“Precisely.”
She sighed and watched the city lights zoom by. They entered a dark alleyway and a spark of apprehension returned. “You’re not going to murder me are you?”
“You have a grisly imagination,” he said wryly. “Of course not. This is just the private entrance to where we are going. Come.”
He exited the vehicle and she followed. She heard the faint sounds of music throbbing a sensual beat and she realized with a start they were going to a club, potentially one of those exclusive places that only certain people gained access — such as a Buchanan with pockets lined with gold.
“I’m not exactly dressed for this sort of thing,” she hissed, huddling close to him, her gaze darting down the alley.
He flicked his gaze at her briefly. “Are you ever?”
“No,” she answered, hating the tremble in her belly. “It’s not exactly my kind of scene unless behind that door is an artist community, all quietly painting and minding their own business.”
“There are private rooms,” he said with a devilish grin that was as scary as it was alluring. “And we might even enjoy one. We’ll see how things go.”
That didn’t make her feel better. He slipped his hand through hers and entered through the back door, nodding to a big, burly man guarding the entrance.
“Don’t speak to anyone and stay with me,” he murmured in warning, as if she would stray very far in this strange place!
Sutton wound his way through the crowd and claimed a table, possibly held in reserve at all times for him and she sat in the brocade chair, gulping with anxiety as her gaze took in the surroundings.
Pure hedonism. That was the only way to describe what she was seeing.
Everywhere she looked, there was something sexual going on. The dance floor writhed with bodies, some nearly naked, and in darkened alcoves and hallways, actual sexual acts were happening.
She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth in shock.
“Where are we?”
Sutton grinned. “Welcome to Malvagio, my sweet pet.”
She swung her startled gaze back to Sutton. “Malvagio? What is that?”
“It’s Italian for wicked. It’s a place owned by my cousins and currently for sale, though I heard they might have an eager buyer.” He shrugged. “Personally, I feel they should hold onto it. Business-wise, it’s a solid investment.”
She swallowed, stammering, “B-business?”
“Yes. It’s a membership-only club and the invitations are highly exclusive. It costs a small fortune to gain a membership, too but as you can see, everyone is having a good time, which makes procuring an invitation, a highly sought-after opportunity.”
“Why would anyone want to come here?” she asked, her cheeks burning with heat but she couldn’t possibly admit that being surrounded by sex of all sorts was doing strange things to her insides.
She squirmed covertly but damn Sutton for having the eyes of a hawk.
He leaned forward. “Do you like to watch?”
She shook her head but her wandering gaze betrayed her when she settled with fascination on a couple actively engaged.
Try as she might, she couldn’t drag her gaze away. Sutton leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “Look how well she takes his cock in her mouth. He’s about to come. Do you think she’ll swallow?” Her breath hitched in her chest painfully. He chuckled. “I enjoy watching you swallow my load. Very sexy. And you’re a natural.”
Elizabeth ducked her head, immensely out of sorts. Normal people didn’t talk like this, did they?
She couldn’t imagine her parents ever talking like this.
Ugh.
The very idea was like ice-water on her arousal.
“What are we doing here?” she asked, strangled. “I want to leave.”
“Nonsense. We’ve only just arrived. Let’s have a drink to loosen things up.”
“I don’t drink.”
Sutton sighed with annoyance. “Well, you’re going to start. You could use a little grease on the wheels.”
“If you aren’t willing to do something sober, you shouldn’t be willing to do it drunk.”
He laughed at her prim statement and she actually felt stupid for saying it.
She did sound like a prude. One drink wouldn’t hurt and maybe he was right, a drink might help relax her.
A barely dressed cocktail waitress with pert breasts and a cute ass — basically the exact opposite of everything Elizabeth thought of herself — slinked up to the table and laid a deep kiss on Sutton right in front of her!
“I didn’t expect you tonight,” she purred. “What do we owe the pleasure?”
“Sapphire, you gorgeous thing, I can’t stay away for long, you know that about me.”
