Page 26 of Brutal Sin
He’d put weeks of work into curating the perfect information session. With the influx of new members, there’d been a slight decline in enjoyment from the female patrons. The intention was to encourage men currently more interested in their own orgasms into those who gained greater pleasure in providing them to others.
“You stirred a hornet’s nest last night. After you left, half the members were up in arms, screaming for blood.”
“Let me guess,” Bryan scoffed. “The femalehalf?”
“Nailed it.” Leo glared through tiny slits. “So how are you going to fixthis?”
Fix this? He balled his hands into fists, the divide between them increased. There was nothing to fix. Not on hisend.
“Like I said, I had women hassling me last night. I reminded them of the rules. End of story.” He made for the door. “If they can’t take a stern warning, they shouldn’t be in theclub.”
“That’s not what they’re pissed about. They’re saying you singled out a woman in one of the private rooms. They’re demanding an apology.”
“He’s not exaggerating.” T.J. pulled his cell from his jacket pocket. “I received a few messages about it this morning. Cassie did, too.”
Bryan brushed the offered phone away and grabbed the door handle. “Well, then, they’re in luck, because I already apologized to Ella last night. This shit is dead and buried.” He winced when the words reminded him of his mother.
“Did you really apologize?”
Bryan turned to Leo. “Do I look like I give enough fucks to lie about it?” He was many things, but a liar wasn’t one of them. His friends knew it, too.
“Good.” The concern in T.J.’s features didn’t lessen. “That’s a start. They’re still going to want a public apology, but if we send everyone an email clarifying what happened in the aftermath of the confrontation, maybe the class can go ahead.”
“A public apology?” A public fucking apology? Were they kidding? “That’s not going to happen.”
“Then neither will the class.” Leo spread his arms wide. “You can’t have one without the other.”
“That’s how it’s going to be?” Fury slithered through his veins, making his fingers shake, his heart palpitate. He took a menacing step toward Leo, trying like hell to keep his emotions in check. “You’re railroading me into doing something I shouldn’t have todo?”
“Are you really going to get in my face over this?” Leo raised his chin. “What’s gotten into you? I warned you yesterday to keep it friendly. Now look what’s happened—the women have quit salivating over your bullshit. Even Janeane has a prickle up her snatch and has refused to be your plaything for the demonstration night.”
A prickle, otherwise known as rejection revenge. “I don’t need her help.” God knew he’d been scraping the bottom of the barrel when it came to his enthusiasm over using someone with claws poised to sink into hisskin.
“Well, you’re going to need someone, and none of the women in the Vault will touch you. They’ve already vowed to stick together to make a point.”
“We’re not the only club in town. I’ll find someoneelse.”
“That’s beside the point. Nobody will show up to the demo as a spectator for the same reason.” T.J. slid his cell into his jacket pocket. “You know I love you, man, but this is our reputation you’re playing with. You either need to apologize or get the woman back in here to prove everything’s been smoothedover.”
“I agree,” Leo added. “Or maybe think about stepping away from the Vault until it all blowsover.”
“Stepaway?”
Fuck.
He got it, really, he did. The women were playing the emotional, we-did-nothing-wrong card, and all the men were standing beside them because otherwise they wouldn’t getlaid.
Well played, ladies. Well played.
“I can’t do that.” The Vault was his go-to. His one hangout. His only refuge. He’d never needed the mind-numbing escape more. “Not rightnow.”
“And why is that?” Leo asked. “You haven’t been an eager participant for months.”
Now they were keeping tabs on him? “Because Shay keeps asking to ride my dick and I’m just about ready tocave.”
Leo glared. “Sarcasm? Now there’s something new for a change. You could’ve simply asked me to mind my own business.”
“I’m pretty sure I’ve done that more times than I can count. It looks like Shay is starting to rub off onyou.”
“Come on, guys.” T.J. pushed from the stack of beer cartons. “We need to sort this mess. The demo is next Thursday night, and we don’t have another party planned in the Vault beforehand.”
There was no we involved. This was all on Bryan’s shoulders. Along with all the other shit that had piled on top of him thisweek.
“Don’t worry. I’ll work it out.” Bryan made for the door, determined to put this bullshit behind him to make way for the more important bullshit.
“Yeah?” Leo followed behind him. “And how do you plan on doingthat?”
“It’ll be an easy fix.” He shrugged. “I’ll convince Ella to be my assistant.”
