Page 9 of Redemption

He sighs, cradling me to his chest. Dimitri’s men clear the room. The lights come up to a low dim. The room is cleaned. Nether of us move. Or speak. We just stand there and hold each other, forgiving each other for the past. Grieving over the loss of what might have been. While I hold him, I forgive myself for what I need to do. Just for a few more minutes… I’ll stay holding him, wishing him to be what I thought he could be when I was eighteen. I keep lying to myself as I stay in his arms.

The music turns back on. The lights lower again, and a fresh group of people enter The Den. The slow songs fade away as ones with more tempo begin. He spins, backing me straight against the wall. His hungry gaze bores into me before he cups my face and his lips descend. It’s a kiss that transcends time. It’s one of eternal ownership. But mine’s a viper’s in return.

“Salvatore.”

Roque rips his mouth of mine. “I’m a little busy here, Dimitri.”

“I don’t like cleaning up other people’s messes. Especially ones they make in my club. The DOM’s are angry. They think Eden is a joke. She needs to submit.”

“That will never happen.”

“Then you need to leave.”

“Gladly.”

“Not so fast.” Roque keeps me pinned. “What will it be, Red? The dark room or the cage?”

“Are you serious?”

“Aren’t I always?”

That arrogant smirk I hate so much makes an appearance. “At least I’m feeling generous tonight; giving you a choice.”

“The dark room. It’s not like I haven’t been locked in one with you before.”

My mention of the first night we met has his eyes glowing hotter. This really is to easy. I am the perfect weapon and it makes me feel sick. I wish this could all be real, and I was just some girl and he was just some guy. I need to hit the brakes on this runaway train before it rolls right over me again. He tugs the ends of the rope in his hand. “Good girl.”

My eyes narrow. “I’m no one’s good girl. Piss off.”

“Tonight, you’ll be mine, Red.”

I’m tempted to stomp my heel on his toes. Instead I grab Dimitri’s hand. “Maybe I want to be his, tonight. What do you say, Big Guy? I’ve already been with him. Too many times. Tonight, maybe I want to try something new.”

Roque growls. Dimitri’s brows lift. “You couldn’t handle me. I’m a real DOM not the mask-wearing actor Roque is. You think he’s an ass? You have no idea. This lifestyle isn’t for anyone and it’s not a joke. It’s not hot wax and spreader bars; glamourized by Hollywood. It’s dark, gritty, violent but the participants want it that way.”

My eyes glazed over. Sex and pain. Violence and ecstasy. That pretty much how I feel when I’m with Roque anyway.

“Nice try, Red. But you are all mine. Just like you’ve always been.” Dimitri leads the way. I’m stuck between the two of them. For once, I’m not worried about how I’ll escape since my plan was to get caught. But of all the mental calculations I made, getting caught at an S&M club wasn’t one of them.

Eyes roam over us as Dimitri leads us to a leather paneled door. “Do you have a safe word?”

“What do you think?” I roll my eyes, but he can’t see them as the lights went low again.

“It’s a rule.”

“I’m kind of a rule breaker.”

He turns to Roque. “She wouldn’t last five minutes with anyone else. If she were mine her ass would be as red as her hair right now.’

Roque’s husky laugh skates along my back. I’ll show him. I’ll remind him that it’s always been me. That I’m the erotic poison killing him slowly. That my touch is a burn that never leaves. These men are all fools if they think for one second that women are the weaker sex.

“What is this?” The room is pitch black, but the walls are all made of glass. “The viewing box. It’s a dark room. You can’t see out but everyone else can see in.”

“More night vision?”

Dimitri shrugs. Roque wears a wolf’s smile. I throw them both off their game by striding ahead. I’m the one crooking my finger inviting them both inside. “Why don’t you stay?” I arc my brow at Dimitri.

Roque growls, shoving him back and slamming the door. “Well, well, well, Little Red, the big, bad wolf has caught you at last.”

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