a death wish.”
There was so much ferocity in his voice that I didn’t even think to question him.
“This is just your chance to understand what’s yours now. You want to sell this place? Fine. We pack all this up like it never existed. Or…”
“Or what?” I whispered.
“Let’s worry about that after I’ve shown you what you own. Come on.”
He picked up my hand and led me out of the doorway. Like a timid lamb, I followed him into the fray.
I’d never seen anything like it. The big open room was twice the size of the Psychos bar, completely concealed on the other side of the wall. Red and gold lights swirled around the space, piercing the darkness. It left plenty of shadowy corners for I could only imagine what.
Throughout, huge gold performance cages had crowds of people around them. As Nash walked me slowly in the direction of one of them, I gasped at what was going on inside. The woman was completely naked, her lithe body oiled and glinting in lights that seemed to be built in to the cage roof and floor. She writhed on a bed made up only with a black silk sheet, her hands roaming her body, skimming her hips, gripping her breasts, her back arched, imitating sex.
I couldn’t stop looking. There was something beautiful in her actions that was mesmerizing. It was almost like a dance. She had the sort of body I’d always wanted but could never diet long enough to achieve.