Illicit

Chapter Seven

With Greer hot on my heels, I made my way past the dance floor and bar where Mina probably waited for me in the booth, past a few long hallways that led to God only knew where–or what–then I passed an unfamiliar group of patrons gathered where Lacey had been earlier at the base of the stairs.

Ignoring Greer’s voice as she called after me, I charged my way up to White Rabbit.

When I reached the top of the stairs, I pushed out into the brightly lit store, squeezing my eyes shut against the sharp contrast in lighting. I leaned against the faux ivy-covered wall, panting and trying to gather myself as I caught my breath.

“Rylan, what the hell, man,” Greer wheezed, closing the door as she joined me on this side of it. “Who does that? Who just runs through a nightclub like that?”

My eyes widened as I realized what I’d just done. What I must have looked like. Embarrassment heated my chest and crept up into my cheeks. “Oh my god.”

Greer scoffed. “Yeah.”

I pressed my hands to my face and hung my head, shoulders still rising and falling on heavy breaths. “What have I done?”

“Yeah.” Greer snorted. “That was embarrassing, man.”

I looked up into her golden eyes, shaking my head. “That was so hot.”

Greer’s mouth dropped open and she took a step back. “That’s why you ran? Because you liked it?” Her eyes flicked back and forth between mine like she didn’t understand.

Well, that made two of us.

Licking my lips, I swallowed hard. A laugh bubbled up my throat.

Laurel cleared her throat and I looked up into concerned blue eyes.

“Everything okay?”

Her cell phone buzzed in her pocket and she tugged it out, then glanced at the screen and answered the call. “Mistress, hello.” She paused, then looked at me. “Yes, she’s here.”

I giggled again.

“I don’t know why you’re laughing,” Greer grumbled. “You’re probably about to be fired.”

“She’s fine.” Laurel raised her eyebrows to confirm and I nodded.

“Yes. Will do.” She ended the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket. “Well, that’s a first. Congratulations.”

Hanging my head, I dared to ask, “What’s a first?”

“No one has ever left the Rabbit Hole in a full sprint.”

“No,” I groaned. “I can’t believe I did that.” I laughed again. “Why am I like this?”

“It’s… well…” Laurel sighed. “What happened?”

I raised my head to look at her again. “I panicked.”

“I see that. What made you panic, Rylan? Mina’s concerned.” She searched my gaze. “What did you see? Do you want to talk about it?”

Hmm. Did I want to talk about the fact that watching Cabot Reed whip a woman until she came made me nearly come undone myself?

Yeah, no thanks. I did not want to talk about that. I didn’t even want to think about it.

“She saw something she liked and it freaked her out.”

I shot Greer a glare, but she ignored me.

“Okay,” Laurel said, “that we can work with. If you’d seen something that scared you or disturbed you, I’d want to get Mina involved.”

I groaned. “Please don’t.”

“Well, honey, she saw you run, so… she’s probably going to want to talk to you at some point.”

Closing my eyes on a long blink, I shook my head. “I’m mortified.”

“You almost shit your pants in front of your new boss this morning,” Greer reminded me.

“Oh my God.”

“I’m just saying, things could be worse.”

Laurel snickered, covering her mouth when I looked up at her. Shrugging, she said, “That does sound worse.”

Does it though? “What if I told you he was down there?” I pointed to the door that led down into the club.

Laurel raised her hands, palms out. “Whoa. Don’t say another word. Everything that happens in the underground is private, remember?”

I nearly groaned again. I’d already broken the cardinal rule. “Mina’s never going to hire me now.”

Laurel smiled, then patted my shoulder. “You’d be surprised. She’s very understanding.” She looked up at Greer. “She did want me to tell you that the fashion show is about to begin.”

Greer’s eyes widened as she looked at me, a plea in those golden orbs.

“Go,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”

“I don’t want to leave you. We had plans.”

“I’m fine. I just… I think I want to call it a day, okay?”

Greer’s eyes searched mine.

Laurel keyed in the code and the door opened.

Greer looked at me, eyes pleading but wary.

“I’m serious. Go support your friend. I can make it home on my own.”

She was halfway down those stairs before I finished the words.

“Come on.” Laughing, Laurel started walking back to the front of the store. “I’ll call you a cab.”

A quiet cab ride home was exactly what I needed to think about the events of the day. I couldn’t believe I’d met Cabot Reed just ten or so hours ago, and now I’d witness him whipping someone. And I’d enjoyed every moment of it.

Thoroughly.

What was I supposed to do with that?

More importantly, how could I face him again?