Club Helix: The Power Games by Brynley Bush Page B

years has consisted of nothing but school and my job at the Coffee Bean. Not exactly scintillating conversation. There’s the show, but that certainly doesn’t seem like a safe topic when I’m sitting blindfolded next to the man who bought me. “There’s not much to tell,” I say finally.
    “I somehow doubt that,” he says, his voice silky. “You seem to have infinite layers. I’m looking forward to peeling each one away until you’re fully exposed to me, hiding nothing.”
    I swallow hard. “And what if I have secrets I want to keep?”
    His hand has moved farther up my thigh, and he slips a finger beneath the hem of my shorts, tracing the line of my slit through the embarrassingly damp fabric of my panties. “You may hide behind your cool reserve and those enigmatic eyes, but your body can’t lie. Your body will have no secrets from me.”
    My heart thunders at his bold assertion. He abruptly removes his hand, and I keenly feel the absence. I’m unnerved without his touch to center me.
    “What do you want, Ava?” he asks, his voice low. “Do you want me to touch you?”
    It’s tempting. Oh, so tempting. I’ve never felt this way with anyone before. My body is drawn to his like there’s a force field pulling me in. The effect is disorienting, and I suddenly want more than anything to feel the touch of his hands again—somewhere, anywhere—if only to ground me. I nod.
    “Say it,” he demands softly. “Tell me what you want.”
    “Please, touch me again,” I whisper.
    The silence is deafening. I know what he wants. “Please touch me, Sir.”
    Then his hands are in my hair, his mouth on mine, ruthless and plundering, claiming me with his lips and tongue. I’m so stunned by the kiss, it takes a minute before I realize the car has come to a stop. Instead of taking off the blindfold, Roman moves away from me, and I hear the sound of a car door opening and then closing. Seconds later, the door next to me opens, and Roman is grasping my hands in his, helping me from the car.
    “I guess you’re not ready to take the blindfold off yet, huh?” I grumble.
    The sound of his chuckle sets my nerve endings tingling again. “I like you blindfolded. It makes you more dependent on me and dilutes that cool composure that you seem to rely on like it’s armor.” He lowers his voice. “But I also like the hint of fear and uncertainty I see in your eyes when you look at me, so don’t worry; I won’t blindfold you too often.”
    My breath catches. That’s supposed to make me feel better?
    He wraps a strong arm around my waist and guides me across a smooth surface that feels like asphalt beneath my feet. We’re outside, and the wind catches my hair, whipping it around my face. I can feel the warm sunshine, and wherever we are, it’s noisy, the whapping sound of air being churned like butter filling my ears. The noise grows louder as we come to a stop, and Roman unties the blindfold.
    I blink into the sunlight, my eyes unaccustomed to the sudden brightness. We’re standing beside a huge helicopter, its blades slicing the air above us. I look at Roman questioningly.
    “Are you afraid of heights?” he asks, tucking the blindfold back into his pocket.
    “No,” I say, shaking my head.
    “Good.” He smiles and gestures toward the helicopter. I look back at him once and then climb in as he follows me. He reaches across me, buckling me into the seat, and my body comes alive again at his touch.
    “Where are we going?” I ask.
    “We’ll fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on our way to the Grand Canyon. We’ll see some of the Canyon and then land at the bottom for a picnic lunch before flying back.”
    I look at him disbelievingly, unable to keep the smile off my face. This is beyond anything I’ve ever imagined. Although the circumstances of this unconventional date are seriously fucked up, the man is ruining me for ever dating anyone normal. “Are you serious?”
    “I’m always serious,” he says,