“I’m not sure you can handle what I’m about to share.”
“If I can handle finding out my father practically sold me to an obscenely rich man to cover his debt and prevent our family hotel from going under and not fall apart, I can handle whatever you have to dish out.”
“Dark Compulsion is an exclusive, member onlyadult clubwhere high rollers meet for an illicit night and all sorts of kinky stuff.”
My jaw drops.
Talk about ripping off the Band-Aid in one shot.“Come again?”
“You heard me the first time.”
“Adult club? As in, sex club?”
“Yes.”
My curiosity is piqued. “Have you ever been?”
“I’ve been to the Quintus Hotel for dinner with Rhys. He wanted to introduce me to the kinky club, but my new role in his company, and the accident… delayed things.” She taps her leg.
My face contorts. “Is it like a swingers club?”
She shakes her head. “Some married couples are into that, but that’s not the essence of the club. There are many floors… there’s a lot to explore. From what Rhys has candidly shared, it’s not sleazy. It’s high-end. There are a lot of hurdles to becoming a Dark Compulsion member. Their screening process is top notch. Hence, the exclusive part. The members prefer their relationships uncomplicated, therefore a mutual level of understanding is paramount. You can’t even get through the door without signing an NDA and leaving your phone in a secure holding area. So, club members get their kicks and at the end of the evening, they walk away. No drama. No expectations. No stalker behavior. No photos leaked to the press.”
“I can imagine what goes on in such a club.”
“Rhys can’t wait to take me. From my understanding, most of his friends are members and they bring their significant other. You can tailor the experience to your needs and kinks.”
Whoa.I rest my back against the seat. “This isn’t Kansas anymore.”
“No, it’s not.”
Realization hits me. “Phoenix has a kinky side…”
“Chances are, he does,” Keira says. I should be freaked out––concerned, even––but I’m not. “That’s a good thing for you. In no time, you won’t be able to spell the wordsvanilla sex. Trust me.” Keira grins from ear to ear.
I swallow at her admission, and my stomach flips as I flashback to Phoenix’s raunchy words when I asked about our wedding night. Conscious of my shortcomings compared to a master dirty-talker, I decided to press the eject button and get myself out of that erotic battle of words. Because, holy Jesus, I’m so not equipped to go toe to toe with that man. And damn his deep, baritone, sexy voice.
An afternoon with him and I’m dying to live out every one of his promises.
What’s wrong with me?
My cheeks flush.
“Are you having a moment?” The amusement in her voice doesn’t go unnoticed.
I narrow my gaze at her. “No, I’m not.”Lie.“We still have to iron out the detail surrounding our sleeping arrangements, but I made it clear, sex isn’t part of the deal.”
Her head jerks back. “You’re going to be married to one of the most eligible men in the country, you’re going to live together, you’re going to see him walking around in his boxer briefs—and potentially, naked—but nothing is going to happen between the two of you? For a whole year?”
“I’ll do my best not to see him naked.”
Her head rears back. “Why? I bet that man is something else naked.” I’m sure she’s right.
“First, he’s still the enemy?—”
“I thought he was saving your hotel?”
“It still doesn’t mean I like him.” I continue without giving her a chance to respond. “Second, this is a businessarrangement. Third, there’s a time limit on this fake-relationship, so I’d rather keep my wits about me.”
