I let out a relieved sigh. "Okay, that makes me feel better. Sorry, I'm new at this whole thing. I barely know what I'm doing. I was supposed to come with a friend but he ditched me at the last minute."
Malachi regarded me for a long moment, as if trying to puzzle something out.
"You're new," he said, more a statement than a question.
"Yeah."
"To this club?"
I felt my cheeks heat up. "Er, to... kink clubs in general."
"I see," Malachi murmured, still looking at me.
This whole time he hadn't moved an inch. His body was so close that if I lifted my arm, my fingers would've grazed him. I normally didn't enjoy close proximity with strangers, but I was relaxed around Malachi. Despite his hard edges—and the fact that he was roleplaying a freaking vampire—there was something warm and comforting about his presence.
"Would you say you're inexperienced?" Malachi asked.
My throat felt thick. I swallowed. "Yeah."
The rose color of Malachi's eyes glowed. "I can teach you how scenes are supposed to go, but only if you're interested."
My face went hot. No doubt I was blushing like crazy. Did I hear him right? Was he actually offering to do a scene with me?
A few minutes ago, I was ready to run out ofThe Bat Denand never show my face there again. Maybe I'd go home and cry into a tub of ice cream about how pathetic I was.
But now Malachi proposed a much more appealing option. Despite my inexperience, I wanted desperately to say yes. He was the only person in this entire castle I felt comfortable with, and I wanted to learn from him.
Suddenly Malachi pulled away. My chest squeezed, my disappointment almost painful.
"I'll take your silence as a no," Malachi said calmly. "I won't pressure you into anything."
Without thinking, I grabbed his wrist. It was cold under my hot, flushed skin. But I wasn't thinking about that.
"It's not that!" I blurted out. "I was quiet because I was thinking. Iwantto. Please believe me."
Malachi's body was dead still as he considered my plea. He looked like a living sculpture. I couldn't believe a man could be so beautiful in real life.
"There's one thing I must know before anything else," Malachi said.
I nodded.
"What is your name?"
Oh my god. In my eagerness to spend time with Malachi, I'd forgotten the most basic human interaction. I mentally slapped my forehead.
"It's Scotty," I said.
Malachi's mouth curved into a smile. "Wonderful. Now let us begin."
4
Malachi
This was bad.Very bad.
How could I have allowed myself into such a compromising position? I never intended to end up alone in a room with him—that alluring, delectable, adorable human. Scotty.
The few moments I'd spent alone with him were already enough to stoke my desire. Its flames licked me from the inside, coursing through my cold veins, lighting them up. The sensation was shocking in its suddenness and intensity. I'd never felt this way before.
