“Yep, give me five.”
“They don’t want to be late.”
Then you take them, I snap in my head. Instead, I force a smile. “Got it.”
She hovers for a second longer before letting out a small huff and leaving without closing my door.
For fuck’s sake.
Groaning, I return my attention to my phone. He’s right; weweregetting dangerously close to personal, but I’m starting to wonder if that’s a bad thing. There’s something about him that makes me want to get to know him on a deeper level. I haven’t felt that way since Dylan shattered my confidence.
Thoughts of my ex hit like a cold shower. Typing out my message, I decide to return to ourflirty banter.
@daring_devil: I have to get my sisters to school. If you’re not a serial killer, you know where to find me if you want to continue having some fun.
Too scared to wait for his response in case he rejects me, I exit the app and toss my phone onto my bedside table. The ball is in his court now.
Chapter 7
Leni
Idon’t hear from my mystery voyeur all week, and when the weekend arrives with still no contact, I decide to go play at the club. I’m not one to chase a man when I can get the same high on my own.
Walking into Euphoria without a mask gives me an exhilarating high. There’s something intoxicating about putting on a show as Leni Hart rather than the daring devil.
Jeremy is at the reception desk, and he grins, wrapping me in a warm embrace.
“How’s my favourite cousin?” he asks, kissing the top of my head.
I shoot him a cheeky wink. “Fabulous as always.”
He studies my face, looking for any cracks in my armour. He was the first person to suspect what was happening to me when I was younger, and he had my back when my mother tried to blame me for it.
I love him for that, and I’ll forever be indebted to him, but I’ve perfected my mask for everyone. Twenty-two-year-old Leni Hart is infallible—she’s not the scared little girl sheonce was, cowering away from a man’s touch. She’s taking back her sexual power and not giving a fuck what anyone thinks.
“You’d tell me if anything was wrong?” he asks, dropping his voice so the woman manning reception tonight doesn’t overhear him.
“Of course, Jer.” I shove him away from me playfully. “I’m good, I promise.”
He nods but doesn’t look convinced. I know he’s worried about why I come here, especially after what I went through as a child, but as long as I’m safe, he won’t stop me.
“Are you after your usual room?”
The one that always draws a crowd? “Yes, please.”
Jeremy turns to the woman at reception, and she hands him a silver keycard, which he passes on to me. “Stay out of trouble, Len.”
“Always.” I lean up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his cheek.
He rolls his eyes, and I blow him another kiss as I pass through the heavy drapes that lead into the club. Anticipation builds in my stomach just thinking about the toys waiting for me in the room he’s given me.
I order water with lime from Diego at the bar, then drag my gaze over the room. There’s a good crowd tonight. My core pulses.
Diego passes me my drink with a smile. I have a suspicion that he and Jeremy have something going on, but I’ve never been able to prove it. Neither of them will admit it, and I hate how Jeremy opened this incredible club for people to explore their sexual proclivities in a safe environment, yet he doesn’t feel safe to come out.
I sip my drink as I saunter towards the hallway that leads to the voyeur hall and remember the last time I was here. My mystery man watching from the other side of the glass gave me such a thrill. I’d been so sure he would leave after chatting to him at the bar, but he proved me wrong with his curiosity. He lingered on the edge, fascinated but restrained. The question is, what will it take for him to release whatever’s shackling him and dive in?
My stomach drops as I realise I don’t want to play anymore. Not without him. I’m happy to wait, because I feel something for this man. He’s not afraid to be vulnerable, and the way he’s unashamedly open about what he’s going through in his private life with his divorce… it does something to me.
