Chapter 1
Eva
When I climbed out of the car, my date, Chad, winked and flashed a quick smile as he reached for my hand. “I promise you’ll like this.”
Chad and I had been matched through a dating app. I’d been hesitant to dip my toes in the waters of dating, but my friend convinced me it was time. Sarah thought it was absolutely ridiculous I was still so unsophisticated when it came to dating. I kind of hated dating even though I did want to have a chance at a relationship with someone.
Chad seemed nice. He was a mid-level executive at some tech company, but that was all I knew. We were supposed to keep our details private until we went on a second date.
He still hadn’t told me where he was taking me. As we walked toward the unassuming house, anticipation chased over my skin. Maybe this was a hidden café in Seattle. I loved Seattle, but even I had to admit the city where I’d grown up had become very trendy. It was hard to find anything here that was new these days. That didn’t change the fact that wildly popular places were still delicious, but I missed discovering little surprises.
Five minutes later, I found myself not only startled and surprised but also wondering what I’d gotten myself into. This unassuming place was a discreet BDSM club. I’d read about places like this and loved a good hot romance as much as the next girl. It was more than fine with me to discover this place. What I wasn’t all that fine with was a man bringing me here on a first date without telling me where we were going.
When Chad’s hand came to rest on my lower back, annoyance flashed through me and not the good kind. “This way,” he murmured, bending to place his mouth at my ear.
Apparently, Chad fancied himself a dominant kind of guy. I didn’t think my personality would suit him. I suppose that was what I got for testing an anonymous dating app.
A couple was occupying a small platform. The woman was trussed up in ropes, beautifully and artistically, while the man worshiped her with his hands. When I looked over, a sense of envy struck me. It wasn’t because she was naked or this was an intensely erotic moment. Rather, it was the look in his eyes—radiating pure love and fierce desire. My belly quivered, and my knees went weak.
Chad had to go and ruin it by commenting, “You like that, I see.”
Stopping abruptly, I swatted his hand off from where it rested. “Chad, this is our first date. Dial it down.”
He smiled with this, I don’t know, I guess what he meant to be a comforting look, but it felt condescending to me. “And it will be our last. This is not the kind of place to bring a first date. Given the security here, I don’t appreciate that you lied about the nature of our relationship.”
Chad’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t take you for a prude, Eva.”
“I’m not, but I met you less than an hour ago. We haven’t built the kind of trust needed to do this.”
Turning to walk away, I seriously doubted I was suited to be whatever he thought I might be. According to the very friend who encouraged me to sign up for this anonymous dating app, I was too cranky and bossy.
“Eva,” a voice said, the tone commanding and low.
The sound of my name sent a wash of goose bumps over my skin. As if caught by a silk lasso, my feet came to an abrupt stop, and I turned toward the voice.
I knew it wasn’t Chad. He didn’t sound like that. I scanned the area before my eyes collided with an icy-blue gaze. My breath felt locked in my lungs, and my pulse shot into the stratosphere. Zane Maddox stood ten feet away, exuding calm power and understated masculinity. Zane was the kind of man women ruined panties over, and he didn’t even have to try. It was there in the lift of his chiseled chin, the stark lines of his cheekbones, and the intense look in his eyes.
Heat suffused me, spinning like fire throughout my entire body. I’d been an intern at Zane’s tech firm in Seattle three years ago. I’d had a terrible crush on him, like the worst kind, but I was certain he’d never noticed me. Though I also would’ve argued he didn’t even know my name.
Apparently, I was wrong on that count.
“She’s with me.” Chad’s voice came from over my shoulder.
“No, I’m not,” I said, my anger snapping me out of my shock.
Zane approached in a deceptively lazy stride, carrying a drink in his hand. His intent eyes locked on Chad. “That’s not what she says.”
Oh, God. Zane’s voice was just as sexy as I remembered. It was low with a thread of command and the expectation that anyone he spoke to was listening.
My nipples sure were. They tightened up the second he took another step to stand closer to me.
Chad’s eyes bounced to me. “Eva, would you please clarify that we came here tonight together?”
Oh, for God’s sake. I was not going to shore up Chad’s stupid ego.
“We may have arrived together, but I’m no longer your date. I just said so not two minutes ago. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I started to walk away only to have dumbass Chad try to follow. This time, Zane cut right in front of him. “I think she’s made it clear she’s not with you.”
Chad muttered something and stalked away, actually pouting. I was caught between feeling annoyance at Chad and this decidedly inconvenient effect Zane was having on me. I almost burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of the whole situation. All the while, in one corner was a woman with two men worshiping her and in another area was still that intensely erotic couple on the platform.
“Would you like a ride home?” Zane asked. It sounded more like an order than a question.
So I said as much. “Is that really a question, Zane?” I was a little surprised at my boldness. I’d used his name to make it clear that I knew who he was.
His lips quirked at the corners. “Not really. I’m taking you home.”
Next thing I knew, Zane had rested his palm between my shoulder blades and was coaxing me forward. For the life of me, I couldn’t think of one reason not to leave, but it got my spine up to have him being the one to insist I do so.
But this was Zane, and he’d once intimidated me just by existing. Plus, he did kind of make my knees melt.
Moments later, I found myself out on the sidewalk. “Did you drive here yourself?” he asked, his blue eyes boring into me.
I wanted to lie, I really did. But I was me, and I didn’t do well under the force of a presence like Zane’s. “No.”
Zane didn’t even reply. He gestured for me to walk ahead of him, his hand landing at the dip of my waist like a hot brand. We crossed the street while he made a quick phone call. After a few words, he slid his phone in his pocket.
“I can find my way home. I’ll just call a car service. And before you think I’m stupid, that guy didn’t tell me he was bringing me here. We met on a dating app, and he said our destination was a surprise. I had no idea he was going to bring me here. It’s not like I have a problem with the place, but we just met and—”
Zane looked at me quietly, and I shut up. I was feeling flustered in his presence. I also felt extra flustered because I looked like a fool.
“My car is here.”
In another moment, he was holding open the back door of a sleek black sedan. God, this was crazy.