chapter 2.Dungeon visit
1310 Words
CHAPTER 2
Eva Moretti
The funny thing was, I’d spent my whole life controlling every detail.
My career. My image. My emotions.
And yet somehow, there I was, standing in front of a black door on a quiet Milan side street, feeling like I might throw up.
I was wearing my black wool coat. My hair was twisted into a neat bun. I’d picked a sleek black pencil skirt, a soft white blouse, and nude pumps professional. Unsexy. The kind of outfit that said: I’m just here for paperwork.
But my pulse was a hammer in my throat.
I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-convinced someone from my law firm would pop out of nowhere screaming:
Busted! Eva Moretti, respectable lawyer, visiting a s*x club!
I took a deep breath. The brass plaque beside the door read: Eros Privato. Members Only.
My fingers shook as I pulled out the keycard.
In and out, Eva. Inspect the place. Talk to whoever’s in charge. Then sell it. No one ever has to know.
I swiped the card. A soft green light blinked.
The lock clicked open.
The first thing that hit me was the smell.
Leather. Wood polish. Expensive cologne.
The second thing was the music a low, pulsing beat, not too loud. Sexy, but classy. Like a heartbeat.
I stepped inside.
A heavy velvet curtain brushed my shoulders. Then it parted, and I found myself in a wide room bathed in red light.
It was beautiful in a dark, dangerous way.
Velvet drapes hung along the walls. Crystal chandeliers glittered above. Polished floors gleamed like black ice.
And everywhere, there were pieces of furniture I’d only ever seen in blurry photos on the internet: crosses, frames, benches padded in leather. Chains glinted under the lights.
My mouth went dry.
A few people were inside, scattered around the space. A man in a perfectly tailored suit was standing by the bar, talking to a tall blonde woman wearing nothing but a corset and heels. Another couple sat close together on a leather sofa, whispering.
Nobody seemed shocked to see me.
Which somehow made it worse.
I forced myself to keep walking. My heels echoed on the polished floor.
That’s when I saw him.
He was leaning against the bar, watching me.
Tall. Muscular. Dark hair cut close to his head. His jaw was sharp, his nose slightly crooked like it might’ve been broken once. And those eyes…
God. Those eyes.
Dark brown, nearly black. Heavy-lidded. Focused like a laser on me.
His lips curved into a slow, wicked smile.
Well. Look who finally decided to visit.
My stomach dropped to my toes.
No. Nope. I’m not doing this.
I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me cold.
Eva.
He said my name like he owned it.
I spun around. How do you know my name?
He chuckled. It was a low, rumbling sound that made something hot coil in my belly.
Your aunt talked about you all the time.
My chest squeezed tight. My aunt….
“Claudia.” He nodded. She was my business partner.
My eyes widened. Business partner?
He pushed off the bar and walked toward me. His strides were smooth, unhurried. Predatory.
She trusted me to take care of the place. And to help you…if you ever decided to keep it.
I’m not keeping it. My voice came out sharper than I meant.
One eyebrow lifted. Sure you’re not.
He was standing close now. Too close. I could smell his cologne dark and spicy, mixed with clean soap and leather.
He tilted his head. Why did you come here tonight, Eva?
I…I’m just here to look around. For business.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping. Is that what you’re telling yourself?
My face burned.
This was why I didn’t belong here. Because one look from this man, and I felt like my skin was too tight.
Who are you? I demanded.
His mouth twitched like he was hiding a smile. Marco.
I swallowed. Marco…who?
“Just Marco for now.”
I narrowed my eyes. That’s not suspicious at all.
He grinned. Guilty as charged.
He moved around me slowly, circling like he was studying me from every angle.
You’re different from how Claudia described you.
I folded my arms. “How’s that?”
He stopped in front of me again, voice softer. She said you were serious. Focused. Cold. But right now, you look like a woman trying not to imagine what it’d feel like to be tied up.
A tiny sound escaped my throat before I could swallow it.
Marco’s eyes darkened.
“See?” he whispered. “Curious.”
I stepped back. My spine hit a padded leather bench.
I’m selling it, I said, my voice shaking. I have a career. I can’t be mixed up in…this.
Marco rested his hands on either side of the bench, caging me in. Not touching me. But close enough that I could feel the heat of him.
You know what your aunt used to say?
What?
He leaned in, his breath brushing my cheek.
She said the world tells women like you to be perfect. Smart. Respectable. But under the surface, there’s a part that wants to let go. Even if it’s just once.
I squeezed my eyes shut. I’m not like that.
Liar.
My eyes flew open. He was looking at me with that intense, unblinking stare.
Let me show you the place, he said. Five minutes. You don’t have to do anything. You don’t have to stay. But if you leave now…you’ll always wonder.
He didn’t wait for my answer. He turned and started walking, glancing back once to see if I’d follow.
I hesitated. My brain screamed RUN. But my feet didn’t move.
Just five minutes. What’s the harm?
So I followed him.
He showed me the private rooms each one unique. Some looked like luxury hotel suites. Some had heavy equipment I didn’t even know how to name.
He explained how safe words worked. How there were house rules. How nobody was forced into anything.
His voice was calm. Patient. Almost gentle. But the way he kept looking at me made my whole body feel hot and restless.
In one room, he paused by a velvet chair.
He reached out, brushed a loose strand of hair off my shoulder. His knuckles skimmed my neck, feather-light.
A shiver ran straight down my spine.
Tell me something, Eva, he murmured. Has anyone ever tied you up?
I swallowed hard. No.
He smiled slightly. Ever wanted to know what it feels like?
Absolutely not, I lied.
His eyes sparkled like he could see right through me.
Another lie.
He took my hand and lifted it. Slowly, he brought my fingers to a soft length of black silk tied to the chair arm.
Feel that, he said.
I touched it. It was cool and smooth and somehow obscene.
Sometimes, he said softly, the mind needs to shut off. And the body takes over. That’s what this place is for.
My heart slammed so hard I thought he’d hear it.
I’m not like that, I whispered.
Marco tilted his head. I think you are. I think you’ve been holding your breath your entire life, waiting for someone to help you let it out.
He leaned closer until our noses almost touched.
I could show you. One small thing. No s*x. Just…trust.
My lips parted, words stuck in my throat.
Say yes, he murmured. Or say no and walk out. But either way, don’t lie to yourself anymore.
The silk still lay across my fingers.
My entire body felt like it was humming.
One small thing. Or run. Or maybe it’s already too late to run.
I thought I came here to sell a building. But the truth was, I came to find out what it feels like to be undone.
- Writer
