Riley wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. She liked the way he held her. It made her think things between them could be … normal. Would it ever be possible for Riley to consider a normal life? To not die?
No, she wouldn’t allow herself to even hope. Not even a little bit. It was stupid to think anything like that could happen between them.
Running fingers through her hair, she tried to push those hopes aside. There was no point in hanging onto them. They would only hurt her in the long term.
“Are you ready?” Riley asked.
“Yes.”
There wasn’t anything else she could do at this point. It wasn’t like she could tell him in a short space of time she was having second thoughts and even daydreaming about being with him as a couple.
Crazy.
Completely fucking crazy.
They entered the club, and oh, wow, it was a sex club. She knew from the moment they entered it was BDSM, and she wasn’t a virgin. There was a lot she knew but didn’t delve into.
There were women and men on display, taking pain and receiving pleasure. It was like walking into a porno, only with whips, chains, and an audience.
“He’s right by the bar.”
Meghan had been too busy looking at the couples all around her to even pay attention to the man she hated more than anything. Sure enough, he was there, looking like he was lord of the bar. He had two guards beside him and a woman on her knees stroking his thighs. Nope, incorrect, stroking his cock behind the wall of his pants.
“Can you just kill him?”
“I will not risk Buckle’s wrath. I’d be dead before I even left the club. So would you. He doesn’t believe in leaving loose ends. He will kill you.”
“Lovely,” she said. Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
“Just … go with it.” He held her a little tighter, stroking just above her hip. The marks of his possession were on full display for all to see.
Licking her dry lips, she tried to think of anything but the beating David had given her. Kind of hard to do when the evidence was still on her arm, and some on her face.
Stay calm, Meghan. You promised to help.
The moment David Peace spotted them, both of his guards reached for where their guns should have been, but, as per Buckle’s policy, they didn’t have any.
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you,” Riley said. “It looks kind of embarrassing.”
He sounded and looked completely relaxed.
“Well, well, well, if I say I’m not a little surprised you would even think to come here,” David said. He glanced at her, and his nostrils flared. “With a certain companion I’ve been looking for.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say something to rub in his face in the fact she was alive and not only was she breathing, she’d fucked his enemy.
Instead, like a good girl, she rested her head against Riley’s shoulder. The cool, sweet, lady she could be.
In this moment at least.
“Yes. The moment I saw her, I couldn’t let her go. I mean, look at this body.” Riley ran his hands up, grazing across the curve of her breast but not outright touching her. “She is a beauty, and I’ve got to say, I’m spoiled with her. Her appetite for me is insatiable.”
She put her hand on his stomach and turned a little more to him, rubbing her tits as best she could, hoping she was putting on a good show of showing him just how insatiable she could be.
It wasn’t an act with Riley. She really did want him. It was more than desire. It was a need far more powerful than anything she’d ever experienced ever before.
“You should return her to me,” David said. “She is not yours to have.”
“I think I’ll pass on that order. I like having her in my bed, and well, rapists are not really her style.” The ringing of a cell phone filled the air. “You might want to get that. It’s really important.”
David didn’t look happy, and this time, she couldn’t keep the smirk off her face as he had no choice but to do as he was told and answer the call. This was a lot more fun than she thought it would be.
She’d never considered herself to have an evil streak, but watching him now, she knew the evil was deep inside her, waiting to come out. David deserved everything he had coming to him and more. This was just karma for him.
Riley looked cool, collected, in control. It was addictive, heady, and so sexy.
“You! You’re the one responsible for my recent troubles.”
“Oh, they’re more than recent troubles. I warned you, David. You didn’t stick around to see I was alive. I’ve been waiting. I’ve been preparing. When you least expect it, you will be mine, and this empire you think you’ve built will belong to me.”