“Yes, sir.”
My pulse speeds up and heat flares across my skin as if someone lit a match. His perfect control… the latent threat… his utter focus.
This is only pretend, this is only pretend…
Why do I wish it wasn’t? I’m all for “don’t yuck my yum” and all that, and I’ve had my fair share of kinky exchanges, but I’ve never experienced anything like this before.
And until now, I had no idea I wanted to.
When I catch his gaze, he quickly shifts his eyes to the corner of the room where a few different people are congregating on comfortable-looking overstuffed chairs and sofas. Ahh. From my position, I can see a different angle.
“No,” he says sharply. I look back at him to see his eyes move again to a doorway behind where everyone sits.
Two men stand sentry on either side, hands tucked behind their backs. Bodyguards? A man dressed in black leading a woman on a chain walks past them. Fabien gives me a subtle nod.
I believe we’ve found our talisman owner.
In one swift move, he yanks me to my feet.
“But where’s he going?” I whisper in his ear.
Fabien curses. “He’s going to the free room.”
I don’t remember paying to get in here. What does it mean? Sometimes things get lost in translation. Literally.
“Did we pay to get in?” Thankfully it’s loud enough in here no one can hear my whisper.
He nods. “Yes, I took care of it. But that’s not what free means in this context.”
My heart beats faster. What’s he talking about?
“Oh?”
“It means that people who enter are free to anyone else who wants them. Singles. Swingers. You know. No couples go there.”
A sick feeling of dread washes over me, but I will myself to do what I have to. I forbid myself from backing down now.
This is a job. Just a job.
Fabien gives the doorway a hostile glare as if willing it to burst into flames in front of him.
We’ll have to pretend to be okay with this if we’re going to get the talisman. If we’re going to rescue his brother. If we’re going to do what we came here to do.
If I’m going to earn my money, I remind myself, a vague echo that has lost its appeal.
This was not part of the plan.
I get an idea.
Next to us, a threesome enters, and those all around us erupt with greetings. Someone popular, then. I use the opportunity to talk to Fabien again.
“We could go and bring the dupe,” I whisper to him. “We could pretend that was the real talisman and get your brother back.”
“We can’t.” He looks pained. “It’s only meant as a temporary replacement. Fuck. It will only do as a stand-in from a distance. Anyone who inspects it closely will know.”
Damn it.
“Let’s do this,” I whisper. I open my mouth to tell him it’s okay. We’re not really together anyway, so what’s a little pretend? But something in the way he’s still glaring at the door tells me this is probably not a good idea.
