Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27770 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Memories of our past come flooding to the surface. He’s changed a lot in the past ten years. His hair is still light brown and coifed neatly, and he still wears glasses. However, I have to admit, his body has changed quite a bit. He was a little lanky in high school, but he’s filled out, more muscular. I used to make fun of his baby face with how smooth it was when we were younger, but now, there’s a five o’clock shadow that makes him look more rugged. I like it.
Brent was a part of my life when I was a good girl, always going to church and trying to make the right choices in life. Or at least, I thought they were the right choices. A small-town life, finding a husband, and having a dozen kids was what my parents thought I’d want, but boy, were they wrong. I have nothing against that kind of life, but it’s not for me. I wanted something bigger and better.
“Did you get your eyeful again?” I joke as I close the distance between us.
Brent’s cheeks turn red and he adjusts his glasses. He reminds me of the Clark Kent version of Superman. When he has his glasses on, he’s a nerdy computer guy. But when they come off . . . he looks completely different. Very sexy.
Brent chuckles. “I did. There was a lot of bare skin in there.”
“You get used to it,” I admit.
Silence fills the air for a few seconds as we stare at each other, and I can see the look of concern in his eyes. “How did you end up here? Last I heard, you left Texas and haven’t returned since.”
I inhale a deep breath then let it out slowly. “One day, I just hopped on a bus and ended up here.” A laugh escapes my lips as that memorable day flashes through my mind. “Well, it’s more like I was stranded here. My bus had left me and took my suitcase with it. I had enough money to get me a hotel room for the night. Then, the next day, I heard Society X was hiring, so I applied, and they accepted me. When I needed more money, my boss offered me a daytime job at his firm.” I pat my hand on the roof of my car. “Then, not long after, I was able to buy this car and pay for my own apartment. It’s all been uphill since then.”
Brent purses his lips as if he’s wondering if he should believe me. “I’m glad to hear it. So, I’m assuming you didn’t go to college?”
I shake my head. “No. Didn’t have the money. But luckily, I make a small fortune at Ward Enterprises.”
He points over at the club. “Then why do you still work here if you’re making good money?”
Because I’m intrigued. Only I don’t want to tell him that. I don’t want to tell him that I’ve fantasized about being in the Dark Room and having sex with no strings attached. That I want to give in to my desires and not care whether or not it’s a sin.
“What about you?” I counter, trying to change the subject off me. “What are you up to these days?”
Brent shrugs. “Nothing really exciting. I’m a computer analyst. That’s why I’m here in Portland. I’m building a new mainframe for my employer.”
“Nice,” I say, not knowing anything about being a computer analyst.
He laughs and shakes his head. “And you have no idea what that is.”
I bite my lip sheepishly. “Not in the least. All I know is that if you explain it to me, it’ll go right over my head.” His smile makes my heart flutter in my chest.
“Sometimes it goes over mine, too.”
When I lean against my car, Brent moves in front of me, his eyes lingering down to the X pendant on my necklace. “I saw other women in the club with necklaces like that. What does it mean?”
I hold the necklace between my fingers. “Remember when I mentioned the rooms, and I didn’t get to explain?”
Brent nods. “Yeah.”
“Do you still want to know about them?”
He nods again and a part of me is nervous to explain it all to him. Even though I haven’t done anything in the sex rooms, it feels like a sin just to talk about it. The more I think about them, the more I want to experience what Society X has to offer.
“Okay,” I say, releasing a quick breath. “On the other side of the club, there are exclusive rooms. You have to pay a membership fee to join, pass a background check, and answer a bunch of questions. It’s legit, though. It’s how the club makes all its money.” Brent watches me with curiosity, and I clear my throat before continuing. “There are three rooms. The Dark Room is where people go in and have anonymous sex.”