I look over to see my best friend, Gemma's dad. "Knox?" I ask in shock.
Of all the people to run into my first time here. To have to explain this to him. So much for not having to tell anyone about tonight.
"What are you doing here?" He looks as shocked as me.
"My roommate thought I needed to get out, and she's a regular, so here I am." I give him the shortened version.
This is Gemma's dad, who also happens to be the man I’ve been crushing on for longer than I want to admit.I've been infatuated with him for as long as I can remember, and seeing him here gives me mixed feelings. Is this why Gemma and I never saw him date? Because he was here instead?
He sits on the barstool next to me and looks me over, his eyes landing on the glass in my hand. "How many drinks have you had?"
"Just the one." I hold up my half-finished drink.
Taking the glass from me, he orders water and hands it to me, falling right back into the caretaker role. I've been best friends with his daughter for years, and he's always taken care of me when I've been at his house. I feel bad he thinks he has to do that here in what should be his safe space. But not bad enough to get up and leave because I feel safe with him next to me.
He sips from his drink for a few minutes, and behind his eyes, I see the same war waging inside me. Walk away like we should or keep talking to see where it goes. When I sip my water, he speaks again.
"See anything you like?" He points to the room.
His words shock me, and I fall silent. He smirks and waits for me to answer.
Stalling, I look out over the crowd again, and for a moment, I don't see anybody. I'm trying to wrap my head around my best friend's dad sitting next to me, asking if I like any of the sex scenes playing out in front of me.
I nod to the couple I saw earlier where he's still holding her down on the ottoman.
Knox’s eyes follow mine, and he nods in approval."What about them?" He nods to a couple on the other side of the ottoman.
The man has a woman tied to a Saint Andrews cross and is roughly having his way with her. My body heats watching them. I turn back to find Knox looking at me. Once I turned eighteen, he insisted I call him Knox since we were both adults. It shifted our relationship slightly as if he now sees more of an equal. Of course, it could all be in my head.
"I dare you to forget the walls between us and let me help you experience the club for one night."
Damn, this man knows I would never turn down a dare.
Chapter 2
Knox
I can't believe Summer is sitting on the barstool next to me. Much less that she’s here in Club Red. My daughter's best friend, who ever since she turned eighteen, I've had the most inappropriate thoughts about. The girl who once she turned eighteen has made it impossible for me to connect even casually with any other woman.
Even though I come to the club and try not to think about her, it’s never worked. I thought I was hallucinating when I saw her sitting at the bar. I was sure it had to be someone who resembled her, but the closer I got, the more it looked like Summer.
I can't believe I dared her. This girl hasn't turned down a dare, not once in all the years she's been friends with my daughter. She would be well within her rights to make this the first one she turns down, but I hold my breath and say a silent prayer she doesn't.
She looks around one more time before taking a deep breath and nodding."Okay. One night."
My dick, which was already hard seeing her in this sexy skintight dress, gets even harder."Can I touch you?"
Club Red is all about permission and consent. You can't touch anyone without their permission, or they’ll revoke your membership and ban you from the grounds.
"Yes."
"Do you remember your safe words?" I need to be sure because I don't want to push her past her limits. I certainly don't want to give her a reason to regret even a moment of tonight.
"Green if I'm good to go, yellow if I'm reaching a limit, and red to stop everything." She recites what I'm sure they told her when she walked in this evening.
Good enough.
I take her hand in mine and help her off the bar stool, leading her to the empty end of the large couch. Sitting down with plenty of room between me and the other couple, I grip her waist and pull her onto my lap so her back is to my chest. I move my hands down her sides, hooking them under her knees and putting one on either side of my legs, spreading her wide.