Page 136 of Sugar

When the man exited the sparkling clean room, I thought Easton might drag me in. I wanted him to.

But he kept his intimate hold on me a second longer before releasing my breast. His arm stayed locked around me as he continued the tour.

The only other open doors showed a doctor’s exam room, an office, and mirrors.

A lot of mirrors.

Easton turned us before we reached the end, but not before I caught a quick glimpse of a gathered crowd down the adjacent hall.

“What’re they doing?” I asked.

“Watching people have sex.”

My instinct was to do a double take, but I doubted I wanted to see what was happening—in or outside of the room.

“Does the couple know they’re being watched?”

“It depends.” Before the bad taste of that answer settled, he explained. “If the viewing window is set at reflective, they see a mirror and have no idea what’s on the other side. If they set it as transparent, they’re fully aware of their audience.” He glanced atme with a hint of a smile curving his mouth. “And who said it’s only a couple inside?”

I’m more naive than I like to think.

That must’ve been the only reason I asked the question I didn’t even want the answer to. “Have you ever been on either side of that?”

“No. It doesn’t appeal to me.” He backed me against the wall before putting his palms near my head to loom over me. “And I’m not asking if you’re interested because the only person I want you looking at is me. And if you think I’d ever in my fucking life let anyone see you, you’re out of your damn mind. Now if your curiosity is appeased for at least a few minutes, I need a drink.”

“Wait,” I said when he started to move.

His gaze snapped back to mine, and the edge that’d been there all car ride remained. The unease that had begun to dissipate returned.

Tenfold.

When he raised an expectant brow, I flung a hand toward the hall. “What was that other door at the end?”

“There’s a lower level for people who like to chase or be chased. Would you like to see?”

Running was already one of my least favorite activities, and nothing about it made me feel sexy, so I shook my head.

We backtracked into the main room. Rather than sticking to the outskirts, Easton stopped us at one of the small tables near the center.

Surrounded by depravity.

He tugged me closer and curved his hand around my throat to force my face up. A hint of heat cracked through the coldness in his off mood. “Say your safe word, and we’ll leave. Understood?”

“Yes,” I said instantly.

Using his hold, he sat me in one of the armchairs. “Wait here.”

I watched him walk to the bar before my focus skimmed over the crowd—being careful not to look too closely or for too long at any one spot. I saw Cohen and Atlas near the hallway to the offices. Both men clearly saw me, too, but they didn’t return my smile. I started to raise my hand to wave at them, but they looked away without any sort of acknowledgment.

Uh oh, I wonder if something bad happened.

Easton returned to take the chair across from me. “Come here, Madeline.”

I stood and rounded the table before stopping short. With my attention elsewhere, I hadn’t noticed him bring over the lush cushion he’d positioned on the floor.

His face was carefully blank as he watched me.

Waiting for my answer.

---