Again.
Every time I thought I was making headway with her, those damn walls seemed to shoot back up. Taller and reinforced withthe same steel that infused her spine as she stubbornly lifted her chin.
Taking her to Gilded was just as much for me as it was for her. Because contrary to the lies, something was wrong. Something that left streaks of tears down her cheeks when I wanted to be the only one who made her cry.
And I wanted to do it in a very fun way.
We walked into Gilded, and Greer’s steps slowed. I hadn’t anticipated seeing many people there, but apparently, we weren’t the only two who wanted to utilize the club to relieve holiday tension.
Greer echoed my surprise. “I didn’t think it would actually be open.”
I jerked my chin to where Atlas stood behind the bar. “He knows people need somewhere to gather on stressful or lonely days.”
“He doesn’t have a family to be with tonight?”
“He does, but they’re in Tennessee.” I lowered my voice. “Technically, they’re Cohen’s family, but they’re the only one Atlas knows.”
She studied him for a second. “They’re not actually brothers? I guess that explains why they don’t look alike.”
“Not by blood, but they’re still brothers.” I gripped her chin and redirected her focus to me. “Wait here.”
“Okay, Sir,” she said instantly, slipping right into her role.
I released her and moved to the bar to speak to Atlas. “Been busy?”
“Yup.”
Man of so many words.
His gaze went to Greer. “Usual room?”
I shook my head and gave him the number I wanted.
He tapped the computerized system they used to track occupancies, cleaning, restocking, and fuck knew what else. “It’s already open. Go ahead back.”
“Thanks.” I took a step away before backtracking. “You good?”
“Fucking hate Christmas.”
“You and me both.”
It felt like an underwhelming thing to say, but that sense of togetherness during the loneliness worked. His lips curved into what he would classify as a smile.
Or he had a twitch.
I wasn’t sure which until he looked behind me again. “Looks like there’s no reason for you to hate it this year.”
He wasn’t wrong. Any other year, and my father’s words would’ve sent me into a self-destructive tailspin. I didn’t need to drink or snort or party away the pain.
I could take it out on Greer, at least in some small measure.
Or maybe not a small measure.
I returned to her before guiding her down the hall. We passed the bondage one, and her gaze shot to me. Her brows lowered before they shot up her forehead when I stopped us just outside of a new doorway.
Her delicate throat shook as she swallowed hard, and I wanted to wrap my fingers around it to feel her pulse thump below my palm. I knew it had to be racing as her pretty eyes took in the woven leather net hanging from the ceiling like the world’s least comfortable hammock.
“What happens if you say stop, Greer?” I asked as I gently inched her farther inside so I could close the door.
