I wanted to seeallof the rooms.
No, even that wasn’t true.
I wanted toexperiencethem all. Even the ones that seemed underwhelming from the outside. And that made no sense.
I wasn’t that kind of woman. I wasn’t Maddie, holding out for something more.
My sex life had been fine. My self-given orgasms were more satisfying. And all of them were fueled by fantasies that were lovely and tender. Safe.
Boring.
I wasn’t wild or fun or exciting. I wasn’t even vanilla. I was non-dairy vanilla—the cheap, ice crystal crap that didn’t get creamy as it melted.
Bland. I was as bland as bland could be. I was white rice and steamed veggies with no spice.
Neverspice. Not even in my own head.
I didn’t belong in a place like that, but that didn’t stop me from asking, “Do people pay to come here?”
“There’s a membership fee,” he said, confirming my suspicion.
Based on the social standings of the clientele—Tripp and Easton included—it was a safe bet that fee was outside of my budget.
Even with my overinflated salary.
“Why do you ask?” Tripp asked
I gave a dismissive shrug. “Curious.”
He tightened his hold on my wrist, and it was almost too much for my scorched skin. “Do you want to join?”
I opened my mouth to tell him no. To reiterate my curiosity. But I couldn’t force the words out.
Force the lie out.
He scanned my face, and at his stretching silence, I braced.
He’s going to tell me it’s not a possibility.
That I don’t belong here.
But when he finally spoke, it was the rumble, “There will be rules.”
“I know.” I gestured to the side. “I read the forms.”
“Not Gilded’s rules.” He gripped my jaw to tip it up. “Mine.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
BUT WORD ON THE STREET IS HIS NEXT FILM ISN’T THE ONLY NEW THING IN THE NEPO BABY’S LIFE
GREER
“W-what?” I stammered.
Tripp’s gaze remained intense. “You heard me.”
“Why would you have rules for me?”
