A hint of a smile touched his lips. “Patience, Cecelia.”
“Not my strong suit.”
“I've noticed.”
We fell into silence again as he navigated through less familiar streets, moving away from the glittering towers of midtown into an area I didn't recognize. The buildings here were older, industrial looking, with fewer lights and pedestrians. He finally pulled up to a nondescript building with a simple black door and no signage. Nothing about it screamed exclusive or high-end, but the sleek cars parked nearby told a different story.
Rafe killed the engine and sat for a moment, his hands still gripping the wheel. I'd never seen him so... uncertain. It was both strange and oddly endearing.
“Rafe?” I prompted. “What is this place?”
He turned to me, and the raw vulnerability in his expression took my breath away. “We're at a sex club.”
I choked on air. “A what?”
“A sex club,” he repeated, the words coming out in a rush. “It's private, exclusive. Members only. Very discreet. We don't have to go in if you don't want to. I just thought... but maybe this is too much, too soon. We can go home.”
His nervous rambling was so unlike him that I almost laughed. Almost. But the seriousness in his eyes stopped me.
“You come here often?” I asked instead, still trying to process this new information.
He nodded and that muscle in his jaw jumped again. “Yes.”
“And what exactly would we...ah…do inside?” The question came out more breathless than I'd wanted it to.
“Whatever you're comfortable with,” he said carefully. “There's no obligation to participate. Some people just watch. Some participate. Some do both. It depends on what you want.”
I studied him, noticing the tightness around his eyes, the way he was bracing himself for my reaction. “And what do you usually do here?”
A long beat of silence followed. “I watch.”
Suddenly so many things clicked into place—the intensity of his gaze when he'd first seen me, the way he always seemed to be observing or cataloging reactions.
“You watch,” I repeated, turning the idea over in my mind. “You don't participate?”
He shook his head. “No. I just... I like to see. To observe pleasure without...” He trailed off, searching for words. “Without being directly involved.”
“But you touched me...” I began, confused.
“That was different,” he said quickly. “That was you. With you, I want... more.”
The raw honesty in his voice made my heart skip. I looked from the unmarked door of the club back to Rafe's anxious expression. This clearly mattered to him, showing me this part of himself, this secret he'd kept hidden. And despite the shock,despite the strangeness of it all, I was more intrigued than repulsed.
Maybe it was the lingering arousal from earlier. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was simply that Rafe de Luca, with all his sharp edges and hidden depths, had somehow gotten under my skin in ways I hadn't anticipated.
Whatever the reason, I reached for the door handle.
“I want to go in,” I said, the words sending a thrill of nervous excitement through me.
Rafe's eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn't expected my answer. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I nodded, surprising even myself with how certain I felt. “Show me.”
Chapter 21
Cece
Istood on the sidewalk, staring up at the nondescript building that housed Rafe's secret world. My heart thrashed against my ribs like it was trying to escape, while a peculiar mix of excitement and fear flooded my system. The unmarked door revealed nothing about what waited on the other side, and despite my bold declaration in the car, my feet suddenly felt rooted to the concrete. Rafe's hand found the small of my back, warm and steady, grounding me in the moment as he leaned down to whisper against my ear. "We can still leave."
