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I turn and look into her kind, green eyes. “A whore house for men with particular tastes.”
Her eyes grow wide with understanding, but she doesn’t say anything. Slade’s jaw is so tight I’m surprised his teeth don’t crack. They don’t ask me any more questions after that, thankfully. I try to remember how much cash I have left. I wonder how far it’ll get me. Thankfully, bus tickets can be cheap when you don’t care where you’re going.
I’m so lost in making plans for how I’m going to get out of the city, that I don’t realize we’ve stopped driving. I let out a scream when my door opens unexpectedly. I calm down instantly when Matthew’s worried face comes into view.
“Rosie,” he rasps, then pulls me out of the SUV and straight into his arms. “Are you okay, love?”
“We should go inside to have this little chat, boss,” Slade suggests.
He helps Hannah from the SUV and guides her toward the building. I look up and realize we are at Black Rose. It’s surreal seeing my name on the sign. I didn’t pay attention the night Damon brought me here and when I left with Kisten we went out the employee exit. It wasn’t until Hannah started talking about the club that she realized I didn’t know that it was named after me. I wonder for a moment why Slade brought us here instead of Matthew’s home. Then it hits me, of course Slade brought me here. Matthew is supposed to be working. Instead, he’s worrying over me… again.
We follow behind Slade and Hannah. If Matthew is surprised when Slade leads us to the elevator then to the penthouse above the club, he doesn’t show it. Once we are inside, Matthew leads me to one of the sofas and sits me down. A few seconds later, Hannah hands me a bottle of orange juice.
“It’ll help with the shakes,” she says.
I didn’t even realize I was shaking. Adrenaline will do that to a girl, I guess. I take a few careful sips of the juice. “You okay?” Hannah asks.
I just shake my head because, no, I’m not okay. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay.
“Matthew and Slade won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe here.” Hannah sounds so damn sure of herself. Sure of Matthew and Slade. I want to believe it. I really do, but hope is the cruel sister to fate, and she likes to kick me when I’m down. And right now, I’m ten feet under and drowning quick.
Slade and Matthew take a seat, and I know it’s almost time for me to tell my story. The whole story. I jump up from the couch and make an excuse about needing the restroom. I retreat to the privacy of the bathroom and do my best to pull myself together. If I’m not going to run—if I’m going to ask these people to help me—the least I can do is tell them exactly what I am and who they are up against.
When I come out of the bathroom a few minutes later, I’m surprised to see Hannah kneeling between Slade’s legs. She has her head resting against his thigh, and he’s stroking her hair. If I didn’t know any better, I would say they are the picture of a perfect, loving couple. Hannah looks so relaxed and peaceful. All the tension and stress seem to have melted away.
I look at Matthew, then back to Slade and Hannah. I don’t analyze it. I don’t think. I just walk over to Matthew and kneel in front of him. He looks like he wants to protest, but when I lay my head against his thigh and wrap my arms around his leg, clinging to him, he settles back into his chair. His fingers sift through my hair, and I let out a cleansing breath.
I know we have a lot to talk about. I know it’s not fair of me to avoid the conversation, but I selfishly just want to bask in Matthew’s love. I want him to take away all my worries and stress. I don’t want to think anymore, and so, I don’t. I turn all of my focus to the soothing feel of Matthew gently massaging my scalp and running his fingers through my hair.
The most wonderful thing happens as I’m kneeling in front of Matthew. For the first time ever, my mind is quiet. There are no ugly voices telling me I’m a whore, no anxiety or stress or worry or fear… There’s nothing. Just peace.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
MATTHEW
I can’t believe she’s kneeling at my feet.
After everything she’s been through, I would never ask this of her. In fact, before she curled her body around my legs seeking comfort, I was pretty sure she would deny her submissive side. We briefly talked about it this morning, and even though she there was trepidation, she didn’t completely shut the idea down.
Honestly, since the day she fell back into my life, I’ve been mentally preparing myself to live a vanilla life for her. Now I’m wondering if I’ll have to sacrifice that part of me. My cock throbs to life at the world of possibilities her submission brings. I squash those thoughts because it could be that she’s just seeking comfort. She saw Hannah kneeling at Slade’s feet and how utterly peaceful she looks and wanted a bit of that for herself. I remind myself again that I will take her however she comes. I refuse to live without her again. She’s mine regardless of the lifestyle we live.
I gently rub her scalp, then run my fingers through her soft hair. I repeat the motion until she is completely lax and making content sounds in the back of her throat. Fuck me, she’s perfect. Everything about this moment feels exactly right. I hate that we can’t just bask in this newfound closeness. Someone accosted my girl, and I need to know who and why so they can pay for scaring Rose.
I refuse to have her living in fear. She’s had enough fear for a dozen lifetimes. I promised her safety, and I’ll be damned if someone is going to threaten that without a reckoning.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ROSE
“Love,” Matthew says quietly. My whole body is relaxed, my brain quiet for the first time, maybe ever. I can see why Hannah pushes the bar with Slade. There’s not much I wouldn’t do for this level of calm. “You need to tell me what happened.”
I grip his leg tighter and bury my face against him. I don’t want to talk about my past. I hate that it’s going to change how Matthew sees me. Will he still want me when he finds out I’ve spent the ten years we were apart as a whore? Will it matter that I wasn’t willing, or will he be disgusted no matter the circumstances?
“Sweetheart, you can tell me anything. You’re safe with me. Mind, body, and soul. I swear it.”
I swallow thickly, knowing I can’t put it off any longer. “I won’t hold you to that promise, Matthew. You have no idea…” I close my eyes and shake my head sadly. “You shouldn’t promise me anything until you know it all.”
“There’s nothing you could tell me that will make me turn my back on you. I’ve been waiting ten years for you, and I refuse to let you go now.” He sounds so sure of himself that I decide not to argue the point. He’ll change his tune soon enough. “Why don’t you start with something easy. Who were you running from today?”
