My jaw hangs low. The triangular structure is made of stone and looks like something straight out of a Mayan documentary. Is this Isidoro’s house? Did he build it?
“It’s authentic,” the man says as if he can read my mind. “I bought it off the Institute of Anthropology and promised to take good care of it so it can be preserved. All the people in my employ are from the closest towns too, and they are paid handsomely. Some live on the premises, if they so choose.”
“Don’t tell me you live insidethat?” I point to the impressive building. Surely, there’s a mansion behind it or something…
Henods, pride shining in his eyes. “Yes, but don’t let the antiquated exterior fool you—the inside has all the modern amenities one might require.”
That’s it. I’m convinced Isidoro is more than just Niko’s rich friend. What modern billionaire does this kind of thing?
Also, he wasn’t lying either. The second we ascend the flight of stairs from the entrance, it’s like I’ve walked into another world, back to civilization. Soft cream walls encircle what must be a parlor with a corridor going two ways. We take our shoes off, mirroring Isidoro, and a staff member pops out of somewhere with three pairs of slippers. They are the luxurious kind, with fluffy insides.
Once we’ve donned them, Isidoro leads us down the left hallway. Multiple doors line up both sides, but we walk into the first one. My eyes take in the spacious interior. This room alone is as big as my entire apartment was, comprising a couple of couches sitting in front of a giant TV, armchairs by the indoor glassed-off garden thingy with a jacuzzi, a bar stocked with alcohol and snacks, a low coffee table in the corner with cushions lying around it.
“This is the lounge. Feel free to come hang out anytime,” Isidoro explains, sashaying over to the bar and pouring himself a glass of whiskey. He lifts the bottle in invitation, to which Niko nods but I shake my head. He pours one more glass and hands it to Niko. “I’ll show you to your bedroom now, and once you have settled in, feel free to seek out one of my staff for a tour of the rest of my residence. There is a swimming pool, a sauna, hobby and game rooms, a smash room, a gallery, a museum, a pet room, a sensory deprivation room, and a sex dungeon down below.”
I blink at him. Half of these make sense, but half are a bit out there. Who needs a gallery or a museum at home? And what the hell is a sensory deprivation room? Some kind of a torture thing?
Isidoro smiles around the lip of his glass before he downs it. “You are free to roam and explore later. There are a couple more rooms I haven’t mentioned. Or you could rest up before dinner. It’s up to you.” He places the glass in the sink behind the bar and stretches his arms. “Oh, but I do ask that you follow one simple rule.” He trains his eyes on me, his friendly expression morphing into one of warning. “Do not go inside the room with the red door. Understood?”
Why is he looking at me? I feel personally attacked. But also, it makes me want to find this room and check it out even more.Fuck.
“Yes, of course,” Niko assures him when our staring contest drags on.
“Red door is no go. Gotcha,” I add, averting my eyes. It’s not that I can’t keep looking at Isidoro, it’s just that it’s harder to do it when I am lying to someone’s face. Banning me from this red door only makes me want to check it out more.
Isidoro hums, visibly happy with our answers. “Okay then. Follow me to your bedroom. I bet you’re both dying for a shower.”
“Why? Do we stink that much?” Niko laughs, only half-joking.
I trail behind the two of them and look down at my clothes. They are muddy and ripped, with traces of blood and dirt and plants all over. I scrunch my nose and inhale. Yep, I definitely need a shower and a good scrubbing.
Our bedroom is located toward the end of the hallway. It comes with its own bathroom, a walk-in closet, a workout area and a study corner. It feels more like a small apartment than a single room, but that’s just me. For people like Isidoro, this is probably the default.
“You can use the phone to call my staff or me. I’m at 01-1, and the staff lounge is 01-2. If you need to contact someone on the outside, you can’t do it from this phone. You’ll need the guys at the comms room to patch in the call for you so it can’t be traced.” Crossing his arms behind his back, he pauses by the door. “You will find some clothes in the closet. They are yours. Dinner will be at seven, so feel free to rest until then. If you need anything in the meantime, don’t hesitate to use the phone.”
With that, our host disappears.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I turn to Niko. “Your friend sure is something.”
“He is.” He plops onto the soft-looking couch and tilts his chin in the direction of the bathroom. “You wanna go first, Tommy?”
I bob my head. “Yes, please. I’m disgusting.”
Niko smirks, breathing in deeply, and pins me with quickly darkening eyes. “Disgusting isn’t what I’d call you.”
My heart skips a beat and my dick twitches in approval. But I hold my ground. “No sex until we are both showered.”
His laugh booms inside the quiet room. “God, you are so fucking cute, you know that?”
“Yes, thank you.” I grab one of the towels that have been prepared for us on the massive bed. The blanket it lies on is soft when my fingers brush across it. “Oh, and also, no peeking.”
Helaughs again, saying he’ll think about it as I jog over to the bathroom and lock myself in. There is a giant bathtub in the middle, a TV on the wall across it, and a selection of salts and oils and soap.
I grin at my reflection in the gilded mirror above the sink. “Hell yeah.”
11
Nikolas
