“I’m sorry?”
I felt my face heat and I licked my lips. “There were people openly fucking, each section set up with different scenes. It was both equal parts fascinating and terrifying,” I admitted. “The second we walked in, I’d begged for him to take me home, but he insisted, promising me it would be fun. I kind of let my curiosity trump my gut, but I also tried to give myself a pep talk. I mean, Nick was a nice guy. We’d gone through two years of school together just as friends. He’d never do anything bad to me, you know?”
Flash grunted but didn’t comment and I snuggled closer.
“It was... weird. Too much for me, especially considering I was a virgin, and my parents had kind of sheltered us as kids, so I didn’t even know places like this even existed. He walked me around the building, stopping and watching a few of the scenes, and I found myself closing my eyes unless we were walking. I was just creeped out by the whole thing. When he pulled me into a private room and pulled my dress down, though, I freaked. I didn’t know at the time why I’d reacted so extremely—”
“Maybe because you weren’t asked for consent,” he ground out.
“Well, yes, but it was something else. I pulled myself together and ran out of the room to discover there was a one-way mirror, and there was a small crowd gathering to watch whatever Nick intended to do to me without my knowledge.”
“Fucking hell,” Flash hissed. “Did he know you were a virgin?”
“Does it make a difference?”
“Yep, it sure fuckin’ does.”
I sighed. “Yes, he knew.”
“It’s goddamn bad enough he took you somewhere like that without having a long and thorough conversation about it. It’s fuckin’ assault when he pulled you into that room, but it’s psychological torture considering he knew you were a virgin and would have no concept of what a place like that was.”
“I did go in, Flash. He didn’t force me—”
“Fuck me, Tate, don’t you dare minimize this,” he hissed. “That shithead’s a predator.”
I sighed. “Yeah.”
“I’m so glad you’re smart, baby.”
“Not smart enough not to date him,” I countered.
“You dated him after that?”
“Hell, no.” I shuddered. “Gross. I kicked his ass to the curb and blocked his number.”
“Exactly.” He gave me another squeeze. “Smart.”
I met his eyes again. “What if Ihaddated him after?”
He shrugged. “I still wouldn’t judge you, baby, but I’m really glad you didn’t.”
“I just wish I’d never dated him to begin with. Although...”
“Although, what?”
I bit my lip forcing back a smile. “The club was kind of interesting. I’d never want to go back because it was also super sleazy, but I can’t say I wasn’t kind of turned on by a few of the scenes.”
“Oh, yeah?” He raised an eyebrow. “Like, what?”
“There was one with the woman handcuffed to the bed and blindfolded,” I said. “That was kind of... intriguing.”
Flash rolled me onto my back and kissed me. “Anytime you want to play, baby, you let me know.”
“Really? Do you like that?”
“Never done it, but I’m all over figuring it out with you.” He stroked my cheek. “We’ve grown up together, and I’m so fuckin’ beyond happy that we get to grow old together, and figuring out what turns each other on is part of that.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