“You Buchanans are legendary,” she giggled, only then allowing her gaze to slide to Elizabeth, boldly assessing her. “Who is your friend?”
“Venus,” he answered smoothly, shocking Elizabeth with the false name.
Sapphire nodded as if approving. “With those rocking curves and glorious tits, it suits. Are you sharing tonight?”
Elizabeth’s gaze widened, scared of his answer.
Please God, no!
Sutton regarded her with open amusement, knowing that she was twisting with anxiety.
Finally, he shrugged and said noncommittally, “Maybe. Depends on my mood. For now, bring us some champagne; we’re celebrating tonight.”
“The bottle?”
He grinned. “Why not.”
“Yes, sir.” She looked to Elizabeth. “You’re a lucky lady. This one never disappoints.”
“You flatter me,” Sutton said with false modesty and Elizabeth wanted to roll her eyes so hard she saw her brain.
As if Sutton had a modest bone in his over-privileged body!
Sapphire pranced off, searing a vision of her perfect ass into Elizabeth’s memory and Sutton leaned forward, sealing his mouth to hers in a shocking move.
He swept her mouth with his tongue, reminding her of everything he was capable and she was instantly wet, much to her chagrin.
And to make matters worse, his hand was soon up her dress, feeling that moist heat.
“That’s my girl,” he said with warm approval. “You play a good game but deep down, you are a dirty girl. I like that about you.”
She squirmed and tried to push his hand away. “You said you wouldn’t embarrass me,” she reminded him, her gaze darting though no one was paying a lick of attention to them.
Sutton laughed and withdrew his hand. “I did say that.” But then he slid his finger beneath his nose and inhaled with a hearty sigh. “God, I love the smell of your pussy. Sweet like sugar.”
Her cheeks burned but a small, very private part of herself, thrilled at his open appreciation of something so personal as her own scent.
She’d never known that men enjoyed such things. The topic never actually popped up in her artist circles, which was essentially her entire universe.
This place though, the wild hedonism, sparked something deep inside her, something she never would’ve entertained or allowed in her former life.
It was decadent and primal and she was immediately drawn to the idea of painting something that captured the spirit of Malvagio.
Something sensual, something…deeply erotic.
What are you doing?
Painting something that represented Malvagio wasn’t going to win her any awards or respect for that matter.
She reined in her quickly burgeoning imagination with an iron fist. Stiffening her spine as she reminded herself that at the end of the day she had to hold onto what made up who she was deep inside, no matter what Sutton Buchanan exposed her to.
Even as she gave herself that little stern reminder, a part of her yearned to be as sexually adventurous as the people she saw freely engaging in whatever grabbed their fancy.
It wasn’t just the sex part though, it was the confidence that tugged at her.
To be that confident…that was the thing that she actually yearned for and she’d quietly given up on, choosing instead to pour herself into her art.
Abruptly, she turned to Sutton and asked, “Did you even see my art?”
Sutton lounged, looking like a giant sexy jungle cat with nothing better on his agenda than openly judging others as they walked by, and she wished she’d kept the question to herself.
“No,” he answered without shame. “Would you like me to see it?”
She bit her lip.
The quick answer that jumped to mind was a fearful NO! but a different part of her, apparently the part of her that had control of her mouth answered with a tremulous, “Yes” and she knew there was something between them — something she didn’t want but something she equally couldn’t fight.
“Then I will see it,” he said, flashing a brief, seductive smile before handing her a glass of champagne. He lifted his glass and encouraged her to do the same. “To discovering deeper facets within ourselves through the wanton application of mutually enjoyable depravity.”
She lifted the glass to her lips and drank, her gaze flitting away from the intense desire she saw reflected in his eyes.
How had she landed her?
Would she escape unscathed?
Something told her…doubtful.
Bookmark: 8
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Sutton finished his champagne and watched with pleasure as his pet sipped at hers, her wide-eyed gaze taking in the sights and sounds of the decadent private club.