A text message from Nate, the second one that day, made her heart ache. While she dressed for another man, he was concerned about her and their future. Why couldn’t he just move on and forget about their engagement? He knew just as well as she did that they were only doing it out of fear of being alone. And what the hell kind of marriage would that make? A miserable one like her parents had been in. The kind where one or both would end up cheating because their emotional and physical needs weren’t being met. One that ended in divorce.

Her eyes wet with tears. Nate… The man who had rescued her from solitude and made her forget about Mr. Black… The man who had pledged his heart to her… She was such a bitch.

Her response to him was polite, but to the point. She had plans.

As she finished putting the last of her eyeliner on, a sense of apprehension filled her belly and the same inner voice that had warned her before about Victor, ricocheted through her head. Whatever he had planned, she hoped he would be gentle on her.

Pulling up to the large, austere building in downtown Richmond, she swallowed her nervousness like an unsavory pill, forcing it down. She was prepared to withstand whatever Mr. Black had up his sleeve to ensure a future without him. What other choice did she have? Victor had held up his end of the bargain and now it was her turn.

She exited the elevator on the twelfth floor and momentarily became confused at the lack of décor. In front of her was only a long hallway and a set of large, wooden, double doors with the letters S&K burnt into them. Just as she approached to knock or look for some kind of ringer, the door slid open, revealing a burly man who looked to be about her age wearing a suit and tie. He simply stared at her, waiting for her response.

Stuttering for a moment, she remembered Victor’s instructions. “I’m here to meet Victor Laurenzo.”

He promptly ushered her in and past another set of doors where the festivities were in full swing. Soothing, contemporary music lulled her, and a large crowd of well dressed men and women mingled around. It had been a long time since she had been in a place like this; one where people gathered for only one purpose – a hook up. It even smelled like sex… enticing and full of promises of kinky, one-night stands. She glanced around the room quickly and saw Victor watching her from a small alcove at the far end of the dining area. Smoothing her skirt over her thighs and tucking her hair behind her ear, she walked slowly toward him, ready to face her punisher.

As she moved closer, his eyes grew lusty and a half-smile graced his face.

“Beautiful as always, Peach,” he stood and held his hand out to her.

He helped her up into the tall stool at the side of the pub table for two and pushed a glass of wine already waiting for her, toward her. A little too eagerly, she gulped half of it down.

His left eyebrow quirked upward. “Are you nervous?”

“Should I be?”

“Around me? Always,” he smirked.

“Touché,” she raised her glass to him and smiled.

“There it is. I knew it was in there somewhere, hiding,” his long fingers swept her hair over her shoulder.

Confused, she shook her head.

“You’re real smile.”

It quickly faded and she stared past him, blinking several times. She had given away too much. Annoyed with herself, she sipped anxiously on her wine and avoided eye contact until she felt his fingers on her chin.

“Follow me.”

Taking her hand again, he tugged her off the chair and led her to the large, dimly lit dance floor. Going with the flow, she allowed him to take the lead. Just as she tapped into his rhythm and her body began to move in sync with his, he spun her around and hugged her close with his chest to her back. Just then the slow song changed to something more sensual and upbeat. She swayed her hips in time with Undressed by Kim Cesarion, reaching an arm up and around his neck. The heat of his touch as he slipped the strap of her dress off her shoulder made a tidal wave of longing sweep through her. His lips pressed against her collarbone where he delivered a sharp bite to her soft flesh.

“Are you turned on?” he asked, his voice barely heard over the music.

“Yes,” she nodded, turning her head to meet his heated gaze and grinding her ass into him.

“Do you think your fiancé is turned on?”

Elsa’s body stiffened, but Victor’s hips continued to sway as he wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her steady.

“What are you…”

“You’ve already asked all the questions you’re allowed this weekend,” Mr. Black narrowed his eyes.

She snapped her mouth closed, but held his gaze. The arm that was around her waist moved up, his hand snaking up her belly and gripping her face. Slowly, he guided her to look forward and pointed with his other hand to an area of the bar out of earshot.

Nate.

He was facing away from the entrance, but his strong profile and build was unmistakable. He was even wearing a suit she had purchased for him. As she stared in his direction while he chatted up a busty, brown-haired woman who barely looked the legal drinking age, she tried to piece together in her mind, her dysfunctional relationship with him. Victor’s hand beneath her skirt sliding up her thigh to her pussy made her pulse skitter and she tried to pull away, fearful Nate would see them. She had to get out of there. Fast.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he yanked her back.

“Please, Victor, I can’t.”

“Why not? Are you worried the man you’re going to marry might see the real you?” his fingers dipped under her skirt again and into her pussy.

“This is a public establishment and you’re a public figure. People will see you,” she hissed over her shoulder at him.

“No, this is a private establishment; one where this sort of thing is acceptable because we pay a hefty yearly membership fee to keep our indiscretions discreet. There are at least three other government officials here, all engaging in the same kind of activity, including your precious, fucking husband-to-be.”

Elsa spun around and hid her face in Victor’s coat lapels but he quickly pulled back and fingered her chin, forcing her attention on him.

“What’s the matter? Didn’t you know your fiancé had a membership here?”

She bit her bottom lip to hold back the sob that was welling up within her. She had allowed Mr. Black to give her a false sense of security by leading her onto the dance floor and holding her close when she knew better than to trust him.

Grabbing her by an upper arm, he dragged her off the dance floor and to stool on the opposite side of the bar where Nate was seated. Brusquely spinning the stool around so that she was facing Nate’s direction, Mr. Black hiked her skirt up over her bottom. Even though Nate was facing away from her, panic still overwhelmed her.

“I’m going to enjoy the part of you that he refuses,” she felt his fingers ease up the crack of her ass.

She tried to escape, but his teeth nipped into the nape of her neck and made her stifle a scream and halt all movement.

“That’s it - make a scene. Bring attention to yourself, Elsa. Go ahead; keep fighting me and giving me what I want. Show me and that asshole your sincerest look of struggle and regret.”

Goddamn him.

Reaching a hand around, he shoved his fingers into her mouth, lubing them. For a split second, she contemplated whether or not to bite them off.

The tip a finger touched her rectum and caused her to grunt, but no one seemed to notice. Promptly, she lifted her hand to her mouth and covered it to prevent it from happening again. When she felt one, then two of his wet digits breach her entrance, she closed her eyes and prepared for what came next - slow, deliberate pumps, in and out.