Page 90 of Sunrise

Anger flares in my heart, making it ache. I stop walking so I can face off Dmitri. “Don’t you trust me?”

“I trust that you’ll do the right thing on a normal night. But if you’re suddenly this desperate to need the club to yourself with them, that’s a red flag, Soph.”

I want to slap him. The only reason I don’t is because he’s right. Requesting full access to the Monarch, so I can have my way with two best friends, who are also madly in love and carrying a lot of fucking baggage, is a pandora’s box most people wouldn’t dare open.

“Again, I’m going to ask… who did this to you?”

“No one’s done anything to me.”They didn’t have the chance. “I’m just in a funk, Dmitri.”

And now I feel defeated and ganged up on. I’ve got four men who I love dearly. Two don’t want me doing this. The other two are waiting for me to get started.

If I have to choose, there’s no question what sideI’ll land on. “This is as much for them as it is for me.”

“One night at the club with them kissing doesn’t warrant a fuck fest a week later.”

True. But Dmitri doesn’t know the progress they’ve made, and I do. “Knox is in charge.”

He jerks back like I just sprouted six heads. “Excuse me?”

“I said Knox is the one in charge. If we go too far, at any point, he’s the one who will end the scene.”

Dmitri’s laugh is cold as ice when he shakes his head. “Sophie, he’d let you turn sex into a blood sport if he thought it would make you or Vault happy. He’s not the one who should be in charge.”

“Yes, he is.” D doesn’t know Knox like I do. “That man’s only priority is to get back to Vault.” My heart thuds against my bones. “He will never let me, himself, or Vault jeopardize that.”

My point shuts him up. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this man speechless before.

“We all need this push. We’ll be careful.” I start walking away again, feeling more at peace with this power move and looking forward to seeing where it leads.

“Do you love them?” he calls out.

It’s like he just shouted it through the built-in speakers for fuck’s sake. Damn him! As much as I want to deny it, I don’t want to lie either. Walking backwards so I don’t lose momentum, I toss my hands up like it’s a hopeless cause. “With every fiber of my being.”

D’s head falls back. Maybe he’s sending up a prayer. Or maybe he’s counting to ten, so he doesn’t lose his shit. I don’t know and I don’t care. I turn around and go left, stopping when I see Vault andKnox leaning against the wall by the main room the Butterfly Ceremony will be held in tomorrow night.

Shit, did they hear what I just told Dmitri?

Knox pushes away from the wall first, looking annoyed. “Why the hell is Ryker being a dick?”

Okay, they didn’t hear what I said if he’s leading the convo with that starter.

“He’s just being extra careful, pup.” I walk towards the employee only doors. “You gentlemen can meet me in room twelve. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Vault?”

“Yes, Mistress?”

“Put on playlist number three.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

We fall into character effortlessly. It feels amazing. Right. Natural.

“Pup, be in position when I arrive.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

I push through the double doors and head to my dressing room. By the time I’m pulling a latex outfit out of the closet, one of my favorite songs pumps through the built-in speakers, putting me in the perfect headspace.

I’ve curated all the playlists for the Monarch Club over the years. Music is vital for optimal pleasure in a sex club. Sound waves affect mood by stimulating the limbic system in your brain, which helps process emotions and can also help release neurotransmitters like dopamine. We like dopamine hits around here. Low frequencies and vibes, such as bass notes, can decrease blood pressure and muscle tension. My playlists are a careful combination of sex-drive increasing, low-vibe dick riding, pleasure stimulating songs that cannot be beat.

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