Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“My friend used to…” I clear my throat and look at Heather. “My friend used to love going to Onyx.”
“I’ve never been,” she says. “I heard it’s way bigger than this.”
I nod and go back to the form, a knot forming in my stomach when I get to the part about ropes, whips, cuffs, and choking. I fly through the rest of the questions, checking “no” to everything, to the point that I’m sure Leo is going to laugh and ask me what I’m doing here, but I don’t care. I was clear on wanting to check out the group to learn what kind of stuff they do, since my friend used to tell me I’d love it. I never said I’d participate.
“I think I’m ready,” I say, walking over to Heather after I fill out the last question and sign all the papers. I glance over my shoulder. “I’m surprised no one has walked in while I’ve been here. Is it usually slow on Saturdays?”
“People who want rooms usually make reservations,” she says, clicking things on the tablet. “Couples looking for a good time usually come in a little later.”
“Hm.” I look around again. “Do people use fake names?”
“They have to show us their IDs, so we always have the real names on file, but in there, you can go by whatever name you want.”
I nod, hoping to get rid of the twisting in my stomach. Even if Lucas Barlow sees my name on the list, he wouldn’t ban me. He may tell his cousin, but it won’t matter. Finn won’t care, and even if he does, it’ll be too late. I take the optional mask Heather hands me and follow her instructions on where to find Leo. After taking a deep, calming breath, I head that way.
34
FINN
I’ve checked my phone more than a dozen times after responding to Josslyn’s text and she still hasn’t replied. The silence is driving me fucking crazy. It’s taken everything in me not to call or text or show up at her apartment. I really fucking wish I didn’t take Lucas’ advice to get my PI off her tail. Not seeing pictures of her or knowing what she’s doing is proving to be more distracting than not.
“You know who hits hard? Wallace,” Ryan says loudly. “Took me out last time I played against him.”
Hamilton pipes up and regales everyone with his own story about Jared Wallace, who’s arriving in a couple of days and everyone is happy to have on our side. I see their lips moving, I hear the noise of their voices, but I can’t concentrate on anything. I barely touched my food, and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to feign interest in their conversations. Between that and the obvious glances Ryan’s sister-in-law, Tasha, has been throwing my way since she sat in the chair across from me, it’s a wonder I’m still sitting here at all.
We met at the golf course the other day, and ever since, Ryan has been not so subtly hinting that she’s interested in me. Even if I wanted to fuck her, which I don’t, I wouldn’t. The teammate connection is a recipe for disaster. Why I don’t feel that way about Josslyn is beyond me. I should. I should want to avoid her at all costs, which is what I’ve been doing, but somehow she’s been on my mind every second of every day. I keep doing stupid shit like wishing. Wishing she was the one sitting across from me. Wishing she was next to me, so I could feel her jolt when I put a hand on her thigh, and she can give me that stern look that turns me the fuck on. God, I need to get over this. I should go to Pearl and fuck a faceless, nameless woman. I should. As if summoned by my thoughts, my phone buzzes with a call from Lucas.
“I have to take this. I’ll be outside.” I slap my napkin on the table and push my seat back.
“When are you getting here?” Lucas asks as soon as I answer.
“I didn’t realize there was a curfew.” I look at my watch. “What’s up? You found someone for me?”
Even as I ask the question, Josslyn’s face comes to mind and my stomach churns. I have a feeling that her face is what I’m going to be picturing on anyone I fuck.
After a pause, Lucas asks, “So you’re really a hundred done with Josslyn?”
My jaw tenses. “I wouldn’t be going over there if I wasn’t.”
“You’re sure sure?” he asks, which annoys me.
No, I’m not fucking sure sure, but I’m not going to stand here and explain that this is what I need to do to get over her. I need to replace her moans with someone else’s. Her touch, her smell, I need to erase all of it. I have a feeling it’ll take more than one woman to replace all of those things.