Page 94 of Brutal Sin
Epilogue
Pamela slidher bare thighs onto the bar stool, feigning relaxation even though the sensation was illusive. Whimpers and groans filled her ears, along with murmured chatter, soft laughter, and the occasional clink of a glass as Vault patrons socialized aroundher.
“I didn’t expect to see you down here.” Shay retrieved a tall glass from the clean rack. “Tequila sunrise?”
“Yes, please.” On second thought… “Make that a double.”
Shay eyed her with suspicion. “Nervous to beback?”
“I’m not sure.” She hadn’t stepped foot inside the sex club in months. Not since the night she’d vowed never to return.
Life was different now. Everything was different. And knowing what to expect once she walked down the dimly lit Vault staircase had become an elaborate guessinggame.
“Bryan told me the two of you stopped dating.” Shay continued her scrutiny as she pulled a bottle of orange juice from the fridge under the counter.
“Hedid?”
“I didn’t get the details. He only said the first date failed with fucking brilliant efficiency, and he wouldn’t be doing it again.”
Pamela winced at the memory. Their meal at an exclusive restaurant had been a nightmare of awkwardness. “We didn’t even make it through dinner.”
“Was it thatbad?”
“Yeah, it was.” She could’ve enjoyed his monumental discomfort and considered it a sweet serve of karma, but she hadn’t. He’d fumbled with the cutlery, guzzled the wine, and hadn’t taken a bite of any of the extremely expensive meals. “He’s not the datingtype.”
Shay slid the tequila sunrise across the bar but continued to grip the glass. “I gather things ended amicably if he reinstated your membership.” She continued holding the alcohol hostage. “But if you being here is some form of retribution, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I don’t want any drama on his first nightback.”
“Drama? I’m not hereto—”
“I like you.” Shay lowered her voice, shooting a conspiratorial look over Pamela’s shoulder as she released the glass. “Please don’t make me kick youout.”
“Kick who out?” Bryan’s delicious, deep growl tickled her neck, the sound having the ability to burst ovaries in a ten-mile radius. “What did Imiss?”
He swiveled her stool, dragging her attention to his ruggedly perfect face. His beard had been cropped, the blond strands shorter, revealing more of the man he hid beneath. She’d never get sick of staring at him, not when he looked at her with affection and ownership. Tonight, there was something else, too.
Was he nervous?
“Apparently, our break-up.” She feigned a glare. “You told your friends we weren’t dating anymore?”
His lush lips curved, setting off a chain reaction to transform his features into something entirely stunning, and maybe even a little sweet. “We’renot.”
“True.” She leaned in, swiping her mouth leisurely across his. His responding growl carried into her belly, tickling all the way down to her pussy. “But I think you’ve given them the wrong impression.”
“You’re still together?” Shay shrieked, stealing the attention of theroom.
Numerous people stopped what they were doing—the drinking, the kissing, the fucking—and turned to facethem.
“Subtle,” Bryan grated. “Real fucking subtle, Shay.”
Pamela wove a hand around his neck and kept him close. She loved this man. Not that he knew it. The L-word was extremely significant to him. Without the love of his parents, he considered the emotion to be the holy grail of humanity. She didn’t expect to ever hear the declaration from his lips. But she took solace in telling herself his adoration and commitment were signs of something parallel.
“Why did you give your friends the wrong impression?” she whispered.
He’d changed during their time together. Each day, he opened up a little more, sharing tidbits about his past, giving enough to satisfy her concern. Apparently, that translucent behavior ended when he came towork.
“I had to keep you to myself for as long as possible.” He leaned back to stare at her. “I didn’t want to keep fielding questions about us every time I took a breath. I needed it to be you and me for a while.”
“What the hell is going on?” Shay slapped her hands against thebar.
