Page 61 of No Going Back

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

According to what Guy had told her, in common with many clubs, Friday and Saturday were the most popular nights at Aegis. Although the doors opened at 8 p.m. on those evenings, most members arrived over the following couple of hours.

Right now, though, the place was empty and silent. Maddie took Guy’s offered hand and accompanied him through the various rooms, ending in the office upstairs.

“What do you think, kitten?”

Tuned into him as she was, she caught the genuine concern in his voice—it appeared her opinion was important to him. “It’s amazing. Nothing like that club we went to, Sire.”

“I remember. That dump was the reason why I bought Aegis when I heard the previous owner was putting it on the market. I wanted to take something good and make it better, make it everything that club wasn’t.”

“I think it’s safe to say you succeeded.”

Guy wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. “I’m glad you think so. I want to play tonight, and I want to show you off. Are you still all right with the attention we’re likely to attract?”

Her initial reaction had been one of apprehension, but that had faded with reassurance from her Master. “It’ll be fine. You aren’t worried, are you?”

He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Only about you.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be proud to stand by your side this evening—or kneel at your feet.”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about the things you aren’t telling me, the thoughts that put that haunted look in your eyes when you think my attention’s elsewhere.”

Her stomach flipped a somersault. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Am I going to have to spank the truth out of you?” He pressed on. “Whatever it is, you can trust me. I won’t walk away, Maddie—not this time. Not ever, unless it’s what you want.”

She wasn’t prepared for the unexpected turn in the conversation. One silent second became two became three, as Maddie tried to navigate her way through a whole shitstorm of conflict. “I wish I could tell you.”

Where the hell had that come from? She couldn’t tell him, what was she thinking?

“Then there is something. Don’t carry this on your own—don’t even try. I’m here for you, and I’m not going anywhere. Let me fix this.”

Maddie stiffened. She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn’t let her.

“You don’t want me to fix it?”

“You can’t.” The bleak statement echoed the hollow ache inside her.

“And how do you know that?”

“Because believe it or not, you can’t fix everything. You can’t fix this.”

“Why don’t you tell me what ‘this’ is, and let me be the judge?”

She sighed. “Please… I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want it to spoil this evening.”

“You won’t spoil this evening, whether you trust me with your secret or not.”

That stung. Secret. How she hated that word. It reminded her of everything that had gone wrong between them before, as well as everything that stood between them now, invisible and insurmountable.

The irresistible, inexorable pressure of his palms framing her face brought her gaze level with his.

“Don’t be afraid, kitten. Whatever’s preventing you from telling me, let it go.”

“I can’t.”

Though she’d barely whispered the words, there was no doubting Guy had heard them. The disappointment in his sigh was almost tangible, but it didn’t stop him taking her in his arms and holding her close. “Then we’ll leave it for now, but you will tell me, sooner or later. Are you ready to go down?”