Page 3 of Sunrise

The beat of the music thrums in my bones. They ooze sex off that stage. Before I know what I’m doing, I’ve already crept closer to them, as if pulled by an invisible Shibari rope tied around my chest. It’s hard to breathe. Hard to think. I want nothing more than to be part of what they have.

Because they definitely have something, just like Sophie and I have something.

Vault knows I fuck her. That was part of the deal when she and I started seeing each other. I needed him to know. And even though she and I never have sex in the Monarch, he’s never asked me to stop being with her. And I’ve never asked him to stop either.

Ryker comes to stand beside me, a serene smile stretching across his face. “Enjoying the view?”

My gaze stays locked on the two heartthrobs up on stage. “Always.”

Vault moves with grace. He’s meticulous and patient, which makes him an excellent rigger. He makes tying knots look like meditation and worship. He occasionally leans into Sophie, likely checking in with her while he binds her up like a spider does a meal. After the second song is over, a pulley system islowered, and a silver hoop gleams in the spotlight. Vault carefully latches her to it until she’s bent in half, each leg wrapped in rope, but one is stretched out straight, while the other is bent. Posing, she reaches back with her left hand and touches her foot, bringing her other hand up and pointing at the crowd.

Fucking. Stunning.

The applause shakes me out of my hypnosis, and I realize I’ve somehow crept even closer.

“I need another volunteer,” Vault suddenly announces, his smokey voice booming over the music. Several members raise their hands, and I lean against the wall and cross my arms.

Who will he pick?

“You,” he says in my general direction.

I wait to see who the hell he’s talking to, but no one stands.

“Get the fuck up there,” Ryker growls in my ear. He shoves me forward and I almost trip over myself. What the hell is Ryker on? There’s no way Vault would pick me.

“Knox.” My name on Vault’s lips has my heart thundering. “I need you.”

Chapter 2

Vault

I think I’ve stunned him. It takes Knox a few seconds to get into action, but the shock on his face is quickly replaced by arrogance. Knox swaggers up to the stage like he owns the goddamn club. He can’t help himself. It’s just how he is. Especially when he’s trying to hide something. He always acts braver than he feels, and it comes out looking like this. There’s no way he’s afraid of getting up in front of a crowd. He’s an attention whore.

I hope this isn’t a mistake.

Shaking off my concern, I wait for him to come up and join Sophie and I on the stage. Look, I’ve got more than enough on my plate as it is, and what I’m trying to accomplish here can all too easily be derailed if I’m not careful. I need to stay focused.

Stroking the length of black rope I plan to use next, I let the texture comfort me as Knox prowls closer. “Are you okay with this?”

I don’t rig anyone without their consent first.

Knox arches his brow. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

Fair enough.

I glance over to check on Sophie. She’s dangling in a slow circle like a butterfly caught in stray spider silk. Which was the vision I was going for.

Shibari is an art. I take it seriously and enjoy the masterpieces I create. Knox will be even more stunning than usual by the time I’m done with him. “Take off your shirt.”

“Take it off yourself.”

This isn’t the first time he’s stared at me with challenge and fire in his gaze, but in every phase of our life, his face has changed. The fucker has the audacity to get better looking every year.

He glares at me, and I’m momentarily struck stupid. Sometimes, when I take a real look at Knox, I’m sucked back into his vortex and it’s like meeting a god who visits us mere mortals only on special occasions, but each time he shows up, he’s better looking. Gone are his full cheeks from the last bit of baby fat he had when he was in middle school. Gone are the scrawny fingers and arms he had in high school. Gone is the buzzcut he rocked for a decade. Gone are his helix piercings and eyebrow slit, too.

His mouth never changes, though. It’s still full. Broad. Kissable.

Fuckable.

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