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When we reach the end of the hall, Mirabel pulls out a key from her wristlet and unlocks the door. It opens to a large area that reminds me of a small concert hall. The room is wide and narrow with a stage at the other end. There are people mingled around in small groups as they watch the performance. There are pillars in the way, so I can’t quite see what’s going on yet, but as we make our way into the room, I let out a gasp when I see a young man suspended in the air. He’s hanging upside down, bound in tight black rope. There is an older man behind him, slowly spinning the rope, so the suspended man twirls. When he returns to facing the older man, he pulls him close to show that his mouth is perfectly aligned with the other man’s groin.
I’m sure he did that on purpose.
“This is Maxwell,” Mirabel says with a smile. “He’s an excellent Shibari instructor. Be sure to stick around for his workshop. He’ll pull someone from the audience to demonstrate.”
I step a little closer to Hunter.
“We’ll stick around then,” he replies.
When I glance back at Drake to see his reaction to the idea of being pulled on stage to demonstrate, he’s too busy eyeing a woman giving him a flirtatious stare. I have to bite back my envy at seeing his attention on someone else. I want to be bitter about it, but I guess I can’t expect him to stay by my side all night.
He just took two girls home last night…does he really need to find someone else so soon? Doesn’t he ever tire of it all?
Who am I kidding? Of course he doesn’t. He’s young and gorgeous and women are obsessed with him. If he can have a different one every night, why would he stop?
We watch the demonstration in silence as Maxwell slowly unravels the man suspended in the air, pulling the ropes in a way that allows him to slowly descend to the floor safely, without falling on his head.
Before he’s done, I hear Mirabel speaking to Hunter, her voice just barely carrying over the music.
“Your guests are welcome to stay and watch the next demonstration if you’d like to come to the office with me, so we can talk business.”
Hunter glances sideways at me. “Is that okay?”
“Of course,” I reply with a smile. Glancing toward Drake, he nods, and in return, Drake steps a little closer to me, as if he instantly understood his best friend’s silent request to protect me. Suddenly, his interest in the ice water lady is gone. It’s not the first time Drake has had towatchme in a club. Hunter doesn’t like me walking around alone, even in Salacious. Even if it’s perfectly safe with cameras and bouncers at every turn.
So, if he needs to step away, he hands me over to his best friend, like I’m a child who needs a babysitter. It grates on my nerves, but I don’t argue. He just wants to protect me, and I know that’s just how Hunter shows his love.
Hunter presses his lips to my cheek, squeezing me close to his body. “Be good,” he growls in my ear, and chills run down my spine at the dark rasp of his words, which sound more like a sexy promise than a serious warning.
“Or what?” I reply, glancing back at him through my lashes.
He smacks my ass and kisses me on the lips, pressing his tongue between them and owning my body until I’m breathless in his arms. Then he tears himself away, leaving me disoriented and staring up at the stage.
The suspended man is no longer suspended. He’s now standing front and center, completely naked, showing off the intricate rope marks all over his body. The crowdoohs andahhs at the performers like they are an artistic masterpiece.
“Looks like it hurts,” Drake mutters next to me.
“What’s wrong, Drake? Afraid of a little pain?” I tease, glancing up at him. He’s standing closer than before, almost stationed behind me like some sort of bodyguard.
He leans down, until his mouth is closer to my ear, and replies, “Not at all. Are you?”
“Nope,” I reply with my chin held high.
“You’re telling me you wouldn’t mind being strung up there like a piñata?”
I bite my lip as I stifle a laugh. “It doesn’t look that much different than the aerial yoga we do in my studio.”
His deep chuckle vibrates against my back. “I guarantee this is much different.”
The man with rope stamps all over his body is gone now, and it’s only Maxwell, the demonstrator, left on stage, and I look up just in time to see him staring at me. I’m struck silent as I wait for him to speak. I feel like I’ve been caught by the teacher talking in class.
“You two,” he calls to me and Drake.
“Us?” I ask, pointing to my own chest.
“Yes. You two would be perfect for my next demonstration. Would you like to come up here and try this next one together?”
“I’m not—" Drake starts, but the man cuts him off.
