It’s June sixth, isn’t it? The first Friday of the month. How the hell did I forget? I check my watch—almost midnight. The show’s about to begin, and my Little Thief is down there, right in the middle of it all.
Fuck
I’d planned to ease her into this side of the Leone Room, not throw her into the deep end on the most extreme night weoffer. I’m already moving toward the door, my heart hammering against my ribs with an urgency I rarely feel.
“Sir, about the shipment—” the guy with me starts, but I cut him off with a raised hand.
“Not now,” I snap, yanking open the door. “Handle it.”
I take the stairs two at a time, my mind racing ahead of my feet. Freaky Friday isn’t for the uninitiated. It’s where every fantasy, every dark desire gets played out on stage and off. No limits, no judgment, no holding back.
For most people, it’s too much. For Raven? I don’t know, and that uncertainty burns like acid in my gut.
The main floor has already transformed when I reach it. All the lights have been dimmed, the usual ambient music is gone, and the crowd shifts. Those who know what’s coming press closer to the stage, and those who don’t watch with curious anticipation.
My eye scans the sea of faces, looking for my Little Thief. She stands out even in this crowd, a beacon drawing me in. She’s at the bar with Kayla, her expression bright with excitement as she watches the stage.
I push through bodies that part before me like water, some recognizing who I am, others simply sensing the danger. My need to reach her feels primal, possessive in a way that should concern me but doesn’t. Not anymore.
Raven’s cheeks are flushed, her eyes wide with anticipation as I reach her. She turns at my approach, and that smile—fuck, that smile could bring empires to their knees.
“Matteo!” she exclaims, grabbing my arm. “What’s happening? What’s Freaky Friday?”
“We’re leaving,” I growl, taking her wrist in my hand. Not rough, but brooking no argument. “Now.”
Her smile falters, confusion replacing excitement. “What? Why?”
“Trust me, Little Thief. You don’t want to see this.”
The stubborn tilt of her chin is all the warning I get before she plants her feet. “Actually, I do.” She pulls her wrist from my grip, those big brown eyes challenging me. “Why are you suddenly trying to drag me out of here?”
The lights drop further, leaving only the glow from the bar and the dim blue lights marking the exits. On stage, silhouettes move into position—selected for their skill and lack of inhibition.
“It’s exactly what it sounds like,” I tell her, leaning close so my words reach only her. “The kink show to end all kink shows. No rules, no limits. It gets…” I search for the word, “… intense.”
Instead of the shock I expect, her eyes light up with interest. “And you thought I’d what? Clutch my pearls and run screaming?”
“I thought I’d introduce you to it when you were ready.”
She laughs, the sound sharp with challenge. “I decide when I’m ready for things, Matty.” Her fingers curl into my shirt, pulling me closer until her lips brush my ear. “And I’m ready for this.”
Before I can argue, her mouth is on mine, hot and demanding. She tastes like Kayla’s too-strong cocktails and something sweeter beneath—desire, maybe. My hands find her waist automatically, pulling her against me as she opens for me, her tongue sliding against mine.
When she breaks the kiss, her lipstick is smeared, her breathing uneven. “I want the full experience,” she says, her voice husky with want. “All of it.”
A growl builds in my chest, half frustration, half arousal. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”
“Then show me.” Her eyes never leave mine, challenging, daring. “Unless you’re scared?”
That does it. I grab her hand, pulling her through the crowd toward the stairs. “You want to see? Fine. But we do this my way.”
She follows willingly now, excitement rolling off her in waves I can practically taste. “Your way being?”
“You watch from my office. Safe distance.” I lead her up the stairs, my grip on her hand firm. “I don’t share what’s mine, Raven. You know that.”
The possessiveness in my voice should repulse her. Instead, I feel the shiver that runs through her, see the way her pupils dilate.
“I’m yours now?” she asks.
