Page 91 of Let’s Be Real

That closed my intervention, but they didn’t leave. We ordered food, watched a baseball game, and played with Ruby. When she finally conked out, Ben strapped her to his chest and took laps around the living room to keep her asleep.

And for the first time in a while, I was finally able to fully relax. Even though I’d bristled when they’d arrived, this was exactly what I’d needed.

There were times my brothers knew me better than myself.

They pushed when I needed it.

Maybe Adrian was right.

Maybe Sammie needed pushing too.

Chapter Thirty-one

Nate

Adrian had something up his sleeve. He never invited me to his club, not explicitly, and tonight, he had.

“There’s a rope show. Shibari. You don’t want to miss it,” he’d said.

I’d thought of a lot of reasons to say no. That was Samantha’s workplace. I shouldn’t have been invading—even though I was chomping at the bit to catch a glimpse of her.

It had been over a week. She’d left me at peace as promised, but I hadn’t found any serenity. During the day, I was antsy and anxious, and at night, practically climbing the walls. I missed her in a way that surprised even me. And I’d had time to think about all the reasons I’d asked her for more.

It wasn’t the sex. If that were it, we could have kept going as we were indefinitely. It was her. It was the way we were together. It was wanting to be part of her life in a more meaningful way—an official way that wasn’t predicated on faking something that felt real to me.

I was pretty sure it had felt real to her too, even if she wouldn’t admit it.

Still, ambushing her at work was the last thing I wanted to do.

And Adrian had had an answer to that. “It’s her night off. Don’t worry about it.”

I believed him because I wanted to. Even if Samantha wasn’t at the club, sitting in the dark in the back of the audience made me feel closer to her. It was a glimpse into her life. A taste of where she spent most of her time.

Maybe it wasn’t the healthiest choice, but avoiding feeling anything had gotten me exactly nowhere. So even if I left this club with my guts spilling out, at least I could say I’d chosen that. At least I’d know I was alive.

Adrian stopped by my seat, the spark behind his eyes unmissable even in the dim lighting.

“Are you ready?” He bounced on his toes like a sugar-hyped toddler.

“I…think so.” I sipped my drink, eyeing the stage. “You seem far too excited for me to trust you.”

He patted my shoulder. “Just enjoy yourself tonight.” He chuckled, and it had an evil tinge to it. “I think you will.”

He wandered off, and a glint caught my eye. He’d left a key on the table. I turned it over in my hand and ran my thumb over the “10” on the key chain. He must’ve dropped it by accident. I tucked it in my pocket to give back to him later.

It wasn’t long before the music changed and a lone woman walked onto the stage. She looked familiar from the last time I was here, and when she introduced herself, I knew why.

Madam Cara was dressed in a bloodred leather dress that barely contained her, but she didn’t appear to be concerned about any of her parts falling out. She roved around the stage with a length of silky white rope in her hands, telling the audience about the art of Shibari.

Then she invited two men on stage, one leading the other. She asked the smaller man if she could touch the much larger man. When she was given permission, she positioned him on his knees between them.

The smaller man stroked his partner’s hair as Madam Cara wrapped the rope around his head. He opened his mouth, allowing her to place a knot inside. She told us it was a monkey gag, and from the way the man shuddered when she secured it, he very much liked it.

For her next demonstration, she tied another man’s cock and balls in a way that made me squirm in my seat. I wouldn’t have put it past Adrian to have invited me specifically to see this. It would have explained why he’d seemed so damn delighted.

I pulled my gaze from the stage, decided to people-watch instead. Couples and trios dotted the audience, some watching the show, others intent on each other. I sipped my drink, wondering about these people. How long they’d been members. What they were looking for.

What was I looking for?