Absolute Silence

7

A caustic laugh rolled from my chest. “You’re barely more than a child. Of course it’s their business.” “You’re hardly older than me. Why should it be acceptable for you to be here but not me?” “There’s a boatload of reasons, and if you’re so naïve that you can’t see them, it only furthers my point.” I raised a brow. “Look, this isn’t about you or my family. This is about me and what I need. Surely, if you’re a member, you understand that sometimes people need a lifestyle outside the norm.” She’d moved on from anger to negotiation. Good. Soon enough, we’d reach acceptance, and I could get her out of here. “And surely you can understand that as a member, I am in a position to tell you that you don’t need anything here. Plenty of nice young men would be happy to experiment with you in the safety of your own home.” Her lips thinned to a harsh line. “f**k you, Filip. You don’t know me or anything about what I need.” “I know the world we live in, and even though it’s not the same as it was for older generations, being spotted here would ruin your reputation.” “But not yours? How very chauvinistic of you.” “Not me, society.” I released a frustrated sigh. “I’m trying to protect you, Camilla.” “Bullshit.” She shook her head. “Now that I’ve seen the place and confirmed that this is what I want, I’m not giving it up. I’d considered a couple of other places, so I’ll just go to one of them.” I stalked toward her and crowded her back against the wall. “Every other s*x club in this city is a glorified brothel. You will not step foot anywhere near them.” Camilla narrowed her eyes and leaned into me, not at all swayed by my commands. “Try to stop me,” she hissed. The corners of my mouth fish hooked up in a sinister grin. “I’ll tell your father if I need to.” The threat hung in the air like poisonous gas. She froze, and for a split second, I thought I’d won. I should have known better. I’d seen her sisters and cousins in action. They didn’t know the word surrender. Camilla’s chin lifted a fraction, and a sense of power settled over her. “You’d surrender your own involvement in the club just to keep me out?” Her words were calm, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. “Care to explain?” “Silly Filip. The first rule about Fight Club is, never talk about Fight Club. Dante made it perfectly clear that naming members outside of the Den was strictly forbidden. You tell my father, and I’ll tell Dante.” “Maybe you didn’t realize, but Dante is a longtime friend.” She shrugged. “That may be, but would he risk his precious club for you? Should word get around that a certain member was naming other members, there’s bound to be outrage.” My blood pressure pounded a punishing rhythm against my skull as I processed her threat. She wasn’t entirely wrong, and it pissed me the f**k off. A frustrated growl ripped from my throat as I spun away from her. I shrugged off my jacket and rolled up the sleeves of my shirt to give myself a moment to think. The woman was maddening. Why the hell was she so determined to join the club? I could walk away from the Den and call her bluff, but I didn’t think that would solve anything. She was hell-bent on joining any club. I wanted to believe I could stop her, but stubborn people found ways to get what they wanted. The last thing I needed, even worse than her membership at the Den, was for her to go to some other club and get hurt. If I couldn’t keep her out of the life entirely, there was only one other option. I turned back to her, jaw clenched. “If I allow you to come here, it would be under one condition.” She lifted her chin haughtily. “What?” “The only man allowed to touch you is me.” Her lips parted in shock. The muted strains of pulsing music from outside the window accented how utterly still the room had become. My shoulders tensed in anticipation of her response. I wasn’t entirely sure what I’d done, but the deviant inside me preened at the prospect of having Camilla all to myself. My sense of decency snarled with disgust. No matter what she decided, I’d be equally thrilled and devastated. “What?” The word was nothing more than a breath. Her eyes remained wide, a perfect window to the mass of confused thoughts racing through her head. She wasn’t the only one. I’d dumbfounded myself with my proposition, but it was the only way I could see out of this mess. “You heard me, Camilla. What’s your answer?” “But why?” She shook her head, still grappling with surprise. I ran my fingers through my hair and turned briefly toward the mirrored wall overlooking the Den. “Because a lot of kinky s**t happens here, and this way, I can keep you safe while letting you still get what you want.” “I thought you said this was the nicest place in town.” “I did, but that doesn’t mean everyone inside has earned the same distinction.” “But you come here.” “Enough,” I barked. “Do you accept my terms or not?” She’d heard the only offer I’d make, so there was no point in stalling. It was time for her to decide our fates. Camilla’s spine stiffened, but instead of arguing, she studied me clinically. “What if you can’t give me what I’m looking for?” “I’ve yet to have any complaints.” She scoffed, leaning her hip against the back of the chaise lounge. “How very typical of you. Every man I’ve been with thought the same, yet not one delivered on what he promised.” Intrigue and challenge whispered seductively to warp my intentions, attempting to justify the devious deeds lurking in my subconscious. I would not give in to their tempting lure. I would tend to Camilla to keep her safe, not to make myself the source of her damnation. Still, a small portion of my nature would need to be unleashed in order to keep her satisfied with our bargain. It would be a good practice in restraint, or so I tried to convince myself. I prowled to where Camilla stood, gently turning her until her thighs pressed against the back of the chaise with me behind her. Her breathing shuddered when my fingers trailed down one of her arms. So sensitive. So responsive. “Tell me, Camilla. What did you come to the club to find? What is it no other man has been able to offer you?” She was taller than most of the women in her family. Close to five-six without her heels, if I had to guess. I only had to lower my head a fraction for my lips to be achingly close to her ear