Hidden Obsession (The Club #2) Read Free

attracts. People of all ages are here to live out their deepest, darkest fantasies. Sometimes I try and guess what a person is into just by how they’re interacting with other people. Sometimes I’m right, sometimes I’m totally off the mark.
    “Raven?”
    I turn around, my heart racing, because I know that voice. If there is one person I don’t want seeing me here it’s him. Conrad.
    “Hey,” I say, mustering up a smile as I force myself to meet his gaze.
    His light green eyes twinkle at me as he revels in my discomfort.
    “So…studying, huh?”
    “I do study, I just need to support myself somehow,” I reply, my voice cold. “Anyway, I work here as part of security. Want to tell me why you’re here?” My voice is so sweet it drips sugar.
    He laughs and rubs his neck. “Fair point. Why am I here?” He glances around, shaking his head. “There is no real answer that won’t leave me sounding like a kinky pervert, so I’m just going to change the subject.” He grins and I sigh.
    God, that makes him even sexier.
    “So, what time to you finish?” he asks, eyeing my black corset.
    “I’m actually just done for the night.” I curse myself as I feel my cheeks heating up. Why does this guy have me so hot and bothered?
    “Up for a drink? You know, so long as fraternizing with the clientele isn’t going to get you in trouble.”
    “When I’m not working I can do as I please,” I say, biting my lip. Honestly, I’m not sure if that’s even true. I know engaging with members while I’m working is not allowed, but nobody has said anything about when I’m not working…
    “Let’s go then.”
    I jump as he takes my hand and leads me back downstairs.
    “So, how did you come to work here?” he asks, cocking his head.
    “A friend back home knows one of the owners and was able to score me an interview.”
    “There aren’t many female security staff here,” he comments. “How do you handle the ones who need removing?”
    “I’m not a security guard as such,” I explain. “My job is to go unnoticed, sort of like an undercover cop. I report anything suspicious to security. Besides,” I shrug, “it’s very rare that we have to kick someone out. The exclusivity of the club means most people who are here know how to behave.” I wave my hands around. “There’s nothing else like this place, you know?”
    He grins as we reach the bottom stair and head over toward the main bar.
    “Your turn: how did you find this place?” I ask, glad for the attention to be off me.
    “I came with a colleague a few months ago. Actually, it was my boss.”
    “Your boss?” I laugh. “Was that kind of awkward, coming to a place like this with him?”
    “It was in the beginning,” he admits, laughing, “but once I got past all that I was just thankful to him for showing me this world.” He pauses, throwing me a glance. “So, are you strictly only here for work?”
    My face heats at what he’s asking me. How am I supposed to answer that?
    “I’ve…participated once when I was very drunk, after a lot of encouragement from a co-worker,” I say. I can’t believe I just admitted that.
    “You have to give me more than that,” he groans. “Which room? What happened?”
    “I’m not divulging any details,” I giggle. “And honestly, nothing really happened. It was barely anything.”
    I take a seat on one of the barstools as he does the same. From downstairs, you’d have no idea of the world that exists upstairs. Just a normal club with plenty of dancing and drinking, the bar does well in its own right.
    “What can I get you?” asks Conrad.
    “A beer, thanks,” I reply. I don’t drink much, but when I do, beer is one of the only things I can handle. “So, you never did tell me why you’re here.”
    “Yeah, I thought I did pretty well to avoid that question.” He winces and I laugh.
    I’m shocked at how relaxed I am around him. I feel like we’ve known each other longer than a day—and that we met