Page 5 of Silver

I’m shaking as I take the shirt from him. I lower my gaze. “I’m not a hooker,” I whisper, feeling oddly ashamed. I have no reason to be. There’s nothing wrong with dancing for money. It’s not illegal. In fact, he was there to watch. It was a coincidence that he happened to have spotted me. I’m still not sure how that happened, but I’m too exhausted to ask.

He points toward the bathroom again. “Go. It’s late. You should be in bed.”

Again, he’s reprimanding me like a naughty schoolgirl who snuck out. “I am eighteen, you know.”

He smirks again. “That would have been my guess. It’s the average age of a college freshman, unless you were a child prodigy or got held back a year.”

I grit my teeth. He’s so infuriating. “I’m just saying, I’m an adult. I don’t need you to boss me around. I don’t even need you to offer me a bed for the night. I can fend for myself. Letting me sleep here tonight won’t change my living situation tomorrow.”

“We’ll discuss that tomorrow.” He points toward the bathroom once again. “You’re trying my patience, Daphne. Do I need to haul you into the bathroom and wash you myself?”

His threat makes me grip my thighs together. It shouldn’t. I should tell him to go to hell, but instead, I’m irrationally turned on every time he gets bossy and demanding. I really need to stop reading the trashy novels I can’t resist. They’re obviously making me think all the dirty, kinky scenarios actually happen in real life. It certainly feels like I’ve stepped into one of those novels.

Creepy old house. Bossy older guy. It’s got every dark trope I love. Stern Daddy type. Dominant. He even mentioned spanking me. I’m delusional.

When I glance at his stern expression again, I realize I am trying his patience, so I hurry across the room and into the bathroom. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I blow out a long breath. I’m not sure whether I’m relieved to finally be alone or not.

Part of me thinks I’m dreaming. How is it possible that the very man who inadvertently taught me how to masturbate found me at a strip club and brought me to his home? I’m in his bathroom, and I’m going to strip naked and use his tub.

And the tub I’m currently staring at is incredibly inviting. It’s a clawfoot; the shower curtain that circles it hangs from the ceiling. It looks like it would be very difficult to keep water from leaking out all over the floor while showering, so I immediately decide I’d rather take a bath.

After turning on the water and putting the rubber stopper in the bottom, I slip out of Silver’s jacket and set it on the counter. Next, I quickly remove the hot-pink lingerie; I can’t get it off me fast enough. I already feel less panicky just from taking it off.

There’s nothing wrong with stripping. Kudos to those ladies; I’m certain they earn every dollar they make. But I’m not sure I could have gone through with it even if Silver hadn’t hauled me away from the stage. I was two seconds from bolting at that moment anyway.

I remove the band from my ponytail, pile my hair on top of my head, and secure it in a bun before stepping into the water, sighing at how good it feels on my limbs. I haven’t sat in a bathtub since I left my grandmother’s house on the other side of the country to head to Darkwell University. Even though I’m technically unhoused, as a student, I have a gym membership, so I go into the locker rooms at least every other day to shower. It’s crowded enough that no one has ever noticed that I don’t actually use the gym, just the showers.

My grandmother is so proud of me for pursuing my dreams, but I didn’t tell her everything. All I said was that I had gotten a scholarship, so she didn’t have to worry about me needing money. I didn’t mention it didn’t include room and board. I don’t want her to worry about me. She’s getting old.

Damn, this feels amazing. I could stay in here, submerged in the water, for hours. If only I had one of my novels with me…

Instead, I only let myself luxuriate for a few minutes before quickly washing my body and releasing the water. I don’t understand the man in the other room, but I wouldn’t put it past him to open the door and tap his watch because I’ve taken too long.

After drying off, I hang my towel on the hook he indicated, next to another towel, which must be his. I tug his white T-shirt over my head, grateful that it almost reaches to my knees. And finally, I find the toothbrush he indicated and use it.

When I step back into the bedroom, Silver is sitting at a desk on the other side of the room. It’s a truly nerdy setup. I wonder if he’s a gamer.

He rises, and my breath catches. He’s changed out of the jeans and button-up shirt from earlier. Now he’s wearing soft gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt like the one he’s lent me. Only on him, it’s tight around his biceps and pecs. His feet are bare. He makes my mouth water.

“You’re stressed,” he points out, nodding toward my wringing hands.

I pry my fingers apart and fist them at my side. “Yeah. Can you blame me?”

“No. But I can do something to help you unwind so you can get some sleep.”

I gasp, my jaw dropping.

He rolls his eyes. “I’m not talking about fucking you, Daphne. Though that would probably work. I suspect you’re a virgin, though. Am I right?”

Does he have to be so blunt? Sometimes he says the strangest things. My face heats, and I lower my gaze. I shouldn’t be embarrassed. There’s nothing wrong with being a virgin at eighteen. Lots of girls my age haven’t had sex.

“I didn’t mean to shame you. I’m just stating a fact. Are you a virgin, Daphne?”

I nod. I hate that he’s making me feel so…fuck…submissive? I hate it, and at the same time, my nipples are hard. Something about the odd way he speaks to me turns me on. Everything this man does gets my engine going.

“Come.” He points toward his bed and heads in that direction.

Three