“As you ascend, each floor will increase in darkness,” she tells us as we step out onto the floor. “As you can see, this floor is light, filled with pinks and whites, and the relations you’ll see are on the lighter side.”
Some of the rooms have the curtains closed—which, according to Mira, means they’re not viewable to the public—while some are open, allowing outsiders to observe. Each room has velvet couches facing the windows, where people can get comfortable to watch, as well as couches in the rooms, for those who want to hear everything that’s happening.
We stop at one room, where a couple—appearing to be in their early thirties—is having sex with the curtains open. The man is on top, lovingly kissing down her bare breasts. When he looks up at her, his eyes are filled with so much adoration and heat that myheart clenches in my chest. He brings his lips down to hers, and I can feel the love between them, so much so that I walk away because it feels wrong to watch the intimate encounter—despite the curtain being open.
“You good?” Kane murmurs, the softness in his tone startling me.
It reminds me of the night we spent together—before I knew he was the enemy. Kane evoked feelings within me that I had kept buried deep, only for me to learn that his feelings were fake. He’s a manipulative asshole with an agenda.
“I’m fine,” I spit, moving on to the next room.
Mira shows us a few more rooms and then walks us over to the elevator.
“As I mentioned before, each floor increases in darkness and intensity,” she says, pressing the number four.
We step off the elevator and stop just before the first room.
“You might find group sex, similar to the scenes on the third floor, but more intense. They might use toys or act out various scenes that you wouldn’t see in the rooms we were just observing.”
We step in front of the window, and I’m immediately taken aback by the scene in front of us. A man and woman are both naked. She’s lying on her back, and he’s thrusting a dildo in and out of her. We can’t hear her from out here, but her head is thrashing from side to side, and I imagine she’s screaming in pleasure.
My thighs clench in desire, and I glance at Kane, wondering if he’s as turned on as I am, only to find him staring at me instead of at the couple. His eyes, usually golden brown, are dark, filled with raw heat, and I force myself to look away, not wanting to give him any part of me.
We view a few more rooms, and Kane was right—I am intrigued. I always knew my sexual tastes weren’tnormal,but being with Kane and then watching these couples have confirmed it. I crave control, but it’s more than that. I don’t want to be handled like glass.
My brothers, Theo, even my mom handle me with kid gloves. They wantto protect me, keep me safe, but what they don’t understand is that it’s too late for that. I’ve already been broken, my pieces shattered, and I’ve picked them up and dragged them along with me. I’m a survivor, strong and capable, and I want to be treated as such.
“And this is our darkest floor,” Mira says when we step onto the fifth floor.
The first window is open, and there’s a couple in the room, standing and facing one another. At first, I wonder why they’re on the darkest floor—there are no toys that I can see, and they’re both dressed.
I’m about to ask Mira when the woman turns away from the man and he pulls her back to him. Her mouth opens in what I assume is a scream as she tries to get away, but he grabs her—hard—and throws her onto the bed. He towers over her, ripping her shirt and then shorts off her body, and I’m transported back to six years ago.
My clothes being ripped off.
Screaming in protest.
Anthony forcing my legs open.
My eyes are on the woman and man as he flips her onto her stomach, spreads her cheeks, and forces his way into her ass, but my mind is stuck in the past.
The excruciating pain.
Begging him to stop.
Him refusing to do so.
And before I realize what I’m doing, I’m running from the room—from my past. I see the sign for the stairs, and I shove the door open, flying down each flight of stairs, needing to get as far away as possible. But it’s pointless because no matter where I go, my past will always follow me. It lives within me, is a part of me, and I can’t escape it.
“Brielle, stop!” I hear Kane shout, but I don’t listen.
When I reach the final door, I push it open, and I’m met withthe cool January air. I suck in a harsh breath, looking both ways, ready to run—to where? I don’t know.
But before I can, strong arms wrap around me from behind, caging me in, and because I’m still stuck in my head, I kick and scream, until Kane lets go of me.
I take off in a sprint, running as fast as I can in heels, and I don’t stop until I’m down the driveway and near the guard gate.
“Brielle! What the fuck?” Kane shouts, grabbing my shoulders and spinning me around. “What the hell is going on?”
